The classic yoga pose known as Shalabhasana and the Locust is deeply rejuvenating from your cervical spine to your toes. The leg and the chest are raised from the floor, perching cautiously on the belly and the hips.
Honing in on All the Layers of the Body(INVOKE) – One Muscle at a Time. Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar – Author, Columnist, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa shares how locust pose (Shalabhasana) builds full- body power.
1. Mental Calm and Inner Focus Shalabhasana is more than a physical pose—it fosters stillness and positivity. It instructs on body-mind alignment, deepens the conscious breath and cultivates inner peace. This grounding quality alleviates stress while providing support for anxiety.
2. Strengthen Your Neck and Your Hormones! When the neck as a whole tenses to lift the upper part of the body, a general tone is imparted to all the muscles of the neck. It not only exercises the neck, but it also activates the thyroid gland, which in turn can help to regulate the body’s hormones and metabolism.
3. Shoulder Restoration Thanks to the typical sedentary lifestyle we now lead in society, hunched shoulders are absolutely normal. This pose does the opposite by inviting the shoulders to roll back, straightening posture and relieving the chronic tension caused by being glued to a screen.
4. Upper Back Rejuvenation Elevating the chest but keeping a long spine – activating the muscles of the upper back. This move is beneficial for toning the thoracic spine, increasing flexibility, and releasing tension held for too long in this often-stressed area.
5. Enhanced Lung Function Lung Capacity: When the chest opens, lung capacity goes up naturally. With slower and deeper breathing you also take in more oxygen, are more aware of the breath and your respiratory endurance is better.
6. Emotional and Cardiovascular Harmony The focused, slow breathing cued in this pose not only favors our heart health, it is calming to our nervous system. Emotional balance is also enhanced as HRV normalizes and internal balance returns.
7. Digestive Activation It is a light compression in the internal organs with the abdomen stuck to the mat. This works to wake up digestion, enhance the functioning of the gut, and boost the metabolism.
8. Spinal Fortification Shalabhasana is a controlled back bend that stretches the spine and the muscles supporting it. Long term, this increases spinal strength as well as its flexibility and immunity to daily wear and tear.
9. Core and Glute Strengthening This lift beneath your body and balance require core muscles and glutes to work together. This in turn aids with posture and lower back support.
10. Healthy Pelvic and Sexual Function Very few moves are this directly connected to pelvic health. This Asana improves blood circulation and muscle tone in the pelvic region, thereby, promoting urinary tract health and helping women cope with menstrual cramps.
11. Lower Body Toning From your thighs to your calves to your ankles, the pose activates and strengthens the whole lower half. It also helps maintain joint mobility in the hips and knees, which lead to more dynamic walking patterns and improved balance.
