View source for Religion:Shirshasana

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'''Sirsasana''', '''Shirshasana''' ({{IPAc-en|ʃ|ər|ˈ|ʃ|ɑː|s|ɑː|n|ɑː}} {{respell|sheer|SHAH|sahn|ah}}<ref>{{cite book
|last1=Budilovsky
|first1=Joan
|last2=Adamson
|first2=Eve
|title=The complete idiot's guide to yoga
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b5pE8-Oyly0C
|accessdate=11 April 2011
|edition=2
|year=2000
|publisher=Penguin
|isbn=978-0-02-863970-3
|page=173}}</ref>; {{lang-sa|शीर्षासन}}; IAST: ''Śīrṣāsana''), '''Sirshasana''', or '''Headstand''' is an asana.

In the Supported Headstand (Salamba Sirasana),<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/481 | title = Yoga Journal - Supported Headstand | accessdate = 2011-04-11}}</ref> the body is completely inverted, and held upright supported by the forearms, while the crown of the head rests lightly on the floor.

Sirsasana is nicknamed "king" of all the asanas.<ref name="Iyengar1970">{{cite book
|last=Iyengar
|first=B. K. S.
|title=Light on yoga: yoga dīpikā
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rZXaAAAAMAAJ
|accessdate=11 April 2011
|year=1970
|publisher=Schocken Books
|page=127
|quote=... Sirsasana the king of all asanas and the reasons are not hard to find.}}</ref><ref name="Iyengar1998">{{cite book
|last=Iyengar
|first=Geeta
|title=Yoga: A Gem for Women
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L0IfaJGbmxMC&pg=PA187
|accessdate=11 April 2011
|date=1 June 1998
|publisher=Allied Publishers
|isbn=978-81-7023-715-0
|page=187
|quote=Sirsasana is termed the 'King of Asanas'. }}</ref><ref name="Hoare1977">{{cite book
|last=Hoare
|first=Sophy
|title=Yoga
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R1CtF3qoODEC
|accessdate=11 April 2011
|year=1977
|publisher=Macdonald Educational
|isbn=978-0-356-06012-5
|page=78
|quote=Sirsasana is traditionally known as the king of the Asanas. As in [[Unsolved:Sarvangasana|Sarvangasana]], the upside-down position benefits the entire body : the force of gravity pulling in the opposite direction from usual has a ...}}</ref><ref name="Ramdev2006">{{cite book
|last=Ramdev
|first=Swami
|title=Yog: Its Philosophy & Practice
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZMc4F5NzygcC
|accessdate=11 April 2011
|date=1 March 2006
|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.
|isbn=978-81-89235-15-4
|page=92
|quote=As you may like, do Savasana or stand up straight after Sirsasana, so that the blood circulation which flowed towards the ... Benefits: This asansa is the king of all asansa. This provides pure blood to the brain, which makes the eyes, ...}}</ref><ref name="NorbergLundberg2008">{{cite book
|last1=Norberg
|first1=Ulrica
|last2=Lundberg
|first2=Andreas
|title=Hatha Yoga: The Body's Path to Balance, Focus, and Strength
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IvIFC8Tbe24C&pg=PA105
|accessdate=11 April 2011
|date=8 April 2008
|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc.
|isbn=978-1-60239-218-2
|page=105
|quote=Sirsasana is called the king of the asanas because it helps to open Sahasrara chakra, the crown chakra, and it stabilizes the pituitary gland. }}</ref>

[[File:A position of Sirsasana.ogv|thumb|Sirsasana video]]
A variety of other asanas can be used to build the upper body strength and balance required for Sirsasana.<ref name="Schumacher">{{cite journal|last=Schumacher|first=John|date=July–August 1990|title=Preparing for Inversions|journal=Yoga Journal|issue=93|pages=68–77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nOkDAAAAMBAJ}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name comes from the Sanskrit words ''Shirsha'' (शीर्ष, Śīrṣa) meaning "head",<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ashtangayoga.info/practice/asana-vinyasa-series/the-finishing-sequence/item/shirshasana-a/ | title = Shirshasana A - AshtangaYoga.info | accessdate = 2011-04-11}}</ref> and ''Asana'' (आसन, Āsana) meaning "posture" or "seat".<ref name="Sinha1996">{{cite book|last=Sinha|first=S.C.|title=Dictionary of Philosophy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-zzRvh1fRzEC&pg=PA18|accessdate=9 April 2011|date=1 June 1996|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD.|isbn=978-81-7041-293-9|page=18}}</ref>

==Contraindications and cautions==
TheYogaDr recommends not doing shirshasana if one has high blood pressure,<ref name=TheYogaDr>{{cite web|title=Sirsasana: Can You Bleed From the Headstand?|url=http://theyogadr.com/headstand-bleeding/|publisher=TheYogaDr.com|accessdate=November 21, 2012|last=Summers|first=Kathleen}}</ref> heart palpitations, or glaucoma.<ref name=TheYogaDr />

Schumacher recommends against shirshasana during menstruation<ref name="Schumacher" /> severe [[Medicine:Hypotension|hypotension]] or [[Medicine:Hypertension|hypertension]],<ref name="Schumacher" /> [[Medicine:Hiatal hernia|hiatal hernia]],.<ref name="Schumacher" />

==Variations==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Transliteration
!English
!Image
|-
|Salamba Shirshasana 2
|Headstand 2
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/shirsha2/shirsha2.html]
|-
|Salamba Shirshasana 3
|Headstand 3
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/shirsha3/shirsha3.html]
|-
|Baddha Hasta Shirshasana
|Bound Hands Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/bhshirsha/bhshirsha.html]
|-
|Baddha Konasana Shirshasana
|Bound Angle Pose in Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/bkshirsha/bkshirsha.html]
|-
|Eka Pada Shirshasana
|Single Leg Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/epshirsha/epshirsha.html]
|-
|Mukta Hasta Shirshasana
|Free Hands Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/mhshirsha/mhshirsha.html]
|-
|Parivrttaikapada Shirshasana
|Single Leg Revolved Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/parishirsha/parishrisha.html]
|-
|Parshva Shirshasana
|Side Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/pshirsha/pshirsha.html]
|-
|Parshvaikapada Shirshasana
|Single Leg Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/parshvaepshirsha/parshvaepshirsha.html]
|-
|Upavistha Konasana Shirshasana
|Seated Angle Pose in Headstand
|[http://www.yogaartandscience.com/poses/inver/ukshirsha/ukshirsha.html]
|-
|Urdhva Padmasana in Sirsasana
|Upward Lotus in Headstand
|[http://www.katsaksyoga.com/2010/07/27/no-mud-no-lotus-urdhva-padmasana-in-sirsasana-upward-lotus-in-headstand/]
|}

==See also==
*List of asanas

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|last=Iyengar|first=B. K. S.|title=Illustrated Light On Yoga|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pbx5AAAACAAJ|accessdate=9 April 2011|date=1 October 2005|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-81-7223-606-9}}
*{{cite book|last=Saraswati|first=Swami Satyananda|title=Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YpR1QgAACAAJ|accessdate=9 April 2011|date=1 August 2003|publisher=Nesma Books India|isbn=978-81-86336-14-4}}
*{{cite book|last=Saraswati|first=Swami Satyananda|title=A Systematic Course in the Ancient Tantric Techniques of Yoga and Kriya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eWOrAAAACAAJ|accessdate=9 April 2011|date=January 2004|publisher=Nesma Books India|isbn=978-81-85787-08-4}}

==External links==
* [https://www.yogajournal.com/poses/supported-headstand Step by Step Instruction] 
* [http://www.eastcoastdaily.in/2018/07/03/sirsasana-head-standpower-yoga-pose/ Sirasana Eastcoast Daily]

{{Asana}}
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ru:Перевёрнутые асаны#Ширшасана

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