Yoga is an effective means for gaining weight and increasing muscle mass. One of the most potent postures you can do for increasing weight is shoulder stand, or sarvangasana in Sanskrit. To support the shoulder stand posture, your core abdominals, thighs, upper back and tricep muscles are engaged and toned. In addition to muscle toning, the inverted posture of shoulder stand stimulates your thyroid gland in the neck region. An overactive thyroid can lead to a condition known as hyperthroidism, in which the thyroid secretes an excess of hormones. This increases metabolism and causes you to lose weight. In the inverted shoulder stand posture, thyroid activity is balanced. The Ayurveda for You website mentions, "an enormous pressure is placed on the gland by this powerful posture. As the thyroid has one of the largest blood supplies of any body organ, this pressure has dramatic effects on its function, improving circulation and squeezing out stagnant secretions."
Step 1
Lie flat on the floor with your palms pressing into the ground at your sides.
Step 2
Bring your knees to your chest.
Step 3
Continue to press your hands into the ground as you elevate your lower back off of the ground and extend your legs into the air. The feet should be positioned directly over your face with the toes pointed.
Step 4
Bring your hands to your sacrum for support. A majority of your body weight should be supported by the arms, as opposed to the neck.
Step 5
Hold the posture for three minutes. Breathe deeply to increase circulation and stimulation to the thyroid.
Step 6
Release the posture by bringing the knees into the chest and slowly lowering the legs to the ground.
Tips and Warnings
- The thyroid stimulation benefits of shoulder stand can also be received by elevating your legs up a wall and resting your upper body on the floor.
- Do not attempt to perform shoulder stand if you have any issues in your intervertebral disks, spine, or back.
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