Eka Pada Sarvangasana (One Legged Shoulderstand) registers as 5* on Iyengar’s 60* scale of difficulty.
This pose combines two of my favorite asanas – Halasana and Salamba Sarvangasana I – into one magical moment. But, when you extend your right leg overhead into Halasana, you may compromise the alignment of your left leg by externally rotating your left inner thigh open, away from your midline. Instead, your upstretched leg should internally rotate so that your inner thigh rolls in toward your midline and you square off your hips. However, sometimes we get so focused on watching the right foot reach the floor that we lose sight of the alignment of the left leg.
Rather than focusing on reaching your right foot to the ground, focus on maintaining the alignment of the pose. Perhaps try the asana with the crown of your head about a leg’s distance away from a wall so that you can gently place the ball of your right foot onto the wall behind your head. This adjustment will allow you to explore your way into a deeper expression of Eka Pada Sarvangasana more carefully – listening to the feedback in your left leg the whole time.
Related posts:
- Niralamba Sarvangasana I (Unsupported Shoulderstand I)
- Supported in the Arms of the Mother: Salamba Sarvangasana I (Supported Shoulderstand I)
- Heeding the Call in Niralamba Sarvangasana II (Unsupported Shoulderstand II)
- Steady as you go: Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
- Making Connections in Eka Pada Sirsasana (One Legged Headstand)
Tags: alignment, asana, Eka Pada Sarvangasana, Halasana, Iyengar, Light on Yoga, Salamba Sarvangasana I, yoga
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