Yoga Inversion Benefits
Yoga Inversion Benefits
Yoga inversions are various poses, also known as Asanas in Sanskrit, in which your heart and maybe your hips and legs are above your head. They may sound intimidating, but don’t worry — yoga inversions start simple and increase in difficulty over time. In the most basic sense, yoga inversions can be as simple as a forward bend or Down Dog. For experts, they can include handstand and headstand. Always work with a qualified instructor when starting inversion practice.
The goal of yoga inversion is to improve your flexibility, circulation, energy, and even self-esteem. It’s always best to practice inversions in a Yoga class where your instructor can assist you into a safe and suitable posture. As with all Yoga postures, always move slowly from gentle, beginners postures to more advanced postures when you are ready.
Improve flexibility and strength: Yoga can improve balance, flexibility and strength. Inversion asanas enhance this process as the body is also working against gravity. They also require significant mental focus to obtain correct alignment and balance.
Improve circulation: Inversion can increase blood circulation and help deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Inverted poses help stimulate venous blood flow from the pelvis toward the heart, where it’s then sent to the lungs to be reoxygenated. When the heart/hips/legs are higher than the head, venous blood return, which is done through muscle contraction, is easier as gravity is assisting. This helps relieve swelling and inflammation as well as increase energy through oxygen absorption.
Increase Energy: Being in an inverted posture may also help lower your heart rate and allow for better uptake of oxygen into the blood. The slower heart rate allows the body more time to absorb oxygen from the blood, in turn feeding the muscles and organs.
Increase lymphatic drainage: The lymphatic system removes waste products from the body. Waste is filtered as it moves through the lymphatic system to the thoracic duct, at the base of the neck, where it passes the filtered lymph back into the bloodstream. The return of lymph from the extremities is improved through inversion postures which reduces swelling and build up of waste in the body.
Improve self esteem: This is an important but often missed aspect of Yoga. Many physical postures have a strong focus on developing confidence by enabling us to do things we didn’t think we could. Inversions are an example of these postures. Many times I have heard in class, ‘I can’t do that’ before we have even had a go at a new posture. This is also the common phrase from those who haven’t made the first step to a Yoga class.
The excitement and fulfillment experienced when students are supported in class through new postures, which were ‘can’t do’ postures, has a huge effect on self esteem. This conversion to ‘can do’ is then taken out of the Yoga studio to daily life. So next time you are on your mat, think Inversion for its overall health benefits, and it’s fun!