Twist and stretch in Twisted Plow Pose – a useful variation to help improve lung function, digestion, core strength, and more!

Twisted Plow Pose (Parsva Halasana) is a slightly more challenging version of Plow Pose that provides additional core strengthening benefits to the oblique abdominals, as well as the many other benefits offered by twist poses. This pose helps to stretch the neck and lower back, and improve spinal flexibility, as well as balance and mobility. It can also clean stale air from the lungs and improve lung function. As an inverted balance pose, it may also have great benefits for the brain, and is thought to calm the mind, reduce stress and fatigue, stimulate the thyroid gland, and improve digestion. And, it may help to relieve some of the symptoms of menopause.

Those who are pregnant, as well as those with asthma, high blood pressure, or neck, back, or shoulder injuries should avoid this pose.

How to Do Twisted Plow Pose:

• Begin lying on your back with your knees bent, feet on the floor, and arms on either side of you.
• Soften your knees and press your arms into the ground to reach your feet up toward the ceiling. Breathe here.
• Let your feet to fall back behind you any amount that feels good on your neck.
• Clasp your hands together on the ground and wiggle your shoulders underneath you one at a time.
• Walk your feet to the left side of your head and, if it feels good, bend your right knee to the ground outside the left ear. If that feels good, you can bend the left knee as well. Breathe here for at least three deep breaths, then then walk feet to center of head and repeat on the right side.

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