SkiptomaincontentTypePagesArticlesPoseSequenceVideoAudioTeacherWorkshopStudioEnterasearchtermandclickentertosearch.YogaVastu>Poselibrary>SalambaSirsasanaISalambaSirsasanaI(Headstand1)HowtoperformHeadstand1Activateyourshouldersandupperbackmusclesasyouliftyourbodyupintoinvertedbalance.Usethewallforsupportifnecessary.WhatisSalambaSirsasanaI?Headbalance,orSupportedHeadstand.Thisposeisoftencalled“kingoftheasana”.ItisanimportantposeinIyengarYogapractice.ItsnameisoftenshortenedtoSirsasana.ItisalwayspairedwithShoulderstand(oraposefromthewiderSarvangasanafamily,suchasSetuBandha)sothattheheatingandinvigoratingeffectsofHeadstandcanbecounteractedwiththecoolingqualitiesofShoulderstand.(ShoulderstandneednotbepracticedimmediatelyafterHeadstand,butitshouldappearsomewhereinthesequenceafterHeadstandistaken.PracticeShoulderstandforatleastaslongasyouheldHeadstand,oreven1.5or2timesaslong.)Headstandisfirstlearnednearthewall,andlaterpracticedfreelybalancinginthecentreoftheroom.HowtodoandwhentouseSalambaSirsasanaI?AgoodfoundationinthestandingposesandliftstrengthandopeningintheupperarmsandshouldersarenecessarybeforelearningHeadstand.Guidancefromacertifiedteacherisprudentwhenlearningthispose.Stability,confidence,strength,andreadinessinthebodyneedtobebuiltprogressively.PoseslikeAdhoMukhaSvanasanabegintopreparethebodyforHeadstand.Inclassicalsequencing,PrasaritaPadottanasanaisoftentakenimmediatelybeforeSirsasana.Oncetheposebecomesestablishedinthepractitioner,ithasamentallyclarifyingeffect.Itissaidtosharpenconcentrationandfocus.Thebloodsupplytothewholebodyisaffected,byvirtueoftheinvertednatureofthepose.Thetissuesofthebrain,andimportantglandslikethepituitary,arethoughttobebenefitedbythisposture.KeepinmindthatposturesfromtheSirsasanaandSarvangasanafamiliesaretobeavoidedorapproachedwithextracareifyousufferfromchronicdizzinessorhighbloodpressure.Ifyoudoindeedsufferfromtheaforementionedconditions,insteadofgoingstraightintoanypronouncedinversion,prepareyourselfmentallyandphysically.Thiscanbedonebyassu