Thursday, October 13, 2011

Ardh Shalabhasan (Half Locust Pose)

Procedure 
  • Lie flat on your stomach, legs together and palms touching the sides of your thighs with your chin on the floor, i.e. Simple Prone Posture.
  • Place your arms under the body as close to each other as possible, with the palms on the floor, exactly under the thighs.
  • Stretch the chin a bit forward and keep it held to the floor throughout the asan.
  • Make sure your legs remain locked at the knees at all times.
  • Now while inhaling (Radhey), gradually raise the left leg as high as possible, making sure the right leg remains locked and in contact with the floor.
  • Hold the pose for 15-20 seconds with normal breathing.
  • With an exhalation (Krishna), unhurriedly lower the left leg to the floor.
  • Repeat the same process with the other leg.
  • This is one round; try two more rounds.
  • Eventually, come into Balasan, or Matsya Kreedasan  and relax for a while.
Awareness
  • On the bodily movements and the breaths synchronized with them
  • On the pressure on the lower back and the abdomen
  • On the Holy Names “Radhey Krishna” flowing with your breaths
Benefits
  • Ardh Shalabhasan is tremendously beneficial in Yog therapy for the cure of sciatica and slipped-disc. 
  • It assists in the elimination of constipation.
  • It helps in improving blood circulation throughout the body.
  • It tones up the thighs, hips, and buttocks by reducing unwantd fat.
  • If practiced daily, this pose can even control diabetes. 
  • Women with problems related to ovaries and uterus can benefit from this pose.
Contraindications
  • People with hernia and cardiac cases should not practice this pose.  Also, pregnant women should not try this pose.

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