 How to Learn the Headstand

Doing a headstand is part of several poses that you will do in advanced and intense yoga practice. There are several benefits to doing headstand based asanas or poses including circulation and meditation benefits. If you are interested in moving forward with your yoga practice and adding some of the asanas that go with headstands, then here are some ways you can learn to do a headstand properly and safely.

Practice with an Instructor

The first step to learning how to do a headstand properly for yoga is to practice with an instructor. This may seem like a step that you can avoid and handle on your own, but you should consider something first. If you do not have anyone that can spot you during your headstand, you could hurt yourself. You also may be doing the headstand wrong and hurting your neck, back, and core. This means that you could injure yourself to the point of needing medical treatment. With an instructor, you can ensure that you are doing the headstand properly, especially for your yoga practice.

Use Neck Assistance

You may be surprised to find that there are options to help you with the headstand such as neck assistance. These are specialty pillows and braces that are designed to hold your neck and keep you in  a safe position. You may find ones that also have bars to help you hold your body in place and stabilize you even more during your learning stages. These type of assistive devices can be purchased from yoga stores or health and fitness stores.

Use a Friend

Another way for you to learn the headstands that you need for your yoga practice is to use a friend. Your friend can hold your legs, spot you, and help you come out of the headstand if it starts to fail. This is more of a safety option that it is anything else. However, if you do have a friend that has done headstands and can help you learn, then this may be the ideal how to step for you. 

These are only a few of the methods you can use to learn to do a headstand properly for your yoga practice. Practice does take time, but make sure to keep it safe. The biggest tip you can take and use in your headstand practice is to have a friend nearby or to have an instructor help you. This helps reduce possible injury and keeps you a bit safer if you fall. 
