Sarvangasana (Full Shoulder Posture)

How to do it:

• Lie on your back on the floor supported by a yoga mat or blanket,

• Extend your legs on the floor, arms by the side of your body, palms down, and align your head to the body,

• Bend your legs, inhale, exhale, and bring your knees towards your chesy,

• Inhale and roll the hips over to the shoulders,

• Bend the elbows and use your hands to support your back at the waist,

• Extend your legs vertically, bring your hands higher on your back to support yourself and move your elbows closer,

• Stretch your legs and straighten your back. DO NOT MOVE YOUR HEAD.

• Hold position for 15-30s in the beginning, and increase to 1-2 minutes with practice,

• To release yourself from the position bend legs and roll back down.

Claimed Benefits of the Asana:

Note that the following benefits have been claimed variously by experts and repoted by practitioners, in literature and anecdotally, but have not been empirically and scientifically tested so far.

• Improves blood flow to the brain, and nourishes the facial area.

• Stimulates the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the neck.

• Promotes calm and serenity.

The asana is proscribed (suggested not to be performed) if the practitioner is menstruating, pregnant, have thyroid problems, high blood pressure, glaucoma, or disc injury.

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