SIRSASANA – HEADSTAND can be approached in a couple of different ways. In the photo below you see the version with forearms on the mat. You can also place your hands on the mat, head down with elbows bent, placing your knees upon your forearms. Ease your feet up into headstand to begin. This will help you gain strength in your core before trying the version on the right.
For the version on the right, place your head in the center of your mat. Place your forearms and elbows on the mat and clasp your hands behind your head with the palms of your hands facing toward your head. You can and should perform this against a wall if you are just beginning. Slowly raise your feet into the air while resting your weight on your forearms and engaging your core as you bring your feet up. Some people find it beneficial to begin in a wide leg forward facing bend to raise the legs from the sides.
After this posture, a child’s pose would feel great!
Benefits
Yoga headstand strengthens the core, shoulders and arms. It lengths the spine and actually can strengthen the vocal muscles in your vocal power center. Of course this posture is amazing for practicing balance.This posture also reverses blood flow as all yoga inversion poses do, calming the brain, increasing focus, moving the blood from lower extremities contributing to the alleviation of varicose veins, aiding in digestion and triggering the lymphatic system to remove more toxins from the body. What a great benefit combination!
