The English for the Sanskrit SARVA is “whole” or “all”, and ANGA means “body” or “member”. Thus, the translation of SARVANGASANA is “the posture of the whole body” or the asana of all members”. This asana’s name derives from the fact that all the bodily parts are harmoniously involved.
SARVANGASANA is a reversed pose, easily accessible to most practitioners. It is the first of the series of reversed poses that we are going to study in this section.
Its numerous benefits are a direct result of the reversed position of the body. In this position, the positive (+) cosmic flow of energy, which normally traverses our body from upwards downwards will pass/traverse the human body in a reversed sense.
This essential subtle effect – that is the reversal of the sense in which this energetic flow traverses our body confers profound equilibrium to the being who practices it enough time.
HOW TO PERFORM THIS ASANA:
- Lie back on the floor.Tantra Magazine
- Slowly lift your feet and trunk from the ground.
- Support your trunk with your hands. Place the elbows on the ground. Press your chin on the neck area as firmly as possibly, which is called “the contraction of the throat”, or JALANDARA BANDHA.
- The weight of the body is supported on the shoulders, elbows and throat. The soles and all muscular groups that do not actively support the body in this pose, have to be relaxed.
- The final pose: the body between soles and shoulders is in a straight upward position, perpendicular on the floor.
- Maintain the body in this reversed vertical position as long as possible.
- Come back from this pose slowly, without lifting your head from the ground.Variant: VIPARITA KARANA
- The people who suffer by serious illnesses/disorders of the circulatory system or who do not posses yet a flexible body may however perform the following variant:
- Lie back on the floor.
- Slowly lift your feet and trunk from the ground.
- Support your trunk with your hands. Place the elbows on the ground. Press your chin on the neck area as firmly as possibly, which is called “the contraction of the throat”, or JALANDARA BANDHA.
- The shoulders, elbows and throat support the weight of the body. The soles and all muscular groups that do not actively support the body in this pose have to be relaxed.
- Maintain the body in this reversed position for as long as you can.
- Come back from this pose slowly, without lifting your head from the ground.FOCUS:
- While performing this asana, focus your attention on perceiving the subtle flow of cosmic energies that invade your body through the feet.
- Focus in order to perceive distinctly the differences between the YANG (+) energy and the YIN (-) energy coming through the right, respectively left leg. Then this flow of cosmic energy moves through the spine, in a unified flow, up to the throat area.
- You also perceive, if your focus is firm and strong, the activation of the throat centre, VISHUDDHA CHAKRA.
- When you come back from this asana, perceive the intense activation of this CHAKRA and a special psychic state resulting from the unity between what we normally call past, present and future.
- Cases of serious cardiac disorders and arterial hypertension.
- Cases of acute diseases of the head and throat area.
- In the cases of hernia, it is advisable that UDDIYANA BANDHA (the abdominal retraction) accompanies the practice of this asana.
- BENEFICIAL EFFECTS RESULTING FROM THE PRACTICE OF SARVANGASANA:
- This position favours the blood flow towards throat and head, producing a regeneration of the thyroid and the nervous centres from the brain.
- This asana also ameliorates ocular diseases.
- The practice of this asana has notable effects on metabolism, growing, and nutrition, influencing positively the organism’s health.
- The thyroid and parathyroid function in close connection with the other endocrine glands. By practising SARVANGASANA, you act efficiently on the pineal, pituitary, suprarenal, spleen and testicles.
- Abnormal physiologic curves of the spine are gradually eliminated. The spine is nourished and it becomes conse
- uently more flexible and strong.
- The practice of this asana prevents the early ossification of vertebras and bones, and your body will maintain a youthful appearance.
- For women with ovarian problems or disorders of the sexual glands, SARVANGASANA represents an effective relief. Even men with some sexual disorders benefit greatly from the practice of this asana. It also cures and brings relief to women suffering by uterine ptosis or other menstrual disorders, as it promptly eliminates pain. It is also of great help in eliminating sterility and effective decongestion of the prostate.
- This asana eliminates the accumulations of blood from the feet. It acts efficiently in healing varix and haemorrhoids.
- It is advisable that people who have a weak peripheral blood circulation practice this asana as much as possible.
- SARVANGASANA is extremely effective in obtaining a perfect control of the sexual potential/energy (BRAHMACHARYA). It eliminates pollutions and the problems generated by the menstruation.
- It is a powerful blood toner purifier, its action extending on the nerves as well. It has a tonic and at the same time calming effect on the nerves, eliminating the stares of irritation, headaches and insomnia.
