Salamba Sarvangasana
(sah-LOM-bah sar-van-GAHS-anna)
salamba = with support (sa = with, alamba = support); sarva = all anga = limb.
There are variations of Shoulderstand that are “unsupported” =niralamba, pronounced near-ah-LOM-bah)

Benefits
• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
• Stimulates the thyroid and prostate glands and abdominal organs
• Stretches the shoulders and neck
• Tones the legs and buttocks
• Improves digestion
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Reduces fatigue and alleviates insomnia
• Therapeutic for asthma, infertility, and sinusitis

Contraindications and Cautions
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• High blood pressure
• Menstruation
• Neck injury
• Pregnancy: If you are experienced with this pose, you can continue to practice it late into pregnancy. However, don’t take up the practice of Sarvangasana after you become pregnant.
• Salamba Sarvangasana is considered to be an intermediate to advanced pose. Do not perform this pose without sufficient prior experience or unless you have the supervision of an experienced instructor. Some schools of yoga recommend doing Salamba Sirsasana before Salamba Sarvangasana, others vice versa. The instruction here assumes the former order.