Yoga pose shoulder stand – benefits and dangers | Latest press releases | PressGo

A lot has been publicized in the media about benefits of the Hatha yoga (popularly or mistakenly understood as yoga), the third limb of Ashtanga yoga system. The benefits of Hatha yoga includes managing stress, improving flexibility, helping in fight against cancer, etc.

However, like every other science, Hatha yoga is also a science that benefits most when one practice it under right health conditions.

The same Hatha yoga posture may benefits some people and may be harmful for other depending upon your body health conditions. For example, Hatha yoga posture the shoulder stand (Sarvangasana) is called the queen of all asanas as it benefits the whole body.

It engages all parts of the body and stretching the shoulders, neck and upper back. As the body is inverted the blood flows to the heart without any strain by force of the gravity. During holding this yoga posture the blood pressure in the brain will be an average of 110mmHg.

The shoulder stand yoga posture nourishes the thyroid gland which: regulates the body's metabolism, controls the heart rate, promotes the growth and balances the digestive and nervous system.

This asana tones the legs and abdomen increasing circulation to those areas. It massages the abdominal organs and it relieves stress. Because of the enriched blood flow to the brain it also relieves emotional and mental stress, headaches and its effect are very tranquilizing.

However, among many body conditions following are three physical conditions under which this same yoga posture shoulder stand should be avoided.

(a) If you have high blood pressure, it is better to avoid this Hatha yoga pose as it will increases the pressure.

(b) Anyone who has cervical spondylitis should not attempt to practice this pose because as you hold the pose the weight of the body is taken through the neck.

(c) If you have glaucoma or detached retina, better avoid the shoulder stand as it could worsen the condition.

Please remember on many occasions GPs (doctors) are also not aware of the contraindication of various yoga poses and they may say that yoga is safe based on their perception which is not exactly the case.

By ignoring your conditions you put your health at risk.

Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta, celebrity yoga and weight loss trainer. Subodh Gupta is author of numerous books on yoga and weight loss.

He has been interviewed by various TV channels and his views and articles appear regularly in magazines and newspapers in India and the UK.