The inverted V pose know in Sanskrit as Parvatasana,
or maybe more commonly known as the downward facing dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana
is one of the twelve postures performed through Suryia Namaskar, the sun
salutations. Although I love to
flow through the sun salu’s with one breath one movement, I also really love to
hold this posture for a series of deep breaths, and there are reasons as to why
you should.
Firstly it is our legs that carry us around each day,
walking, running, standing and generally moving around can bring tension to the
back of the legs causing tightness to the hamstrings and calf muscles. The inverted V is wonderful for
bringing relief to the backs of the legs and causing the tension to release
itself with the help of gravity, lengthening those tight hamstrings.
It keeps the spine long and allows the vertebrae to
find space, which in other forward bends such as Paschimottanasana (seated
forward fold) is not as easy. With
this posture it keeps the spine long without causing any other tension to other
parts of the body. Here we use
gravity to reverse the usual downward pressure to the spine, and the pressure
you create through the palms and feet on the mat is one of the best tools for
lengthening the spine. Here the
spine receives the benefits of an inverted posture such as the headstand but is
great for anyone not wanting to practice those postures yet, or has neck or
shoulder injuries or simply not enough strength to hang upside down for longer
periods of time.
Being able to hold here gives you the time to really
slow down and focus on the breath and actually feel the breath working through
the body and re-energising each and every cell. Our breath in its gross form is our energy so to be able to
feel it moving through the body is a beautiful thing.
It is a great strengthening posture not only for the
arms but also for the chest. Many
people now spend hours hunched at desks and over computers this posture is a
great combat to those hunched shoulders, chest and upper back muscles and
brings a sense of release from pain and pressure from those areas of the body.
There will be an increase of upper body strength
through the practice of this posture which is probably something we could all
do with, keeping the elbows slightly soft so as not to hyperextend through the
arms and engaging all the muscles in the arms by taking the biceps away from
the ears and really pushing the palms down into the mat will bring a great deal
of prana or energy to the whole arm and will help to build on stamina.
And finally by bringing the chin into the chest
creates a pressure to the throat area which is going to provide stimulation for
the thyroid gland which in turn regulates the whole metabolic system, bring
balance and harmony to our whole systems.
We could also say that this stimulation is also reaching Vishuddhi
chakra located at the throat in our astral bodies, hence governing our speech
and communications, so that we can make ourselves more easily understood and
able to express ourselves through sound and speech more easily and
beneficially.
So next time you practice this wonderful posture try
to bear all these things in mind and explore through your body, instead of
hanging out and wondering how long is the teacher going to make me hold this
pose, give your brain a wonderful bath of oxygen, breathe deeply and feel the
pose both internally and externally and let go of all the stresses and strains
of the day.
Looking forward to meeting you on the mat for a bit
of Inverted V time
For now
Om Lokha Somasta Sukhino Bhavantu
May you all find peace, balance and harmony
Om Shanti
Mangala / Nicky
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