Asana of the Week – Salamba Sarvangasana

It’s about that time again, that we consider which Asana of the Week is right for the pages of the Yoga Wellbeing. Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand) is this weeks top pick, we have even included the counter pose. Seen as the leaves are soon going to be changing a rusty colour and we are going to be reaching for those extra layers before going into savasana the relaxation pose. We thought an asana that helps to relieve chest colds and sore throats would be a bright idea.

Wellbeing benefits –

• It stimulates the thyroid gland
• Helps swollen sinuses, chest colds, sore throat
• Improves eye sight and memory
• Tones the entire body and gives a youthful glow

Be careful if –

• You have a slipped cervical vertebrae
• Have high blood pressure
• Heart disease
• You have just started to visit Aunt Flow (ahem menstruation, I am still not sure about that word)

The Asana –

• Lay down on your back. Raise legs, keeping seat on the floor, legs bent.
• Raise legs and pelvis so that it is perpendicular to the floor and pelvis is slightly pushed forward and higher than shoulder.
• Keep palms on the seat to support yourself in the pose, upper arms on the floor, elbows and shoulder blades moving inwards towards each other.
• Now that you are in the pose, relax and feel the stretch.
• Keep awareness on the breath (breathe normally) and on the stretch.
• When you are ready to let go of the pose, exhale and lower the body one vertebrae at a time.
• Bring the body completely down.
• Relax.
• Prepare for counter pose.

The counter pose – Matsyasana (Fish pose)

For every forward bend, there is one backward bend to balance off the body’s energies.

Wellbeing benefits –

• It activates the pituitary and pineal glands
• Improves eyesight
• Improves rheumatoid arthritis of the back and lethargy
• Tones the entire body and gives a youthful glow

Be careful if –

• You have pinched nerves of the cervical vertebrae
• You have heart disease
• You have a hernia
• Have high blood pressure

The Asana –

• Bend backwards, put elbows on the floor, palms on the pelvis, crown of the head on the ground.
• Stay in the pose for a few seconds, keep your awareness on your breath.
• Keep palms on the seat to support yourself in the pose, upper arms on the floor, elbows and shoulder blades moving inwards towards each other.
• When you are ready to let go, come back to padmasana by pushing your body up with the help of your elbows first and then palms.
• Relax.
• Lie down in the relaxation pose savasana and stay here for a couple of breaths.

Feeling the inner peace and overall Wellbeing that this combined practice has created.