Headstands pose is a yoga inversion pose that offers many health benefits such as calming the mind, alleviating stress and depression, activating the pituitary and pineal glands, stimulating the lymphatic system, strengthening the upper body, spine, and core, enhancing lung capacity, and strengthening abdominal organs. Some even claim that headstands promote blood circulation on the hair follicles thus helping with hair growth.
Though I practice frequently, I personally do not hold in headstands pose for a long period of time. This is traditionally a very musculine pose that energetically moves flow from root chakra to crown chakra, intended for brahmacharya practice. As a woman, I practice inversion as I am leveraging gravity to massage my internal organs and strengthen my spine and back muscles. Energetically speaking, a feminine pose starts with the heart chakra.
For the preparation of the practice, it is important to work on the core muscle, build strength in the arms, and release fear of falling. Learning how to fall out properly without hurting yourself is also an important step before trying on your own.
- Sit in a thunderbolt pose
- Bring your forearms to the floor, keeping your elbows directly under your shoulders
- Clasp each hand around the opposite elbow and adjust to ensure your elbows are the right distance apart
- Release your hands from your elbows
- Clasp your hands together on the floor, interlacing your fingers
- Place the crown of your head on the floor supported by your interlaced fingers
- Lift your hips and straighten your legs as
- Carefully walk your feet toward your head until your hips are as close to over your shoulders as possible
- Lift your right foot and bring your right knee to your chest
- lift your left foot and bring it to your chest alongside your right
- Breathe deeply and keep your core engaged for as long as you remain in the headstand pose.
Avoid doing headstands if you have neck, shoulder, or back concerns, osteoporosis, a heart condition, blood pressure concerns, eye concerns, including glaucoma. Pregnant women should practice under a qualified yoga teacher or already have strong headstand practice.