A Heads-Up About Headstand

Headstand (Sirsasana) has long been considered an essential component of traditional yoga asana practice. Coupled with Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana), they are called the King and Queen poses, and many styles of yoga encourage the daily practice of these inversions. Headstand is considered to be energizing; Shoulderstand is calming. Together, they are said to perfectly balance our human nervous systems.

However, as Headstand has come into Western culture, many people have expressed concern about neck safety. As a physical therapist, I share these concerns and feel that months, if not years, of preparatory work are needed to prepare the body to stand on one’s head.

Why Headstand Can Be Risky

Let’s first consider spinal alignment. Ideally, the spine, with its normal curves, should be vertical, with the ear over the shoulder, shoulder over the hip, and so forth. Many people in a sedentary society have a chronically forward head, due to long hours of paperwork and keyboard work, as well as a flattened neck curve caused by constantly looking down. Putting a load of weight on the neck, upside down when it is chronically flat, and the head forward puts a huge strain on the neck and upper back. 

Second, let’s consider the size of the neck vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Take a look at the whole spine, whether you have access to a full-size model or just a picture. Notice the size of the neck vertebrae, which are designed to bear the weight of the head, which weighs 10 to 14 pounds on average. Now, look at the much-larger low back vertebrae, which are designed to bear the weight of the upper body, about half of your total weight. Now imagine Headstand, with ALL of your body weight on the little neck vertebrae and discs. This produces a large compressive force that they were not designed to bear.

How to Prepare for a Safe Headstand

To overcome these potential problems, I feel that careful preparatory work is essential. First, postural problems must be corrected. Practicing standing poses with your back to the wall can teach you how to align your head over your shoulders. You can even start simply in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) with your head, shoulders, and hips touching the wall. Make sure that your chin and gaze are level.

Practitioners should also increase strength in the arms and shoulders in order to take at least part of the weight off the neck, and stabilize the body weight in healthy alignment over the head and neck in a Headstand. Regular practice of Downward Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and Plank Pose (Phalakasana) strengthens the muscles we need to bear weight on the arms, and you should also increase hold times in these poses to develop endurance. 

Even if you already have a strong practice including standing poses and poses that bear weight on your arms, it’s also most helpful to work with an experienced teacher to check your alignment. For example, you may think that you have a normal curve in your neck, but the teacher can see that your neck is actually flat. In Headstand, you may have to put the weight more forward, toward the forehead, to put more curve in your neck, and an experienced teacher can help you refine your position.

Remember that yoga is ideally a practice of healing. If you have a history of neck injuries or know that you have arthritis in your neck, you may choose to forgo this pose. If you do want to practice Headstand, don’t be tempted to rush into it before you’re ready, thereby risking neck strain or injury. Give yourself time to prepare for this traditional pose. In so doing, you will also develop patience and persistence, and continue your work toward optimal health.

Julie has devoted her professional life to integrating the healing benefits of yoga with her medical training as a physical therapist. She has integrated decades of patient care experience with 40 years of yoga teaching into a unique teaching style, and teaches workshops throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, often focusing on the anatomy of asana or therapeutic applications of yoga. She owns a combined PT and Yoga studio in Portland, Oregon, and has published over 45 articles and columns in publications such as Yoga Journal and Yoga International.