Shalabha – asana – The Locust Pose
Shalabha – asana – The Locust Pose
Translation: The Sanskrit word Shalabha means locust or grasshopper.
There is a variation of this posture called the viparita-shalabhaasana.
The Sanskrit word viparita means "reverse." This is an
advanced variation not covered here.
Instructions:
1. Lie on the stomach with the head turned to one side and the arms alongside the body with palms
facing upward.
2. Turn the head and place your chin on the floor. Slide your hands under your thighs, with the
palms pressed gently against the top of your thighs.
3. Inhale slowly and then raise the head, chest, and legs off the floor as high as possible. Tilt your
head as far back as possible. Keep your feet, knees, and thighs pressed together.
4. Starting at the top of the head and working your way down to the feet, bring your attention to
each part of your body, consciously relaxing it before proceeding on to the next.
5. Remain in the posture while holding the breath. You can support your legs by pressing the hands
upward against your thighs.
6. Hold the posture for as long as you can hold the inhaled breath then slowly return the legs,
chest, and head to the floor while exhaling.
7. Remove your hands from under your thighs and place the arms alongside your body. Turn your
head to the side and rest.
Comments:
The shalabha-asana has many benefits. Besides strengthening the muscles of the upper legs and lower
back, it stimulates the stomach and intestines helping to relieve gastrointestinal gas, strengthens the
bladder, and stretches the spine.
To assist raising the legs as high as possible keep the back of the hands resting against the floor while
pushing the legs upward with the fingers. As you get better at this posture and increase the strength of
you legs you can raise the hands completely off the floor so your legs are raised unsupported. This
increases the benefits of the shalabha-asana.
Duration/Repetitions:
Hold this posture for as long as you can hold the inhaled breath. Repeat the shalabha-asana three times.
Translation: The Sanskrit word Shalabha means locust or grasshopper.
There is a variation of this posture called the viparita-shalabhaasana.
The Sanskrit word viparita means "reverse." This is an
advanced variation not covered here.
Instructions:
1. Lie on the stomach with the head turned to one side and the arms alongside the body with palms
facing upward.
2. Turn the head and place your chin on the floor. Slide your hands under your thighs, with the
palms pressed gently against the top of your thighs.
3. Inhale slowly and then raise the head, chest, and legs off the floor as high as possible. Tilt your
head as far back as possible. Keep your feet, knees, and thighs pressed together.
4. Starting at the top of the head and working your way down to the feet, bring your attention to
each part of your body, consciously relaxing it before proceeding on to the next.
5. Remain in the posture while holding the breath. You can support your legs by pressing the hands
upward against your thighs.
6. Hold the posture for as long as you can hold the inhaled breath then slowly return the legs,
chest, and head to the floor while exhaling.
7. Remove your hands from under your thighs and place the arms alongside your body. Turn your
head to the side and rest.
Comments:
The shalabha-asana has many benefits. Besides strengthening the muscles of the upper legs and lower
back, it stimulates the stomach and intestines helping to relieve gastrointestinal gas, strengthens the
bladder, and stretches the spine.
To assist raising the legs as high as possible keep the back of the hands resting against the floor while
pushing the legs upward with the fingers. As you get better at this posture and increase the strength of
you legs you can raise the hands completely off the floor so your legs are raised unsupported. This
increases the benefits of the shalabha-asana.
Duration/Repetitions:
Hold this posture for as long as you can hold the inhaled breath. Repeat the shalabha-asana three times.
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