Shoulder stand yoga posture helps in insomnia and depression. Doing this posture safely under guidance can kick start healing process related to depression and insomnia.
Follow the instructions to make the best of this wonderful yogic posture.
- Spread out a thick sheet of clothe or a blanket on the floor.
- Lie flat on your back, and slowly raise your legs until they are in a straight line with trunk and hips.
- Support the back on sides with your hands.
- The chin must touch the thorax.
- The shoulder and neck must touch the floor.
- Hold your legs in straight line and breathe deeply.
- Beginners should retain their breath while lifting legs. It makes the lifting easier.
- Exhale when legs are stretched out.
- During the posture, inhale and exhale deeply.
- After the termination of posture, bring your legs down slowly while breathing out
- Practice this for 30 second to 1 minute initially and then increase the duration as you progress.
Benefits for Insomnia & Depression
- Massages the thyroid gland and stimulate its proper function.
- Centralizes the blood supply to spine and keep it strong and elastic.
- Because of the inverted position, it helps prevent stagnation of blood in veins and encourage circulation.
- Encourages deep abdominal breathing and massages heart and lungs.
- Relieves mental lethargy and sluggishness.
- Helps cure insomnia and depression.
- Stimulates pranic flow in the stomach, small intestine, urinary and gall bladder, pericardium and kidney meridians. Locust is another excellent posture to stimulate digestive and kidney functions.
- Persistent practice may reverse age-related dullness on the face.
Always follow safety measures and precautions while engaging in inverted poses (see below for caution). Doing Shoulder stand with persistence is likely going to help the insomnia and depression symptoms.
Note: Inverted yoga postures are not recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure. Consult your physician.
Illustrations by Dr. Manjit Handa
