Halasana or Plough Pose:
The name comes from the Sanskrit words ‘hala’ (हला) meaning “Plow” and ‘asana’ (आसन) meaning “Posture” or “Seat”.
Health Benefits:
-Stretches all muscles and ligament in the practitioner’s calves and thighs, resulting in greater leg flexibility
-Therapeutic for leg cramps
-Stimulates the practitioner’s thyroid, parathyroid, throat, lungs and abdominal organs
-Helps relieve gas and upper/lower back pain or discomfort
-Promotes good digestion
-Stretches the practitioner’s shoulders and spine
-Therapeutic for menopause, infertility, insomnia, headache and sinusitis
-Relieves stress and fatigue
Cautions:
This asana can put significant strain on the cervical spine, which does not normally undergo this type of stress, and can cause injury if not performed properly.
Practicing this pose without leg support can lead to injury. To provide support for the legs, practitioners may elevate the feet on props such as blocks or on the seat of a chair instead placing the feet directly on the floor. As alternatives, simply lying on the back and raising the legs into a hamstring stretch, or doing a seated forward bend may be appropriate.
source
