Parsva means side or flank. In this variation, the trunk and the legs are turned sidewards on either side while balancing without disturbing the position of the head or the hand. First try this near a wall till you get the confidence to do a free headstand. The benefits of all variations of headstand are almost the same with a few additions in the variations.
Steps:
- From Sirshasana exhale and move the spine with a twist to the right, the hand and the head should be at the same position.
- one should feel a stretch near the ribs
- Hold the pose with normal breathing for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Exhale and come back to Sirshasana take a breath and repeat on the other side.
Benefits:
- Strengthens and aligns the spine, neck, shoulders, and arms
- Tones the legs and abdominal muscles
- Helps to prevent water retention in the legs and feet
- Increases the flow of blood to the brain giving more oxygen to the cells
- Can help to treat chronic headaches, anxiety, asthma, sinusitis, hay fever, depression, diabetes, insomnia
- Reduces symptoms of menopause
- Increases mental awareness and clarity
- Calms and soothes the mind
- Helps to re-balance sleep patterns, while decreasing memory loss
- Stimulates and strengthens the lungs, promoting healthy breathing
- Improves digestion
- Stimulates pituitary and pineal glands, which aid growth and the production of sex hormones
- Aids in the relief of tonsillitis, persistent coughing, common cold, bad breath, and palpitations
- Helps overcome problems with the liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines, and reproductive organs by reversing the pull of gravity.
- Makes the spine strong and elastic.
Contraindications:
- High blood pressure, heart disease, thrombosis, arteriosclerosis
- Severe neck problems, like spondylitis
- During headache or migraine,
- Chronic constipation
- Kidney failure
- During pregnancy and menstruation.
- Also due to increased pressure, it is not advised if you are severely near-sighted, if you have weak blood vessels in the eye, conjunctivitis, chronic glaucoma, inflammation of the ears or any form of hemorrhage in the head.
Look for other postures in our asana directory