Sarvangasana - All-Parts Pose

"Sarva" means 'all' and "Anga" means 'part' in Sanskrit. This pose exercises the entire body, hence the name.

Sequence:

1. Lie down on the floor on your back, legs together and arms on the sides.
2. Turn the palms down.
3. Relax your body and continue normal breathing.
4. Press your palms and elbows on the floor and raise your legs up making an angle of 90 degrees with the floor.
5. Inhale as you raise your legs.
6. Exhale and while exhaling move your legs towards your head and push your hips and lower back so that they are raised above the ground.
7. Place your palms on the hips and push your trunk and legs up.
8. Move your palms higher up the trunk and keep raising your legs and hips upwards, till the whole trunk is above the ground.
9. Bring the legs back to a vertical position.
10. Support your body with the palms placed on the ribs and elbows and forearm resting on the ground.
11. Sliding the palms higher on the trunk push the hip and back further up so that they are aligned with the legs.
12. At this point, only the head, neck and shoulders should be on the floor.
13. Push your face down and chest up to form a chin lock.
14. Balance your body in this position.
15. Fix your gaze on the big toes of your feet.
16. Inhale and exhale rhythmically and remain in this posture for as long as you can.
17. Slowly return to the starting position in the reverse order.
18. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly a few times.
19. Continue breathing normally.
20. Relax your body by performing Savasana.

Caution:

• People suffering from high blood pressure or cardiovascular diseases should not perform this yoga pose.
• Menstruating women should never practice Sarvangasana.
• If you feel dizzy while performing the pose, stop and return to starting posture.
• Children below the age of puberty should avoid this pose.
• If you suffer from any vision trouble, this yoga pose is not for you.

 

 

Benefits:

• This yoga pose delays aging and prevents appearance of wrinkles.
• This asana boosts the functioning of the vocal cords as well as the throat vessels.
• The spinal column becomes suppler and flexible.
• The posture corrects abnormal curvature of the spine.
• Sarvangasana can benefit people suffering from palpitation, bronchitis, tonsillitis, headache, insomnia and epilepsy.
• Leprosy can be treated with this pose.
• This yoga pose helps you regulate your body weight.
• Sarvangasana keeps many vital organs of the body healthy and stabilizes the metabolic processes.
• You can get a leaner figure as the pose helps reduce flab from around abdomen, waist and hips.
• Pain of the neck and back is also relieved.
• Hernia, piles and urinary diseases can be cured.
• Liver and kidneys function better.
• Sarvangasana exercises the legs.

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Setu Bandha Sarvangasana- Bridge Pose

"Setu" means 'bridge' and "bandha" means 'locked' in Sanskrit. In this pose, the final posture of the practitioner resembles a bridge.

Sequence:

1. Lie down on the mat on your back with the legs straightened out and hands on the sides.
2. Bend your legs at the knee and rest your feet on the mat.
3. Bring your feet closer to the buttocks.
4. Press your palms and feet firmly.
5. Lift your hips off the mat and push it towards the ceiling.
6. Keep your knees and feet in one straight line.
7. Clasp your hands below your pelvis.
8. Extend your arms.
9. Raise your hips further up so that your thighs are parallel to the floor.
10. Lift your chin.
11. Open up your shoulders and lift your chest up, resting on the shoulder blades.
12. Press the sternum towards the chin.
13. Hold this pose for 10-15 seconds.
14. Exhale and return to the original position rolling the spine slowly.

Caution:

• People with low back pain or knee pain should avoid this posture.
• If you have suffered any neck injury, practice the pose under supervision.

 

Benefits:

• This yoga posture alleviates stress and mild depression.
• Patients of asthma, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and sinusitis can benefit from this pose.
• The neck, chin and spine are stretched.
• Regular practice of this pose improves digestion.
• The yoga pose can relieve headache, insomnia and fatigue.
• It is beneficial to women in menopause.
• Bridge pose helps rejuvenate tired legs.

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