Yoga: Locust posture (Shalabasana)

Locust posture (Shalabasana)

• Lie on your abdomen, feet together, chin on the floor.
• Tuck arms under the body, keeping elbows straight, hands facing up.
• Breathing in, raise the right leg up. Keep the leg straight and do not twist the hip.
• Hold and keep breathing.
• Breathing out, bring the right leg down.
• Repeat steps 3-5 with the left leg. Take 2-3 deep breaths.
• Breathing in, and with some momentum, lift both legs up, as high as possible, keeping the knees straight.
• Hold.
• Breathing out, bring the legs down, take the arms out from underneath, and rest.
• Repeat the above sequence with hands facing down in step 2.

Benefits

• Increases flexibility and strength of the entire back.
• Strengthens shoulders and arms.
• Tones the nerves and muscles especially in the neck and shoulders.
• Massages and tones abdominal organs, and improves digestion.

Reference: http://www.artofliving.org/in-en/locust-posture