Setu Bandha Sarvāṅgāsana (Sanskrit: सेतु बन्ध सर्वाङ्गासन), Shoulder supported bridge or simply Bridge, also called Setu Bandhāsana, is an inverted back-bending asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise
Etymology and origins
The pose is named from the Sanskrit words सेतु Setu, a bridge; बन्ध Bandha, caught; सर्वा Sarva, all; ङ्ग Anga, limb; and आसन Asana, seat or posture.
The pose appears as “Kāmapīṭhāsana” in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi (written before 1868).[
Description
The pose is entered from Sarvāṅgāsana (shoulderstand), the chest being held forwards by the hands and the feet lowered to the ground behind the back, the knees remaining bent; or more easily, by lifting the back from lying supine on the ground. The full pose has the knees bent and the ankles caught (Bandha) by the hands. The pose may be exited either by lying down or by jumping back up into shoulderstand.
Variant pose
A common form of the pose has the arms straight out along the ground towards the feet, the arms straight with the fingers interlocked. Some practitioners are able to straighten the legs in the pose.
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Benefits of Bridge Pose (yes…there’s lots)
- Stretches the chest, neck, spine and hips
- Helps to calm the brain and helps alleviate stress and mild depression.
- Stimulates abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid.
- Rejuvenates tired legs.
- Improves digestion.
- Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause.
- Relieves menstrual discomfort when done supported.
- Stretches the chest, neck, spine, and hips
- Strengthens the back, buttocks, and hamstrings
- Improves circulation of blood
- Calms the brain and central nervous system
- Stimulates the lungs, thyroid glands, and abdominal organs
- Improves digestion
- Helps relieve symptoms of menopause
- Reduces backache and headache
- Reduces fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia
- Rejuvenates tired legs
- Relieves symptoms of asthma and high blood pressure
- Therapeutic for hypertension, osteoporosis, and sinusitis
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