Halasana, the Miracle Pose that Helps Reduce Blood Pressure

By Kriti Malik | Jun 15, 2016 | 5,534 views

In the beginning, the Halasana pose seems downright uncomfortable. Your necks bent inwards,
your breathing is haphazard, and your toes are struggling to meet the ground. Slowly, but soon
enough, you realise how practicing this pose and being able to hold it for more than 15 seconds
can make your spine, neck, hamstrings and toes alert, and stretched out enough so your body
feels open.
Hal stands for plow and Asana stands for pose. Halasana or the plough pose takes its name
from the farming instrument, plough, used by farmers across India to prepare the soil for sowing
of seeds. In the sequence of asanas, Halasana is usually performed after Sarvangasana, which is
basically a shoulder stand. According to Meenakshi Swami, the author of The Science of Yoga,
asanas like halasana, suryanamaskara, seershasana and kapalbharti increase the flow of blood to
your head, improving intellectual power as well as memory.
Its one of those asanas which you cant perform half-heartedly because you may seriously injure
yourself. You need to be extremely mindful, have great control over your breath and keep steady
for at least 15 seconds. Once you build strength and flexibility, you can try and hold this pose for
as long as 10 minutes.

Benefits of Halasana
1. One of the most noticeable benefits of Halasana is the extreme stretch it gives to your back
bone, right from the neck to the tail bone, releasing any muscular tension. Judith Lasater writes in
the Yoga Journal, All structures of the posterior spine are stretched, including muscles, ligaments,
tendons, and fascia. In additions, the hamstring muscles at the back of the thigh, in particular
receive quite a stretch as well.
2. With age, your backbone tends to become stiff. Halasana works on the flexibility of your
backbone and helps open up and strengthen it.
3. BKS Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar Yoga suggests that Halasana is extremely helpful for those
suffering from hypertension or migraine.
4. Swami Satyananda Saraswati writes in Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha, Halasana massages all
the internal organs, activates digestion, relieves constipation, revitalises the spleen, suprarenal
glands (which belong to the endocrine system and are placed over your kidneys), promotes the
production of insulin by the pancreas and improves liver and kidney function.
5. He adds, Halasna also regulates activities of the thyroid gland which balances the bodys
metabolic rate, and stimulates the thymus gland, boosting the immune system.
6. Shaili Singh, who holds a Masters Degree in Yoga and Science of Living from Jain Vishva Bharati
Institute and a diploma in Yoga from Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, says, its really good
to burn fat around the gut. Halasana also improves the functioning of the thyroid gland and
improves blood circulation.
Tips for Halasana
1. The best way to do this asana is to place folded blankets under your shoulders. This lends some
support to your upper body and neck.
2. If you find it difficult to lift your hips off the ground, try placing a pillow under them. This should
give you the initial push.
3. Use both your hands to stabilise yourself and keep them there till youve safely placed your toes
on the ground. Even the slightest movement could create imbalance and you could risk injury to
your neck.
4. For those with a stiffer back, try another version of Halasana, known as Ardhaasana where your
legs are parallel to the floor and resting on a chair.
5. Breathing Inhale and hold on to your breath while you get into the pose. Exhale and then
steady your breath while in the pose. When you want to resume your earlier position, breathe and
hold on to it again.

How to do Halasana
1. Grab a mat and lie down straight with your hands on the side.
2. Slowly raise your legs together followed by your hips. At this point you can also use your hands
to support your back.
3. Take your legs backwards, over your head, towards the floor.
4. Gently, place your toes on the ground. Then, place your arms back on the side.
5. Hold this pose for as long as you can and while you do, breather slowly and keep looking
forward.
6. As the blood rushes to your head, pace your breath and count to 100.
7. Once youre done, hold your lower back with your hands and bring your legs back to lie down
straight. Exhale while you do this.
Source: NDTV News
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