Aches and pains in upper back after headstand

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hello all, I would be grateful if anyone can offer any advice on this…

I have ben practicing Ashtanga Yoga at classes on a regular basis for about 6 months. I have just started to learn headstand. I can’t hold the pose for very long but I don’t feel any discomfort whilst in the pose. When I am upright in the pose I am able to keep my shoulders away from my ears. It is usually the day after that I get aches and pains in my upper back; in the thoracic spine region between my shoulder blades, particulary when turning my head to the extremes. This sometimes lasts for a further day or two. I do not get it every time I practice headstand but obiously it is a problem because something isn’t right. I think maybe I am taking too much weight onto my head although I find it difficult to take more weight into my arms, furthermore my teachers seem to have different opinions about how much weight should be born on the head.

Anyone offer me any advice please?

Many thanks John.

#2

Is it possible that your upper back muscles are not strong enough to support the neck? Can you do prerequisite poses like long holds in shoulderstand without compression, or dolphin pose? Can you describe your body size?

#3

Hi John!
I personally find Shirshasana to be one of the most difficult asanas…When you mean you have been practicing “regularly” do you mean atleast 4-5 times a week? What is the sequence of asanas that you follow…usually a Matysa asana (Fish pose - Yoga Journal : Poses : Reclining) is almost mandatory after heavy neck postures like headstand and shoulder stand.

If the pain continues, you can discard headstand and the benefits of shirshasana can also be emulated by doing Viparita Karani Yoga Journal : Poses : Reclining

Hope this helps:D
Viraagi