Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand)
Salamba =with support; Sarvanga = all limbs
About the pose:
Salamba Sarvangasana (supported shoulderstand) is an inversion posture: The feet are the highest point, carried and lifted by the legs, pelvis and spine. The weight rests primarily on the upper back and shoulders but when first learning the pose, also place weight on the hands and upper arms to avoid straining your back. With time, less and less weight is required to be put on the hands and they are only used to support the lightness of the pose. Starting with a half inverted variation is a good initial posture as a warm-up and for beginning students. The eyes are focused on the navel. For a detailed 3D image of the pose, go to http://www.bandhayoga.com/flyarounds.html and scroll down to ‘Sarvangasana’.
Key muscle groups:
Strengthens the quadriceps, inner thigh muscles (adductors), hip flexors and abdominals in the front and the erector spinae (back muscles) in the back. Stretches the shoulders and upper back
Benefits:
– stretches shoulders and relieves upper back tension
– calms the brain and nervous system, relieving stress
– improves digestion and functioning of the inner organs
Enjoy your practice 🙂
Namaste, Evelyn
