Shilpa Shetty aces the ‘king of asanas’. Here’s why you should try it too

Shilpa Shetty is one of those Bollywood actresses, who know that age is just a number, when it comes to staying fit. That’s all because of her relentless commitment to a healthy diet and exercise regime! Her regular yoga practice has earned her the rightful moniker of the ‘queen of yoga’.

Recently, Shilpa took to Instagram to share a small clip, where she can be seen performing the ‘king of asanas’. Can you guess the name? Yes, it is shirshasana aka the headstand. This pose can make you marvel at a person’s flexibility and balance. After all, seeing someone balance their entire body weight on their head is quite fascinating. But it isn’t as easy, and you cannot master this pose overnight. But once you do and practice it regularly, this pose can benefit your health in so many ways!

So, here’s what Shilpa has to say about the shirshasana in her latest post:

“Sometimes, things need to be turned on their heads to get a better perspective. The shirshasana helps me do just that! It is also the king of asanas. It helps me clear my mind, align myself; and helps strengthen the core, shoulders, and arms. It relieves stress, thereby enhancing the quality and health of hair. The asana also improves blood circulation and concentration. I have achieved this with consistent practice.”

However, she added, do make sure you’re practicing this asana under supervision to avoid injuries. You can also start by practicing against the wall.

In the Instagram video, Shilpa, who is dressed in a blue top and black yoga pants, can be seen doing the shirshasana in her garden. This move is definitely going to inspire her followers to give the risky asana a shot, but under guidance, of course!

Check out her post here:

Some other benefits of shirshasana

Like every asana, there are several benefits of doing a headstand! 

1. It calms the mind, thereby helping to relieve stress and mild depression.
2. Shirshasana stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands.
3. Improves blood flow to the eyes, which can help prevent certain eye issues.
4. Strengthens the arms, legs, and spine.
5. It increases the efficiency of the lungs.
6. Shirshasana has a positive effect on the digestive organs, which provides relief when it comes to constipation.
7. Provides relief from menopausal symptoms.
8. Therapeutic for asthma, infertility, insomnia, and sinus.
9. Removes toxins from your body by stimulating your lymphatic system

But here are some precautions you must take, before jumping right in:

1. If you are not much of a headstand practitioner or are doing it for the first time,  do it under the guidance of an experienced teacher to prevent injuries.

2. Do not do headstands if you have a back or neck injury, headache, heart disease, high blood pressure, menstruation, or low BP.

3. Do balasan after a headstand.

4. If you are experienced in doing a headstand, you can continue to do it during pregnancy. But keep in mind that you can’t do headstands for the first time, after becoming pregnant.

Also, read: Watch Malaika Arora do the tripod headstand pose to strengthen her core and reduce stress

5. Do not go beyond your physical capacity.

Remember that this is an advanced pose. It is not a pose that should be done when you are new to yoga. It is best to practice and learn headstands under the guidance of a certified yoga teacher. They will be able to help you when it comes to proper alignment, thereby reducing the risk of injury.