Padma means lotus and Sarvangasana is a Sanskrit word which comprises ‘Sarv’ meaning ‘entire’ ‘anga’ means ‘body parts’ and ‘asana’ means ‘pose’. Padma Sarvangasana is an advanced variation of the shoulderstand.
Organising the Pose:-
1. Assume Sarvangasana as per the steps indicated to come into the pose.
2. Fold the legs into Padmasana in the final position.
Variation:-
1. Sit in Dandasana, with the spine straight and the legs stretched out in front of the body.
2. Perform Padmasana, lean back using the support of the elbows and lie flat on your back. Raise the folded legs to the vertical position coming into sarvangasana, supporting your back with the palms.
3. Hold the final position for as long as is possible and come out of the pose in a reverse order.
DOs:
- Do breathe normally in the final pose, holding it for a few seconds initially then increasing the duration upto 2-3 minutes to reap the maximum benefits from the pose.
DONT’S:
- Don’t practice this pose if you have sciatica, knee issues, enlarged thyroid, liver or spleen, cervical spondilytis, slipped disc, high blood pressure , heart ailments , weak blood vessels in the eyes or thrombosis. It should be avoided during pregnancy and mensuration.
BENEFITS:
- This pose gives all the benefits of sarvangasana, except free drainage of blood is deterred so its not effective for the treatment of varicose veins or piles.
- It gives an additional stretch and massage to the pelvic region and internal organs.
To ensure that the energy is evenly stimulated it should be practiced on both the sides , alternating the legs in Padmasana.
Namaste!
Neelanjana Bharadwaj– Yoga Expert