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Sirshasana

शीर्षासन / Headstand

September 27, 2024

Table of Contents [Expand All]
Introduction to the Asana

The Sanskrit name is derived from Sirsa (शीर्ष) meaning head and asana (आसन) meaning posture or seat.


Benefits
  • Strengthens the upper body, spine, and core muscles.
  • Improves concentration, balance and posture of the body.
  • Stimulates and strengthens the abdominal organs.
  • Prevent fluid development in feet, ankles, and legs.
  • Eliminates problems of cold, sinus, and cough.
  • Activates the pituitary and pineal glands.
  • Revives your body’s lymphatic and cardiovascular systems.
  • Improves blood circulation to the brain and heart.
  • Improves metabolism of sugar in the blood thus alleviating diabetes.
  • Boosts digestion.
  • Removes toxins from the body.
  • Reduces the production of stress hormones.
  • Calms and relaxes the mind and improves sleep patterns.
  • Keeps you energetic and revitalized.
  • Enhances memory and intellectual capacity.
  • Improves eye health.
  • Improves facial complexion, and avoids greying of hair and hair loss.

Steps to perform the Asana: Sirshasana
  • Sit on the knees
  • Hold the elbows to measure the ideal distance.
  • Then bring the arms and elbows to the ground right under the shoulders.
  • Move your hands closer and interlock the fingers so that your arms form a triangle. Do not let your elbows open out.
  • Place the head on the ground with the back of the head in the cupped hands.
  • Curl your toes, straighten your knees, and hips to the sky.
  • Start inverting the body upwards towards your shoulders.
  • First bring the right knee towards your chest and then bring the left knee towards the chest.
  • Keep your spine erect.
  • As you inhale, raise your legs to the sky. Straighten your legs upward while keeping your feet slightly in front of you.
  • Continue to keep your spine erect.
  • Bring your focus on a steady point preferably at eye level.
  • Take easy relaxed breaths and hold the posture as long as comfortable.
  • Slowly bend your knees, gradually bring down your legs & then be in the balasana position for a few seconds.

Common Misalignments / (Mistakes)
  • Bringing hips behind the shoulders.
  • Placing the elbows too wide.
  • Wrong placement of the head.
  • Practicing on a very hard floor.
  • Breathing too shallow or too fast.

Contraindication / Cautions
  • Avoid if suffering from glaucoma or recent eye surgery.
  • Avoid if suffering from blood pressure or heart ailments.
  • Avoid if suffering from Asthma or lack of breath Awareness.
  • Avoid during pregnancy and mensuration.
  • Avoid in case of headache, migraine or vertigo.
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