Sarvāṅgāsana

Variations

1. Ekapāda Sarvāṅgāsana

2. Ākuñcanāsana

3. Ekapāda Uttāna Mayūrāsana

4. Uttāna Mayūrāsana

“When we teach the headstand,
we first teach preparation,
then we teach the counterpose Sarvāṅgāsana
which in itself is a major pose that demands
its own counterpose Bhujaṅgāsana.
It is all very systematic.
Planning means to go gradually, to prepare,
and then to compensate.”
– TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Four Pages 53-54

“Another important thing that he has understood is
that these Āsana should not be taken one by one,
they have to be taken as a group and as a composition.
This means you don’t do headstand on Monday,
shoulder stand on Tuesday,
you do your group of Āsana linked like words in a sentence.”
– TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’,
given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981.

“Pratikriyāsana have counterpostural, compensational and transitional roles
and are applied at specific points in the practice in order to
maintain a sound physiological and psychological base.
This principle has an important role in how
we link the different aspects of the Āsana practice,
how we close the practice or how we integrate the Āsana
element of the practice into other aspects of our Yoga practice.
There are specific guidelines around how
they can be integrated into the practice,
the first of which is that the counter posture needs to
be mastered before a particular Āsana is attempted.
This principle is especially important when
attempting to integrate more complex Āsana such as
Sarvāṅgāsana and Bhujaṅgāsana into our practice.
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“How do we know that a student is ready to attempt
a more progressive Āsana such as Sarvāṅgāsana?
From following a core principle in the teachings of Vinyāsa Krama.
In that, the Pratikriyāsana for a particular Āsana needs
to be mastered before that particular Āsana is attempted.
For example, if we want to teach Sarvāṅgāsana,
because it will have a specific potential for the particular student,
then we teach the Pratikriyāsana Bhujaṅgāsana first.
So the student first works around Bhujaṅgāsana
within their personal practice and the information that arises
guides the teacher as to their readiness for, in this case, Sarvāṅgāsana.
The information arising from observing how
the student practices Bhujaṅgāsana guides
the teacher as to the appropriateness of Sarvāṅgāsana.
The information that feeds back may be on the level
of Annamaya, Prāṇamaya, Manomaya or beyond.
Obviously, this implies that we are observing the student’s practice directly.
Once the student shows an adequate performance of Bhujaṅgāsana
and it can be integrated into their existing personal practice,
then we can be more secure that the student is ready to approach
integrating Sarvāṅgāsana into their regular practice.”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

“Short and Longer Term prerequisites for: 
Eka Pāda Uttāna Mayūrāsana include
– Dvi Pāda Pīṭham
– Sarvāṅgāsana
– Halāsana
– Śalabhāsana
– Dhanurāsana”
– 108 Postural Practice Pointers

We must also consider the safety factors
“For example Viparīta Padmāsana could
be approached by working dynamically
from Ardha Padma Sarvāṅgāsana
into Ardha Padma Halāsana. This would
ascertain the ability to work into and with
Padmāsana in an inverted Āsana such as Śīrṣāsana.
Thus, any Āsana practice must allow for certain
safety factors, so we are able to work with respect
and regard for the individual involved and yet
retain consideration of and for the safety factors.”
– 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
– The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

The element of compromise in the body
“Working with safety factors brings
in another factor to consider.
This is the element of compromise in the body.
This is often something you don’t see.
For example, an involuntary movement
of the head in Sarvāṅgāsana.”
– 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
– The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

“Five questions my teacher taught me that need to be ‘posed’,
for or to any student wishing to practice Sarvāṅgāsana,
or even for and to any teacher wishing to teach Sarvāṅgāsana,
whatever the situation.
1. Who is going to practice it?
2. Why do they wish to use it?
3. When are they going to practice it?
4. How are they going to get in and out of it?
5. What do they need to have done to verify their capability?”
– 108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers

– Āsana only Planning Questions
“Design an Āsana practice leading to
– staying in Sarvāṅgāsana for 8 minutes”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

– Āsana only Planning Questions
“Design an Āsana practice leading to
– Sarvāṅgāsana with a crown of 12 breaths 1.1.1.1.
Justify your choices.”
To Download or View this Question as a PDF Study Sheet
– Yoga Practice Planning and Theory Questions – Collected & Collated

Links to Related Posts:

• Āsana & Mudrā Practice Techniques Glossary
  – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Viniyoga
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Vinyāsa Krama
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Pratikriyāsana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on the Breath
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Śikṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Rakṣaṇa
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Cikitsā
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Laṅghana
• Collected Practice Theory Posts on Bṛṃhaṇa
• Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques Glossary
  – Grouped into Primary, Secondary & Ancillary Techniques
• A series on Āsana Part One – Moving into our Bodies with Samasthiti
• Āsana practice to ascertain capability for Sarvāṅgāsana……
• Compendium of Quotes from TKV Desikachar on the Yoga of T Krishnamacharya……
• Śīrṣāsana as a Viparīta Karaṇī Mudrā……
• There are Many Approaches to Āsana Practice…
• The Viniyoga of Inversion as an Āsana or as a Mudrā……
• What are the Haṭha Yoga principles that inform the Viniyoga of inverted Āsana?