The Kulae Posture Series: InversionsWhat are inversion yoga poses? They are yoga poses you perform where your head is below your heart such as shoulder stand (Salamba Sarvangasana), half shoulder stand (Viparita Karani), head stand (Salamba Shirshasana), plow pose (Halasana), and scorpion pose (Vrschikasana). These are the more popular inversions practiced at many yoga studios today (particularly Ashtanga yoga).
Why do yoga inversions? One theory is that we carry impurities in our lower abdomen so when we raise our feet above our head, gravity is assisting us to help us rid ourselves of the impurities. With proper breathing, your circulation is quickly improved in an inversion pose as well.
If you are pregnant, have neck injuries, high or low blood pressure, it is best you do not attempt an inversion pose. Ensure you are warmed up first from doing other yoga poses as a preparation before practicing inversions; otherwise, you could injure yourself.
Inversions strengthen the neck, back, abdominal muscles, and improve your lung capacity and breathing. Once you practice inversions regularly, you will overcome the fear associated with having your feet above your head. Mastering a difficult pose that you don’t think you can perform creates a positive transformation within. You will prove to yourself that you can move beyond any self-inflicted limitations!
A Beginners Guide on How to Perform a Proper Headstand Inversion:
For additional support and padding, place a towel under your head. Use the wall to balance against and as you progress in time, you can move further from the wall until you no longer need it. You can also slowly remove one foot from the wall and then the other to practice balancing.
- Place your hands and knees with the wrists underneath your shoulders.
- Place your knees underneath your hips.
- With your elbows on the floor spread your forearms apart.
- Interlace your fingers and place the crown of your head on the floor cupped by your interlaced fingers.
- Bring your hips upward.
- Walk your feet in towards your head until your hips are over your shoulders.
- Kick one of your legs up in the air, followed by your other leg.
- Use your forearms to balance you and to prevent your neck and head from sustaining all of the weight of your body.
- Hold the pose for 10 seconds.
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