[Pose Of the Week] Stick the Landing in Stag Locust Pose (Intermediate)

Stag Locust Pose offers great benefits for your strength and flexibility – and it looks super cool without being too difficult!

Stag Locust Pose (Salabhasana Variation B) – also sometimes called Flying Locust Pose (which can be confusing, as there are several poses which are called by this name) – is an interesting variation on Locust Pose that adds an increased focus on upper body strength.

This intermediate-to-advanced yoga pose is an inverted backbend that also helps to stretch the abs, hip flexors, and quadricep muscles, while strengthening the arms, wrists, and shoulders. It also improves spinal mobility, improves posture and strengthens the spinal muscles and glutes. Plus, it looks pretty darn cool – and it’s not as hard as it looks! 🙂

To modify the pose, you may rest your chin on a yoga block or folded blanket, or slide your supporting foot lower on the shin to lessen the depth of the back bend.

Those with wrist, shoulder, or lower back injuries should avoid this pose.

How to Do Stag Locust Pose:

  1. Lie face down on your mat with your hands underneath your shoulders, palms down, and your fingertips in line with the tops of your shoulders. Hug your elbows close to your sides.

  2. Inhale, look up and lift your chest a few inches off the mat.

  3. Exhale, bend your right knee, lift your left leg all the way up behind you and point your toes. Rest your left knee on the sole of your right foot.

  4. Keep drawing your shoulders down and away from your ears, to avoid scrunching up around your neck.To release, slide the supporting foot down as you lower the raised leg.

  5. Relax for a moment, then repeat on the other side.

  6. Hold for 3-5 breaths on each side—being careful not to over-arch your lower back.

Learn more & watch a demo at Yoga15.com

 


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