Salabhasana

Salabhasana

Salabhasana, Shalabhasana (Sanskrit: शलभासन; IAST: Śalabhāsana), Locust Pose, or Grasshopper Pose is an asana.

Description

It is back bend, or spine stretch, using the strength of the upper and middle back to lift the weight of the legs as high as possible from a starting position face down on the floor. It improves flexibility and coordination and increases strength and stamina.

Cautions

Beginners may find that their shoulder and elbow flexibility is not sufficient to allow them to get the hands palm down right underneath the body.

Variations

Variations of this asana are:

• Ardha Salabhasana (Half Locust Pose)
• Poorna Salabhasana (Full Locust Pose)

In the Bikram style of yoga, the asana referred to as Salabhasana has three stages which follow one after the other.^{[citation needed]} The asana of the same name in the Astanga style of yoga corresponds to stage three of the Bikram style asana.^{[citation needed]}

Preparatory asanas

In several styles of yoga, including Bikram Yoga and Astanga Yoga, Salabhasana is commonly performed after Bhujangasana, a related asana working on a different part of the spine.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of asanas

Further reading

• Iyengar, B. K. S. (1 October 2005). Illustrated Light On Yoga. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-81-7223-606-9. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (1 August 2003). Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-86336-14-4. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 
• Saraswati, Swami Satyananda (January 2004). A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya. Nesma Books India. ISBN 978-81-85787-08-4. Retrieved 9 April 2011. 

External links

• Yoga in Daily Life description of Salabhasana.