Everything You Need to Know About Sarvangasana (Shoulder Stand)

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benefits of sarvangasana

Salamba Sarvangasana or the shoulder stand is one of the aged yoga poses which is forwarded to modern times to restore the benefits of the ethnic art of yoga. it is similar to other hatha yoga poses

Sarvangasana nestles closely around Sirsasana or the headstand, the only attributes that distinguish these two powerful yoga poses are: when sirsasana is crowned as the king of yoga, Sarvangasana is tagged as the queen or mother of the yoga poses by B.K.S. Iyengar carrying the most benefits of yoga asanas.

Next, Sarvangasana precedes sirsasana, It’s crucial to perfect this pose before moving on to sirsasana. Often called the queen of yoga, it offers calming and balancing benefits for the body..

This asana tenderly nurtures the body, mind, and soul while building strength through its complex inversion, empowering you to face life’s challenges. The benefits of this pose are numerous; it has been a source of healing for the human body since ancient Vedic times. In the modern era, its advantages are widely acknowledged for their profound impact on overall well-being

Before moving towards the benefits, let’s see how to perform This pose

Steps of Sarvangasana or the shoulder stand infograph

Steps of Sarvangasana :

The following steps elaborate on how to perform a shoulder stand 

  1. Lie straight on your back on a yoga mat, keeping your arms alongside, palms facing downwards. As you lift your legs, engage your upper arms to support your body.

  2. Stretch your legs out straight on the mat.

  3. Start folding your knees inwards, bringing your heels close to your hips. 

  4. Inhale and start lifting your feet off the floor, bringing your thighs to the upper part of the body.

  5. Now, start lifting your back upwards.

  6. Support your lower back with your hands.

  7. Raise your pelvic bone over the shoulders, keeping the torso perpendicular to the floor.

  8. Now, lift your legs, straighten them upwards towards the ceiling, while engaging your shoulder blades, and ensure your body forms a straight line.

  9. Gently look towards the chest.

  10. Hold the pose as per your comfort.

  11. Release slowly.

SHOULDER STAND YOGA POSE ⁄⁄ EASY DIFFICULTY (Video 1.0)

SHOULDER STAND YOGA POSE ⁄⁄ MEDIUM DIFFICULTY (Video 1.1)

SHOULDER STAND YOGA POSE ⁄⁄ ADVANCED DIFFICULTY (Video 1.2)

Top 11 Excellent Benefits Of Sarvangasana :

The amazing benefits of this posture are listed below, showcasing the exceptional benefits of yoga

1. Improved Blood Circulation: Being the mother or queen of the yoga poses, its benefits include smoothening blood flow to every part of the body. This complex inversion channels the blood right from the toes to the tip, rejuvenating every cell. Sarvangasana protects the body from various skin diseases, including leukemia and other chronic disorders. Additionally, it is beneficial for managing high blood pressure by promoting better circulation and calming the cardiovascular system.

2. Cardiovascular Vigor: The shoulder stand is the key to cardiovascular fitness. The inverted yoga pose benefits the human body by directing the oxygen-rich blood evenly to the heart, unclogging the arteries, and giving birth to a healthy heart. Therefore, this yoga pose helps protect against cardiovascular diseases, rejuvenates the heart, and promotes a long, healthy life.

3. Therapeutic for Nervous System: This yoga pose is a blessing for those struggling with anxiety, aggression, panic attacks, mood swings, and similar conditions. It offers a natural way to address mental and neurological issues by balancing the parasympathetic nervous system. The posture is highly therapeutic, promoting overall mental and neurological well-being.

4. Healthy Gut: Today, the generation has transformed the body into a garbage bin by storing all the carbs and junk. This inverted pose vastly works on better absorption of digestive juices, thereby ensuring proper functioning of the overall digestive system. It simplifies food absorption, giving a happier and healthier gut. Furthermore, by improving digestion naturally, this asana paves the way for a healthier and more vibrant lifestyle

5. Increases Muscle Strength and Flexibility: If you’re seeking to build muscle strength, this yoga pose is an excellent choice. It is regarded as one of the most complex and powerful asanas, engaging every part of the body in its formation. The posture demands good hip flexibility, arm strength, neck support, and overall body flexibility. Involving every muscle in the pose, enhances flexibility and muscle strength, ensuring greater power and endurance

6. Healthy Thyroids: Sarvangasana enhances the flow of blood right from the tip to the toe. The blood flows smoothly to the thyroid and parathyroid glands, activating the balanced functioning of the glands and protecting the body from thyroid-related disorders, viz. hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Therefore, by improving glandular activity, this asana helps achieve a state of balanced well-being.

7. Relieves Common Cold: Common cold is a very conventional ailment that can be found in 2 out of 10 human beings. The communicable behavior of this infectious common disease makes it most important to be cured. This yoga pose emerged as a natural remedy for communicable diseases. During the posture, the chin is pressed near the chest, increasing blood flow to the neck and head. This helps clear congestion, opens the nasal cavity, and ensures smooth and easy breathing.

8. Cut to Insomnia: The inverted yoga asana proves to be a cut to insomnia. The pose engages the crown by placing it firmly on the floor. It channelizes a smooth blood supply to the head,d which amazingly triggers both the hemispheres of the brain, ensuring an ultimate balance and peace of mind. Good levels of blood flow oxygenate the brain, leading to good sleep and overall good mental hygiene, thereby cutting off all mental ailments.

9. Boon to Youth: Who wants to grow old? People strive hard to maintain their youth by using artificial aids to fight fine lines and aging. This yoga pose benefits the human race by working as a natural remedy to restore youth. Its advantages include infusing every part of the body with oxygenated blood, which revitalizes the skin and scalp, giving a radiant glow and youthful appearance. Additionally, it helps combat various skin conditions and promotes healthy hair growth.

10. Spiritual Pathfinder: No one can deny the spiritual benefits of this yoga pose. Known as the queen of all asanas, it offers unique advantages that set it apart. As the mother of yoga poses, it actively guides practitioners on the path to profound spirituality. This Yoga is the most complex yoga pose, which takes the body unnaturally upside down to connect the body with the universal supreme soul by preparing the practitioner for higher levels of possibilities and curbing the false materialistic attachments. The queen of yoga, Sarvangasana, throws the light on a divine path by presenting an upside-down view of the whole existing world, giving the practitioner a wider vision of life.

11. Recreates Balance: This pose is beneficial when it comes to recreating balance. This pose teaches you to hold your body weight perpendicularly on your shoulder. This yoga pose opens the scope of body balance and offers you higher possibilities. 

Awareness Of Sarvangasana 

  1. Keep your body erect

  2. Stay balanced

  3. Breath from the abdomen

  4. Focus on your throat and thyroid

Contraindications of Shoulder Stand

  1. Don’t bend the knees

  2. Do not overstrain your neck or chin

  3. Do not keep your legs completely vertical if they are stressed. 

  4. Do not over-tense your legs

Read More: 11 Excellent Benefits of  Bhujangasana- The Cobra Pose

Final Words: The top excellent benefits of Sarvangasana are broadly unfolded above. If you’re suffering from problems related to thyroid, then this pose can give you immense relief. Shoulderstand is just not restricted to one region of the body, but being a vertical stretch, it benefits the overall well-being.

To cherish a robust lifestyle and longevity one should add This Yoga Into their daily yoga routine. Complexities can always lead one to a complex and extreme insight into human power. Learn more about Sarvangasana, and join yoga teacher training in India.

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