Salabhasana
Salabhasana or Purna Salabhasana (; IAST: "Śalabhāsana"), Locust pose, or Grasshopper pose is a prone back-bending asana in modern yoga as exercise. Etymology and origins. The name comes from the Sanskrit शलभा "shalabh" which means "grasshopper" or "locust". The pose is not found in the medieval hatha yoga texts. It is described independently in Swami Vishnudevananda's 1960 "Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga" in the Sivananda Yoga tradition, and by "B. K. S. Iyengar" in his 1966 "Light on Yoga", implying that it may have older origins. A similar pose was found in Western gymnastics in "The Bagot Stack  Stretch-and-Swing System", 1931, though Mary Bagot Stack had visited India. Description. Salabhasana is entered from a prone position. The legs are stretched out straight and lifted; the arms are stretched straight back, palms down, and lifted; the head is lifted and the gaze is directed straight ahead. It is a back bend, or spine stretch, utilizing the strength of the upper and middle back to lift the weight of the legs as high as possible from a starting position while face down on the floor. It improves flexibility and coordination, exercises the back muscles, and increases strength and  stamina. Variations. Ardha Salabhasana (Half Locust Pose) raises one leg and the opposite arm at a time; the other arm may rest on the floor or be folded over the back. In Bikram Yoga, Salabhasana, following another reclining backbend, Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose, is performed in stages. First, the arms are placed under the body pointing straight towards the feet, palms downwards, and the chin is rested on the floor. Then the left and right legs are lifted alternately. Finally, both legs are lifted together.