| Okay, folks, I have been doing yoga as of the time | | | | Now, depending on what gender you may belong to, |
| of this writing (03/03/10) for a little over 8 years | | | | this is in no way saying for example that guys would |
| now, BUT I just started doing the headstand about a | | | | be sharper thinkers than ladies, or on the flip side |
| year ago. | | | | women are more emotionally stable than guys. |
| Why? I don't know, I guess, the fear of standing on | | | | Quite the contrary, this is to say such masculine |
| my neck was one, but more so, like with all other | | | | feminine, hot/cold and ying/yang are inherent in all of |
| poses that I picked up with ease, this actually took | | | | us and could be developed as we mature as human |
| me hiring an instructor to spot me. | | | | beings depending on our living habits. |
| Still, I will be the first to say, once I got the | | | | But coming back to the yoga poses, personally, I'm |
| mechanics of the headstand down, it pretty much | | | | just glad that I can do both with ease and from |
| came easy (and easier with time) as I practiced it. | | | | practice I will tell you this; one (the headstand) heats |
| Folks, it should be stressed that the headstand and | | | | you up (literally) while the other (the shoulder-stand) |
| shoulder stand are two poses that belong to a | | | | cools you down. However, suffice it to say that |
| specific group of yoga poses known as Inversions. | | | | when done in their right order, headstand before |
| And as the name suggests, when the poses are | | | | shoulder-stand (amidst counter poses) oh yes, in |
| executed, you are basically positioned upside down | | | | conjunction with the aforementioned sun salutations, |
| and generally, these practices improve health, reduce | | | | that's truly a workout! |
| anxiety and stress and increase self-confidence. | | | | Now, in regards specifically to the headstand as being |
| Before we go any further, I must stress that for | | | | beneficial to the body, here are some key points |
| expectant and menstruating women...IT IS HIGHLY | | | | apparent in its practice: |
| RECOMMENDED THAT YOU DO NOT PERFORM | | | | 1. Practicing the headstand sends a very useful blood |
| INVERSIONS!! | | | | supply to the brain and stimulates the pituitary and |
| That said, let's go over the Yoga headstand aka | | | | pineal glands in this organ Needless to say, this |
| Sirsasana. | | | | rejuvenates the brain so that thinking power |
| Headstand is referred to as the king of all poses, | | | | increases and thoughts become clearer. |
| while shoulder stand is referred to as queen of all | | | | 2. Owing to the amount of focus necessary to hold |
| poses. | | | | the pose, the headstand stimulates the nervous |
| Most yoga 'gurus' say the headstand develops the | | | | system, increasing mental alertness and clarity |
| masculine qualities in humans. These qualities are said | | | | 3. Now for actual fitness benefits, I challenge any |
| to include: | | | | so-called weight lifter to hold this pose for more than |
| - Will power | | | | 5 minutes and tell me they didn't feel the necessity |
| - Sharpness of the Brain | | | | for immense endurance. |
| - Clarity of Thought | | | | Folks, the headstand strengthens the spine, neck, |
| On the other side, the Shoulder-stand is said to | | | | shoulders and arms and the muscular system of the |
| develop the feminine qualities in humans said to | | | | abdomen and legs are toned adequately in its |
| include: | | | | practice. |
| - Patience | | | | Sounds like a lot for such a pose, well, what did you |
| - Peacefulness | | | | expect? It's the king of yoga poses folks and I'm |
| - Emotional Stability. | | | | sure glad I can do it. |