Sarvangasana

[2][3][4] The name comes from the Sanskrit सालम्ब Salamba, "supported", सर्वाङ्ग Sarvāṅga, "all limbs", i.e. "the whole body",[5] and आसन Āsana, "posture"," position", or "seat".

[13][14] Iyengar devoted a whole page of Light on Yoga to the beneficial effects of Sarvangasana, claiming that the pose is "one of the greatest boons conferred on humanity by our ancient sages",[15] calling it "the Mother of asanas"[15] and "a panacea for most common ailments.

"[15] He asserted that the pose had a direct effect on the thyroid and parathyroid glands, explaining that the chin lock increased their blood supply.

[15] The soothing of the nerves in turn, he wrote, relieved hypertension, irritation, shortness of temper, nervous breakdown, and insomnia.

[16][17] Iyengar advised against the pose for people with high blood pressure,[15] for whom he recommended halasana instead, as in his view it brought similar benefits.