Learn To Pike Press To Headstand With Shana Meyerson YOGAthletica

[@YOGAthletica]

When you are ready to level up your practice, do my FULL-LENGTH classes to build strength, balance and flexibility to change your whole yoga game! www.union.fit/orgs/yogathletica/videos

[@lenoremeyerson6681]

This is one of your best and most encouraging videos about Sircasana I have ever seen. You clearly explain the challenges I know I will have!!! Thanks so much!!!!

[@YOGAthletica]

Thank you! Happy headstanding! 🙃

[@clray123]

The ability to bend forward deeply at the hips (tilting the pelvis and pressing the chest against thighs) is essential for this one. Some people just won't be able to walk in their feet to put their hips over their shoulders without tipping the whole torso over backwards. (This can be fixed by increasing flexibility.) As for the "engaging the core" part, yes it happens almost automatically if you are able to walk the feet close to the body against a vertical torso (possibly on tippy toes in the last stage). I find the phrase "increasing abdominal pressure" more descriptive than "engaging the core" (since core can be also engaged by exhaling and pulling in the stomach, which is NOT what is called for here). The core engagement here is, as Shana mentioned, like bracing for a hit in the stomach while pushing the gut out, with some air inhaled. It's also the same motion that is used for defecating, but with less effort and without opening the rear end (obviously). Finally, it also happens during the valsalva maneuver and is utilized by weight lifters. It should be done carefully as it first increases and then rapidly decreases blood pressure. For some reason the whole move is easier while pointing toes than while lifting them. Maybe it's also the reason why the entry into handstand in gymnastics starts as it does (as well as press-to-handstand).

[@YOGAthletica]

clray123 thank you for this brilliant addition to the video. And thanks for always watching. 🙏

[@helenedemetriades2248]

Seriously, who can dislike a video of Shana Meyerson?????? Seriously?

[@YOGAthletica]

Helene Demetriades you just made my day, Helene! 🙏💗🙏 thank you! ❤️😀❤️

[@sallyjanedixon1227]

Love this. Complete beginner in my 40s. Learning to headstand and eventually handstand. This is so clear and makes me think I will get there and be graceful rather than throwing my legs in the air and hoping for the best!

[@YOGAthletica]

i am excited for you and would love to hear when you get it! i also have dozens of handstand videos, too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gIGVlmqYjtlmh5I

[@johnmcgiffen3081]

Hi shana. It makes my day when you upload a video. You are the best teacher out there. John

[@YOGAthletica]

John Mcgiffen thank you so very much, John! If you ever have a request for a video, just let me know. :)

[@kalpanajaganathan3496]

Hi Shana, You are my maanaseega guru. You are the best in breaking down each pose and giving tips on how to attain the pose with various drills. Thank you so much. 💓

[@YOGAthletica]

you are so welcome! thank you for your lovely note! 🙏🙏🙏

[@sofiareis4003]

Thank you so much, Shana.With your help (and wonderful tips) I am able to progress in my own individual practice of Sirsasana.

[@YOGAthletica]

that is so terrific! great to hear! :D

[@busraliga9734]

I love this video very helpful thank you very much

[@YOGAthletica]

so glad to hear! ❤️❤️

[@martynabugajska2802]

Time to try it out 😃 great tutorial

[@YOGAthletica]

go for it! ❤️❤️ hope it helps!

[@sarojiniramkumar589]

Now i am learning headstand your video is very useful. Thanks 🙏 my sweet ❤️very good information.lovely smile 😃 take care thanks 🙏

[@YOGAthletica]

my biggest fan! ☺️

[@rajeswarroy7905]

You deserve more subscribers

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ tell the KZbin algorithm that! 😂😂😂😂

[@merinmathew6211]

So going to master this over summer 😃

[@YOGAthletica]

merin mathew summertime is a great time! 😃

[@mojganmirhadi9302]

Thank you so much..... You explain detail well.... 💚💛💜💖👌👌👌👌👌

[@YOGAthletica]

mojgan mirhadi thanks! 😀

[@aliciavalentyn5889]

🙏I needed this

[@YOGAthletica]

glad you got it! ☺️

Hi, Nice explications ! For the little finger under (the one who is press) put it the opposite hand, that way no pressure on it. Anyway I watch, and I don't understand why almost everytime I do headstand I feel the thoracic spine is 'stuck'. Before that long time ago the point of pressure of the head wasn't at the top so it was cervical uncomfortable but it's ok now. Now it's around T1-3 that I feel uncomfortable, I ask my sister to took a photo to see if I was too much far back or forward, and nothing it's not perfect but it's straight. I contract the deep core to stabilize and butt, I don't put pressure on the head around 10% everything is on arms, ears far from shoulder. I can do it more than 1 minute but I do not exceed. I remember a sentence about Iyengar said headstand is mainly on the head, ifnot it's just forearm stand. Not for me lol :D Now I do this pose before the standing poses who can unlock sometimes. I'm naturally arched maybe it's my hips, I don't know. Balance isn't a problem, I don't have any fear, can do the pose in eka pada, twist, cross leg etc. It's not pain like you can't move, it's more you feel something isn't align, and when it pop is the same when you go to a chiro, you feel very nice. If I don't feel to do this pose I go for the scorpion, this way I'm sure it's all on forearms but the timing is short :D Maybe you will enlight me, because I search for a long time and nothing.

[@YOGAthletica]

there are absolutely forms of sirsasana that are mostly weighted on the head. in fact, there are variations with hands and arms off the floor completely. HOWEVER... that is not for everyone. structurally speaking, your cervical spine was not created to bear the weight of your body. so, if an inordinate amount of pressure is placed on the head, it can cause some serious injuries. yes, some people have very strong necks, but my general suggestion is to negotiate a weight distribution between your head and arms that feels right for your body. regardless, i recommend focusing on the lifting energy to try to create as much length as possible and mitigate compression.

[@galinasandorova5046]

thank you, great tutorial!

[@YOGAthletica]

Galina Sandorova glad it helped! 💗

[@sarojiniramkumar589]

My dear loving shana. Enjoying the best day with your students. 💐♥️👍🤔⚘💞

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you!!! ❤️❤️

[@sarojiniramkumar589]

Morning thanks you taking your time to reply me.have a wonderful day and fun making other people happy with smiling. Take care my dear loving Shana.🌹🌺💞🙏👍👌😻🤝💐

[@YOGAthletica]

you make me smile! thank you! 🤗

[@mahimaharitosh4019]

You are the best.love u 😘.Shana how can I make my core strong. I can't lift my leg up

[@YOGAthletica]

Mahima Haritosh thank you! If you want to build core strength, you can check out my Vimeo and challenges (videos 1 and 42), which are guaranteed to strengthen your core. You can find them at vimeo.com/ondemand/yogathletica. I also have core strengthening videos here on KZbin if you go to my core playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLEk7dn2pk4QUf0zwkOcxJjFu-5Rw_T8M6&feature=share ☺️

[@ndatl4616]

hey Shana, love your videos, you are the best on you tube, I am following all your tips. I am on the stage of achieving tripod and working out the core strengh with both knees on the bellly. How many times do you have to do this rep do you think before youcan come to the next step? if you have an email I can send you my video which is a work in progress. namaste god bless you and your family.

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you so very much for your sweet message! i would say that it's not about how many reps, per se, but how stable you are in the movement. once the movement becomes completely manageable and replicable, you are ready to move on. :) you can find my email on my site, www.YOGAthletica.com (if i post it here, spambots will catch it...)

[@MrDubaz]

Well done

[@YOGAthletica]

M Saeed Ather thank you!

[@padminithirumalachar8609]

You are the best

[@YOGAthletica]

thank you!!! ❤️

[@lenilaurae]

Great! 🤗🙏

[@YOGAthletica]

Laura Leni I hope it helps!

[@ratansaha1611]

You perform wonderful

[@YOGAthletica]

thanks! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@nike_girl]

This is very helpful. Why is it so much easier to headstand than handstand???

[@YOGAthletica]

Great question! Though they are both inversions, they have extremely different alignments that affect balance. For example, on your head, you are 1 - 2 feet closer to the ground than on your hands. That is a very different center of gravity. Also, your shoulders are in a completely different orientation/alignment on your hands than your head, so that affects everything else, torso to feet. And, in a headstand, you have three points of balance--a triangle, which is a very stable base. In handstand you have two points...very unstable without proper alignment and engagement. 🙏

[@nike_girl]

@@YOGAthletica makes sense!

[@Martina-cx8zh]

How much core strength I need for this? I think I might have the strength, but always when I try to go forward to counterbalance the legs, I feel a lot of pressure on the head and not sure if it should be there..

[@YOGAthletica]

you sure asked the right question! this is about 90% core a bit of root-and-rebound in your arms. you don't want to feel a lot of pressure in your head. sometimes, it is simply a matter of how long your humerus is relative to the length of your neck + head. if your forearms aren't resting easily on the floor for support, perhaps try bringing them in closer together. ❤️

[@sripragnapendem2505]

Could you give online classes?

[@YOGAthletica]

Yes. I do live online classes all day long. You can contact me through my website, www.yogathletica.con for more information. ☺️ I also have a channel of full-length classes on Vimeo: vimeo.com/ondemand/yogathletica/

[@sarojiniramkumar589]

Good morning my dearest brave lady. I am your biggest fan . It’s true. I am agreeing with you. Thanks for your lovely reply 👩‍❤️‍👩 . I don’t know how many times watch this same video. I always wake up after breakfast I watch your video every day this is my routine. I think you attract me. Thank you so much dear. 👩‍❤️‍👩 this is you and me. Have a wonderful day. Thanks 🙏

[@YOGAthletica]

you are definitely my biggest fan! i truly appreciate all your sweet comments! thank you! ❤️

[@anushkainthehouse]

I love your channel 😊being a yogi myself .... if you need help editing videos or making thumbnails I’d be more than happy to help reply the comment if you do

[@YOGAthletica]

you are so generous! as you can tell, I don't do any editing 🙈 though I probably should!

[@sop1710]

Happy to see it on front of a wall. Without a wall and without the balance or strength, a person can break their neck if they go over and could have permanent paralysis.

[@YOGAthletica]

to be honest, i have been teaching yoga full time for almost 22 years now, have seen A LOT of falls, but zero injuries. yes, you can absolutely hurt yourself falling out of headstand, and i 100% suggest that people work in front of the wall until they are sure they have control, but it is very unlikely that people will break their necks or be paralyzed even if they do fall. 🙏

[@sop1710]

​@@YOGAthleticaif a person's entire weight is on their head and they fall backwards unexpectedly before getting to adjust, that's their neck snapped and broken. It's not that difficult as you think.

[@vanusaneves5066]

you are awesome my beautiful friend

[@YOGAthletica]

vanusa neves thank you so much, Van! 💗

[@rocioharris6823]

The video look kind of dark.

[@YOGAthletica]

Sorry. I do the best I can.