Benefits from Shirashasana include improvement in your memory, mental agility, better eyesight, reduction of hair loss among other benefits.
The Headstand (Shirashasana) is one of the most beneficial as also one of the more different asanas (postures or exercises) of Yoga. Its benefits include improvement in your memory, mental agility, better eyesight, reduction of hair loss. You might wonder how so many different benefits can accrue from one exercise. This is so as in this exercise your head is on the ground while with skillful effort you raise your entire body such that your foot soles face the roof of your house.
To do this exercise you have to go through a series of steps to be mastered over many days. To start you lie down on a carpet and face the ceiling. Place your arms by your side while your feet are placed together and not spread-eagled. The first thing to do is to breathe easy and calm yourself for the effort to come.
The next step is to gradually lift both your feet from you hip upwards till they are at a right angle with your hip that is still on the floor. Your feet are now resting on your hips. Support your hip with your arms.
At this juncture many who do this posture for the first time may feel that they are going to lose their balance and fall. Hold steady and try to maintain your balance. It comes with many days of practice. Some of those who are agile, skillful and young can learn to retain their balance at the first go. But then these are exceptions. Take your time to feel confident of maintaining your balance at this posture.
After you are comfortable with the above stage, you can try to gradually lift your hip so that you start moving up from your shoulders. Your shoulders are now the pivot. Your back would to rise at a curve. Try to reach a posture where your entire torso along with your upraised legs is supported by your shoulders. At this stage too try to attune yourself with maintaining your balance. Believe it, maintaining you balance is not easy, but effort over some time will make you adept at doing it. Support your back with your arms.
Now that you are comfortable with this posture, the time has come for you to reach the pinnacle. Lift your shoulders and try to balance your entire body on your head, while you cross your arms around your shoulders so that they form a base to support your standing on your head. Not for nothing is this posture of Shirashasana (Head Posture) is also called the Headstand.
At this stage for some days you will need someone to be near you to help you maintain your balance. Even after you become an expert at this difficult posture, do it near a wall or at the corner of a room, so if at all you lose your balance, you can easily support your legs with the wall and regain your posture.
Do take the advice and guidance of a qualified Yoga Therapist before you embark on doing this challenging asana. Consult your doctor too if you have a case history of hip or back related ailments. Those who suffer from Sciatica, heart ailment, High Blood pressure are advised not to do the Headstand.
For maximum benefit do the Shirashasana exercise along with other Yoga exercises like Vrishchikasana to resist sciatica and other back ailments, Mandukasana to resist diabetes, Halasana to give all-round exercise to your body, Shavasana to regain your energy, Anulom-Vilom to oxygenate your heart and Kapalbhati to resist heart ailments.