Yoga BLOG

Eka Pada Sarvangasana - supported shoulder stand Shoulderstand is one of the classic Hatha Yoga poses. This fundamental element, along with the Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar), is often taught in beginner classes. While this asana isn't easy for every beginner to perform right away, it's one of the poses that, with effective support, can be quickly incorporated into any yoga practice. This is due to its holistic effects on body, mind, and soul. Eka Pada Sarvangasana, the supported shoulder stand, is a good way to learn this asana, which is so beneficial for your well-being, or it's an alternative that you can incorporate into your practice again and again. Beneficial effects You're surely familiar with the feeling when everything becomes too much. When not only your body feels full and sluggish, but your mind also seems to be crammed with information. When you feel physically tired and emotionally overloaded, Eka Pada Sarvangasana is a way to feel light again. Firstly, you'll clearly feel the inverted posture releasing any accumulated fluid from your feet, legs, and abdomen, making it easier to excrete it later. This helps cleanse toxins—in short, everything that unnecessarily burdens your body. If you're trying to lose weight, shoulder stand is also a helpful asana. Through the increased blood flow to your brain, you'll also experience how your nervous system is revitalized and re-energized in Sarvangasana. The three upper chakras of your body are noticeably revitalized, which you'll notice, for example, in an improved ability to concentrate or learn. At the same time, your thoughts calm down, and your soul regains balance after the stress and hectic pace of everyday life: It's not for nothing that shoulder stand is a pose that has a lot to do with balance—both internally and externally! Finding balance with support The fact that the classic shoulder stand requires a certain amount of balance is something that initially puts many beginners off. It requires not only balance but also a certain amount of trust to engage with this unfamiliar posture and to let go a little. Eka Pada Sarvangasana, the supported shoulder stand, helps you with this. The translation of the Sanskrit term Eka Pada Sarvangasana clearly shows you what this exercise looks like and how it supports you both physically and mentally: "Eka" means "one," "Pada" is the foot, and "Sarvangasana" is a combination of "sarva" (whole) and "anga" (body limb) and is the name for the classic shoulder stand. Eka Pada Sarvangasana is a shoulder stand in which you stand with one foot on the ground, thus supporting your balance. Eka Pada Sarvangasana: between the Supreme and the Earth Even though it's a supportive asana from yoga practice, Eka Pada Sarvangasana isn't just recommended for beginners. In this pose, you experience two poles that are important for a yogi. Through the rising body and the upward-pointing leg, you feel connected to the highest, while simultaneously rooted to the earth through the grounded leg. In this static asana, calmly focus on these two aspects. This creates security and harmony, which you need as a solid foundation for your everyday life. Your way into the shoulder stand with support Depending on your physical condition and personal preference, you basically have two ways to get into Eka Pada Sarvangasana. Either you lift the leg you want to extend from the plow position (preferably with a pillow underneath ). This variation offers yoga beginners in particular better control and control during the exercise. If you're already a somewhat experienced yogi and have mastered the classic shoulder stand, you can also lower one leg from Sarvangasana, grounding yourself in Eka Pada Sarvangasana. Image © filipfico / 123rf.com