SHOULDER STAND

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1. Spread out a thick sheet of clothe or a blanket on the floor.
2. Lie flat on your back, and slowly raise your legs until they are in a straight line with trunk and hips.
3. Support the back on sides with your hands.

4. The chin must touch the thorax.
5. The shoulder and neck must touch the floor.
6. Hold your legs in straight line and breathe deeply.

7. Beginners should retain their breath while lifting legs. It makes the lifting easier.
8. Exhale when legs are stretched out.
9. During the posture, inhale and exhale deeply.

10. After the termination of posture, bring your legs down slowly while breathing out.
11. Practice this for 1 minute initially and then increase the duration as you progress.

Benefits:

- 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.

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Illustrations by Dr. Manjit Handa