Halasana

Halasana, or the plow pose, is a yoga pose or asana, in which the practitioner lies on the floor, lifts their legs, and then places them behind the head.

Practitioners should be advised that this pose can put significant strain on the cervical spine (which is not designed to support this type of weight). This pose can cause an injury if not performed properly. It is recommended practitioners consult with a qualified yoga instructor before attempting this or other advanced poses.

As alternatives, simply lying on the back and raising the legs into a hamstring stretch, or doing a seated forward bend may be appropriate.

There is a movement in the yoga community to stop teaching poses considered as higher risk such as Halasana, Sirsasana and the bow/wheel pose, especially given the injuries that teachers have sustained.