From the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, circa 1450 CE:

The Hatha yogi should live in a secluded hut free of stones, fire, and dampness to a distance of four cubits in a country that is properly governed, virtuous, prosperous, and peaceful. (1:12)

And:

These are the marks of a Yoga hut as described by masters practicing Hatha: a small door, no windows, no rat holes; not too high, too low, or too long; well plastered with cow dung, clean, and bug free. The grounds are enclosed by a wall and beautified by an arbor, a raised platform, and a well. Living in this hut, free of all anxieties, one should earnestly practice Yoga… (1:13)

While things have changed a bit over the past 600 years, the essence of the words remains valid today. A yogi should have a peaceful, quiet, comfortable place to live and practice. (And, wow, have our standards changed!) The home should promote health and thus be free of dampness (and mold), vermin, insects, filth, and anything else that might impact mental or physical health negatively.

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In the last two posts here and here, we’ve explored the history, reputation, and benefits of sirsasana. This time, we’re going to look at the potential downside to turning upside-down on your head.

The Downside:

1. Degenerative damage to the cervical spine.

   Too much pressure on the small disks and facet joints of the cervical vertebrae may lead to wear and tear over time. Degenerative disk disease and facet joint arthritis may ensue, leading to chronic neck pain. There is no quality evidence that speaks to this. We do know that hips and knees are damaged by too much weight and that taking pounds of pressure off of them lessens pain and helps to prevent progression. It seems like common sense then, that turning upside-down and putting the body’s weight on other joints (smaller ones not designed for such a load) will also cause cartilage degeneration and arthritis. continue reading…

Sirsasana, the headstand, is not mentioned in the classic triad of traditional yoga texts from centuries past. Although the texts describe various asanas and note when they are useful for the treatment of certain medical conditions, there’s no indication that yogis were doing sirsasana back then – or that it’s helpful for any particular condition.

Yet, if you read the various websites out there, just about everything is considered curable by sirsasana. I’ve searched the medical literature and the oldest reliable yoga works I can find in English, and I can’t figure out where they get some of that stuff.

Photo Credit: Irma Photography

If I had to guess, I would say that much of it originated with a favorite guru of mine, Swami Sivananda. He was a medical doctor, a prolific writer, and by many accounts, a great yogi and healer. He was ahead of his time – but a little behind ours. He died in the early 1960′s, before I was born, and medical science has advanced quite a bit since then. continue reading…

A new student arrives to class. After a brief exchange of names, a conversation begins:

Teacher: Do you have any injuries or issues?

Student: No injuries, but, just to let you know, I don’t do the headstand.

Teacher:  Why not?

Student: I’m not comfortable with it, and I don’t think it’s important.

Teacher: Well, it IS important. You’re just not there yet.

I found Yoga in India, and almost all of my training has been in the East. In an effort to understand more about my fellow yoga enthusiasts in the West, I’ve been taking several different types of yoga classes over the past few months. I’ve experimented with Anusara, Kundalini, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Iyengar, Jivamukti, and a few others.

Photo Credit: Irma Photography

My teacher in the above conversation meant well. I knew that. In class, I brushed off the bit of condescension, and I thought my ego wasn’t the least bit bruised by the implication that I was somehow remedial or inferior to her or the other students who do sirsasana regularly. continue reading…

The New York Times recently published an article by Courtney Rubin, “Some Like it Hotter.” It describes a baffling trend – the desire to exercise in as hot a temperature as possible. From the piece:

“We’re turning it up to 110 degrees by popular demand,” the instructor, Kate Albarelli, 31, announced in the sort of cheerful tone that would usually signal a time to rest. The women looked as delighted as if she’d given them one.

Typical gyms are 68 to 72 degrees, in line with American College of Sports Medicine guidelines; Manhattan’s hottest recorded outdoor temperature is 106.

What’s behind the desire for heat and sweat? Rubin notes there’s an emphasis on the “extreme” brag factor. It’s hip to be the hottest. The article says devotees also describe the psychologically satisfying sweat as “detoxing.”

“Some people do crazy cleanses. I do hot-room workouts.”

“I don’t have time for hours in the gym doing cardio and weights and then sitting in the steam room to detox.” continue reading…