Part 1 of Yoga Pose

Salamba Shirshasana

The headstand

Images:


A professional image:




Critical elements of the Asana:
1) Make sure to warm up the neck prior to the pose. Use a mat or a folded up blanket for your head and arms. Kneel down on the floor and then interlace your fingers together. Put your forearms on the floor, and then place the "crown of your head" on the floor as well. Place your head within your laced fingers and begin to lift the knees off of the floor. Begin to walk your feet closer to your elbows and eventually bring your feet and legs upward, slowly, and use your core to keep your legs up straight and together above you—press your feet together and back and neck straight. You should be balanced, relying on your core strength, and your bent arms on the ground for steadiness. In order to get out of the pose, you need to, again, rely on your core strength to slowly fold your legs and bring them back down to the ground. Keep your arms and shoulder blades in the same position until your feet and legs have safely touched the ground.
2) For this pose, you need to make certain that you keep yourself in alignment, i.e., keep your posture perfectly straight and don't force too much pressure on your head. You need to find a balance of your core and your bent arms to keep you upright—or else your neck will take too much pressure.
Benefits
1) One major benefit of doing Salamba Shirshasana is the increased blood flow to the brain you can achieve. This can awaken you for your day, and increase certain brain functions such as memory, daily.
2) It also helps to relax you and relive you of certain tensions or nervousness. It can relieve you of mental ailments—and it also helps greatly with the spinal posture.

References:
"Yoga, Postures, Head Stand, Shirshasana, asanas."Alternative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Mind-Body Medicine, Herbs, Nutrition. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2010.
"Yoga Journal - Supported Headstand." Yoga Journal: Yoga Poses, Classes, Meditation, and Life - On and Off the Mat - Namaste . N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2010.