Have you ever thought of learning and trying the headstand position as a part of your workout routine? Headstand is a popular yoga asana that requires a lot of practice to perform correctly. Do it the wrong way, and you may end up hurting your neck. However, many still fear to try the headstand, even if they are regular practitioners of different asanas.
Being able to do a headstand is a plus point for your health. The headstand benefits are numerous, physically, and mentally. Also, if you are someone new to this yoga asana, and want to know more, then keep on reading to learn about the headstand benefits and limitations, if any.
What is A Headstand?
As the name suggests, this particular yoga pose involves a person standing upside down on the head, keeping the legs up in the air. It is also known as Sirsasana. It is one of the inversion yoga poses. There are two basic forms of headstands –
- Traditional headstand
- Tripod headstand
Learning How to do a Headstand?
Now, learning to ace a headstand takes precision and lots and lots of practice. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Practice and try to perfect this inversion pose a little bit at a time. The secret to mastering this beautiful yoga pose is practicing initially with the support of a wall in your home. Choose a wall in your home suitable for your practice.
Now the next steps are the most crucial and important ones:
- Kneel and place your hands on the floor or yoga mat in front of the wall, keeping your head on the floor, face down, and resting it against the inside of your palms.
- Now, walk and bring your feet slower to your body, and keep your butt up.
- Gently lift one leg at a time and try touching the wall.
- Do not rush yourself while lifting your legs, as you may put sudden and too much pressure on your neck.
Now, on trying you will realize, it sounds easier to hear or read, but pretty complicated in reality. So, don’t be too hard on yourself, and keep trying. Practicing with wall support may tempt you to pick up the pace on the body lift. So, be careful and never overdo or practice exceeding your limitations.
If you are totally new to headstands, then we recommend you practice the basic yoga positions and gently proceed to master this one. Seeking professional guidance to learn this pose will be a wise decision.
Headstand BenefitsWhat are the Headstand Benefits?
Practicing headstand or any of the other inversion yoga poses offers plenty of great health benefits, encompassing your body and mind. Pretty amazing, right, ladies?
Here are some of the headstand benefits that you need to know about:
1. Reduces your stress
Stress is something that we can barely avoid in our lives. The best way to deal with it is by learning tricks to reduce our stress and calm our minds. Now, since performing this inversion pose requires a lot of concentration on your body movements and breathing, you will gradually feel calm, one of the best headstand benefits.
It further boosts the secretion of happy hormones such as dopamine, serotonin, and reduces the production of the stress hormone- cortisol.
2. Boosts your blood circulation
Another reason why you should consider learning headstand is it helps in the proper blood circulation. With better blood circulation, your body will be able to rejuvenate itself.
3. Good for your digestive health
This pose also helps in the better absorption of nutrients into your body, improves any bowel movement disorder, and releases any trapped gas. Hence, many people fart a lot while trying any yoga poses.
4. Headstand/ shirshasana benefits for hair health
Did you know that stress and your hair health are interrelated? The more you stay in a stressful environment, the more chances are of hair fall. Moreover, improvement in your blood circulation also keeps your hair healthy and safe. So, you can learn this pose and enjoy the wonderful headstand/shirshasana benefits for hair and get a great head of beautiful hair.
5. Headstand/shirshasana benefits for face
We all dream of having flawless and glowing skin, don’t we? One way to get this is if can ace headstands and do it regularly. Moreover, any inversion yoga pose is known to boost the lymphatic system of the body, which further helps to get rid of the toxins. This is the ultimate key to get beautiful skin.
6. Headstand/shirshasana benefits for eyes
As the blood flows throughout your body properly during a headstand, it is known to bear positive effects for your eyes as well.
7. Total core body workout
Being able to practice this form of yoga is undoubtedly the best feeling ever, as it also helps in strengthening your shoulders and arms, and increases your upper body strength.
Now, there is one point that needs special attention here i.e. headstand benefits and limitations. Yes, headstands come with its set of a few shortcomings.
As we said, the headstand looks and is dangerous if not done the right way. Practice this pose carefully, and that’s your key to success!
Rushing to achieve perfection is a big NO! Why?
- It can lead to a neck injury.
- It may tear an artery lining in your heart. In the worst-case scenario, it may cause a stroke.
- It may damage your cervical spine.
If you have any of the below conditions, then we wouldn’t recommend you a headstand:
- You already have a heart condition.
- You have glaucoma.
- You have shoulder and neck pain.
- You have wrist pain.
- You have migraine issues.
- You have a medical history of osteoporosis
- You are pregnant.
The headstand benefits help and keep your body healthy and may reduce the chances of you suffering from most forms of medical conditions. But of course, you have to do it correctly and with patience.
Or else, you may end up hurting yourself, and that’s the worst! Also, the alignment of your body plays an integral role while practicing this asana. Maintaining your alignment is a must here. On a different note, did you know that you can also practice with the help of a hammock or swing, which is a part of aerial yoga?
Take care.
