Viparita Karani Asana
In Sanskrit, Viparita means "inverted" or "reversed," Karani means "doing" or "making." This Asana translates to Inverted Pose.
This Asana is often referred to as Legs Up The Wall because this practice can also be practiced with the legs against the wall for support during the practice. This Asana is also preformed as a Mudra practice.
Practice
Lie flat on the back with the legs and feet together in a straight line.
Inhale placing the hands and arms close to the body with the palms facing down.
Exhale raising both legs, keeping them straight and together.
Move the legs over the body towards the head.
Push down on the arms and hands, raising the buttocks off the floor.
Roll the spine from the floor, taking the legs further over the head.
Turn the palms up, bend the elbows and let the top of the hips rest on the base of the palms near the wrist.
The hands cup the hips and support the weight of the body.
Keep the elbows as close to each other as possible.
Raise both the legs to the vertical position and relax the feet.
In the final position, the weight of the body rests on the shoulders, neck and elbows, the trunk is at a 45 degree angle to the floor and the legs are vertical.
The six cleansing actions are intended to be the start of a Yoga practice in order to clean, strengthen, remove toxins and improve the flow of Prana through out the practitioner.
Yoga poses help to elongate and strengthen the muscles of the body as well as to calm the mind for the deeper spiritual practices of Yoga.
Breathing exercises are a great practice to remove carbon dioxide, increase lung capacity as well as being a good preparatory practice for the deepest spiritual practice of Yoga, Meditation.
The four body locks that makes up this practice give the practitioner the ability to hold or lock Prana in certain locations of the body. These practices also allow the practitioner to release blockages that may be holding the practitioner back.
The gestures in this practice include the whole body and are intended to awaken Prana, Chakras as well as Kundalini energy within the practitioner.
Meditation is the highest spiritual practice of Yoga which is why this practice is the most difficult practice to preform, but with correct knowledge and dedication, can be the most profound practice of Yoga.