SivaSakti.COM - Shalabasana

S H A L A B A S A N A

ETYMOLOGY:
The word SHALABA means "locust". So SHALABASANA can be translated as the Locust Position.
The position has got a variant, easier than the proper asana: ARDHA SHALABASANA.

ARDHA SHALABASANA:
This position is very simple and accessible to everybody. The ones who cannot execute the Locust's position for now will approach it.

EXECUTION AND SUBTLE ENERGY EFFECTS:
In order to practice hatha yoga you need to have experienced supervision; also, being part of a yoga practice group helps. Some asanas have medical counter indications - we urge you not to consider this site a guide to the practice of hatha yoga. We chose not to publish this information on the SivaSakti.COM website; you can find it in the yoga classes organized by our school.

EFFECTS AND BENEFICES:
It is necessary to review some of the physiological notions about sympathetic nervous system in order to understand better how this asana acts for improving the human being's health.

It is known the fact that the entire vegetative activity, although unconscious and involuntary is under the control of the autonomous nervous system. It is divided into two separate and antagonistically systems: ortho-sympathetic and parasympathetic.

The parasympathetic system is also divided into two: the pneumogastric or the vague nerve and the pelvic part of the parasympathetic.

The equilibrium between the two is the condition for a good function of the physical body. These two systems are now a whole and it is necessary that they should be stimulated and fortified in order to function harmoniously.

Shalabasana gets a rush of blood in the inferior part of the back by the contraction of the inferior part of the backbone muscles. Thus it fortifies the pelvis part of the parasimpatic.
Plus, due to the head position (because of pushing the chin forward) and of the shoulders (that are stuck to the ground) it influences the neck and the nape. Thus it influences directly the pneumogastric (the vague nerve).
It fortifies the abdominal viscera because of the pressure it creates in this area.
Shalabasana gives back the backbone its suppleness and corrects all the defaults of curvature in its lower area. It brings the vertebras in their normal position or the intervertebral discs that were out of place, especially those from the lumbar area. It also acts directly on the fifth lumbar vertebra that is the foundation of the entire backbone.
It enhances the lumbar muscles. Thus a lot of cases of sciatica and lumbago are healed fast.
The rising up of your legs will lead to numerous benefic effects upon the blood circulation. The excessive blood that goes through veins is, due to the force of gravity, thrown out from the legs and led to the abdominal and sacral areas. It prevents or heals certain stomach and intestine diseases. It eliminates liver tiredness, dyspepsia, increases the appetite and heals milkleg.
It helps eliminating constipation naturally. It leads the faeces from the ascendant colon to the transversal one and then to the descendent colon.
Due to the pressure upon the thoracic zone, the lungs are fortified. At the same time the alveolus open up wider and thus help the oxygen assimilation.
This position helps the sexual energies of the human being to go up. Just like a locust has the distinct capacity to jump, the human's instinctual inferior energies are being sublimated to the superior levels.
It wakes up the essential energy of a human being - KUNDALINI. This energy is latent, potential and stays at the basis of the backbone.