Shoulderstand- Salamba Sarvangasana

Practice of the Month:
Salamba Sarvangasana- Shoulderstand

Feel energy pulling the legs upward as the weight of the pelvis is evenly balanced on the shoulders, head and elbows.  You are balancing in shoulderstand.
Sometimes called “the Queen of all Poses,” shoulderstand rejuvenates the body by supplying fresh, oxygenated blood to the thyroid gland and stimulating the kidneys.  It is a quieting pose – bringing peace and focus to a tired, listless body and mind.

Janet Carscadden, PT, Cert MDT- Evolution PT Corner:

Shoulder stand is one of those poses that people with pain often fear.  Ideally in shoulder stand there is little pressure through your neck.  If you experience neck pain, the thought of bending your neck fully forward can be daunting.  People with recent onset of neck pain from disc injuries or whiplash may do well to avoid full shoulder stand as your neck heals.  However, you can still experience the benefits of inversion with legs up the wall, legs on a chair or supported shoulder stand with your hips elevated on a block or bolster.  Over time you can work out the tension in the back of your neck through seated forward bends of your head with overpressure applied with your hands.  Take it slow and eventually the back of your neck will open up. For those with particularly prominent bones on the back of your neck (spinous processes),  place a folded blanket under the top of your shoulders with your head and neck resting on your mat, then press up into sarvangasana.  Your neck will now be free from compression on the floor.   Ask your teacher to show you this variation in your next class and see how it feels.

Shanti,
Janet