Shalabhaasana: Grasshopper/Locust posture

Yogatma Srihari

Shalabhaasana or grasshopper/locust posture is the opposite to Bhujangaasana. One has to do this aasana after performing bhujangaasana. It is a very great aasana which energises the whole body.

Shalabhaasana is performed by lying down on the floor on your abdomen. Keep both palms near the shoulders, one should lift the portion of the body behind the hip, that is one should lift the legs. In this aasana, one can lift one leg (one leg shalabhasana) or both legs (two leg shalabhasana). One should tighten the thigh, put pressure on it or on the ground when they lift the legs. This can be performed by any one, as one of the routine yogasanas. But, those who have lower back pain should not perform it. It is one of the aasana or posture of Hata Yoga. So those who are weak should not perform it daily or do it infrequently. Ladies should not perform it during their monthly cycle, two days before it and two days after it.

One can use a supportive system to perform it. You can use a bolster or a big pillow and can keep it below the thigh so that it is easy to lift the leg. Because once you keep the pillow below the thighs, your legs will automatically go up. One can take the support of a chair and rest the foot on it. This too makes it easier to lift the legs. Or one can even take the support of the wall and keep lifting the legs and can stop once the legs start aching.

(Yogatma Srihari is the founder and managing trustee of GSS Yogic Research Foundation, and president of the Yoga Federation of Mysuru. He is an entrepreneur, yoga guru, and motivational speaker.)