(Demonstration by Jola)

Salamba sirsasana - salamba meaning supported and sirsa meaning head; in other words standing on one’s head or tadasana (mountain’s pose) on one’s head.

Not many postures can boast such a large amount of literature written about them, not many postures create such a wide range of reactions. 
Here is a posture that leaves nobody indifferent;  here is a posture which you cannot but want to try for yourself when you see someone do it.  Headstand is a posture that is physically difficult, visually dramatic and mentally uplifting.  Yet most of us can master it despite the restrictions of tight lower backs and inflexible hamstrings.  For the hesitant beginner it is like a mountain to be conquered, terrifying and fascinating at the same time, for the proficient student it is time to meditate on one’s head with eyes closed, it is sheer exhilaration.

What makes this posture so amazing, so complex and for some of us so frightening is that, as for many postures but more so with this one, all the systems of the body are involved.  You cannot do headstand without changing the way you feel physically, physiologically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  It is not for nothing that it is called the king of all postures and as such it must be approached with the greatest of respect.  Its benefits go well beyond any expectations but unfortunately there are many risks attached to it if done incorrectly.  Nobody just simply jumps into a headstand.  Children do of course, but then they are children.  By the time we reach adulthood and even before for some of us, we will have developed ideas of what we can and cannot do, we will have put an armour of protective walls all around us and to dare wander beyond the confines of these walls will take a lot of courage.  But then if you do dare, if you can defy the primeval fear of falling or of putting pressure on the brain, be prepared to see what happens when the effects of gravity are reversed…

What happens during an inversion?
An inverted posture is a posture that places the pelvis above the heart and headstand is one of the best qualifiers for this category.

Gravity is pulling us downwards towards the centre of the earth.  Almost two-thirds of the average body weight is made up of water and all this liquid tends to settle downward in the body.  We need a strong and powerful heart to pump blood against the force of gravity. 
The pull of gravity will be felt differently whether we are standing upright, lying supine or prone or standing on our head.  In headstand, the feet reach skywards and our head is pulled earthwards.  Standing on one’s head gives our heart a break and allows the blood from the body to flow back to the heart by itself.  Standing on one’s head is a bit like floating into space, the gravitational pull is reversed. Standing on one’s head gives us a chance to clear our heads, to get rid of old habits and learned patterns.

Benefits:
Headstand revitalizes the whole body and stimulates the mind.  As we know, all the systems are interrelated and they all benefit from the proper practice of headstand.

What happens on a physiological level when you invert:
circulatory/lymphatic systems: 
Inversions use gravity to bring more blood to the heart and to purify it;  the blood is drained from the lower extremities, the abdomen and the pelvis area.  Less strain is put on the heart than when we stand upright.  Inversions allow plenty of oxygen and blood to reach the upper parts of the body; they help with venous return thus preventing build up of fluid in the legs.  The lymphatic system is stimulated, and the immune system is strengthened. 
respiratory system: 
Inversions help irrigate the cells in the lower parts of the lungs, and stimulate lung tissue.  The weight of the abdominal organs on the diaphragm encourages deep breathing which gently massages and stimulates the internal organs (heart, lungs, liver, spleen, intestines, stomach, kidneys and pancreas).  Sirsasana is used to treat asthma, hay fever, colds, coughs, tonsillitis and bad breath.  By experiencing the breath in an inversion, the body learns again how to breathe properly.
Digestive/reproductive systems: 
Inversions help with digestion and elimination.  They help overcome liver, kidney and stomach problems.  Inversions increase the gastric fire and produce heat in the body.
Headstand relieves organ prolapse
endocrine system: 
Inversions put pressure on some of the most important glands, ie the thyroid (responsible for metabolism), the pineal and the pituitary (both responsible for growth and sex hormones).  Inversions help with the reproductive system generally and is used to treat menopausal imbalance.

nervous system: 
Inversions flood the brain with fresh blood which nourishes the cells and helps expel toxins.  Inversions stimulate the nervous system, increasing mental alertness and clarity.  Sirsasana is used to treat headaches, anxiety and insomnia.  It reduces anxiety and stress.
Inversions improve vision and hearing.
skeletal system: 
Headstand strengthens the spine, neck, shoulders and arms. 
When done properly headstand helps the spine become properly aligned and improves posture.
muscular system:
Headstand when done properly reduces muscular stress, tones the muscular system of the abdomen and legs, neck and shoulders
integumentary system:
Headstand nourishes facial skin and promotes hair growth by stimulating the follicles.