Shoulder Stand

Physical Benefits:

• Provides a good stretch to shoulder and neck area
• Tones are revitalizes thyroid and parathyroid glands.
• Strengthens heartbeat.
• Improves blood flow to the brain.

Process:

• Lie flat on your back with your feet together.
• Keep your arms flat by your sides on the mat. 
• Raise your legs to 90 degrees and point your toes towards your head.
• Keep your knees straight and legs together.
• Bring your hands to your butt and gently push the body upwards by walking your hands towards your lower back.
• Keep your weight mostly on your elbows and little bit of weight on your neck and shoulders.
• Legs and Knees should remain relaxed.
• Keep breathing slowly into your abdomen.
• As you keep getting better with experience, try to bring your raised body straight in one line.
• To come out of the pose, first place your palms on the mat and then slowly roll back rest of the body back down.

Counterpose of Shoulderstand:

• Fish Pose

Tridoshas link:

• Vata - Vata dominant people find it difficult to stay still in the pose and maintain the balance.
• Pitta - Pitta dominant people find it harder to get into the posture and hold it.
• Kapha - Kapha dominant people find it hard to raise the body once but once they are in the posture, it is easy for them to maintain it.

References:

Primary Reference: Practical Ayurveda - Fing out who you are and what you need to bring balance to your life - Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre - Pg 138-139