Locust pose, or salabhasana, is a belly-down, or inclined, yoga posture that stretches your chest, shoulders, and backbone. It’s additionally a backbend that’s appropriate for newcomers.

“Locust pose improves power and adaptability, and it’s thought to cut back the consequences of bodily stress as a result of it reverses slouching,” says ACE-certified private coach Jennifer Fuller, RYT 500.

There may be a lot taking place on this comparatively easy pose, which strengthens all the again facet of the physique. Whether or not you’re studying the fundamental yoga poses otherwise you’ve been practising with Yoga52 for a while, energize your physique and counter fatigue with locust pose.

Locust Pose: Step-by-Step Directions



• Lie in your stomach in a inclined place together with your arms prolonged overhead. Squeeze your legs collectively.
• Place your chin on the middle of your mat, and look straight down on the ground to create size by the cervical backbone. Calm down your shoulders down your again. Rotate your palms right down to open your chest.
• Take a deep breath in, then exhale and carry your head, shoulders, arms, and legs away from the ground. Hover your limbs a number of inches off the mat.
• Arch your again, and interact your shoulders towards your backbone. Straighten your elbows by squeezing the muscle tissues on the again of your arms (your triceps).
• Have interaction your quadriceps to straighten your legs. Hold your ankles and ft touching if doable.
• Maintain the pose for 60 to 90 seconds, then launch.
• Relaxation in baby’s pose.

Advantages of Locust Pose

• Locust pose is an all-over body-strengthening posture that Fuller believes ought to be in each yoga class as a result of it creates larger spinal extension. This helps put together the physique for deeper backbends.
• Locust strengthens the muscle tissues alongside the backbone, which embrace:
  • Erector spinae
  • Quadratus lumborum within the decrease again
  • Trapezius within the higher again
  • Gluteus maximus (your booty)
  • Hamstrings
• Moreover constructing power alongside the again facet of your physique, locust is a superb stretch when you work a desk job. Once we sit for too lengthy, our hips get locked in a flexed place. Locust pose stretches the hips to elongate the muscle tissues on the entrance of your physique. (That’s somewhat secret: Yoga backbends open the entrance of the physique!)

Modifications and Contraindications

If in case you have a shoulder or again harm or are new to backbends, Fuller offers the next steps to change:

1. In case your shoulders really feel any discomfort, place your arms at your facet, palms face down. Hold your arms by your sides, then solely carry your legs.
2. These with again ache: Attempt lifting just one leg at a time — depart your arms at your sides together with your palms face down.
3. Attempt a certain locust by leaving your legs on the ground to guard your decrease again from experiencing discomfort and clasping your palms behind your again.
4. Place a rolled-up blanket beneath your thighs earlier than lifting for added assist.
5. Unfold your legs hip-width aside when you really feel stress in your decrease again.
6. If you wish to make this pose simpler, attempt conserving your arms by your facet.

On the lookout for a fast launch of the pressures of your day? Add locust pose to your yoga routine.