Salabhasana (Locust Pose)

When this pose is demonstrated, it resembles a locust. Hence the name Salabha, a locust.

TECHNIQUE

Lie on the ground, face downwards. Keep the hands by the sides. the palms should be turned up.
You can place the hands underneath the belly also. This is another way. Inhale (Puraka) slightly. Retain the breath (Kumbhaka) till you finish the Asana and then exhale slowly. Stiffen the whole body and raise the legs in the air one cubit high. Raise the head as in Bhujangasana. Keep the thighs, legs and toes as shown above. Turn up the soles of the feet. Lift up the legs, thighs and lower portion of the abdomen. Keep up this pose from 5 to 30 seconds. Bring the legs down slowly. Now exhale very, very slowly.
You can repeat the process 6 to 7 times. You can keep the hands near your chest on the ground, with the palms facing the ground.

BENEFITS

This Asana gives a posterior curvature to the spine. It bends the spine backwards. In bending the spine it serves as a counter-pose to Paschimottanasana, Halasana and Sarvangasana which bend the spine forwards (anteriorly). Like Mayurasana, it increases the intra-abdominal pressure. It supplements the Bhujangasana. Bhujangasana develops the upper half of the body, while Salabhasana develops the lower half of the body and the lower extremities also. It tones up the muscles of the abdomen, thighs and legs. It brings down the accumulated faecal matter of the stomach to ascending colon, from ascending colon to transverse colon of large intestines, from transverse colon to descending colon and from there to the rectum. Read any book on elementary physiology. It will help you a lot.

This Asana gives a good exercise for the abdomen. It relieves constipation. It tones the abdominal viscera (organs) viz., liver, pancreas, kidneys, etc. It removes several diseases of the stomach and bowels. It cures sluggishness of liver and hunchback. the lumbo-sacral bones are toned up. Lumbago is removed. All forms of myalgia of the lumbar region (hips) are removed. The digestive fire is increased. Dyspepsia is removed. You will have very good appetite.