Setu Bandha Sarvangasana - Bridge Pose

Ram’s setu bandha (literally, bridge) is the ultimate bridge that reunites Ram and Sita. Built by Ram’s (the Self) army, composed of monkeys, bears, and other creatures it is made of stones that float on water because they have been magically etched with Ram’s name.

This setu bandha is the means by which the self crosses through the psyche, through the ocean of citta vritti’s, to win back buddhi (the awakened intellect), the feminine principle of receptive discerning awareness.

Step by Step :

1. Lie supine on the floor, and if necessary, place a thickly folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor, heels as close to the sitting bones as possible.
2. Exhale and, pressing your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, push your tailbone upward toward the pubis, firming (but not hardening) the buttocks, and lift the buttocks off the floor. Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel. Clasp the hands below your pelvis and extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders.
3. Lift your buttocks until the thighs are about parallel to the floor. Keep your knees directly over the heels, but push them forward, away from the hips, and lengthen the tailbone toward the backs of the knees. Lift the pubis toward the navel.
4. Lift your chin slightly away from the sternum and, firming the shoulder blades against your back, press the top of the sternum toward the chin. Firm the outer arms, broaden the shoulder blades, and try to lift the space between them at the base of the neck (where it's resting on the blanket) up into the torso.
5. Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor. 

Benefits

•     Stretches the chest, neck, and spine
•     Calms the brain and helps alleviate stress and mild depression
•     Stimulates abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid
•     Rejuvenates tired legs
•     Improves digestion
•     Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
•     Relieves menstrual discomfort when done supported
•     Reduces anxiety, fatigue, backache, headache, and insomnia
•     Therapeutic for asthma, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and sinusitis

Contraindications and Cautions

Neck injury: avoid this pose unless you are practicing under the supervision of an experienced teacher.


Learn about Dhanurasan ( Bow Pose) in my next post..

* STATUTORY WARNING :

Not all exercises are suitable for everyone and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. Any user of this exercise program assumes the risk of injury resulting from performing the exercises suggested.

Keep blogging for new pose and till then stay healthy ....!!