It’s easy to think of yoga as just another workout, but this ancient practice was developed as a complete system for managing both body and mind. Although its roots go back thousands of years, it’s still something that can make a positive impact on our lives today. If I’m having trouble sleeping or an anxious mind means I can’t settle, there’s one gentle pose I often use and recommend to my yoga therapy clients: flapping fish (matsya kridasana in Sanskrit). This restorative bed pose is like a secret fix for calming my nervous system, especially when my mind won’t quiet down. Article continues below You may like Physically, this pose lengthens and relaxes the front of your body while releasing tension from your lower back and hips. But the more profound effect happens through your breath—creating space in your chest allows for deeper breathing that signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to relax. I discovered this pose about a decade ago when I was still attending in-person classes. My practice was rooted in …