Salamba: with support alamba: support Sirsa: head
Salamba Sirsasana is a difficult pose for most beginners to pull off. It is the pose that is known as the "king of poses", while the shoulder stand, salamba sarvangasana, is known as the "queen of poses". Most yoga masters recommend that one should practice the shoulder stand before doing the head stand. Some people think that all they need is the supported head stand because it is the "king of poses' and it does a lot of good for the body.
Some of the benefits that come from doing this pose is that it moves fresh into the brain and helps relieve the pressure from the back. It also improves one's balance and deepens one's breath, which helps to calm the mind and improves one's memory and concentration. It also helps with the digestive system.
There are times in which people are advised not to do this pose. If you have neck pains, osteoporosis, high or low blood pressure, back injuries, eye diseases, and menstruation and pregnancy, you are not advised to do this pose.
To get into the pose, make sure that you are on a mat and if you are a beginner, up against the wall. Interlace fingers together and place your forearms on the floor, elbows shoulder width apart. Press the arms into the ground and then place the crown of the head on the floor. Put the base of the hands together and snuggle the head in the middle of the hands.
Inhale and lift the knees slowly off the floor. Actively lift the thighs to form an inverted "V", keeping the shoulder blades firmly against the back and lift them towards the tailbone. This will keep the weight of the shoulder blades from falling on the neck and the head.
Exhale and lift the feet from the floor. Slowly take both feet up at the same time, bend knees if needed. Turn the thighs and actively press the heels up towards the ceiling when the legs are perpendicular to the ground. Firm the tailbone against the pelvis to add some balance.
Firms the outer arms and soften the fingers while continuing to press the tailbone into the pelvis. Keep the weight balanced with the two forearms. If you are balanced enough, push the balls of the foot up with the toes. Start by holding this position for 10 secs, then bring the legs back down slowly.
In this position, I feel the blood rush away from my feet and legs and go into my head. It usually feel like I'm inflating in my head.
http://www.yoga.com/ydc/enlighten/enlighten_document.asp?ID=370§ion=9&cat=0
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/481
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