Vinyala

Pose sheet

Supported Headstand III

Sālamba Śīrṣāsana IIIसालम्ब शीर्षासन III

Balance on your crown and palms, fingers toward your feet, legs vertical.

Open this pose in the 3D body

Steps

Support

Crown and both palms, positioned in front of your face.

Enter

  1. Kneel and separate your knees.
  2. Ground palms between knees, shoulder-width apart; fingers point toward your feet.
  3. Place your crown behind your wrists, centered between both hands.
  4. Lift your hips and walk your feet closer.
  5. Exhale; raise both legs together to vertical and straighten them.

Hold

  1. Press your palms down and keep your forearms vertical.
  2. Draw elbows closer without shifting your hands.
  3. Align your torso and pelvis over your crown.
  4. Keep legs together; straighten knees and point feet toward the ceiling.

Exit

  1. Exhale and slowly lower your feet, bending your knees.
  2. Lower your knees and rest in Child's Pose.
Breathing
Breathe normally; exhale while rising and lowering.
Gaze
Look straight ahead, parallel to the floor (crown-supported headstand).
Duration
One minute.

Adapt

Adaptations

  • Folded blanketPlace it folded beneath your crown and both palms.
  • WallFace away from the wall; rest your heels against it.
  • Grounded preparationKeep your head and hand placement; leave both feet grounded.

Variations

  • Hands together: little-finger edges and little fingers touching.
  • Sālamba Śīrṣāsana II: tripod with fingers pointing forward.
  • Sālamba Śīrṣāsana I: forearms grounded, fingers interlaced behind your head.

Signals of effort

  • Inversion with weight on your head and hands.
  • Wrists extended under load.
  • Legs raised with neither foot grounded.