Plough Pose pose (Halasana)
The Story Behind the Name:
Halasana (Plough Pose) is an inverted yoga posture that stretches the spine, legs and shoulders. Plow pose is traditionally practiced near the end of a yoga class or sequence as it calms the nervous system and helps to prepare the body for final relaxation.
Plow pose gets its name from the ‘plow’ (or ‘plough’) – a popular farming tool ‘Hal’ = ‘plow’ and ‘asana’ = pose or posture. Halasana (Plough Pose), brings the body and the mind for deep rejuvenation like plow is used for digging the soil.
Difficulty Level:
- Intermediate
Drishti point:
- Nose/Navel
Technical details and how to start:
- Start from Shoulderstand / Salamba Sarvangasana and take the feet all over your head to the floor.
- Release your arms behind your back and interlock the fingers, arms to the floor.
- Walk your shoulders towards each other.
- In case your feet don’t touch the floor and place your hands on your hips for support.
- Press through the arms, shoulders, and feet if they are on the floor.
- Keep the spine long, tailbone reaching to the ceiling, hips over your shoulders.
- Stay for 5 breaths.
- To come out of the pose, release your hands and bring your arms back on the floor next to you, palms down and roll out of the pose banding the knees as you exhale.
Health Benefits:
- Improves the tone and strength of back muscles and spinal cord.
- Improves the tone and strength the leg and abdominal muscles.
- Improves the working of the spinal nerves by creating pressure on the nerves in the neck region.
- Improves the function of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands.
- Increases blood circulation.
- Relaxes and stretched muscles ligaments of thighs and calves.
- Increases flexibility and provides a feeling of relaxation during leg cramps.
- Makes spinal cord strong and flexible.
- Improves the digestive system, which makes this pose useful who are suffering from constipation and gastric problems.
- Stimulates the reproductive organs.
Beginner’s tips
- In case your feet don’t touch the floor you can hold your hips with your hands.
Safety Precautions
- Avoid Plow Pose if you have any neck, shoulder, or back injuries or chronic pain conditions or those with weak digestion.
- Pregnant women or women during their menstruation time should avoid Halasana.
- If in doubt check with your health practitioner before you start doing it.
Please Note:
People who decide to start practising Yoga and who are suffering from any cardiac problem, asthma, back pain, high blood pressure, neck, shoulder or spine injury or any other health related issue, should consult a doctor before starting any yogic activities and eliminate the positions that are not suitable for their particular case. Also, some particular asanas such as inversion asanas are not recommended for female practitioners who are menstruating.
