On my website I explain why I usually replace full inversions like headstand and shoulder stand with handstand against the wall.
In this short post I want to share some paragraphs of articles with you that explain the risks of shoulder stand.
This quote is from William J. Broad, who had a Yoga injury himself and dedicated extensive research and a book to learn about the dangers in Yoga - so we can learn and practice safely.
You find the full New York Times Article here.
The quote that explains the dangers of shoulder stand is this one:
"Extreme motions of the head and neck, Russell warned, could
wound the vertebral arteries, producing clots, swelling and constriction, and
eventually wreak havoc in the brain. The basilar artery, which arises from the
union of the two vertebral arteries and forms a wide conduit at the base of the
brain, was of particular concern. It feeds such structures as the pons (which
plays a role in respiration), the cerebellum (which coordinates the muscles),
the occipital lobe of the outer brain (which turns eye impulses into images)
and the thalamus (which relays sensory messages to the outer brain). Reductions
in blood flow to the basilar artery are known to produce a variety of strokes.
These rarely affect language and conscious thinking
(often said to be located in the frontal cortex) but can severely damage the
body’s core machinery and sometimes be fatal. The majority of patients
suffering such a stroke do recover most functions. But in some cases headaches,
imbalance, dizziness and difficulty in making fine movements persist for years."
