Going Upside Down

When we think of yoga poses that take our body upside down, headstand and shoulderstand probably spring to mind first.

But there are lots of yoga poses that take our head lower than our heart that are much more accessible, and provide the same benefits.

Poses such as shoulderstand, headstand and handstand are all strong poses that require good technique to be done safely.  If you are new to inversions please only do these poses under the guidance of a good teacher.

So what more accessible inversion poses can we do instead? 

An inversion is classed as having the head lower than the heart, and the heart lower than the hips.

 How about these? All great poses that most students of yoga will do in every class or practice they do. 

Downward facing dog - Adho Mukha Svanasana

Bridge Pose - Setu Bandha Savangasana

Dolphin - Ardha Pincha Mayurasana

Standing forward fold - Uttanasana

Legs up - with hips lifted - Viparita Kirani

When practicing going upside down, listen to your body and if it doesn’t feel good come out of the pose.  There’s always another pose that you can do which will benefit you much more than being uncomfortable  in an inversion!

What are the benefits of going upside down?

1.      Building strength in the arms, shoulders and the core.

2.      Improves focus, confidence and balance, concentration is needed to hold the pose and to feel comfortable and balanced in it. As we feel more comfortable we gain confidence.

3.      Helps the immune system, as the lymphatic system is stimulated

4.     Supports circulation, helping the heart to deliver blood around the body and to the brain

5.     Supports digestion, encourages movement from your small intestine to the ascending colon, and as the core puts pressure on the walls of the digestive tract.

6.      Stronger poses create energy, stimulating blood flow

7.      Gentler inversions calm the body by activating the parasympathetic nervous system

8.      Changes your perspective on a literal physical level which can help shift your mood, perspective and energy.

So enjoy getting all these benefits through your yoga practice, whether you do the stronger poses or the more accessible ones.

Finally, you do need to be cautious when doing yoga inversions of any sort – if you have a neck or head injury, high blood pressure or eye problems like glaucoma. it is not advised to do inversions. If you are pregnant, you should not start to do inversions unless you have done them previously and are under the guidance of a teacher.  Please seek the advice of a health care professional first to ensure that inversions are suitable for you, and then find a good yoga teacher to support you.