Accessing Headstand – Sirsasana
Accessing Headstand – Sirsasana
How to Get to Headstand
I used to hunt for books and videos on 'advanced' postures when I first started practicing yoga. Being a yogi, I thought, meant forming cool shapes with my body and breathing in and out. "Wow, that's fantastic," I thought when I first saw photographs of Headstand. "I'm eager to learn!" "How the hell is that person standing on their head?" I wondered at the same moment. "It may be witchcraft!"
The fact that Sirsasana is known as the "King of Yoga Poses" further added to my obsession with standing on my head. Despite my scepticism of yoga hierarchy, it felt critical that I learn to accomplish this inversion (or in life, to be honest). It took me a few months to learn how to securely perform an anatomically sound and aligned Headstand. And, as much fun as it is to be upside down, the voyage there was undoubtedly the greatest thrill (and struggle).
The Sanskrit word sirsasana means "head" (sirsa) and "posture" (sana) (asana). Even if the overall goal is to stand on your head, there are numerous steps and actions that must be taken to get there. Please remember that every step leading up to Headstand is crucial, not just Headstand itself. You can have fun and obtain significant knowledge without ever taking your feet off the ground if you want to build a Headstand practise.
You can have fun and obtain significant knowledge without ever taking your feet off the ground if you want to build a Headstand practise.
Headstand Advantages
Although I believe that practising Headstand is optional, it does have a number of advantages:
Stimulation of the pituitary and pineal glands, which regulate biological activities such as blood pressure, reproduction, sleep, and others.
Calming the brain relieves anxiety and moderate sadness.
Arms, spine, abdominals, and legs are all strengthened.
Digestion has improved.
Headstand (and inversions in general) creates attention immediately, which is one of my favourite benefits. I can't do anything but be in Headstand and breathe in the present moment when I'm in Headstand. My body's engagement, balance, and posture integrity all diminish as soon as my mind moves.
Headstand Contraindications
As previously stated, without the use of props or modifications, Sirsasana is a difficult posture for many of us. As a result, I strongly advise you to study this position under the supervision of a yoga teacher. Please consult your healthcare provider before beginning the process of learning sirsasana if you have a history of or currently experience back/neck discomfort, hyper/hypotension, glaucoma, heart issues, or if you are pregnant.
Headstand Preparation
- Strengthen yourself
Developing the correct muscles, balance, and body awareness to get into a Headstand requires strengthening the core, arms, and legs. To achieve this inversion, you must be able to utilise a variety of muscles in order to maintain balance while upside down.
Dolphin position is an excellent place to begin strengthening your body.
- Start with the props.
Practicing tripod Headstand with some blocks is an excellent method to start getting upside down.
Bring your hands shoulder width or slightly closer to the floor in a Tabletop position. Place two blocks in front of each hand on the highest setting. As you drop your shoulders to the top of the blocks, rotate your inner elbows forward and shift your weight past your wrists.
Bring your crown of your head between the blocks slowly until it hits the floor comfortably.
Squeeze your elbows together and observe whether they broaden. This could be a hint that you need to strengthen your shoulders and arms.
Tuck your toes in, lift your knees off the ground, and begin walking your feet toward your hands slowly.
This is an excellent spot for a rest and exploration. Take note of the amount of strength required in your legs, core, arms, and shoulders. See how light you can get on your head now that the majority of your weight isn't on your neck. Spread your weight across your hands, arms, and shoulders.
Once you've established solid stability, gradually bring your feet closer together until your hips are precisely over your shoulders. This is again another excellent stop. You can focus on becoming lighter, developing more buoyancy, and learning to breathe and observe in this posture, with your toes remaining on the ground, for a few days or weeks.
For many of us, this is the limit of our abilities. Whether you're on step one or
your feet are straight up into the sky, you can profit from this inversion.
- Control the situation Lift-Off
If you still want to investigate lift-off at this stage, start near a wall. Falling out of inversions is a combination of dread and exhilaration for me. Knowing that a wall is waiting to catch us allows us to explore experiences and feelings other than fear and discomfort.
Tuck one knee into your chest to begin. Take note of what this move activates,
as well as your balance and breathing patterns.
Consider lifting your second knee to your chest when you feel ready, which may be today or next month.
As you develop awareness, strength, and balance while upside down, this could be a terrific location to explore. Or this could be the farthest you've ever travelled, which is fantastic!
You may eventually wish to extend one leg toward the ceiling. Contract your abdominals while doing so, and avoid arching your back.
You will be able to breathe calmly and become present after you feel balanced, which means your leg, hips, and shoulders are aligned. Consider reaching your energy up through your toes and toward the ceiling while extending your other leg up to squeeze your thighs against one another.
Please refrain from jumping into a headstand! It may appear to be the quickest route, but it generates instability, and the momentum prevents you from activating the right muscles and engaging them in order to properly place any weight on your head, neck, and shoulders.
Allow yourself time to be present once you've reached the Headstand variant you want to explore on a given day. Observe. Check out how the world seems from this perspective. Recognize that there are some things we can only experience if we change our perspective, if we take the time to look down a different route.
Recognize that there are some things we can only experience if we change our perspective,
if we take the time to look down a different route.
- Inhale deeply. Feel at ease. Be there.
Come down into a Child's pose (Balasana) by lowering one knee and one foot at a time once you're finished. To feel the effects, take as least as many breaths in child's posture as you did in Headstand. The aftereffects for me might range from intense focus and tranquilly to excitement and joy.
Most of the time, I practise Headstand with blocks under my shoulders. I believe it protects my neck and helps me to stay in the posture for a little longer without worrying about cervical spine tension. However, if you feel compelled to try this pose without the use of props or a wall after practising, I strongly advise you to seek out an instructor who can safely assist you.
Sirsasana is a useful asana for incorporating inversions into your daily routine. There are numerous opportunities to pause and explore while learning to Headstand. This pose, like everything else associated with the term yoga, is an excellent instrument for self-discovery and self-love. Yoga teaches us about our own strengths and shortcomings. It's a wonderful tool for cultivating self-acceptance and developing self-inquiry in order to avoid criticising or punishing ourselves.
Whether or whether Sirsasana is a pose that is accessible to you, the lesson is to keep exploring who you are. The ability or inability to do this position has no bearing on your worth as a person or your level of yoga or life experience. Sirsasana is just another opportunity for inquiry, discovery, and perhaps some fun.