Sarvangasana

The Shoulder Stand

Sarvangasana can be a simple, safe and powerful inversion accessible to most students.

The "Queen" of all yoga poses provides a plentiful list of benefits:

It is thought to promote good blood circulation and calm the nerves by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for the response of fight/flight).

It may help decrease depression and anxiety symptoms, ease fatigue, improve immune function and stimulate the abdominal organs along with the prostate and thyroid glands.

In general, inverted asanas ( those that position the head below the heart or the feet above the heart) bring harmony to body and mind and should be considered a crucial component of any yoga practice.

In sum, Sarvangasana is a powerful pose to practice for gradually and safely learning inversions. It's an essential yoga asana, one that you'll practice for years to come—even after you've mastered it.