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SIRASASANA

DEFINITION: Sirasasana is considered as the “king” of all asanas in Hatha Yoga. “Siras” means “head” and “asana” means “posture.” In this, whole body weight is transferred to the head. It is also called “kabalasana” and “vrikshasana.” Here, “kabala” refers to head.

TECHNIQUES:

STAGE I:

Take a cloth and spread it horizontally. Kneel down and make your fingers joined and use the elbows to firmly place in the ground.
Now, place your head in the ground such that your hand safeguards the head and the palms guard the back of the head.
By placing the head and hands firmly on the ground, slowly raise the hip by your legs and foot.

STAGE II: In the second stage, slightly raise the knees and hip such that the legs are placed on the ground, and slowly move with foot towards the head, step by step.

STAGE III:

Join both legs and bend the legs gradually till it touches the buttocks. Up to this stage, it is half-sirasasana.
After learning the third stage, raise the legs slowly and steadily till it becomes perpendicular (i.e.) the head down and the legs up.
In the beginning, you have to do with someone’s help or by practicing near a wall.

DURATION: Starting from few seconds, you can increase up to six minutes.

BENEFITS OF SIRASASANA WITH BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE HEAD:

“HEAD” is the most important organ in the body. As an adage goes, “For this eight-inch body, head is important,” as all the four vital organs like eyes, ears, nose and tongue are placed here. The brain is the main organizer of all these organs and it is also placed inside the skull only. Even “wisdom nerves” are born from the brain. All the activities of our body are done by the nervous system. That is why God has placed the brain within the skull, safely guarded.

Since the body is upside down, the brain gets good blood supply from the heart.
Strengthens all the organs in the head.
By doing this asana, all the blood supply will not go directly to the head. The vasomotor centre in the nervous system, controls and regulates the blood flow to the head and vital organs.

PINEAL GLAND: The endocrine gland is located at the back of the brain and it is “pea-sized” in shape. It starts developing at the age of seven and then it transforms itself into bypress tissue. If by chance this tissue gets affected, the secretion of the endocrine gland increases and gets diseased. This might even lead to psychological problems.

PITUITARY GLAND: This gland is located at the base of the brain near the pineal gland, but slightly in front of it. It is divided into three parts. The first part stimulates the bone growth in legs and hands. If you surgically remove a part of this gland, the body becomes obese and even leads to “eunuch” type characteristics. The middle part performs the functions of absorbing poisonous chemicals present in the blood. This gland associates itself with central and peripheral nervous system and manages the large organs present in the body. A particular vein present in this gland stimulates the thyroid and adrenal gland.

Scientifically, Scientists have proved the importance of these endocrine glands present in the head. These glands, which were once believed to be redundant and obsolete, are now given supreme significance because of the function it does within the body. Scientists believe that even intelligent thinking and innovation of new ideas are stimulated by these endocrine glands.

By doing sirasasana, all the endocrine glands gets adequate blood supply, gets cleansed, and prevents numerous diseases. In sirasasana, since the impure blood vessels are upside down, the flow of the impure blood to the heart increases in speed, and purification process is done faster and easier.

PRECAUTIONS FOR SIRASASANA:

In the beginning, to avoid falling down, practise with the help of someone or practise by standing near a wall.
People with ENT and eye problems should do it only after complete cure of the disease.
People, who follow “natural treatments” for eyes and ENT disorders, can practise this asana and can get rid of the disease. This has been experimented and proved.
People who wrote yoga books would have considered food restrictions and advised you not to do this asana. If you have hypertension and cardiovascular disorders, wait till the disease gets completely cured and then start practising yogasana. Even if the intensity of the disease is less, you can start practicing asanas.
Sirasasana should not be done after vigorous exercise; it should be done only after half-an-hour. Even other asanas should be practiced in this way only.