Plough Pose - Halasana

Plough Pose is an extreme forward bend that puts pressure on your chest and the back of the neck. This activates the fear centre of the body. If practiced regularly it can enhance physical and mental relaxation, relieve stress and help you sleep better. This yoga pose works on opening up all the chakras within the body simultaneously, creating balance. It is believed that having blockages in the chakras can cause physical and emotional disorders.

Benefits of Plough/Plow Pose

Plough Pose does wonders to the body physically and mentally. It maintains inner balance, strength and vitality to the body. If you desire a peaceful and balanced life then you can definitely benefit from practicing the pose.

This is the only pose that stretches every inch of your back and provides a great stretch for the whole spine. It's known to be the best pose to increase flexibility of the spine, which is a sign of youth according to the yogi tradition. It stimulates the spinal nerves and releases tension in the upper back and shoulders. This helps those with any back and shoulder aches and pains.

Plough Pose increases blood circulation within the whole body. It massages the internal organs and provides vital nourishment to all the organs. The pressure on the chest enhances hormonal stimulation, which helps to improve thyroid, pancreas, immune and brain functions. It brings strength and vitality to the sexual organs, as it energizes and nourishes them. It helps with impotence. It is a unique pose known for gaining sexual power.

Certain poses affect the nervous system and balance the hormones in your brain, which can normalize your sleep cycle. If you're having sleeping problems, then plough pose is the natural cure. It will help with insomnia and restless sleep.

It's also a great pose to naturally relieve indigestion and constipation. If you practice yoga on a regular basis, in time you will notice that your stomach problems will eventually disappear.

This pose has many stress release benefits and can help you achieve greater concentration abilities. You can improve your overall yoga practice by strengthening and stretching your body in plough pose.

It's important to enter this pose slowly especially if you have any neck injuries. Stay in this pose for 30 seconds to start, then gradually increase to a few minutes.

Steps for Plough Pose

1. Lie on your back.
2. Using your abdominal muscles, lift your legs over your head until your toes touch the floor behind your head.
3. Interlace your fingers behind your and straighten your arms along the floor.
4. Roll the skin of your shoulders underneath you.
5. Keep hips lifted. Hips should be in line with the shoulders.
6. Options:
   1. You can bend at the knees.
   2. You can work legs into lotus position and hold you knees for 5 breaths.
   3. Curl legs in and hold for 5 breaths.

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