Shoulder Stand Pose – Yoga for Martial Arts Flexibility
This page provides details for the Shoulder Stand Pose. This Yoga exercise is used by martial arts students in order to loosen their upper back, neck, etc. It is also a partial core strengthening exercise.
This Yoga exercise is not recommended for people with a neck injury or problem as it can put pressure on the neck if done incorrectly. Some martial artists use pillows or towels under their shoulders in order to reduce the pressure on their necks. However, the Shoulder Stand Pose is not quite as difficult as the Plow Pose.
All stretches and exercises should be supervised by a trained instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. For additional martial arts stretches targeting other areas of the body, please visit the main Martial Arts Stretches or Yoga for Martial Arts sections.
Instructional Video for the Shoulder Stand Pose