Handstand to Headstand Transition - Advanced Yoga Demonstration

This video demonstrates the advanced yoga transition from handstand to tripod headstand by gracefully lowering the head to the mat as the arms bend to 90 degrees.

The video also shows a transition to rooster arm balance and the press back to handstand.

How to Do It

From standing forward bend, shift the weight of the body forward, hug into the core, and allow the legs to raise up to handstand.

From handstand, keep the feet slightly back from vertical, and very slowly begin to bend the elbows as you maintain a single line of energy from the crown of the head to the feet.

It's essential to remain very calm as the head lowers slowly. Absolutely do not allow the head to collapse rapidly, and it's most comfortable to land the head on sand or a folded blanket.

As the head lowers, make sure to land on the very crown of the head. I like to imagine landing so slowly, much like a rocket using thrusters to touch down without any abrupt shock whatsoever.

Once the body is in tripod headstand, take 3-5 breaths. Make sure the elbows are at 90 degrees and inline with the shoulders. Shift the weight all the way to the crown of the head.

As an additional challenge, you may bring the legs into full lotus pose and slowly lower the knees to the upper armpits.

Hug the knees in strongly to the armpits as you begin to shift the weight backwards, as the crown of the head begins to lift off the mat.

As the head lifts off the mat, extend through the arms vigorously. This is both an arm strengthening pose as well as a deep hip stretch.

From there, allow the knees to release through the arms as you hug into the core and extend your full lotus into the air.

Release the legs back to a handstand pose and slowly lower the legs back to a standing forward bend.

Return to a standing pose and finish your sequence with a blessing to the sky.