05/05/2026
In our yoga therapy classes, you may notice that we don’t practice headstands, or any asanas that put pressure on the neck, and there’s a very intentional reason for that.
As a physical therapist, I deeply understand and value the benefits of movement, strength, and yoga for both our physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga can be incredibly powerful for improving mobility, stability, balance, and overall health. However, it’s important that what we practice supports the body safely and sustainably.
Practising inversion poses are highly beneficial, however, headstands place a significant amount of pressure through the cervical spine (the neck), compressing the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. These structures are not designed to support that level of direct load-bearing, and over time this can increase the risk of strain, injury, or degeneration.
That doesn’t mean weight-bearing exercises are something to avoid, quite the opposite. Weight-bearing movement is essential for maintaining strong bones and joints. Activities such as resistance training, walking, or running stimulate osteoblast activity, which helps to build and maintain bone density and reduce the risk of conditions like osteoporosis.
In yoga therapy, the focus is always on safe, functional, and supportive movement, building strength, improving stability, and nurturing the body rather than placing it under unnecessary strain.
There are many ways to gain the benefits of inversion and strength without compromising the neck, and that’s exactly what we explore together in class.
Your body deserves to feel strong, supported, and safe.