King of Asanas – Headstand

When I ask in a yoga class which asana they’d like to practice today, I often hear the answer – the headstand.

Why is this asana so attractive, even for complete beginners? I think it’s precisely because of its challenge and uniqueness. Even before we know the benefits of this pose, we are drawn to it by its appearance.

If I think back to when I first started yoga, it was the same. I wanted to get on my head as quickly as possible. Of course, I wanted to just swing into the pose. One leg on the ground, and the other kicking me up. And once, for a few seconds, I even managed to hold my legs up (probably in a banana shape), but soon enough, I collapsed to the floor like a deflated bag. It took many lessons on the correct way to enter the pose, strengthening the arms, core muscles, and breathing awareness, which really helped with the whole process, and above all, patience.

In Sirsasana, all three stages are important: entering, holding, and exiting the pose. Do you remember how it felt the first time you held the final position for a few seconds? You feel super proud, you immediately point out your achievement to others in the room (“Look at me!”), but then you lose control of your breath, your core muscles give out, and the inevitable happens… Thud. Most likely, a hard landing.

Falling out of the pose can be painful, especially when fear is present, which tightens the whole body. That’s why when you fall, it’s important for the body to be as relaxed as possible. Easier said than done, right? It’s good to be aware of your options. If you fall forward, try to pull your knees to your chest. If you fall backward, arch your back and land in a bridge pose. In both cases, your feet will absorb the impact.

Until you develop a sense of balance, it’s better to trust your yoga instructor, who will guide you safely into the pose. In the beginning, you can practice against a wall, but be careful! The wall can quickly become your “comfort zone,” which might slow down your progress. When you enter the pose and know something will hold you up in the back, you naturally reduce the activity in your core muscles, which are crucial in this asana. You also won’t develop a proper awareness of pelvic alignment.

You can watch different ways of entering the pose in the video below:
Watch Video:

In the final position, stay as long as you feel comfortable and as long as your breath remains calm. And most importantly, keep the following contraindications in mind and don’t practice if:

• You have high blood pressure,
• Heart disease,
• Kidney, eye, or ear problems,
• Headaches,
• Neck injury,
• Or if you are menstruating.

Here are some benefits of Sirsasana:

• Increases blood flow to the brain,
• Reduces pressure on the spine (after long periods of sitting),
• Detoxifies the body,
• Renews tissues,
• Relieves anxiety and worry,
• Improves concentration,
• Strengthens the upper body,
• Activates all muscles in the body.

Yoga teaches us to become aware of our body, thoughts, feelings, unconscious patterns of behavior, and to change the way we perceive the world around us. In Sirsasana, we literally change our perspective of the world. And if we add all the benefits mentioned above, why not go on your head every day?

Namaste,