Yoga is an ancient philosophy of creating strength, harmony, and awareness within our body. The wholesome practice of yoga comprises of breathing techniques, yoga postures, and meditation aimed at purification of the mind along with fostering a holistic well-being. The science of yoga is extremely beneficial for the mind and body and does the most wondrous things. It stretches and flexes the muscles, provides mental clarity, liberates the soul from the bondage of materialistic desires, attachments and ego, and helps connect with the divine, the supreme being. The art of yoga is not just limited to one or two yoga poses but multiple postures and the correct practice of each yoga asana confers the practitioners with incredible benefits. One such amazing yoga posture is the sirsasana (headstand).
The idea of going upside down may not be appealing to most of the people. Infact, the thought of inversions can really be scary for certain individuals. However, the reality is that falling into an upside down position as in a headstand actually helps boost the morale and renders a new perception in life. These are two of the several benefits of headstand.
Renowned yoga teacher, B.K.S Iyengar in his book “ Light on Yoga” calls sirsasana the ‘king of yoga postures’ because of its magical effects on the intellect, body, and spirit.
Steps for Headstand (Sirsasana):
1. Kneel on the floor. Interlock your fingers and place your forearms on the floor. Keep your elbows shoulder-width apart.
2. Rest the crown of your head against the clasped hands. Inhale; lift the knees off the floor.
3. Come into an upside-down “V” position. Walk your feets closer to your elbows, heels raised.
4. Slowly, uplift your feet off the floor and bring your knees closer to your chest.
5. Gently straighten your legs and keep them perpendicular to the ground.
6. Keep your weight evenly balanced on the two forearms and stay in this pose for 15-20 seconds.
Take a glance at the sirsasana benefits:
1. Natural treatment for Hair Loss: Losing hair is awful and is a definitive representation of your health. One may not be able to fully stop the hair fall but can surely slow down the process with the practice of headstand. Sirsasana increases blood flow and provides nutrients to the scalp region thus decreasing hair fall and the onset of grey hair.
2. Calms the Brain: The upside-down position of headstand amplifies the flow of blood to the brain. The freshly-oxygenated blood stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands which calm and rejuvenate the mind. The practice of headstand combined with deep breathing is a powerful recipe for relieving stress, depression, and insomnia.
3. Increases focus: When you go upside-down, the blood flow is directed from the feet to the head. This improves mental function and in turn, elevates the focus of the person. Also, enhanced blood flow decreases tensions and makes your mind sharper and clearer.
4. Therapeutic for a Headache and Migraine: Sirsasana effectively relaxes and strengthens the blood vessels in the brain thereby preventing headaches and migraine. Also, the practice of headstands increases nutrients in the mind that tranquilizes the brain and prevents headaches.
5. Strengthens Arms and Shoulders: Sirsasana strengthens the core by improving the upper body strength, and muscle endurance. By holding yourself up in the headstand, utilizing the forearms, shoulders and back to keep the head and neck relaxed, you are able to lengthen the spine and relax the vocal muscles.
6. Improves Digestion: By performing an inversion, you allow the effects of gravity to be reversed on the digestive system that removes stuck material, releases trapped gases, and increases the blood flow to the digestive organs.
7. Treats Diabetes Naturally: Diabetes is the byproduct of the improper functioning of the pituitary glands whose symptoms itself manifest in the malfunctioning of the pancreas that increases the development of diabetogenic hormones. The practice of headstand effectively promotes healthy brain functions that control pituitary glands and thus help in combating diabetes.
8. Triggers Lymphatic System: The lymphatic system is responsible for the removal of fluids from the tissues and waste products from the blood. When you flip onto your head, you stimulate the lymphatic system and assist in removal of toxins from the body.
9. Enhance your Sensations: The practice of headstand increases the blood supply in the body and enhances the functions of the sensory organs while curing various problems like bad hearing, myopia, astigmatism perfectly.
10. Cure For Piles and Varicose Vein: The disease of piles and enlarged veins occur due to the accumulation of the blood within the anus and legs. The sirsasana yoga posture breaks down the blood build-up in the veins and anus and transfers it to other parts of the body while alleviating the problem of piles and varicose veins effectively.
With Sirsasana, reap the benefits you deserve and live a holistic, balanced and peaceful life.
To Know more about Sirsasana, join yoga teacher training in India.
