10 Reasons To Do A Headstand Every Day! - An Excerpt From Lisa Mitchell

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Headstand (Shirshasana) is often referred to as the king of all yoga poses. Here are 10 reasons why headstand should be practiced everyday!

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1. By reversing the flow of gravity, a headstand simulates a “face lift” by letting your skin hang in the opposite direction. The inverted position of a headstand also flushes fresh nutrients and oxygen to the face, creating a glowing effect on the skin.

2. Headstands increase nutrients and blood flow to the scalp, decreasing onset of grey hair. Some yogis say that it will even convert grey hair back to its natural color!

3. Headstands stimulate and provide refreshed blood to the pituitary and hypothalamus glands.

These glands are vital to our wellbeing, and are considered the master glands that regulate all other glands in the body (thyroid, pineal, and adrenals).This includes our sexual hormones, so you can expect better sex with a consistent headstand practice.

4. When the adrenal glands are flushed and detoxified with headstands, we create more positive thought. Depression will decrease, as going upside down will almost always put a smile on your face.

5. It's great to bust out a headstand at a party. Your peers will be impressed!

6. Improved circulation occurs with a headstand practice.

Because the heart constantly has to pump blood upward to the brain, the headstand gives the heart a rest and reduces unnecessary strain. In addition, while in headstand de-oxygenated blood is able to flow more easily from the extremities to the heart.

7. Any fluid that is retained in the feet is able to drain (edema), therefore reducing the onset and prevalence of varicose veins.

8. Headstands increase digestive fire and increase body heat. The intestines are cleansed by reversing the pull of gravity, while releasing congested blood in the colon.

9. Headstands strengthen deep core muscles. To hold a straight headstand for an extended period of time, the practitioner must engage the obliques, the rectus abdominus and the transverse abdominus.To really engage and strengthen the core, pike the legs by lifting and/or lowering both legs at the same time when coming in and out of the pose.

10. Eliminate your chances of having an ischemic stroke, as scientific evidence shows that this type of stroke rarely occurs in individuals that consistently do headstands!

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Although it is recommended learning headstand from a qualified teacher, its multifaceted benefits should not be ignored. Headstands can be contraindicative if you have neck injuries, extremely high blood pressure, ear and eye problems, if you are menstruating, or have acid reflux.

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All About Patrick Creelman

 

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Patrick is a Certified Anusara teacher, masterful and well versed with advanced alignment.

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Through years of dedicated study he has developed a high level of personal practice and an expert eye in helping students achieve new levels in their own physical yoga practice and philosophical understanding. Patrick is widely considered as one of the most experienced and inspiring "Teacher's Teacher" in Asia. Well established throughout China and Asia, Patrick has a global community that also extends throughout Europe, North America, and South Africa. His classes include a philosophically based thematic focus, clear anatomy, and alignment for both simple and complex poses within a strong fluid practice.

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From the article "Tough Guys Do Yoga" in the Asian Pacific Post

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"In high school Creelman was first introduced to Yoga by his uncle who passed him a set of beautiful lecture tapes by Ram Dass. This was his first conscious step towards his spiritual path. After years of ski racing and rock climbing, Patrick took his first Hatha Yoga class in the Sivananda Tradition at Simon Fraser University in the spring of 1996 and was struck by the calm, yet powerful effect it had on his hectic college life. After an 8-week intensive, it became clear that the blending of spirituality and physical experience of Hatha Yoga was a path that had a deeper message than anything he had done before."

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Patrick will be at Yogalife Studios South on February 12th.

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The Master Class runs from 2-5pm (for teachers and dedicated students) and the Strength & Intelligence workshop runs from 7-9pm (open for all levels of practitioners).

Patrick doesn't post a lot of videos, but for a sneak peak at him in action, you can check out the link below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9SA6OQeAUo

For those on the 35 day challenge, Patrick's Master Class counts for 3 non-hot flow classes, and the Strength & Intelligence workshop counts for 2 non-hot flow classes.