Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ which means union of one’s soul (aatma) and the Divine power (Paramatma). As per Patanjali, the one who fell into God’s offering, Yoga is a stoppage of the fluctuations of the mind, ‘Yogas Chitta vritti nirodha.’ It is the oldest practice followed in the world and it is given down to us by the ‘Adi yogi’ or the first yogi - Lord Shiva.
The most difficult and the most interesting practice in yoga are inversions. There are various inversions for every level of yoga-like half headstand and full headstand. In a half headstand, people make a ninety-degree angle by their body and in full headstand, they make a one-eighty degrees angle.
Headstand is a topic of interest, not only in India but in the whole world. And along with this interest, comes a petrifying question. Are they safe? To answer that, yes they are but only when some necessary precautions are taken into consideration.
One: a person, who is trying the headstand the first time, should always take the support of a wall and do it or take help from someone else. When they start feeling confident, they can try doing it on their own but someone should still be there with them.
Two: never try the headstand for a straight 5 minutes in the very start. They should always break it up. For fifteen seconds in the first few days then thirty and so on.
Now third and the most important one, after the person has completed the headstand, they should immediately go in Balasana or child pose for at least 15 seconds.
The benefits of headstand are copious in number. It benefits the entire body if done correctly for the time span of 5 minutes at a stretch. It calms the mind, boosts the digestive, lymphatic endocrine, respiratory and circulatory systems and it also reduces stress and liberates a person from depression.
Thus, inversions, if done properly, can keep your body healthy and help you live a longer life.
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