The benefits of yoga are tremendous. This practice of stretching and moving the body was designed thousands of years ago as a practice in meditation, purification, and strength and flexibility enhancement. The different types of asanas or poses all help the body and mind achieve certain milestones. For example with the inversion yoga postures, several key health and well being achievements can be met.

Inversion yoga poses are any one of the poses that places the feet above the head during the practice. Half shoulder stands, shoulder stands, and headstands are all inversion poses. When attempting these poses it is important to be properly prepared through first performing preparatory postures. Other things to keep in mind when trying inversion poses are the strength of the neck, unhealthy blood pressure, and any preexisting injuries. Women who are pregnant or menstruating should never practice these poses. If all systems are go from a health point of view, then these poses can add a lot to the yoga practice and assist in certain physical and emotional successes.

From the traditional yoga point of view, inversion asanas are extremely useful in helping eliminating toxins from the body. It is believed that many of the body’s impurities are found in the lower abdomen. By placing the feet above the head, the impurities are forced to move and make their way out of the body. A more Western philosophy cites inversion poses as helping to improve circulation and increase strength and balance. People who practice these asanas are actively improving the strength of their backs and abdomen. These poses are demanding and require a great deal of fortitude. It is also important to be able to breath fully and rhythmically while in inversion poses.

The emotional benefit from the yoga inversion poses is a greater sense of overcoming fear. For many people, the idea of being upside down and having their feet above their head is frightening. When a yoga student achieves an inversion pose, they have effectively defeated this natural, human fear. A higher level of confidence is achieved and its effects trickle down into other aspects of the person’s life.

Inversion postures, as with all of the other types of yoga poses, should be attempted with patience, confidence, and humility. The advantages to inversion asanas are huge and these poses are incredibly beneficial to the yoga practice. Written by Angela Crout-Mitchell.