According to Sanskrit, Viparita means ‘opposite’ and Karani means ‘doing’, ‘by which’. In this asana, the state of body is opposite (head downwards and legs upwards) to the normal. That’s how the asana derived its name as Vipritasana.
Viparitkarani
Stages for Practice
- Lie in relaxed supine position with the legs together.
- Raise the legs up, keeping them straight.
- Push down on the arms and hands and raise the buttock.
- Support the lower back with hands, keeping elbows on the floor.
- Remain steady for a while with normal breathing.
- Release the position and relax on the back.
Dos and Don’ts
- Keep the balance of the body on elbows.
- Keep the knees straight.
- Avoid practising this posture immediately after any violent exercise.
- Avoid this practice in case of heart problems.
Benefits
- Its regular practice improves digestion, stimulates appetite and helps in relieving constipation.
- This practice improves blood circulation to the brain.
- It brings the luster to the skin.
- It balances functioning of the thyroid, parathyroid, and thymus glands.
- It also helps in the management of insomnia, varicose veins, and hernia.
