Sarvanga Asana (The Shoulder Stand Posture)

Technique

• Assume a lying down position on the seat with the back to the ground.
• Slowly raise the legs with slow, gradual and constant inhalation.
• The legs must be in a straight line with the trunk and the hips.
• Support the back on the sides with your hands.
• Start exhaling and raise legs upwards towards the sky.
• The trunks and legs should extend straight upwards with the neck forming a right angle, the chest pressing against the chin.
• Avoid jerking and do this Asana very gracefully.
• The whole weight of the body should be thrown on the shoulders.
• Remain in this posture for as long as possible, breathing normally.
• As in Sirsha Asana, you may do Padma Sarvanga Asana.
• After this, exhale and gradually bring down your legs. Release the hands, lie flat and relax.

Benefits of Sarvanga Asana

• Improves flow of blood to the brain.
• Stimulates the thyroid gland and keeps it in healthy condition, which results in healthy functioning of all organs of the body.
• Tones up the nervous and reproductive systems.
• Adjusts improper body growth.
• Brings relief from congestion in the abdominal and pelvic regions.
• Helps cure ailments like constipation, dyspepsia, headache, etc.
• Keeps the vertebral column in an elastic and pliable condition.
• A verts calcification of body parts and thereby youth is preserved for longer time.
• Improves functioning of chords and thereby improves the voice of singers.
• Aids in awakening Kundalini Shakti.
• All parts of the body are exercised, energised and activated.
• Removes respiratory defects in the lungs through internal activation.
• Gives asthma patients relief.
• Energises all sex glands and thereby improves sexual activity in both males and females.
• Ensures great relief from functional disorders of the eyes, ears, nose and throat.
• Cures appendicitis, gastrointestinal disorders and varicose veins.
• The face receives extra supply of blood, especially over the forehead and the scalp and thereby helps prevent lines and wrinkles in the face. This preserves the youthful look in both men and women.
• This Asana has medicinal value for curing impotence, frigidity, lack of sexual             power and various other defects of the sexual organs.
• The heart gets rest as long as you remain in this Asana. This insures one against all heart troubles.
• For women, this Asana banishes the ever-present menace of irritation and             catarrh of the uterus.
• Improves mental faculty considerably.

Activate the Subconscious Mind

This is one of the best Asanas conferring many benefits on practitioners. However, this is particularly designed to stimulate the thyroid gland and activate the vocal chords. Since the thyroid gland is responsible for healthy functioning of all organs in the body, it is possible to maintain perfect health throughout one's life by consistent practise of this Asana. Therefore, while doing this Asana, one may suggest the following to activate the subconscious mind:
"My general health is improving to a great extent by doing this Asana."

As this Asana also activates the functioning of the vocal chords, orators, teachers and singers may suggest that their voice has improved considerably by doing this Asana.

Suitability
Suitable for all practitioners.

Precautions

This Asana should not be attempted by persons suffering from high blood pressure, heart ailments, enlarged thyroid, liver or spleen problems.

The Importance

This is a good substitute for Sirsha Asana. Those who are not able to perform Sirsha Asana can very well do this and derive the same benefits of Sirsha Asana. If Sirsha Asana is not done properly the practitioner may have some adverse effect on his health, whereas Sarvanga Asana can easily be done by anybody without any harmful effects. This Asana is particularly good for persons who are taking up Yoga after the age of 40.