Headstand

Man doing a headstand in a park in Buenos Aires

The headstand, or sometimes head stand, is a pose that is an inversion posture of standing head down. The technique is used in different settings such as yoga, breakdancing, acrobatics and beginner gymnastics.

How to practice headstand

• Start from kneeling position on mat and put your forearms on the floor in front of you.
• Weave your fingers together and lie on your head, making a stable “tripod” with your hands and head.
• Pressure your hips and straighten your legs, under your toes, until your hips are vertically above your shoulders.
• Engage your core and peel your legs off the ground at the very start when moving them towards the ceiling.
• Keep the steady position between your hands or to your toes and don’t let your head go down, but rather keep a straight line from head to heels.
• Breathe for a few moments, then gradually add duration to your pose with your strength and comfort level growing.
• To exit the pose, lower the legs slowly back down with the support of your hands and then lower yourself to a kneeling position.

Health risks

• If the headstand is not done perfectly, the performer is likely to suffer head injury from standing on the head.
• if one is suffering from high blood pressure, they should avoid headstand.
• Women should avoid practicing headstand while having their period because it can cause a disruption of the natural flow of blood and energy in the body.

In yoga

The yoga headstand, Shirshasana, may be balanced and symmetrical from all perspectives, even though not always in a legs-vertical position. The asana has many variations, several of them asymmetrical.

• 
  Yoga headstand, Shirshasana
• 
  With feet as in Baddha Konasana
• 
  A variation

See also

• Handstand

References

• Bali Yoga Teacher Training center

External links

• A video of a head stand
• Freeze and Headstand Tutorial Archived 2020-08-11 at the Wayback Machine