Sarvangasana Pose of the Month November 2022

HALASANA AND EKA PADA SARVANGASANA WITH A CHAIR

Level 2 at Yoga on Tay

The benefits of Sarvangasana are many: it strengthens the heart, lungs, muscles and joints of the upper body. It reduces swelling of legs and feet and brings relief to joints and organs in the lower body. It improves the blood supply to the face, neck and brain and therefore to endocrine glands (pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroids etc) in this region.

Please note: Avoid this pose if you have a period or tummy bug. Seek the advice of a senior teacher before attempting sarvangasana if you suffer from high blood pressure, glaucoma, detached retina or cervical spondylitis/osteoporosis. If you have any doubts about the suitability of this pose for you then please ask your teacher.

PRACTICE NOTES

1) Prepare as shown and remember it is helpful to add a belt to the upper arms to help draw the elbows in.

2) Prepare the shoulders with chatushpadasana, brace the back of the arms to the ground and press into the heels to lift the buttocks up.

3) Take your toes to the chair. Once you are accustomed to this you can open the shoulders more by interlocking your fingers before extending the upper arms back and down. Then reverse the interlock and repeat before placing the hands on the back to support the lift of the spine and kidneys upwards.

4) Keeping the pelvis level, raise the right leg to vertical. Work as for tadasana, lengthen toes, lift the heel and tighten the knee. Hold for 20-30secs.