yogabook / asanas / dog headstand
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Dog headstand
instructions and details with working links as PDF for download/print
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last update: 30.12.2018
Name: Dog headstand
Level: A
- Classification: A
- Contraindication
- Effects of
- Preparation
- follow-up
- derived asanas
- similar asanas
- diagnostics
- Instruction
- details
- Variants
Classification
classic: inverted pose
Contraindication
Due to the occuring flexion of the cervical spine, disc disease in the cervical spine is a contraindication.
Effects
Preparation
Follow-up
Derived asanas:
Similar asanas:
Diagnostics (No.)
Variants:
Instructions
- Prepare as for headstand (see also there), kneeling on the floor.
- Place your hands on the floor as for the headstand.
- Place the flat area in front of the highest point of the head on the floor so that the back of the head lies loosely in the almost vertical palms.
- Press the elbows and hands firmly onto the floor.
- Straighten the legs.
- Extend backwards and upwards from the shoulders (elevation of the shoulder blades).
Details
- Many of the details of the headstand that affect the head and neck also apply here.
- The dog headstand is a mild variation that can be used to get familiar to standing on your head in a headstand, especially if a mental resistance to inverted poses, i.e. to no longer standing on your feet, is still quite strong.
- It is important to press the elbows to the floor and move the shoulder blades backwards and upwards towards the pelvis (depression). The upper body therefore moves away from the elbows and hands in the direction of the pelvis. Without this movement, too much weight would be placed on the neck, which is in flexion (cervical spine flexion) in contrast to the headstand.
- As in rectangular elbow pose, the distance between the feet and the elbows should be chosen so that any stretching sensation in the back of the legs does not restrict the work in the shoulders.
- Those who can easily go into headstand will not benefit much from this pose, except that it may make the need to press the elbows into the floor a little clearer.