Laura Venecia Rodriguez doing the "half-locust" pose
I do the above "half-locust" (sanskrit name is salabhasana) pose daily and, as I was executing it the other morning, I thought, "wow, this pose is one of my least favorite.." It's strenuous and requires much focus and effort to stay in place during the 20 or so seconds that I extend and hold each leg up in the air.
At times, this "asana" (pose in sanskrit) can feel more challenging than the "locust" pose in which you raise both legs up in the air from the same downward facing position. Despite my difficulty with it, I still do it daily. "Why?" you ask? Because the benefits far outweigh the momentary effort.
I have a sedentary desk job. I research and write and thus sit on my butt ALL DAY LONG. It's easy for "derrieres" parked in desk chairs for 8 hours o get soft, flabby, and utterly out of shape. That's where the half-locust comes to the rescue. However, its benefits extend beyond firming the butt. Equally important, It also:
- Slims and firms the hips and thighs.
- Stimulates circulation through important organs—the liver, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive organs and glands (it can boost your libido within minutes!)
- Strengthens the abdomen and muscles of the lower back.
- Works out and tones neglected muscles in the pelvic area.
Not every yoga pose I do is fun. But each has specific, documented benefits. The effort is worth it!
Yours for doing yoga poses at home, even when they're not fun,
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners" Home Yoga Coach
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