Sarvangasana prep? This Shoulderstand sequence will prepare your chest and shoulders and help you find a more comfortable, soothing ...EssentialSequence:ThePerfectShoulderstandPrepWHYTHISSARVANGASANA(SHOULDERSTAND)SEQUENCEWORKSI’mgoingtostartthisarticlewiththesamecaveatthatIincludedinmyHeadstandsequence:ThispracticeisnotdesignedtoteachyouShoulderstand.Rather,it’sdesignedtobreakdowntheelementsthatcomprisegood,skillfulsequencingforShoulderstand(Sarvangasana). It’sonlyintendedforstudentsandteacherswhoarealreadyproficientinthisposture.Ifyou’renotregularlypracticingShoulderstand,pleaselearntheposeinthepresenceofaqualifiedinstructor.Shoulderstand(alsoknownasSarvangasana) isasimpleposture,exceptforoneglaringcomponent—theshoulders.It’sfittingthattheshouldersaretheexceptionalaspectoftheposturethatbearsits’name.Whentheshouldersdon’tcomplywiththeposture,theycreatemisalignmentsthatcanwreakhavocontheneckandmaketheentireposturefeeloutofwhack.Fortunately,agoodsequenceforShoulderstandcanhelpprepareyourbodywhereyouneeditmost:thefrontofyourshoulders,chest,hipflexors,andquads.YourshouldersneedtoextendandadductinordertogetintotheoptimalpositionforShoulderstand.Tovisualizethis:Imagineswingingyourupperarmsbackbehindyou,bendingyourelbows,andhuggingyourelbowstowardeachother.Otherwise,yourelbowswillsplayawayfromeachother,you’lllosestabilitythatyourshouldersprovide,andyou’lloverloadyourneck.Thecombinationofextendingandadductingyourshouldersactionsisnoteasy,whichiswhythesequencebelowfocusessoheavilyonanterior(front)shoulderandchestopening.Admittedly,theflexibilityofyourhipflexorsandquadsisnotasimportantastheflexibilityofyourshoulders.But,excessivetensioninthesemusclegroupscannegativelyimpactyouroverallposture,especiallywhenyou’reupside-down.Let’sbreakitdownalittlefurther:POSES1-3ThissequencestartsoffwithArdhaSuptaVirasana,DownDog,andLowLungewithfingersclaspedbehindtheback.TheseposturesintroducethreeessentialcomponentsofShoulderstand.Youopenthefrontofyourshouldersandchestinthelowlunge,youopeny