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Shirshana
( Head Stand Pose)
Shirsha
means
‘head’. Hence, this asana
is termed headstand pose. It is called the ‘King of asanas’
because of its various uses.
Procedure
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Sit
down on the floor with knees bend as in vajrasana.
-
Bend
forward and place forearms on the ground with fingers interlocked and
elbows in front of knees at an adequate distance.
-
Now
place the head in the triangle of interlocked fingers in such a way
that it touches the floor.
-
Now
walk up, straightening knees until the back is perpendicular to the
floor.
-
Inhale
deeply and lift the knees until the back is perpendicular to the
floor.
-
Inhale
deeply and lift the knees by pulling in close to the body; keep the
back straight and balanced, toes pointing upwards.
-
Raise
legs slowly and extend them up straight until the whole body comes in
a vertical line, totally balanced on head and elbows.
-
Breathe
slowly and deeply and hold the position upto a comfortable length of
time without any excessive strain.
-
To
come back to the original kneeling position, first bend the knees,
then the body at the hips and finally lower the legs till the feet are
touching the floor.
In
the beginning you may take the support of a wall for completely raising
the legs.
Benefits
Ř
Useful in sciatica.
·
Makes spine flexible.
·
Cures backache and neck pain.
·
Improves blood circulation to all parts of the body.
·
Increases height, promotes hair growth, enhances memory and
intellectual capacity.
·
Stimulates pituitary and thyroid glands.
·
Cures many problems, such as indigestion, constipation,
insomnia,
irregular menstruation, asthma and anxiety.
·
Strengthens the entire body and increases resistance to sickness.
Precautions
Persons
suffering from high blood pressure, eye disease, atherosclerosis, nasal
catarrh, thyroid problems, advanced form of Arthritis, and neck injury
should consult their physician before doing this asana. It
should not be done beyond one’s capacity. It should only be done after the other asanas and
must always be followed by shavasana.
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