Headstand-Meditational postures
The classical literature and tradition of Yoga counts the Head stand among the so-called meditational postures. The texts demand that the Yogi remain in this posture for about three hours. Since the 20-minute Yogi has neither the time nor the inclination for meditation, one may ask why he should practise the Headstand at all. There are several reasons for it.
Mainly beginners are very keen on the Headstand and that it has almost an intoxicating effect on them. They are proud of having learned something which they imagined to be far more difficult. Their self-confidence increases tremendously. But if a beginner should decide to stand on his head for ten or even twenty minutes at the first go, he may well harm himself. Such exaggerations are positively dangerous. They are neither in the spirit of Yoga. The Headstand should be practised with great care and only after the preliminary exercises have been mastered and then for not more than ten to twenty seconds. This is quite sufficient for the first few weeks. Now back to the question of why we practise the Headstand.
The Headstand is an important aid to evacuation at will and stimulates the entire circulation It is also a big step towards deep relaxation.
The effects of the inversion of the body are enormously beneficial. It is self-evident that the replacement of the inner organs, happens in the inverted position by itself, especially if the pull of gravity is assisted by deep breathing. The stretched pockets of the colon are emptied and massaged, and in the course of several months the colon gradually returns to its normal condition. At the same time the enlarged stomach resumes its normal size which leads to reduced appetite. The effect on the whole digestive system is extremely strong. Another of the benefits is the reduction of pressure in the veins of the legs, thereby easing strain on the heart. This effect can be intensified by circling the feet while in the Head-stand, as it acts as a massage of the veins (and the lymphatic vessels) and helps the flow of the blood back to the heart. For this reason Indian physicians prescribe the Shoulderstand and possibly the Headstand for people with heart trouble. Young people suffering from cold hands and feet find it a real blessing, since it acts almost immediately.
Another benefit derived from the Headstand is the influence on the autonomic nervous system. According to the Indian concept, the pituitary gland is favourably affected by an increase of blood during this posture. The prompt reaction of the blood vessels is convincing and welcome. Since this effect spreads with repeated practice to more and more areas of the body, the 20-minute Yogi has an excellent aid at hand with which he can direct his circulation to create the desired warmth during deep relaxation.
Useful and beneficialas the Headstand can be for most people, it may possibly spell danger for some. Those who suffer from severe heart trouble or who had head injuries must under all circumstances refrain from practising this exercise. The same holds in the case of sufferers from slipped discs, particularly if they happen to be in the area of the neck. Hence one should practise the Dolphin first, as in this posture it is possible to check up on any hidden defects of the spine. As soon as one feels pain or hears rasping noises, one must do neither this exercise nor the Headstand. For those who suffer from disc trouble in the lumbar region, the Headstand can often be of help and the only way of inverting the body, for these people are not always able to perform the Shoulderstand. At any rate, in all these cases medical advice must be sought. For people with a bad balance and lack of dexterity the Headstand is out of the question. How ever, it is recommended for fat people if their blood pressure permits it.
Students are not infrequently afraid of bursting a blood vessel. It is quite common to experience a rush of blood to the head during the first few attempts, but this soon disappears and should not occur again. Likewise it is quite normal that one should experience the Headstand as refreshing and relaxing. If the rush of blood to the head does not disappear after a while, one should refrain from this exercise. Other reasons for abstaining from practising the Headstand may be scars on the chest or lesions of the diaphragm.
For the majority of exercises the real source of danger lies not in possible contusions etc., but in the non-heeding of the rules. The danger of the Headstand may be compared with the danger of a pedestrian or a motorist. If he crosses the road at the wrong moment or drives on the wrong side of the motorway, he risks his life. But for everybody who observes the traffic rules and uses his common sense, there is no danger whatsoever.
The element of security in performing the Headstand consists in the perfectly symmetrical execution. If one is irresponsible or tense it is inevitable that neck and shoulders are used one-sidedly. The Dolphin serves as a means by which the beginner learns to observe this symmetry. Once he has mastered this aspect, nothing much can happen. He may perhaps once or twice fall against the wall and at worst sprain a shoulder. Or, if he falls down from the Headstand as stiff as a ladder, he might well break a big toe. But even these accidents can be avoided with a little bit of care.