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The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    śīrṣāsana

    Devanāgarī: शीर्षासन Translation: the head posture Similar words:śīrṣa Related concepts:sarvāṅgāsana, mudrā, viparīta, karaṇī, jānu, viparītakaraṇī, āsana

    Appears in


    Click here for complete Saṃskṛta Index

    Commentaries around

    Śīrṣāsana

    Variations

    1. Nirālamba Śīrṣāsana

    2. Viparīta Koṇāsana

    3. Viparīta Baddha Koṇāsana

    4. Viparīta Daṇḍāsana

    “When we teach the headstand,
    we first teach preparation,
    then we teach the counterpose Sarvāṅgāsana
    which in itself is a major pose that demands
    its own counterpose Bhujaṅgāsana.
    It is all very systematic.
    Planning means to go gradually, to prepare,
    and then to compensate.”
    – TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Four Pages 53-54

    “Another simple posture is Adho Mukha Śvan Āsana.
    the next step is to try them in some sitting postures such as Mahā Mudrā.
    These Bandha can also be done in the headstand.
    It is easy to do Bandha in this position because the lifting,
    Uḍḍīyana Bandha, and holding up, Mūla Bandha,
    of Apāna to the flame is almost automatic
    because now the Apāna is above the flame.
    If we can do the three Bandha in these postures,
    we are ready to introduce them in our Prāṇāyāma.”
    – TKV Desikachar ‘The Concept, Preparation and Techniques of Bandha’
    Religiousness in Yoga Chapter Fourteen Page 197

    “Through Yoga reverse Tamas
    – Śīrṣāsana, Uḍḍīyāna Bandha.
    Both practices carry risks.
    Breathing can be chosen for the less adept.”
    – TKV Desikachar 1980

    “Another important thing that he has understood is
    that these Āsana should not be taken one by one,
    they have to be taken as a group and as a composition.
    This means you don’t do headstand on Monday,
    shoulder stand on Tuesday,
    you do your group of Āsana linked like words in a sentence.”
    – TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’,
    given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981.

    “Even with my students they teach a posture
    because it has been taught to them.
    Like a rubber stamp.
    This is not Viniyoga.
    People have rigid ideas.
    For example, why Cakravākāsana for this lady
    after Śīrṣāsana, whereas something else,
    say Mahāmudrā for somebody else.
    So it does not follow what is good for me
    is good for everybody.”
    – TKV Desikachar France 1983

    “It must be remembered that Śīrṣāsana is
    one form of the Viparīta Karaṇī Mudrā.
    For those who cannot do Śīrṣāsana
    or any other inverted posture,
    alternatives do exist.
    Mahāmudrā is one such alternative
    which would yield similar benefits.”
    – TKV Desikachar KYM Darśanam February 1994

    Short and Longer Term prerequisites for
    “Bakāsana or Parśva  Bakāsana
    include:
    Utkaṭāsana
    Adho Mukha Śvanāsana
    Caturaṅga Daṇḍasana
    Nirālamba Śīrṣāsana
    Viparīta Vṛkṣāsana”
    – 108 Postural Practice Pointers

    We must also consider the safety factors
    “For example, we have Śīrṣāsana and Padmāsana.
    Because of being able to do these Āsana a
    person wants to do Padmāsana in Śīrṣāsana,
    exploring an Āsana known as Viparīta Padmāsana.
    However one has to know the factors involved.
    One cannot assume that because two things
    are possible, a third will follow automatically.”
    – 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
    – The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

    We must also consider the safety factors
    “For example Viparīta Padmāsana could
    be approached by working dynamically
    from Ardha Padma Sarvāṅgāsana
    into Ardha Padma Halāsana. This would
    ascertain the ability to work into and with
    Padmāsana in an inverted Āsana such as Śīrṣāsana.
    Thus, any Āsana practice must allow for certain
    safety factors, so we are able to work with respect
    and regard for the individual involved and yet
    retain consideration of and for the safety factors.”
    – 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
    – The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

    “Five questions my teacher taught me that need to be ‘posed’,
    for or to any student wishing to practice Śīrṣāsana,
    or even for and to any teacher wishing to teach Śīrṣāsana,
    whatever the situation.
    1. Who is going to practice it?
    2. Why do they wish to use it?
    3. When are they going to practice it?
    4. How are they going to get in and out of it?
    5. What do they need to have done to verify their capability?”
    – 108 Yoga Teaching Path Pointers

    Links to Related Posts:

    • Glossary of Āsana & Mudrā Practice Techniques
      – Grouped into Standing, Kneeling, Lying, Inverted, Backbend, Seated & Sitting
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Viniyoga
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Vinyāsa Krama
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Pratikriyāsana
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on the Breath
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Śikṣaṇa
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Rakṣaṇa
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Cikitsā
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Laṅghana
    • Collected Practice Theory Posts on Bṛṃhaṇa
    • Glossary of Prāṇāyāma & Bandha Practice Techniques
      – Grouped into Primary, Secondary & Ancillary Techniques
    • Compendium of Quotes from TKV Desikachar on the Yoga of T Krishnamacharya……
    • Considerations for Vinyāsa Krama around Bakāsana……
    • Śīrṣāsana as a Viparīta Karaṇī Mudrā
    • The Biomechanics of Śīrṣāsana
    • There are Many Approaches to Āsana Practice…
    • The Viniyoga of Inversion as an Āsana or as a Mudrā……

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    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
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