1. Improves Circulation: Inversions give your heart a break while increasing the circulation of blood back to your heart. Freshly oxygenated blood makes its way to the brain, lungs, and the sensory organs as well as the extremities removing waste along the way, boosting the immune system, and regulating blood pressure.

2. Calms your mind and relieves stress: After just a few moments in an inverted posture, muscle tension decreases and the body, mind, and the nervous system begins to calm down. You move out of the “fight or flight” response and activate the parasympathetic system into a calmer more coherent place.

3. Strengthens your core stabilizing muscles: The muscles necessary to support you in an inversion are your deep postural muscles.  Moving in and out of unsupported inverted postures as well as holding them for periods of time helps to strengthen these deep stabilizers which will now better support you even when you are upright.

4. Improves balance: Balance is improved both by the core strength that is cultivated and by the stimulation of the vestibular system in the inner ear.

5. Helps concentration and mental focus: Inversions bring oxygen to the brain which consumes 25% of the body’s oxygen. Maintaining an inverted pose is meditative and calming. When the brain is nourished and calmed your creativity is enhanced and your ability focus improves.

6. Fountain of youth: Inversions are said to be anti-aging by reversing the pull of gravity. In addition to all the other benefits inversions help to maintain the health of your spine. By preserving the natural curves of the spine and keeping space for the discs to stay hydrated, you will maintain your height as you age. (It is common for adults to shrink up to 2 inches due to thinning discs.)

7. Shifts your perspective: Turning upside down literally and metaphorically gives you a different outlook on life and challenging situations.  Inversions help you learn to see and approach things from other points of view.

8. Builds confidence: When you can kick up to a handstand or even balance in an inversion anywhere, anytime, change and other life situations seem less scary.

9. Inversions are FUN: Let the inner child come out and  play! Inversions boost your energy on a gloomy day and lighten your heart in a challenging situation.

I’m so excited I want to keep sharing the benefits with you! In addition to everything above, inversions reduce pain in sore and fatigued muscles, make space for the internal organs to function properly, open the diaphragm for improved breathing, reduce allergies, insomnia, digestive issues, depression, anxiety, and PMS!  They help to strengthen bones, make your skin glow, and improve your energy levels. WOW!

Make sure to get upside down every day! Remember, child’s pose, downward dog, standing forward bend, and legs up the wall are all inverted postures.

Also practice handstand, dolphin pose, and  forearm stand. Take the time to  learn to safely perform headstand and shoulder stand from a knowledgeable teacher. I’m teaching a workshop mini-series so you can learn these poses safely and effectively,  Please join me!

SEE INVERTED POSE PHOTOS HERE!

If you have health concerns, please check with a professional before trying these!

1.  Hold on to  your kitchen sink, lean your hips back, and straighten your legs.

• Squeeze your shins (lower legs) toward one another to stabilize
• Lift your arms, rib cage, and belly
• Breathe as you lengthen your spine

2. Walk your feet toward the sink and bend your knees. Sit back as if you were sitting into a chair.

• Lean back and traction your spine

3. Walk your feet in even closer and drop your pelvis down to a squat. 

• Hang your hips down to stretch the muscles along your spine and your lower back.

Please post a comment below and let me know how it goes!

1.  Shoulder Stretch at a Wall:
Stand with one side facing the wall. Take your arm behind you palm up, little finger side of the hand on the wall. Make sure your arm is as high as your shoulder.  Press your hand into the wall and pull as if you were to drag your hand forward to engage the muscles.  Then lean forward and slightly turn away from the wall until you feel a stretch.
Variations and Modifications:
a.) Step the foot closest to the wall forward and lunge.
b.) Work with your elbow bent at a corner or door jam. Make sure your elbow is the height of your shoulder.
c.) Put your palm flat on the wall.

2. Lay Over Two Blocks:
Sit with your knees bent, feet on the floor, and two blocks behind you.  Lift your chest and ease yourself back until one block is under the bottom tips of your shoulder blades and place the other block under your head.  Start with the blocks on the lowest height first.  You can turn them as you open.  Please note that if your upper back is very tight you may need more support under your head. Either turn the block higher or use a blanket for more support. Stretch your legs straight, engage them from time to time rooting the thighs toward the floor and extend out through your feet. Lay there and breathe.
Variations and Modifications:
a.) Put weight on the thighs.
b.) As your upper back opens, lower the block under your head.
c.) Do the same pose with the legs in Virasana.

3. Purvottanasana:
Sit with your legs in front of you.  Reach your arms behind you, palms down, fingers toward your feet.  Press down through your arms, lift your chest.  Then lift your hips.  Breathe into your chest and let it open.
Variations and Modifications:
a.) If your shoulders are  tighter, turn your fingers to face away from you.
b.) Do the pose with bent knees like an upward facing table.

I’d love to hear from you, please share your questions and your results in the comment section below.