Headstands: One of the Healthiest Yoga Poses
Headstand is one of my favorite yoga poses. It is calming and meditative. It is also the last posture of my Ashtanga yoga cl practice, so I know all of the hard postures are finished and I can chill out upside down and get ready for my final relaxation.
“Just as people feel the sweetness of sugar by eating it, so too will they experience the happiness of this benefit yoga asana by practicing it.” Pattabhi Jois
I always think of the time that I was doing yoga in India and the teacher told us that if we did a headstand for 3 hours per day,we would conquer aging and become enlightened. I have reached 8 minutes a couple of times…so I am nearly there.
It is very rare that we are able to see the world upside down, and regularly viewing the world from this angle can bring a variety of amazing benefits to our life.
Headstand and Anti Aging Skin Care
Turning ourselves upside down is not only an amazing practice for health…but for beauty and natural skin care.
A headstand can reduce facial wrinkles, and if practiced regularly, is a natural ‘face-lift’. This is because it reverses the effects of gravity and allows the skin to rest in the other direction.
Furthermore, yoga for skin care increases the circulation to the face, which brings much needed nutrients and oxygen to rejuvenate and remove wrinkle causing toxins. The result is smoother, clearer, brighter & glowing skin. It is part of an anti aging skin care regime.
Thicker Hair, Fewer Grays
Headstand can actually convert gray hair back to its natural color! It will certainly delay the onset of gray hair. This is due to the increase in blood supply and nutrients to the hair follicles in the scalp.
Balding can also be prevented or slowed, and thicker, healthier hair is produced.
Balanced Hormones and Endocrine System
Headstand stimulates and provides refreshed blood to the pituitary and hypothalamus glands. The health and strength of these glands are absolutely vital to our wellbeing, as they are the master glands and regulate the functioning of all the other glands in the body including the sexual hormones (better sex!), the thyroid, pineal, and the adrenals.
The powerful stress releasing effects of the headstand (you can’t really be depressed if you’re standing on your head!) further rebalance the adrenal glands so physical and emotional health is improved.
Better Circulation
Besides the positive effects of theyoga poses, the improved circulation of headstands exercise the heart and encourage venous return.
Because the heart constantly has to pump blood upward to the brain, the headstand gives the heart a rest, reduces heart strain, and can lower blood pressure naturally.
Increased Brain Function
Headstand soaks the brain cells with fresh blood, oxygen and nutrients more than any of the other yoga poses. It is a brain fitness program.
This increases your thinking power, clarity, memory, concentration, and the sensory faculties. Brain tissues do not degeneration with regular practice.
How to Relieve stress and have a healthy nervous system
Research has shown that an ischemic stroke never results for those who consistently do headstand! (If nothing else, that will get me on my head)
It can also prevent the occurrence of atherosclerotic, Parkinson’s disease, and other diseases of the nervous system. Senile changes in brain are prevented.
It is one of the greatest stress relievers and helps depression. It is a centering, calming and soothing pose. It can help stress causing seizures.
A Healthy Lymphatic System
Headstand encourages the drainage of lymphatic fluid so the whole body is regularly detoxified.
Strong Immune System
Recently, I blogged about how much healthier I have been since regularly practicing yoga poses. Headstands are one of the yoga poses proven to strengthen your immune system.
Respiratory System
Headstands in yoga encourage deep breathing and create healthier lung issue.
Digestive System
Standing on our heads tones and cleans digestive organs. It cleanses congested blood and toxins from them. Fresh warm blood invigorates the cells and can help people overcome problems of the liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines and reproductive system.
Musculo skeletal system
Headstand is one of the best yoga poses for strengthening the spine, neck, shoulders and arms. The muscular system of the abdomen and legs are toned.
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March 10th, 2008 at 5:59 am
not a comment but a question…for years especially when I was younger, I could stand on my head for decent periods of time. Now that I’m older, I know I would have to build up to that level again after not doing it for so many years. I am 48 years old and in pretty good health..still always room for improvement…what amount of time would be good to start with when I do stand on my head? I really do not want to overdue it from the start but work up to whatever is feasible, doable and productive. Thank you! Sincerely Annemarie
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March 22nd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
anne marie, practising listening to your instinct. only you know how long you can comfortably remain in a headstand!
sharon
April 16th, 2008 at 2:06 am
Wow, I’m so glad you mentioned the gray hair thing. Ever since I’ve started doing yoga and cleaned up my diet I SWEAR my grays have gone away. I was attributing it to diet, but maybe it is from inversions. As a matter of fact, this weekend was the first time I stayed in headstand without assistance or the wall. Ok, I ended up flipping over into backbend after 30 seconds or so. Practice makes perfect!
April 21st, 2008 at 3:16 am
Great discussion! You’ve got a good blog going here.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
What about hanging upside down, using inversion table ?
May 1st, 2008 at 10:08 pm
This is the third place I’ve read about headstands reversing gray hairs. I’ve been doing this posture for a while now, but not daily, and only for about 3 minutes. Now I’m doing it every day twice a day, because I’m too young to be gray!! I have quite a bit at my hairline and a little throughout my hair. Hope this works. My diet is good, and I work out and do yoga. If anyone has any other tips for healthy hair, bring it on!!
May 1st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Tips on the headstand: Put all the pressure on your forearems - press them into the floor - to take the stress off your neck.
September 1st, 2008 at 7:49 am
Thanks for a super website! and especially your article on headstands! I used to do yoga many years ago - due to work commitments have not been able to get back to classes again, but I’d love to try headstands again as they are so beneficial! Can you suggest how I should start this again! I’ve never been able to do a headstand on my own - had to always do so against at wall, and then with some help! I’m 56 years young!
Kind regards
Marlene Crighton
JHB, Rep of South Africa
October 14th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Wonderful information! Thank you for sharing. I am starting yoga for the very first time in my 40 years. Your insight is certainly encouraging as I begin my journey. Thanks so much. Namaste
November 17th, 2008 at 10:26 am
headstand or sarwangasana really gives you a healthy body, a healthy mind and a healthy attitude towards life…. all sorts of ailments ranging from external to internal,physiological to psychological can be cured effectively by headstand…. so practice headstand for three to five minutes daily and defy your age making it just another number…