Yoga inversion is a type of yoga asana, or pose, in which your head is placed below your heart and hips, “inverting” your body from its regular upright position. Inversion asana is any position where your heart is higher than your head from the ground. Common postures are Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani), and Headstand (Salamba Shirshasana). Yoga inversion relieves tension, boosts circulation and vitality, and strengthens muscles. It is also said to encourage emotional growth, quiet the mind and soul, direct energy toward the heart, and assist you in becoming more connected to the ground. Inversion asanas differ in difficulty and should be chosen depending on your experience, strength, health issues, and injury history. Even among healthy people, it’s critical to understand how to do each asana properly to avoid injury and get the most benefits.
Advantages:
Improves circulation
Yoga inversion helps improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, allowing oxygen and nutrients to be delivered throughout the body while also removing waste. Inverted positions encourage venous blood flow from the pelvis to the heart, reoxygenated lungs. This posture may also aid in reducing your heart rate and allow for improved oxygen intake into your circulation.
Energy levels may be increased.
Yoga inversion can boost alertness and vitality. Poses that invert the body may, in principle, promote attention and decrease weariness. They may accomplish this by improving oxygen and food absorption in cells and releasing endorphins like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which will enhance concentration and mood. Furthermore, being upside down demands attention, which may increase your capacity to concentrate on any circumstance that comes your way over time.
Strengthens and increases flexibility
Yoga has been shown to increase balance, flexibility, and strength in people of all ages. Inversion asanas involve a high level of mind-body awareness and the ability to maintain the body in a stretched position against gravity, which presumably enhances physical strength, endurance, and flexibility with time. Each posture stimulates a distinct muscle area, resulting in increased total limb flexibility, range of motion, and power.
Boosts self-esteem
Yoga practice has been demonstrated to boost self-esteem, body image, and general confidence. Many yogis, in particular, feel that inversion yoga has given them a sense of humility, patience, and tenacity, as most individuals require time and experience to accomplish them correctly. However, once understood, they might boost your confidence in your capacity to conquer challenges in your daily life. It instills the concept of non-attachment and accepts imperfection.
Swelling and discomfort may be reduced.
Specific inversion asanas, such as Legs up the Wall, may help to alleviate discomfort and edema in the lower limbs by increasing lymphatic circulation. The lymphatic system eliminates wastes and pollutants from the body while maintaining fluid homeostasis. The force of gravity combined with gentle movement in inversion asanas enhances lymphatic flow and blood circulation away from the limbs and into the heart. As a result, pain, discomfort, and edema may be reduced. Those with high blood pressure or injuries to the lower limbs, back, or neck, on the other hand, should prevent inversion positions.
Disadvantages:
Inversion asanas are pretty good for the majority of people’s health. On the other hand, inversions might pose health hazards in some individuals and are the leading cause of yoga-related injuries. Those with joint difficulties, neck or back injuries, or other similar concerns should not do inversion yoga without first consulting their doctor. Because inversion yoga involves lowering the head below the heart level, blood may rush to the face. These postures should be avoided by persons who have glaucoma, high blood pressure, or other circulatory disorders. Avoid challenging asanas that totally invert the body during pregnancy, such as Headstand and Shoulder Stand. Less complicated poses with four points of contact (both hands and feet on the ground), such as Downward-Facing Dog, have been demonstrated to be safe for healthy pregnant women who do not have pregnancy-related problems or previous diseases. However, before attempting any new exercise during pregnancy, consult your healthcare professional. Finally, as a novice, it’s critical, to begin with easy, low-intensity motions to limit your chance of injury. If you’re a yoga novice, you might want to attend an in-person yoga session with a qualified teacher to verify you’re doing the exercises correctly and safely. Pregnant women with circulation concerns or injuries should minimize or avoid yoga inversions and see their healthcare professionals beforehand. It’s ideal to start with easy postures and work your way up to more challenging poses.
Conclusion:
Yoga inversion may appear frightening, yet it may bring several health advantages such as increased circulation, flexibility, strength, energy levels, and self-esteem. Though typically safe, some yoga inversion positions can be challenging and dangerous for specific groups, such as pregnant women and persons with circulatory issues or injuries. Furthermore, some poses may not be appropriate for beginners and should be attempted only by experienced yogis. Before beginning yoga inversion, consult with your healthcare physician before trying a new or advanced pose. Given the numerous benefits of yoga inversion, you may wish to incorporate it into your regular movement practice.