Shoulder Stand :: Sarvangasana
It’s important that your body weight is resting on your shoulders and arms and not your neck or head. This pose is a great opportunity to enjoy deep abdominal breathing because of the limited ability to expand your chest. It also massages the thyroid and parathyroid glands by compressing your chin into your throat. This feeling can be a little constricting at first, but you will be able to relax as you get used to it. Obviously, this pose is a great stretch for the upper back and neck.
In the photo above, you will notice that there is a slight angle in my hip joint as if I were sticking my butt out. If I were my student, I would point that out as something I would need to correct. Now that I've seen that picture, I'm aware of it whenever I do this pose. I feel the sensation of pushing my heels to the sky and it helps bring my whole body into a straight line. It would not be a good idea to be in this pose and look to one side or the other. Do not risk the neck injury.
Coming out of this pose can be a great massage for the spine and should be done slowly and under control. First slowly bend the knees and then gradually flex the hips, bringing the feet toward the ground.