Salamba Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand)

Getting Used to Being Upside Down

If you are not used to going upside down then a way to get used to going upside down in shoulder stand is to use a wall.

Ideally your torso and legs are vertical but what is more important is drawing your shoulder blades together so that your spine (particularly the vertebrae of your upper thoracic spine and lower cervical spine) are lifted off of the floor.

Stretching the Back of the Neck

One concern in shoulder stand is that it can be painful, uncomfortable or undoable if the back of your neck is tight. One solution is to stretch the back of your neck before you do shoulder stand.

You can do this while sitting upright (legs crossed or while kneeling.) You can experiment with keeping the chest lifted (as shown below) or letting it sink down so that the upper thoracic spine is bent forwards.

Another possibility is to use Sasangasana or rabbit pose.

While kneeling, place the top of your head on the floor. Press your hands into the floor beside your head and use them to lift your ribcage and take some of the weight off of your neck.

Vary the position of your hands and find the position that best allows you to 'take" the weight of your neck.

In addition feel free to vary the distance between your head and knees so that you find the position that allows you to stretch your neck without damaging it.

From here, slowly roll your head forwards so that the back of your head gets closer to, if not on the floor.

You can slowly roll forwards, taking the time to feel your neck as you do so, or you can slowly roll back and forwards, gently stretching and then releasing, each time going a little deeper. Take about 5 seconds or more to roll forwards and then the same or longer to return.

As you get more comfortable you can try lifting your knees off of the floor so that you lift your pelvis. Make sure that you are still using your arms to bear the weight of your upper body.

The nice thing about sasangasana is that you can use your body weight to help stretch your neck in a controlled fashion and as such it is similar to shoulder stand.

Rabbit Pose Alternatives

An alternative to Sasangasana is to bend your neck forwards while you are upright. You can clasp your hands behind your head and use the weight of your arms or their strength to pull your head forwards. This stretch is gentler and so could be used prior to rabbit pose.

Yet another alternative which avoids the neck issue altogether is to do salamba sarvangasana with your shoulders propped up on blankets while you head rests on the floor. In this case your shoulders are then higher than your head and so there is less bend to your neck and thus less stress.

Note that as the back of your neck gets more flexible, you may find that you need to stretch it less and less before doing salamba sarvangasana.
You may actually find that you can use shoulderstand to help stretch your neck.
However, if you stretch your neck infrequently, or if you go for a long break without doing either neck stretches or shoulderstand, I would suggest moving into shoulderstand slowly, and if you find your neck is stiff, come out and stretch your neck before going back into shoulderstand.

One of the challenges that some people have when doing salamba sarvangasana is actually getting legs and pelvis off of the floor.
If you have this problem then one way of learning to get your hips up is to practice rolling on your back.
This is actually one of the balance exercises included in the balance basics ebook.

While sitting make sure that the floor behind you is clear of any objects or obstacles (chairs, tables, people, pets, children, small sharp objects, vacuum cleaners, water bottles, saws, hammers etc.)

• Round your spine. Use your internal intercostals to pull your sternum down towards your pelvis and pull the sides of your middle ribs (ribs 7, 8, 9 and 10) back relative to your pelvis.
• Grab your knees and roll back.
• Then roll forwards. As you roll forwards pull on your knees to help lift your pelvis. As you roll forwards fling your knees forwards to help lift your chest. (Keep holding your knees.)

As you get used to these two actions,

• focus on lifting your hips higher to roll back further.
• Release your knees if you have to when rolling back so that you can use your hands as brakes.
• When rolling forwards, see if you can roll onto your sitting bones and balance there before rolling back.

Next try rolling without holding on to your knees. Instead, place your hands on the floor beside where your hips where.

• As you roll back reach your legs back and your pelvis up.
• Bend your knees and fling your legs forwards to roll forwards.

Next develop your control by trying to roll forwards and backwards slowly, for a count of 10 each way. Try to keep your center of gravity just in front of your foundation as your roll forwards and just behind your foundation as you roll back.

Moving into Salamba Sarvangasana

Once you are comfortable with rolling and getting your hips up and back, you can experiment with getting into salamba sarvangasana via plow pose (Halasana).

• Start from a laying down position with hands on the floor beside you.
• Bend your knees and reach your legs back at the same time lifting your pelvis.
• Try to get the same feeling your had when rolling back. (In the pictures my knees are straight.
  The action is easier with knees bent, however, once you can do it with knees bent, work towards doing the action with knees straight.)
• Try to touch your feet to the floor behind your head. If this isn't possible do plow pose in front of a wall or a chair and place your feet on the wall or chair instead.

Lifting the Legs from Plow Pose to Shoulderstand

In plow pose you may find that you can press your feet into the floor (or a chair) and this helps take some of the weight off of your head or neck.

When taking your feet off of the floor to move into shoulder stand, your neck is going to have to support the weight of your legs unless you can get your weight forwards, onto your shoulders.
So prior to lifting your feet you may find it a lot more comfortable on your neck if you actively press your head into the floor so that your neck muscles engage.
Keep your neck muscles engaged as you lift your feet.

If you can get your weight forwards so that it is over your shoulders or between your shoulders and your elbows, then you may find that you can relax your neck.

I'd suggest relaxing your neck slowly. (Try activating it slowly also.)

Holding Shoulder Stand

While holding salamba sarvangasana,

• Lengthen the back of your neck.
• Pull your chest to your chin using the muscles at the front of your neck.
• Engage your abs to stiffen your mid section and stabilize your pelvis.
• Reach your legs towards the ceiling.

If you can't get your torso and legs in one vertical line, not to worry, work towards it slowly.

If you can't get your ribcage vertical it is more than likely your neck that limits you. While in salamba sarvangasana,

• Slowly and slightly rock your weight back so that it is just between your head and shoulders.
• Use your body weight to help stretch your neck. Then see if you can get your ribcage more vertical.

If this causes pain, especially neck pain, then don't do it. Instead hang out with your ribcage and legs at opposite angles to each other.

Counter Posing Shoulder Stand with Locust Pose

Because salamba sarvangasana bends your neck forwards, a logical counter pose once you've rested after coming out of the pose is to bend your neck backwards. You might also enjoy bending your thoracic spine backwards.

Shalabasana, or locust pose is one way to do this.

You can also try sidebending and twisting your neck.

When side bending and twisting your neck focus on feeling the vertebrae of your neck. Feel them moving relative to each other whether bending your cervical spine or twisting it.

For more on inverted yoga poses and getting comfortable while upside down check out inverted yoga poses.
For more on balance check out yoga balance poses.
For an even more thorough breakdown of balance check out balance basics.

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