Asana Of The Day: Setu Or Bridge Pose

Aches and pains are becoming a part of your modern life. Almost everyone has some kind of body pain for the other. Some kinds of pains like lower back and neck pain have become chronic problems. Yoga is one of the best ways to stay fit and keep all the aches and pains at bay. The biggest benefits of yoga is that it helps you lead a pain free existence.

The yoga asana for today is Setu Bandha Sarvangasana or the bridge pose. 'Setu' mean 'bridge' in Sanskrit. While trying this pose, you body must be placed like a bridge therefore justifying the name, bridge pose. The Setu Bandha Sarvangasana is also referred to as the half wheel pose sometimes.

Steps To Do Setu Bandha Sarvangasana:

1. Lie flat on your back on the exercise mat. Fold your legs at the knees.
2. Place your hands parallel to each other next to your ears.
3. Keep your head down on the mat and raise your body from your shoulders.
4. Slowly, lift your hips off the mat. So the length of your torso from the hips to the neck should be air borne.
5. Now balance yourself on the palms of your hands. You can fold your elbows and stabilise yourself.
6. At this point of time, your body is shaped like a bridge or a setu.

Benefits Of Setu Bandha Sarvangasana:

• The greatest benefit of Setu Bandha Sarvangasana is that it relieves back ache. You can get a lot of comfort from this yoga asana as it helps you to get rid of lower back pain.
• If you need strong limbs, then the bridge pose is ideal for you. You are balancing the entire weight of your body on your hands and legs. As a result, you are working on the muscles of your arms and legs. The muscles get stronger and also bigger.
• Have you got stubborn belly fat that refuses to go away despite strict dieting. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana will help you to get rid of this fat and have a flat belly. When you lift yourself up, your stomach muscles get stretched and thus you lose belly fat.
• All the internal organs of your abdomen get an impetus to function properly because of the stretching involved in this yoga asana.
• The Setu Bandha Sarvangasana works on all the chakras of the body. That is why this pose is also called the 'half wheel pose'.
• The bridge pose is actually great for those who have high blood pressure. This asana calms the mind and the central nervous system. Thus, you blood pressure comes under control.

These are some the reasons why you should practice Setu Bandha Sarvangasana regularly. What else have you gained from practising this yoga asana.