Close your eyes and imagine that you're looking on this world upside down.
The sky is under your feet, the Earth is a base for your head/hand... Sounds amazing and it is amazing.
How about to start doing that inversion every day in every possible place?
Shoulder stand (sanskrit Salamba Sarvangasana)
First inversion, which you can try in your yoga class.
It looks like an easy one, but in fact this one is not that simple.
Position
Lay down on your mat, prepare your shoulders and open your chest. Bring knees to the chest and slowly start rolling your feet backward.
Place your palms on your back as close to your lower floating ribs as possible as you can, keep your elbows in one line with your shoulders.
Slowly start to lift your body up until you'll feel that you're standing exactly on your shoulders (NOT shoulder disks) and than final step straighten your legs up to the sky, lift kneecups and find yourself standing in a Mother of all asanas - Salamba Sarvangasana. Stay there for 3-5 minutes or until you will feel discomfort. Slowly give yourself a way back and rest for a few breaths.
Inversions are the only type of postures where your teacher has no right to tell you to stand until he/she will tell you to get out of it, cause you have to feel it by your heart and, actually by your head and blood pressure.
Props
Use a stripe to keep your elbows in line
Take a couple of blankets under your shoulders to line up your neck and protect it
Use a wall to keep your balance (place your toes on it)
Benefits
Stimulates your spine to stay strong and confident
Stimulates lymphatic system
Stimulates digestion
Calms mind
Stretches neck and shoulders
Reduce insomnia
Contraindications
Menstruation
Pregnancy (if never practiced before)
Headache
High blood pressure
Neck injury
Shoulder injury
