Topic 4 – Asanas: Sirshasana (Part 1)The most well-known asana must be the headstand pose-sirshasana. Even those people who have no contact with yogic aims and practices have heard of this asana. They have

the prevalent concept of a yogi in a loincloth standing on his head for many hours everyday, with his bed of nails beside him on which to relax afterwards. This concept usually comes from the favourite cartoon portrayal of the

yogi in this position. Recently, in fact, we saw a cartoon in which a most unlikely looking man was standing on his head while studying a book. When his wife asked him what he was doing, the man replied: “I have heard that the headstand improves memory, so I’m studying for my exams in this position.” In one of our ashrams overseas the milkman places the milk bottles upside down on the doorstep every morning. He explained to the resident swami that he did it after having seen a cartoon about a milkman who did this when he delivered milk to a man who practiced yoga. So sirshasana is inseparably associated with yoga.

Though there are a lot of exaggerations connected with sirshasana it is nevertheless a wonderful asana. It can give many benefits if it is done correctly. If it is done incorrectly, or by the wrong people, it can cause more harm than good. It is sometimes called the king or the best of all asanas. This is a slight overestimation for all asanas have their place. Sirshasana alone is not sufficient to give perfect health. Although it will help very much it has to be supplemented by other asanas that have specific influences on other parts of the body. It is a combination of asanas and daily practice that brings overall good health; it is not one asana no matter how good it may be.

We intend to describe all aspects of sirshasana in two parts1, which is necessary for two reasons: firstly, sirshasana and all associated details will require a lengthy description; secondly, it is an asana which should be gradually developed and mastered. All asanas should be slowly developed, but this is especially true of sirshasana. If you try to master sirshasana too quickly, then there is the likelihood of a fall from the final pose and injury to the body. Also the body must be gradually accustomed to the extra burden of prolonged durations in the inverted position; failure to do this could lead to harmful effects on the bodily system. We are therefore presenting sirshasana in two parts, which means that you, the practitioner, will be more likely to spend the necessary time preparing your body for the final pose by practising and perfecting the initial stages given in this topic. There will be less chance of anyone vaulting or catapulting themselves into the final position like an acrobat and falling flat on his back.

Salamba Sirshasana (Supported Headstand Pose)Topic 2 | Asanas: Practice

Here we will describe three of a number of variations of sirshasana, the headstand pose1:

1. Salamba sirshasana2. Niralamba sirshasana3. Urdhva padmasana

Generally, we recommend sirshasana in its basic form; rarely do we teach its variations. But many yoga enthusiasts will find the variations well worth practising since they have definite characteristics and uses of their own. It is for this reason that we will discuss them here.

Salamba Sirshasana (Supported Headstand Pose)

The word salamba means ‘with support, supported’. In English, this asana can be called ‘supported headstand pose’. It is so called because the hands and arms are actively used to maintain the final pose.

Technique

Place a folded blanket on the floor. Kneel on the floor.

Lean forwards.

Place the head on the blanket so that the point of contact is midway between the forehead and the crown of the head.

Place the palms flat on the ground so that they lie on either side of the body, fingers pointing forwards.

Adjust the position of the hands, so that, together with the head, they form the corners of an equilateral triangle.

The forearms should be vertical as shown in the accompanying picture.

Raise your knees.

Straighten both legs, keeping them together.

Move both feet slowly forwards on tiptoe until your back is vertical; don’t overbalance backwards.

When you feel that most of the body weight is supported on the head then this indicates that the back is vertical.

Get ready to raise your body into the inverted pose.

Keeping both legs straight and together, slowly raise them upwards utilizing the arm muscles.

Raise them until they are vertical and the whole body is inverted.

Do not lose balance.

The final pose is shown above.

Keep the spine and legs in one vertical straight line. Breathe normally.

Stay in the final pose for as long as you feel comfortable, no longer.

Then slowly return to the starting pose by lowering the legs; the whole movement should be done smoothly, with control.

Stay in the kneeling position, head down, for about 30 seconds.

Then do the counterpose – tadasana.

Breathing

Retain the breath while raising and lowering the legs. Breathe normally in the final pose.

Comparison with basic sirshasana

Salamba sirshasana is less stable than basic sirshasana. This means that it is more difficult to stay in the final pose for protracted periods of time. Furthermore, the final pose of salamba sirshasana is not as comfortable as sirshasana. Therefore, those who want to invert the body for periods of greater than, say, two to three minutes should do sirshasana not salamba sirshasana.

Salamba sirshasana, however, has the advantage that it is much easier to raise the body into the final position. It is therefore ideal for beginners.

Niralamba Sirshasana (Unsupported Headstand Pose)The word niralamba means ‘without support’ or unsupported’. In English this asana can be translated as ‘the unsupported headstand pose’. It is so called because the arms provide very little support to the inverted body in the final pose.

Technique

Place a folded blanket on the floor.

Kneel on the ground.

Place the head on the top of the blanket, adjusting it so that the contact point is the mid-point between the forehead and crown of the head.

Stretch the arms backwards so that they are straight and in line with each side of the body.

The palms should face upwards with the back of the hands resting on the ground.

The distance between the two hands should be about the same as between the two shoulders.

Straighten the legs, allowing the weight of the body to be supported by the hands, feet and head.

Progressively move the two feet towards the face, keeping the legs straight, until the trunk is vertical.

Steady the body and prepare to raise the legs.

Apply pressure between the back of the hands and the floor and slowly raise the legs, keeping them straight.

Ensure that you maintain balance.

Slowly and without jerking, raise the legs to the vertical position.

In the final pose the whole body should be in one straight vertical line.

Be careful not to overbalance.

Maintain equilibrium by pressing the hands against the floor as required.

Let all the weight of the body be sustained by the top of the head.

Breathe normally.

Stay in the final pose for a comfortable period of time.

Then slowly and carefully lower the legs to the ground.

Remain with the head down in the kneeling pose for about 30 seconds.

Then do tadasana, the counterpose.

This is the end of the practice.

Breathing

Retain the breath while raising and lowering the legs. Breathe normally in the final pose.

Other practical details

For other details on practice refer to ‘General Details’ later.

Comparison with basic sirshasana

Niralamba sirshasana is more difficult than sirshasana; therefore it should not be practiced until sirshasana has been fully mastered. It requires a much greater sense of balance than sirshasana. The final pose is very unstable compared to sirshasana, and therefore it is not very suitable for spending long periods in the inverted position.

Practice basic sirshasana to obtain the benefits of inverting the body, and practice niralamba sirshasana to develop the sense of balance.

Sirshasana (Headstand Pose) – TechniqueThe first three stages

The first three stages should be perfected before proceeding to the last three stages1. This is essential so that you gradually develop control over your body and accustom the muscles and brain to a new mode of operation.

Stage 1: starting position

Place your blanket on the ground. Kneel in front of the blanket with the feet together or apart.

Interlock the fingers. Place the forearms flat on the blanket so that they form an equilateral triangle, the distance between the two elbows being equal to the distance between each elbow and the palm of the hand. Lean forwards so that the head rests on the blanket just in front of the clasped hands, the area of the head halfway between the forehead and the crown should rest on the blanket. Wrap the interlocked hands around the back of the head and adjust them so that they firmly support the head. Remember that the hands act as a framework for the head, they should not act as a cushion.

Stage 2: straightening the legs

Make sure that the starting position is comfortable and firm. Straighten the legs so that the body is supported on the head, two arms and the toes of both feet. Slowly bring the toes nearer to the face; this will progressively make the back move towards the vertical position. At a certain stage, it becomes impossible to move the feet nearer the face with the legs straight, without pushing and overbalancing the trunk backwards. This is the final position as shown. Most of the weight of the body is supported by the head in this position. Adjust your position so that you feel comfortable then proceed to stage 3.

Stage 3: raising the feet

Keeping the trunk vertical, slowly bend the legs. Bring the thighs as close as possible towards the chest. Make sure that you don’t overbalance. This stage may be a little difficult if you have a stiff body;

don’t proceed beyond this point until you can comfortably bring the thighs close to the trunk without the slightest tendency to topple backwards.

The last part of stage 3 is difficult unless the trunk is as vertical as possible with the centre of gravity as far back as possible; therefore try to position your trunk so that it is as vertical as possible, but without losing balance and falling backwards. Transfer all the body weight on to the arms and head. Try to raise one foot, then both feet together about twenty centimetres or so off the ground, maintaining balance. This is the movement that most beginners find difficult. Usually this difficulty arises because of the inability to make the trunk vertical, which prevents the feet being raised without toppling forwards or backwards. With time and practice, it will become easier. If you feel stable then raise your two feet a little higher, again establishing the balance of the body. If you feel any instability, then let the feet drop lightly onto the floor, and repeat the process. Don’t let the body overbalance backwards; it is preferable to let the body overbalance forwards. If you are not sure of yourself then practice near a wall. This stage is not really difficult, but it may require a little time and practice. Don’t raise your feet more than, say fifteen centimetres off the ground until you are absolutely confident that you can raise them higher while maintaining balance. Then proceed to stage 4.

Warning

Don’t swing your legs upwards in stage 3; this is the quickest way to overbalance and land flat on your back. Do every movement smoothly and with control, by contracting the back muscles and slowly readjusting the position of

balance (centre of gravity) as you raise your legs.

Suggestion

We suggest that you practice these first three stages until you gain the correct balance and confidence to proceed to the last three stages of sirshasana1. This may take anything from a week to a month, or even longer. Progress carefully and don’t strain yourself. Don’t practice if you have any serious ailment, and be sure not to practice immediately after taking food.

Sirshasana (Headstand Pose) – Part 2Technique for the last three stages

The most difficult aspect of mastering sirshasana is raising the body into the final pose. Once this is achieved then staying in the final pose presents little difficulty. If you have perfected the first three stages, then you are ready to master the last three stages.

Stage 4: raising the legs

When you can raise your feet off the ground in stage 3 without losing balance, then you are ready to do stage 4. Slowly raise your legs upwards, taking care to adjust your centre of balance accordingly; that is, the position of the trunk has to be slightly adjusted to counterbalance the weight of the legs. Fold the legs upwards and backwards so that the heels move towards the buttocks. This movement is accomplished by contracting the muscles of the lower back. Take care that you maintain equilibrium and you don’t fall backwards.

Stage 5: elevating the knees

At the end of stage 4 the knees still point downwards. Keeping the heels near the buttocks, slowly raise the knees upwards. In the final position of stage 5 the knees should point directly upwards, with the feet pointing downwards. Make sure that the spine and thighs are in line, straight and vertical. Then proceed on to the final stage.

Stage 6: final pose

Slowly raise the feet so that they point upwards and the legs become straight. The whole body should lie in one straight line. This is the final pose of sirshasana. Make sure that you feel perfect balance; at first you may tend to wobble a little, but with practice you become very stable in the pose, as stable as in the standing position. Relax the whole body as much as possible. Close the eyes. Breathe slowly and deeply. Stay in the final pose for a comfortable length of time. Then return to the starting position on the floor in the reverse order stages 6 to 1.

 

Points to remember in the technique

Don’t move the head or arms after stage 1. If you do so you may lose balance. If you feel discomfort then you should return to the starting position, make any adjustments and then again perform the asana.

If you lose balance make sure that you land on the ground in the way previously described1. Keep the whole body vertical in the final pose; don’t incline it backwards, forwards or

sideways. Try to relax as many muscles as possible in the final position. Don’t point the toes upwards in the final pose for this contracts the leg muscles and will

impede free drainage of blood from the legs. Relax the feet and legs. Try to ensure that most of the weight of the body is supported on the head in the final position

and not the arms. The arms should be used mainly to maintain equilibrium. At first you may be inclined to use the arms to provide much of the support for the body; there is nothing wrong with this, but over a period of time try to gradually let the head take the main supportive role.

SIRSHASANA (HEADSTAND POSE) (continued) – Returning to the groundYou should return to the starting position by doing the stages in reverse order. The body should be lowered slowly and with control. Don’t let the body drop down, try to come down so gently that the feet make no sound when they touch the floor.

Breathing, awareness and duration

In the starting position breathe in. Hold the breath inside while raising the body to the final pose. Breathe slowly and deeply in the final position. Breathe in deeply and then hold the breath as you lower the body to the starting position.

While raising and lowering the body, the attention should be on correct movement, synchronization of the different movements and on maintaining balance. In the final position you can be aware of breathing, or the centre of the head, or you can visualize any psychic symbol in front of your closed eyes. You can choose anything. Beginners, however, should direct their awareness to maintaining balance.

Experts who are in perfect health and who have been doing sirshasana for many years, can practice for up to thirty minutes. But we don’t recommend this to most people, especially beginners. Prolonged duration by inexperienced people could cause more harm than good. Furthermore, we strongly recommend that anyone wanting to do sirshasana for more than five minutes at a time should consult a yoga school or ashram for guidance.

Beginners should start with no more than thirty seconds. This duration can be gradually increased by about ten seconds a day (about one minute per week) until the duration is five minutes. At this point you should seek expert advice. This slow increase in duration is important, for it allows the blood vessels in the brain to slowly adjust and accustom themselves to the extra blood pressure that occurs in the final pose. Also, the neck muscles must be slowly strengthened; in fact the entire body must be gradually accustomed to the inversion of the body. You must use your common sense in deciding how long to remain in the final pose. If you feel the slightest fatigue, trembling, head strain or general anxiety then stop doing the asana.

Eventually you should aim to stay in the final position for at least three minutes, since it takes a minute or so for the inverted position to bring changes in the body, especially the blood flow to the brain and the drainage of blood from the legs. Under no circumstances should you strain or stay in the final pose for longer than is comfortable.

Counterpose

More than most other asanas, the counterpose to sirshasana is essential to return normality to the body functions. Various types of counterposes are recommended by different people. Some people advise tadasana, others shavasana and some say that the body should be massaged in a standing position. We recommend the following procedure: remain in the kneeling position for about thirty seconds with the head on the ground after having lowered the body from the final pose, then do tadasana for about a minute. While doing tadasana, try to remain balanced on tiptoes for the whole minute, with the eyes focussed on a point on the wall in front of the body. If you wish, you can practice shavasana for a few minutes after tadasana.

SIRSHASANA (HEADSTAND POSE) – SequenceThe order in which sirshasana should be done in the daily practice program depends on various factors.

If you only do asanas without pranayama and meditative techniques, then practice sirshasana at the beginning of the program. This will increase attentiveness so that you gain the most out of the other asanas. If your practice program includes pranayama and/or meditative practices then you should do sirshasana immediately after the other asanas. The reason is that the other asanas loosen up the body so that you are less distracted by physical aches and pains during pranayama and meditative practice. They also enhance awareness and wakefulness. Sirshasana then intensifies the awareness so that one gains the most out of the subsequent practices of pranayama and meditation.

Beginners should generally do the practice after other asanas when their system has been purified and balanced.

Time of practice

Sirshasana can be done at any time during the day, but it should not be done for at least three or four hours after meals and for thirty minutes after vigorous physical exercise. The ideal time to practice is early in the morning before breakfast.

Persons who should not do sirshasana

There is a wide range of people who should not attempt sirshasana. They include sufferers of the following ailments:

High blood pressure Weak or malfunctioning heart Cerebral or coronary thrombosis Arteriosclerosis Weak eye blood vessels Conjunctivitis and chronic glaucoma Any form of hemorrhage in the head Otitis (inflammation of the ears) Chronic catarrh (sirshasana can help in the early stages, but can aggravate the

condition in the later chronic stages) Slipped disc (if you have a slipped disc it is very difficult to raise the body to the final

pose) Extremely impure blood, since the impurities could be directed into the brain. If you

are not sure about the condition of your blood then you should seek expert advice. One sure indication of impure blood is chronic constipation and excessive spots and pimples.

Kidney problems, since this could possibly imply that your blood is not being efficiently cleaned of waste materials.

This is only a brief list. There are many other types of ailments which preclude the practice of sirshasana. Again if you are not sure, contact a yoga school or ashram for proper guidance.

Before attempting to practice sirshasana, make sure that you are not one of the people who should not do it.

Sirshasana (Headstand Pose) – the Support of a WallBeginners can if they wish practice near a wall, especially if they are unsure of themselves. In this case, it is important that the back of the head is placed a little more than thirty centimeters from the wall in the starting position. This is important because if you place your head nearer to the wall, then the wall will prevent you raising your body into the final pose. On the other hand, if you place your head further away from the wall, then you may fall against the wall and injure yourself; instead of being an aid, the wall will become an obstruction.

The wall is to be used only to prevent any backward overbalance; it should not be used to perform the asana in anyway. When you gain confidence and proficiency we recommend that you discard the wall and practice in the middle of an open space. This will further help to develop your sense of confidence.

Method of falling

Before starting to practice sirshasana you should make sure that you know how to fall properly, especially if you practice away from a wall. This is not being pessimistic; it is a worthwhile precaution. It is better to be safe than sorry, as the well-known saying goes. We don’t expect you to fall, but it can happen even to those people who have been practicing sirshasana for years.

If you fall the body should be relaxed; don’t stiffen the body. You must allow the body to fall like a sack. If you fall forwards, that is, the same direction as your face, then you should fold the knees into the chest as much as possible. The impact on the floor should be sustained by the feet only. If you fall backwards, that is, behind the head, then the back should be arched as much as possible. The impact again should be sustained by the feet. No part of the back should hit the floor before the feet.

Blanket

More than any other asana, sirshasana should be practiced on a blanket, mat or thin cushion. It should be neither too soft nor too hard; neither too thick nor too thin. The blanket should be such that it protects the top of the head from the hardness of the floor, but not so spongy, soft and thick that it prevents one taking a firm base on the hands and head. We recommend that you practice on a blanket that is folded four times.

Correct position of the head

There are conflicting opinions on this subject. Some people say that the forehead must rest on the floor, while others say that the top (crown) of the head should rest on the floor. If one supports the weight of the body on the forehead, then the spine will be curved in the final pose, especially in the region of the neck. It the weight of the body is supported by the top of the head then there is a tendency for the body to be unstable in the final pose. From our experience we have found that the best position of the head is midway between these two extremes. That is, the head should be placed so that a point midway between forehead and the top of the head rests on the blanket. You must experiment for yourself to find this position. If you feel comfortable with the forehead or crown of the head on the floor, then practice in this way.

Position of the hands and arms

The fingers of the hands should be interlocked behind the back of the head. The hands should be wrapped around the head; they should not be placed under the head. The hands should be adjusted so that they firmly support the head.

The forearms and elbows of both arms should lie flat on the floor. The distance between the elbows should be the same as the distance between the elbow and interlocked fingers of each hand (at the back of the head). Thus the forearms will form two sides of an equilateral triangle, the distance between the two elbows forming the other side. This is the most stable base that supports the body in all directions.

Sirshasana (Headstand Pose) – Part 1The Sanskrit word sirsha means ‘head’. Therefore, this asana can be translated as the ‘headstand pose’.

Strange though it may seem, sirshasana is not mentioned or described in any of the well-known yoga scriptures. Considering the benefits that it gives, this seems at first a little surprising. But more than likely the asana was passed on from guru to disciple by word of mouth and personal tuition. In this way, there was less likelihood of sirshasana being practiced incorrectly and thereby causing harm. It is only in recent years that sirshasana has been fully explained in books and become widely popular with large numbers of people.

Possibly the following quotation from the Gherand Samhita describes sirshasana under a different name: “The solar region is located in the navel and the lunar region is located at the root of the palate. Nectar drops downwards from the lunar region to the solar region and is absorbed; so do men die. Hold the navel upwards and the lunar region downwards. This is called vipareeta karani mudra, secret of the tantras. The head should be placed on the ground together with the arms. Point the legs upwards, keeping the head firmly on the ground. This is vipareeta karani mudra according to the yogis.” (verses 3:28, 29, 30)

There is a similar quotation in the Hatha

Yoga Pradipika, There is in fact a well-known mudra called vipareeta karani mudra, which is an important part of kriya yoga2. But far more is implied in the practice than given in the above quotation. The above description is so vague that it could actually apply to and fit sirshasana, sarvangasana3, and any other inverted asanas, as well as the practice of vipareeta karani mudra as we know and understand it. It is possible that sirshasana was known by a different name and that it, as well as other inverted asanas, were collectively known by the name of vipareeta karani mudra, sirshasana being a modern name. We don’t however, intend to discuss this point further, for it is only supposition and certainly not very important. The main thing is the practice of sirshasana and the benefits that it gives.

Place of practice

Sirshasana should be practiced in an uncluttered area, free of furniture and any other objects. This is necessary, so that if you fall you will be able to land correctly on your feet and not sustain injury. If you fall and land on top of a nearby chair, for example, then you are likely to break a few bones, or at least strain the body in some way. So make sure that the area in which you practice is perfectly clear of obstructions for at least two and a quarter meters in all directions.

The ground should be smooth, flat and firm. Don’t practice on sandy or rocky ground, on any slippery surface, or on any surface that is not horizontal.

Asanas: Sirshasana (Part 2)Sirshasana is not dangerous if it is developed gradually over a period of time, and providing the basic rules are carefully followed. Many people are apprehensive, suspicious and disinclined to do it.

It is often pointed out that it seems unnatural to invert the body for a period of time and if it were necessary then we would walk about on our hands. Well, maybe. But man is also designed to do a lot of physical exercise and not sit in one position for protracted lengths of time. Vigorous and regular exercise speeds up the blood circulation and ensures that the brain receives sufficient well oxygenated blood. Exercise also prevents blood stagnating in the lower parts of the body such as the legs; lack of exercise, which is the characteristic of modern city dwelling man, leads to varicose veins, haemorrhoids and general inefficiency of the organs of the body.

So sirshasana is in a sense an unnatural method of combating an unnatural lifestyle. Apart from this, however, sirshasana is an excellent method of bringing about calmness and concentration in preparation for meditative practices.

Sirshasana – Scientific experiments

Various experiments have been conducted to measure the changes that occur within the body during the practice of sirshasana. These confirm scientifically what we have discovered from personal experience.

X-rays taken during the practice of sirshasana have shown a considerable shift of the diaphragm, changes in the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the heart, and widening of the arteries and veins leading to and from the lungs, especially in the upper lobes. The significance is that more blood is travelling to and from the lungs, increasing oxygenation. The upper lobe which usually is not well oxygenated by a normal breath, is washed free of stagnant blood.

The tests clearly indicate that the amount of air breathed per minute (minute ventilation) during the performance of sirshasana was considerably reduced. The frequency of respiration (the number of breaths per minute) was lowered. Oxygen consumption by the tissues increased and the amount of oxygen exhaled was less, indicating that the transfer of oxygen to the blood is greatly increased.

There was an increase in the leucocyte (white blood cell) count, implying that the body’s ability to withstand and resist infection is increased as the white blood cells are used to destroy bacteria and other foreign objects in the body.

These tests are significant and apply if the individual is completely relaxed. If the practitioner is tense or stressed while performing sirshasana, then it is possible to obtain contradictory results.

From these experiments we can conclude that sirshasana allows for a greater possibility of adaptive mechanisms in respect to circulation and respiration.

In the future, no doubt, more intricate experiments will be carried out to record and map out the actual blood flow changes in the brain; how the blood flow to the pituitary and pineal is modified and how it improves their functional efficiency; how other organs of the body are influenced and so forth. The influence of sirshasana on brain waves would also be an interesting scientific experiment. There is much scope for these kinds of tests and they would put the physical benefits obtainable from sirshasana on a firm scientific basis.

Sirshasana (Headstand Pose) – Temporary restrictions

Sirshasana should not be done under the following circumstances:

If your bowels are excessively full. If you feel physically tired. If you have a headache or migraine. These conditions are often associated with a

slightly elevated blood pressure in the brain; if you do sirshasana then the condition will be aggravated.

Directly after eating a meal (three to four hours should have elapsed before attempting the practice)

Until thirty minutes have elapsed after intense physical exercise, as the blood will contain excessive impurities associated with by-products of muscular activities. These impurities must firstly be eliminated from the blood in the normal manner through urination, perspiration or respiration. Sirshasana can be practiced after other asanas since these do not build up the toxic levels of the blood; in fact if they are done correctly, they will reduce blood impurities.

During pregnancy or menstruation. Sirshasana should be immediately terminated if you develop a headache, feel

dizziness, perspire profusely, become very hot, have palpitations of the heart or if you feel generally uncomfortable.

Also discontinue the asana if you feel any suffocation.

These rules may seem rather numerous, but they are necessary so that you don’t harm yourself.

General advice

There are no specific age restrictions for practising sirshasana, but elderly people should be careful.

In the final pose, you may initially experience partial blockage of the nose. Try to persevere and you should find that the breathing becomes easier after a short period of time. Don’t breathe through the mouth. If breathing is too difficult then terminate the asana for a minute or so and then repeat.

Like all asanas, it is not necessary to use excessive energy to practice sirshasana. Intense effort is a definite sign that you are either doing sirshasana incorrectly or that you should not be doing it in the first place. Try to perform it with as much relaxation as possible.

Sirshasana – Opening up the dormant pathways of the brainAs one treads the path of yoga, or any other mind expanding system, the body and mind become progressively purified. This also includes the brain. Furthermore, dormant nervous pathways are opened up to take greater flows of nervous impulses; this occurs in conjunction with the modification of the pranic pathways within the human framework. Sirshasana helps to open up these brain channels and to facilitate the expanding of brain capacity. The capacity of the brain is heightened in order to receive and cope with more intense flows of energy and awareness. The brain becomes a more efficient instrument.

Sirshasana and meditation

Sirshasana improves the blood flow to the pineal gland. Compared to other organs of the body, this tiny gland has the second largest blood supply per unit weight (first is the kidneys). Stimulation of this gland, by improving the blood flow or otherwise, helps to increase awareness of the more subtle realms of your being. Sirshasana directly stimulates this gland and thereby intensifies awareness. As such sirshasana if done for prolonged periods of time can be considered as a meditative practice in its own right. Because of other factors, however, we don’t suggest that you practice sirshasana for more than a few minutes without guidance. Therefore, you can use sirshasana, practiced for short periods, as a method of intensifying awareness and making perception more subtle in preparation for other traditional meditative techniques.

The brain is a switching station between your individuality and the more subtle layers of the mind. The more efficient the brain becomes the more able it becomes to tune in with more subtle layers of existence. In this sense we say that each individual has vast untapped potential. All yogic practices, and in particular sirshasana, gradually make the brain more sensitive.

Sirshasana (Headstand Pose) – Benefits – Part 1The benefits obtainable from regular practice of sirshasana are extensive. The following is merely a summary.

Perfect health of the brain cells allows the organ and in turn the physical body to function efficiently and to full capacity. The thought processes are allowed to manifest more vividly. Sirshasana directs an enriched oxygenated supply of blood to the brain cells. This blood flow is at a slightly increased pressure due to action of gravity. Blood vessels are very elastic and can dilate or constrict according to the prevailing blood pressure. Therefore, the higher blood pressure in the brain dilates the blood vessels and opens out those that have become closed or blocked. This means that the entire brain and all the billions of cells receive more nourishment. Consequently all the cells are rejuvenated and thereby work more effectively. The extra flow of blood under a slightly elevated pressure also flushes out accumulated toxins and general waste material from the brain cells. This is analogous to cleaning accumulated dirt in a blocked pipe by using a strong flow of water, it may take only a few minutes to clean a pipe in this manner, and the improvement in the normal flow through the pipe is great. It is similar with the brain; though sirshasana may be done only for a few minutes every day, it can rejuvenate and revitalize the entire brain. In turn, the whole body health can be greatly improved.

Ailments such as headache and migraine are believed to be partly caused by compression of certain blood vessels in the brain. Sirshasana helps to relax and strengthen these vessels and thereby prevent the occurrence of these ailments. Note, however, that sirshasana should not be done during the actual time of headache or migraine. These ailments are also associated with mental tension, so sirshasana helps to prevent these ailments by inducing calmness.

The increased blood flow to the brain revitalizes all the nervous centers and the controller of the endocrinal system, the pituitary. In this way, sirshasana helps to rectify various types of glandular and nervous disorders. It can have a significant and positive influence in relieving diabetes. As we have already pointed out, the probable root cause of diabetes is the pituitary gland. The symptom of the disease manifests in malfunctioning of the pancreas. It is believed that with sufferers of diabetes, the pituitary

secretes too much diabetogenic hormone. Medically, it is very difficult to interfere with the functioning of the pituitary gland, and so modern medicine is forced to treat diabetes with insulin. Sirshasana, however, acts directly on the pituitary gland by improving the blood supply and this has been found to be a great help in combating diabetes. This is especially true if sirshasana is supplemented with other relaxation practices of yoga which reduce the tension level that interferes with the normal working of the pituitary. So if you are a diabetic, and there are no further serious ailments, then we suggest you start practising sirshasana as well as other yogic techniques.

Sirshasana has also been found to be a great help in combating sexual disorders such as prostate problems, hydrocele, leucorrhea, spermatorrhea and all general menopausal and menstrual ailments. If you refer to the previous discussion on the endocrinal system, you will appreciate how all the complex sexual functions are controlled by the pituitary gland4. Sirshasana helps to relieve sexual disorders in a number of ways.

It improves the efficiency of the pituitary and the hypothalamus (the brain centre that in turn controls the pituitary gland).

It drains blood from the associated sexual endocrinal glands (ovaries or testes) and the associated sexual organs; this also improves their functional efficiency.

Sirshasana combined with relaxation or meditative techniques of yoga helps to calm the mind. Anxiety is the greatest factor in causing sexual disorders. Calmness of mind automatically leads to perfect health of the sexual functions.

If you suffer from any sexual problems then we suggest you start practicing sirshasana along with other yogic practices.

Sirshasana (Headstand Pose) – Benefits – Part 2The regular practice of sirshasana also acts directly on the thyroid gland in the same way as sarvangasana, helping to balance the metabolic functions and bring about wakefulness and alertness, but without excessive nervousness. Malfunctioning of the thyroid gland can result in many ailments either directly or indirectly. Sirshasana helps to bring perfect health to this vital gland.

Sirshasana helps to improve the operation of the sensory organs. That is, it can help to improve eyesight, hearing and the senses of smell and taste. The eyes require a large supply of oxygen in order to work perfectly. The extra supply of blood during sirshasana helps to bring this about. Besides making the sensory organs more healthy, sirshasana also directly influences the brain centres that interpret and control the sense organs. Various types of ailments such as myopia, astigmatism, catarrh and general bad hearing have been found to improve by regular practice of sirshasana.

The condition of the skin of the face can also be improved through regular practice of sirshasana. Pimples and wrinkles are often caused by inadequate removal of waste materials and insufficient nourishment from the blood. Sirshasana directs an oxygen rich flow of blood to the facial skin thereby improving the complexion.

There are a number of people who claim to have transformed grey hair into its original colour through the practice of sirshasana. There are also people who now have a good growth of hair through the same practice, having been partially bald

before. This is not really surprising since greying of hair and balding are often due to bad blood circulation in the scalp. Sirshasana does not only direct enriched blood to the brain, it also sends it to the scalp. However to gain this kind of spectacular result sirshasana must be practiced for a long period every day, longer than we would recommend for the average person. If you wish to do sirshasana for this purpose then we suggest you seek expert guidance.

While the upper part of the body receives an extra supply of blood, the lower parts are drained of blood. This has beneficial repercussions, since there is a tendency for blood to stagnate in the legs, in the pelvic and abdominal organs. This drainage removes impure stagnant blood so that it can be replaced with pure, oxygenated blood after terminating sirshasana. Two very common ailments are varicose veins and piles (hemorrhoids) caused by accumulation of blood in the legs and anus respectively. This places great pressure on the blood vessels and in time causes them injury. Regular practice of sirshasana relieves pressure on the vessels for a short time and is a great help in alleviating either of these ailments.

Sirshasana revitalizes the pelvic and abdominal organs, improving their associated functions: digestion, elimination, etc., and can help to remove related ailments. The drainage of blood from these organs is also increased by the deep breathing and thereby the massage from the diaphragm acting upwards against the weight of the organs. This action actually squeezes out the blood.

During inhalation the diaphragm has to move upwards against the weight of the abdominal organs, strengthening the diaphragm since it has greater resistance than normal. Furthermore, this increases the air pressure in the lungs slightly and thereby opens up and uncrumples the alveoli (air cells), improving the oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange within the lungs, which means that the body receives more oxygen and removes more unwanted carbon dioxide. This supplements the health benefits obtained from the improved blood circulation to the brain.

Sirshasana gives many more benefits. Also with many ailments, the influence is more subtle or indirect; as such it is difficult to attribute the effect directly to sirshasana. Practice improves the sense of balance and helps to relieve neurasthenia (caused by malfunctioning of certain nervous centers in the brain). Memory power, intellect, concentration, etc. are all mental functions, yet it is through the brain that they are expressed.