Guided Headstand Yoga Poses

Sirsasana aka headstand yoga poses are very challenging poses and only performed by advanced yoga practitioners, but the benefits are numerous. If done regularly, sirsasana can strengthen the neck, shoulders and stomach, slow the signs of aging, stimulate lymph nodes, help digestion, relieve stress, reduce asthma symptoms, insomnia, sinusitis and menopause and make the skin look younger.

There are two ways to do headstand yoga poses, which are supported headstand and tripod headstand.

Supported Headstand
1. Rely on your elbows and knees, place your arms in front with your elbows shoulder-width apart. Attach the fingers with both fingers folded inside to form a flat base.
2. Place the head on the floor between the elbows with the back of the head touching the hand. Pull the chin towards the chest slightly to release pressure on the neck. Bend your toes inwards and lift your hips until your body forms an inverted 'V'.
3. Walk your legs as far as your calf is possible, if necessary until your hips are over your shoulders. Pull your abdominal muscles and lift your legs into the air. Bend your legs up to your heels and pull the spine by directing the tail bone into the air. Keep your arms and shoulders strong so that your neck is not depressed.
4. Keep your forehead, jaw, eyes and neck relaxed. Hold this pose for 1-10 minutes, then lower your legs and do the child's poses.


Tripod Headstand
1. Kneel in the same way with a supported headstand, but the hands and elbows are placed under the shoulders and the shoulders are pushed out to create a 90 degree angle between the upper and lower arms. Place your head on the floor in front of your hand. The head and both hands should form a triangle.
2. Perform step 2 on the supported headstand. You can keep it this way, or place your knee on the tricep curve.
3. If you are sure, lift both feet up. Next is the same as the next steps in supported headstand