Sanskrit – Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
English – Bridge Pose
Shapeshift – Sloping Boulder Pose
Lesson of the Boulder:
While a boulder may be small enough to move or roll manually, others are extremely massive. In common usage, a boulder is too large for a person to move.
Benefit of the pose (how it will help/systems it supports)
Calms the brain and helps alleviate stress and mild depression
Reduces anxiety and fatigue
Pose can be energizing or restorative
Helps relieve back pain
Systems it supports:
Skeletal – stretches and opens space in the spinal area, stabilizes shoulder, hip and knee joints
Muscular – strengthens and stretches back, glute and leg muscles
Respiratory – Stimulates and opens space in lungs
Circulatory – inversion position of bridge stimulates circulatory system
Digestive – stimulates and improves digestion
Immune – As space is created, breath is expanded supporting stronger immunity
Reproductive – Relieves menstrual discomfort and symptoms of menopause
Considerations
Students with neck, shoulder or knee issues should move into bridge pose slowly and consciously engaging legs and glutes to support these areas
Women who are pregnant or menstruating should be aware of inversion energy of this pose and modify as necessary