King of Asanas: Mastering Head Balance and Inversion Principles
In the past I have had many students express fear, sometimes dread, towards inversions, especially Sirsasana the most challenging upside-down posture. So it may seem like an unlikely choice that I use Head Balance as a foundational posture, as well as a gateway through which something magical and potent can happen in your yoga practice. Studying and practicing The King of Asanas master series will take you on a journey—a journey where you acquire a many skills and strength needed to properly learn and execute Sirsasana. And, what is truly amazing, this work not only offers instruction and demonstration on proper Head Balance—it helps us to uncover the essential asana principles upon which all yoga postures are based.
King of Asanas includes 7 challenging and fun instructional videos, each 15 to 30 minutes in length. The practices and teachings in the videos represent what I see as the most critical elements to extracting the essence of inversion positions in general, and specifically, the King of Asanas, Sirsasana, the Head Balance posture.
Working with this material, in the videos and the book, will improve, possibly even transform, your entire approach to yoga practice. I have taught this material to students for over two decades. I consider these instructions to be essential for a daily yoga practice. My aim is for you to place more value on the inversion portion of your practice. In doing so, you will become more skilled at extracting the nectar of yoga knowledge from all your postures, whether you are upside down or right side up.
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Head Balance & Inversions - Class 1
Summary of exercises:
1) Samasthiti (Equal Standing Posture)
2) Vrkshtasana (Tree Posture) plus variations
3) Padangusthasana (Big Toe Posture) and Padahastasana (Hands Under Feet Posture) with wall
4) Plank
5) Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Posture)
6) Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balan... -
Day 2 - Head Balance and Inversion Principles
Day 2 summary of exercises
1) Samasthiti
2) Vrkshtasana plus variations
3) Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana (Half Bound Lotus Standing Forward Bend Posture)
4) Plank
5) Adho Mukha Svanasana plus variations
6) Sirsasana foundation
7) Sirsasana foundation focus on upper back
8) Crouch and Spri... -
Day 3
Day 3 summary of exercises
1) Samasthtii
2) Prasarita Padottanasana
3) Pincha Mayurasana set up
4) Sirsasana set up
5) Crouch and Spring entrance to Sirsasana with wallDay 3 you are introduced to the imagery of the Nine Spotlights for aligning your body accurately along the vertical axis in ...
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Day 4 - Head Balance & Inversion Principles
Day 4 summary of exercises
1) Samasthiti
2) Vrksasana with wall
3) Padangusthasana and Padahastasana with wall
4) Sirsasana set up and variations
5) Crouch and Spring to Sirsasana entrance and variationsDay 4 begins looking how to use dynamism to create a powerful stance in Samasthiti (Equal...
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Day 5 - Head Balance and Inversion Principles
Summary of Day 5 Exercises
1) Samasthiti
2) Prasarita Padottanasana with wall
3) Uddiyana (Flying Up) Bandha (Energetic Lock) Kriya (Cleansing)
4) Adho Mukha Svanasana) focus on Uddiyana Bandha
5) Sirsasana set up and variations with wall
6) Sirsasana set up and variationsDay 5 you will lea...
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Day 6 _ Head Balance and Inversion Principles
Summary of Day 6 Exercises
1) Samasthiti
2) Viparita Karani (Legs Up the Wall Posture)
3) Sirsasana with blocks under shouldersDay 6 you will explore how passive inversions bring restorative and meditative possibilities to your practice. One of my goals for offering this course is to give you ...
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Day 7 - Head Balance and Inversion Principles
Summary of Day 7 Exercises
1) Samasthiti
2) Bhujapidasana (Arm Pressure Posture)
3) Bakasana (Crane Posture)
4) Sirsasana entrance
5) Sirsasana variations
6) Sirsasana complete versionDay 7 will review the list of postures that support Sirsasana, which include asanas of strengthening, gaining ...