Yoga BLOG

Salamba Sarvangasana: Seeing the world from a different perspective
by Nick
on Dec 22 2018
Salamba Sarvangasana: Seeing the world from a different perspective The "mother of all asanas" is a name that raises high expectations. But if you've ever practiced Salamba Sarvangasana, you may have already felt some of its beneficial effects right away. It's no coincidence that the pose is also well-known in the Western world, and is often practiced by children in kindergarten as a candle pose. Here you'll learn what physical, mental, and spiritual benefits you can get from simply turning the world upside down and looking at it from below. Experience holistic effects The name alone tells you that supported shoulder stand is one of the most important disciplines and is one of the 84 core asanas of classical Hatha Yoga. "Sarva" means "all," "anga" means "part," and "asana" as a term for "exercise" is certainly familiar. Salamba Sarvangasana, or "Candle," is a pose that can have a positive effect on your entire body and mind. Read here how you can benefit from this inversion. Salamba Sarvangasana stimulates your body's metabolic processes and can particularly support thyroid function. Regarding the skeletal structure, the spine, in particular, remains flexible. Your internal organs, especially your digestive and sexual organs, are gently activated. The more you can immerse yourself in Shoulderstand, the more calming it will likely have on you. This complements the gentle stretching of the neck muscles , which are often strained in everyday work. If you're on your feet all day, you'll also feel the beneficial relief for your blood vessels. Listen to your body as you go. The candle is one of the classic rejuvenation exercises in yoga. As an inversion, it regulates your prana and can support a youthful appearance. Seeing the world from below can sometimes also break through entrenched ways of thinking and open up new paths. Try it! How to get into shoulder stand
Never practiced Salamba Sarvangasana? Give it a try, ideally in a yoga class first, so your yoga instructor can correct your posture or offer assistance. Begin by lying on your back on your mat, grounding yourself. Then slowly raise your legs, hips, and torso to a vertical position. Support yourself in two ways: first, by grounding your elbows to the floor, and second, by supporting your back with your hands. Gently tuck your chin toward your chest. This stimulates your thyroid and lengthens your neck. You exit this pose with the same control you used when you entered Salamba Sarvangasana. A great countermovement to the candle is Fish Pose (Matsyasana) . Help for your practice
If you don't feel confident in Salamba Sarvangasana and need more stability, you can practice Shoulderstand against a wall first. It can also be easier, especially if you lack the strength for the vertical inversion, to first rest your sacrum comfortably on a block and then practice raising your legs to the vertical position. Accurate practice is very important The better you can support yourself with your elbows (they should be as close together as possible) and hands, the better you can relieve pressure on your neck. You should also avoid swinging during shoulderstand. Make sure your hands are placed toward your shoulders for support, rather than pressing on your kidneys or directly onto your spine. If you have a neck injury or are in the second trimester of pregnancy, you should stop practicing the candle pose. However, your yoga teachers will always be able to recommend a valuable alternative to Salamba Sarvangasana that can offer similarly positive effects. Trust their experience! Image © djoronimo / 123rf.com