Why stand on your head?
It’s about getting a new perspective, in more ways than one. Almost all our time is spent stood upright, on our feet, but there are some excellent benefits to being upside down. On the one hand, gravity is being pulled down through the head, instead of the feet, which shifts the flow of energy and blood up through the spine. On an emotional or psychological level, being upside-down also allows you to reflect on habitual patterns of thinking and behaviour, and opens up new possibilities for growth.
This posture is particularly good for developing your core strength, as you maintain your balance in the pose. When you get used to it, you’ll start to feel a sense of calm and contemplation.
Headstand can be a very daunting posture for beginners, but practiced safely under the instruction of a yoga teacher, it’s not as tricky as you might think. Once your knowledge of the posture and your confidence increases, you’ll soon be hanging out upside down for ten to fifteen breaths at a time. Allegedly, the world record for the longest headstand is 3 days, 9 hours, 25 minutes and 35 seconds – but we don’t recommend trying it for that long.
Please click on the cartoon image above to enlarge. To learn more about the legend of the Kurunta ants click here