Introduction, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4
Inversions are good for the lungs, for the heart, for the thyroid gland. Most yogis are told this again and again in class. What a lot of us aren’t told though is that if done incorrectly, too soon, without proper instruction or with pre-existing back conditions, headstands and shoulderstands may also finish us up in a chiropractor’s office with compression of the upper back.
Because my spine looks like this:-
I’m not the biggest fan of the headstand of the shoulderstand. When I do practice shoulderstand I like to do it supported by the wall, but personally I like to think that all inversions, where the head is lower than the heart, give similar benefits. So, for example, a downward dog….
….or legs up the wall (or indeed just in the air),
will still give the body the “slowing down” feeling that a shoulderstand can give. Try them, they may not look as clever but they are beautiful! 
Whilst headstands were off the menu this week at the Gaiam Yoga Club, shoulderstands and handstands were not. To be fair there were several versions of shoulderstand to practice, including one with wall support and the podcasts continually encouraged us not to go further than our bodies told us to. Now this is great for people who know their bodies but I’m still not 100% convinced that someone new to yoga, who has never practiced inversions with a teacher, will be completely comfortable practicing shoulderstand as instructed through video and podcasts. Maybe I’m wrong? Maybe as a teacher I want to keep thinking students need me? 
What do you think?
And then there are handstands! There is a lot less potential for injury in a handstand. You tend to just topple over at the very worst. When it comes to handstands a lot of it is about letting go of fear. Most people could do handstands at least against the wall as a kid. Somewhere along the way we lose that innate sense of fearlessness that we have as a child and suddenly are too scared to kick up the wall as an adult. Handstands are about overcoming that fear. And having fun trying.
Two things. Firstly I have carpal tunnel in my wrists (I know! Is there a part of me that works properly?). Putting a lot of weight through my hands, as you need to for handstands (and hand balances in general) just isn’t an option for me. Although the version of handstand where you face the wall rather than away from it and walk your feet up it works to an extent for me I was disappointed that this was the only other option for handstand.
Secondly (and this isn’t Gaiam’s fault at all) this last week was the wrong week for me to be doing inversions. Now I’m not particuarly strict on the old adage of not doing inversions when you have your period, I believe that every woman is different and I know some women find inversions help with the cramps. But for me it feels horrible to be upside down at this time of the month. I was sorry to see that there was no mention of this on Gaiam at all before teaching shoulder and handstands.
The sequences were a lot of fun, fitted into busy days and felt very balanced so I would still, on the whole, recommend this course. But maybe not to complete beginners. However, there are discussion forums and blogs to explore which may help answer any practioner questions.
So readers, how do you feel about going upside down?
The Gaiam Yoga Club is currently running two memberships – US$25 per month or US$65 per quarter (which saves you US$10). Both packages include a 10 day free trial period.
I’m terrified of being upside down. The shoulder stand is the one position that I’ve encountered (I haven’t come accross headstands or handstands yet) that I don’t bother trying to do it properly – rather, I adaprt it and just hold my legs in the air. I would love to be able to do them, but I’ll need the support of a teacher I trust before I try to do it properly.
*shudders*
Maybe one day?!
I love that photo of you giving your kitty love : ) it’s adorable!
Love your legs-up-the-wall-pet-the-cat pose!
I started doing shoulder stand in my naive beginnings with yoga – and love it now, but do think it is very very important to have teachers for inversions.
I’m mostly terrified of inversions. It’s funny that you said handstand is the one that is least likely to injure you – that’s the one I will NEVER do without an instructor. I am completely terrified of that. I won’t even pull my legs up for headstand at this point – though that’s mostly cuz I CAN’T yet!
I just keep trying to work through the fear….
Hehe, love the shot with kitty!
I totally understand that not everyone can attend a yoga class and/or even afford it but I always recommend that if you can, go to a beginner’s class to learn good alignment and be guided in the beginning, especially inversions. Yoga teachers have played a very important role in my practice, and still do, because they help push me further than what I believe I can and correct my alignment when needed. I remember when I was doing shoulderstand one day, I looked like the leaning tower of Pisa and I seriously thought I was dead straight! If my teacher didn’t correct me that day, I probably would have walked around for the rest of the day with a pang in my back.
Shoulderstands I have no problem with but – headstand and handstand – forget it!! I would love to be able to do them but last time I tried a headstand on my own against a wall I ricked my neck badly. I think a teacher is essential. What I would love is more information on how to prepare and strengthen for headstand over a period of time.
Love the blog!
i am definitely not a fan of shoulderstand. never have been- hate the feeling. but i am most certainly growing to adore down dog. weird? I know.
I agree with you though, some poses are simply best attempted under supervision, which is why supplementing your home practice with real studio classes is invaluable. even if it’s just a few a month.
I like being in upside down positions, but since I’m a beginner only with the wall as support around me. I agree – iwith you about inversions on yoga podcast – it’s much better to do these in a class first before attempting at home so you know exactly what you should and shouldn’t be doing, x
I too have to comment on the kitty pic! That is totally me with my puppy. She likes nothing more than to get in there on the mat with me. In fact I’ve learned a lot from her – she does a little downward facing dog every time she gets up, and gives her whole body a little wake-up shake! Animals are great yoga teachers