headstand vs. handstand

headstand vs. handstandrobinlee172010-01-20T20:00:25+00:00

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robinlee17
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January 20, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Post count: 1

#1678

Is there a difference between a headstand and a handstand? Is one more beneficial than the other? I prefer to do handstands over headstands, but I also have a gymnastics background.

I do headstand when I am at home doing yoga. I never do them in my birkham practice. Just wondering.

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
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January 26, 2010 at 2:48 am

Post count: 3048

#6311

Hi Robin

I guess the differences are fairly obvious between the 2 poses in their approaches and what part of the body takes one’s weight. Headstands tend to be easier for the uninitiated to accomplish because many simply don’t have the strength to stay supported by hands, wrists and shoulders. Headstands however introduce potential problems with cervical spine compression. I have a friend who is adamant that his headstand practice at an Iyengar studio years ago is the reason he has sustained some permanent damage to one of his eyes. A handstand will not have this problem (although one really does have to learn how to fall from a handstand!) because the spine is not under any pressure.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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