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Do you remember the last time you worked on your body to improve your physical appearance and posture and make your body fit and active? In today’s fast-paced world, we have forgotten that our body needs to be worked on to keep it active and strong in the long run. That’s where Yoga comes to our rescue. Yoga calms our minds and builds our physical strength. Today, in this blog, we will talk about one such beneficial yoga asana, Shalabhasana, which is well known for improving your posture and back muscles. So, let’s quickly dive into the benefits of Shalabhasana, the procedure to do it, types, variations, precautions to take, and everything you need to know about this fantastic yoga pose.
What is Shalabhasana?
Before moving on to the benefits of Shalabhasana, let’s explore what this pose actually means. The word Shalabhasana is derived from two Sanskrit words, “Shalabh,” meaning “locust,” a type of grasshopper, and “asana,” which means “pose.” While performing this asana, the individual lies down on their stomach, lifting their legs, chest, and arms off the ground at the same time while engaging their core and back muscles and then gently lowering back down. Shalabhasana is widely practiced for strengthening your back, improving your posture, engaging the core, and enhancing flexibility.
How to do it?
Shalabhasana is a backward bend, chest opening, and strengthening asana. It mainly impacts your neck, back, spine, arms, thighs, hamstrings (skeletal muscles), legs, and lungs. It is very simple to do. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Lie down on your stomach.
- Keep your hands and heels relaxed.
- Keep your forehead on the ground. If this feels uncomfortable, try to keep at least the chin down.
- Keep your hands by the sides of your body and lengthen your legs and lower back.
- Inhale and lift your legs, chest, arms, and head slowly at the same time.
- Push your heels away, creating a stretch on your legs.
- Lift your shoulders, allowing the shoulder blades to squeeze.
- Hold the pose. You will feel that you are balancing on your lower ribs, stomach, and front of the pelvis (a structure between your stomach and legs that supports the internal organs.)
- Once you start getting comfortable, raise your hands and parallel them to the floor.
- After holding for 20–30 seconds, exhale slowly, come down, and relax your body.
- Repeat the process 2–3 times.
Here’s a detailed video for your reference:
Locust Pose (Salabhasana Pose) Benefits, How to Do & Contraindications by Yogi Sandeep – Siddhi Yoga
Variations for Shalabhasana (Types of Shalabhasana)
Everyone has different abilities and learning power. If an individual finds a specific pose easy, someone else may find it hard. For that, variations must be adopted to practice the best posture for you. Shalabhasana also has different variations, which you may try. Some of them are:
1. Ardha Shalabhasana (Half Locust Pose)
In this variation, you lift only one leg at a time while keeping the other leg on the ground only. This modification helps increase the engagement of your back muscles and allows you to work on individual sides of your body.
2. Bhujangasana- Shalabhasana Flow
You have to begin with Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) and then transition smoothly into Shalabhasana by lifting your legs, chest, and arms off the ground at the same time. Using this method will help strengthen your back muscles and enhance the flexibility of your spine.
3. Dhanurasana- Shalabhasana Fusion
You may combine Dhanurasana (Bow Pose) and Shalabhasana for a complete back-strengthening sequence for this variation. You have to lift your legs, chest, and arms off the ground and, at the same time, bend your knees and reach out to your hands back to hold your ankles. This fusion offers an intense backbend and engages multiple muscle groups.
4. Floating Shalabhasana
Start in shalabhasana, inhale, and lift your entire body off the ground, balancing on your abdomen (stomach), and extend your arms forward. This variation challenges your core strength and balance.
5. Variation with Interlocked Fingers
For this variation, interlock your fingers behind your back while lifting your legs, chest, and arms. This variation helps in enhancing the opening of the chest and shoulders. It also deepens the engagement of your back muscles.
6. Advanced variation with Hand Lifts
Try this hand-lifting variation if you have mastered Shalabhasana and can do it quickly. Do the traditional shalabhasana pose and lift one arm and the opposite leg off the ground at the same time, alternating sides. This advanced variation challenges your coordination, and you need a lot of core stability.
7. Cobra-Roll Shalabhasana
In this variation, start your pose in shalabhasana and roll from side to side in a gentle rolling motion. This way helps massage your stomach and hips and increases the flexibility of your spine.
8. Shalabhasana with Breath Awareness
You can also try doing shalabhasana while focusing on synchronized breathing. Just inhale as you lift off the ground, and exhale as you release. It helps in improving the connection between your body and mind.
So, these were some variations or types of Shalabhasana, which you can try according to your suitability and body requirements.
Note- Always listen to your body while trying these variations and practice within your comfort zone. Not taking appropriate precautions may lead to severe muscle injuries; thus, being cautious is necessary.
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Benefits of Shalabhasana
Shalabhasana provides plenty of benefits, making it a treasured gem in the Yoga world. Some of the fantastic benefits of Shalabhasana are:
1. Strong Back Muscles
Shalabhasana targets the muscles along the spine, making them stronger and healthier. This pose also helps in making your back muscles able to recover quickly from difficult conditions. Ultimately, it contributes to maintaining proper posture and reduces back discomfort.
2. Improvement in Posture
If you practice Shalabhasana consistently, your posture will get a lot better. Performing this asana activates our spinal muscles. This provides a proper arrangement of the vertebrae and provides structural support.
3. Boost in Digestion
Doing Shalabhasana provides a gentle massage to your abdomen (stomach). This promotes efficient digestion and also reduces stomach bloating.
4. Flexibility
Shalabhasana stretches your chest, shoulders, thighs, and stomach. It helps make these body parts more flexible, which ultimately helps in releasing the tension in your muscles.
5. Stress Relief
Shalabhasana activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which starts the state of relaxation in your body. This helps reduce your body’s stress level and promotes emotional equilibrium.
6. Engagement of core muscles
This pose requires the engagement of your core muscles to lift your legs and upper body. This engagement helps improve the strength of your core and your stability.
7. Improvement in Blood Circulation
Shalabhasana helps in the proper blood circulation. It helps in the transportation of fresh oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and organs involved in the pose.
Limitations, Risks, and Precautions to Take While Doing Shalabhasana
Along with the benefits of shalabhasana, there are some limitations of it as well. Doing the pose with mindfulness and caution is essential. Here are some limitations, risks, and precautions which you must consider while performing Shalabhasana:
1. Recent Abdominal Surgery
If anyone has undergone a recent abdominal (stomach) surgery, they should avoid practicing Shalabhasana. This is because your stomach would stretch, and pressure would be placed in that area, which may create difficulties in the healing process.
2. Serious Back Injuries
Anyone with severe back injuries or herniated discs should take proper precautions before performing this pose. It’s advisable to seek guidance from a qualified yoga instructor before attempting to do Shalabhasana, as one wrong attempt can damage the already injured area more.
3. Pregnancy
Pregnant women, especially those in the later stages, should completely avoid doing this pose. Because this pose creates pressure on the stomach, and this might be harmful to the baby.
4. High Blood Pressure and Heart Conditions
Individuals with high blood pressure or heart conditions should take appropriate preventive measures while performing Shalabhasana as this pose temporarily increases blood pressure. Thus, taking the guidance of a healthcare professional is suggested.
5. Peptic Ulcers
Peptic Ulcers means a sore (pain) in the lining of your stomach and small intestine. If you also suffer from this condition, consult your healthcare provider before attempting Shalabhasana. This is because the extra pressure created during this pose may make the situation worse.
6. Listening to your body
As with any yoga asana, listening to your body’s signals and practicing within your limits is essential. If you experience pain, discomfort, or strain while doing the pose, release it immediately. Continuing with a wrong posture can be dangerous for your body and result in muscle pain and injury.
Conclusion
Shalabhasana, the Locust Pose, lets its practitioners build an intense connection between the body, mind, and breath. Your strength increases, flexibility improves, and balance gets fixed as you move towards multiple levels. This pose boosts your mental and physical well-being, and you build a deeper connection with your body and its capabilities. We hope this blog on the benefits of shalabhasana will encourage you to give this pose a try and open the door to a world full of life, energy, and self-discovery.
FAQs
Q1. Can Shalabhasana help with lower back pain?
Ans. Yes, Shalabhasana strengthens your lower back muscles and provides relief from any discomfort.
Q2: How long should I hold Shalabhasana?
Ans. Begin with 20–30 seconds, and increase the duration as you become more comfortable.
Q3. What are the benefits of Half Locust Pose?
Ans. It helps in increasing the engagement of your back muscles and increases their strength.
