Inverting your head

Head inversion: The Sensory Tool known for Centuries

First of all, I really never thought about inverting your head as being a therapeutic tool, until I started doing yoga. I realized that when I did downward dog pose; I felt extremely calm.

Later, I completed a 400 hour yoga teacher certification. Looking further into inversions, I learned that when we invert our heads there is a physiological change that occurs. When you go upside down, you increase blood flow to the heart, lungs, and brain. The interesting thing is that for centuries, yogis have taught inversions. This calming and restorative pose helps stimulate the vagus nerve, which in turn triggers the nervous system to bring a deeper state of rest and relaxation. Inversions are directly related to trigger certain relaxation responses in our bodies. The pull of the blood towards our hearts and heads helps the nervous system turn off the “fight or flight” stress response while turning on a parasympathetic “rest and digest” response. This happens in a complicated feedback loop that starts when blood pressure accumulates in the aortic arch above the heart and the carotid arteries in the neck. The result is that they quiet the “chatterbox”parts of the brain so that we can have some rest and quiet.

Contraindications:

There are some contraindications to doing head inversions. People who have high blood pressure are advised against aggressive inversion, such as head stands, shoulder stands, or plow pose. Anyone who has lost their cervical curve are at serious risk, when doing a headstand or shoulder stand. Those with a degenerative bone disease or detached retinas are also strongly discouraged.  Functionally, our bodies are not made to put all of our weight on neck bones whether in flexion, extension or neutral. A healthy headstand or shoulder stand, needs to have strong arms, shoulders, and core muscles in order to displace some of the bodies weight from the neck and skull. 

What are some ways you can get inversions in a healthy and safe way?

1. If your child is small enough, you can hold your child upside down, supporting them firmly at the trunk.
2. Lay over a therapy ball or a large hippity hop ball on your back or stomach.
3. Hang upside down from a sturdy bar or monkey bars at the playground.
4. Hang over the edge of the bed or couch.
5. Try a headstand or handstand.
6. Have your child sit on your lap and then gently release them backwards over your knees.

The how and why of inverting your head:

Inversions are best done when completed in small bursts throughout the day. Never force your child to get into the position. If your child is playing and you’re naturally dumping her upside down, and she laughs or looks happy, then that is a good indicator she is enjoying herself. Make sure that you are reading her cues and signals. Head inversions can help your child recover from a “fight or flight” sensory-related meltdown and help regulate your child’s vestibular system (your child’s internal GPS!).

In conclusion, head inversion can be a calming therapeutic tool when performed in a safe an healthy way.