REVERSE POSE

1. Lie on the back, legs and feet together, arms by the sides, palms down.

2. Inhale, lift the legs up and over the head. Make sure that the legs stay together.

3 Keeping the elbows as close together as possible, place the hands in the back of the hips, locking the thumbs under the hip bone. (To get the hands into position, the hips will have to be lifted slightly higher. This is done by pushing up with the hands and raising the legs up at the same time.)

4. The legs should be straight (knees locked), and either slightly angled over the head or perpendicular to the floor.

5. Breathe naturally while holding the position. Hold the posture for a short time in the beginning, and gradually increase the duration over time.

6. Come out very slowly, lowering the legs back over the head, bending the knees slightly if necessary.

7. Place the hands on the floor, palms down. Slowly unroll the spine and lower the legs to the floor. Keep the head on the floor.

8. Do not lift the head off the floor until thoroughly relaxed.

COMMENTS: Persons with high blood pressure, blood-shot eyes, or infections of the head should not perform this posture.

BENEFITS: This pose helps bring the fluids and glands of the body into balance. It refreshes the entire body, giving a feeling of youth and vitality. Reverse Pose helps prevent or relieve painful menstrual periods, discomforts of menopause, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids by reducing the congestion of blood and lymph in the lower abdomen. It benefits complexion, mental alertness, and the other functions of the head by flushing this region with a rich supply of blood, refreshing and cleansing it.