The Shava Asana: A Full Body Stretch
Shava Asana is the name given to a full-body or rather, a deep level body stretch that is performed by yoga practitioners. It is actually called "warped stretch" by some. This stretching routine can be quite challenging to do, especially if you are a beginner or intermediate yoga practitioner.

The purpose of this routine is to allow the student to stretch the body at the beginner level yoga. Practicing the Shava Asana can help the students develop body awareness and flexibility. It also helps the student to master the art of stretching on the perfect level. To master the Shava Asana requires years of practice, but it does not require physical or expensive equipment.
It is important to note that even though the routine is called Shava Asana, it is not a full-body stretch. It is in fact an extreme, deep stretching workout that will lead to total relaxation and a lot of flexibility. To complete this exercise, the students will have to follow some body postures in an inverted pattern. It is advised to start with slow stretches and then do some advanced twists on it. In fact, the student should only get some experience before going for the full-body stretch.
When doing the Shava Asana, the students need to concentrate on their breathing. The entire body needs to be relaxed and this can be achieved through deep, steady breaths. One should try to remain in a posture and control the body's movements as much as possible. After several repetitions of the Shava Asana, the students will start to relax their body. The more they become relaxed the more flexible the body becomes.
When sitting in the position for the routine, the students need to be aware of the position of their body. They need to pay attention to where they are situated in their body. The students should try to take a spot in the middle of their body, without letting their body out of the fold. This helps them to relax the muscles in the upper half of their body. The leg which lies flat on the floor should be bent at the knee and the foot should be placed on the ground.
The pose called Shava Asana is performed as a full body or in fact, a body-wide exercise. One has to bend one's legs while standing on one's feet. The other person has to place his or her hands on the lower part of the person's shoulders. The individual should keep a slight bend in the knee of the knee, which is located behind the shoulders. The individual should then put the heel of the foot on the ground and push the buttock. The student should bend his or her knees at the hip and rest on one's chest.
Students need to sit with the spine erect in an upright position. Their eyes should be closed and in their mind they should picture themselves in a relaxed state. The student should not think about anything. The eyes are closed and the mouth should be opened. The student should breathe slowly breathe out completely. The student should remember to let the chest fall open.
After practicing the Shava Asana the student should remember to lie down for a few minutes. This allows the body to stretch more completely. When lying down, the student can stretch the muscles in the back, neck, abdomen, arms and thighs. The student can try to focus on this stretch as much as possible to allow the body to heal faster.
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