workshop.
The art of head balance (sirsasana)
With Rory Viggers
9th April 2022
9am - 11.30am
Clifton, Bristol
This workshop is open to anyone who wishes to construct a correct foundation, for those that need to rebuild their practice, and for those that have a correct practice and wish to deepen their understanding to enhance the posture. Not suitable for complete beginners.
The skill in head balance (Sirsasana) isn’t the final expression of the posture. It's how you get from A to B in the most efficient and effortless way, activating the correct foundations from the very beginning.
Once you understand this (and practice it), head balance ‘happens by itself’. You get to a point where you can maintain head balance, comfortably (ie. not just sheer will power or muscular effort) for a long duration (10 - 20 minutes). The posture then reveals its true essence. It's a magical, restorative and therapeutic posture.
Head balance shouldn’t be a struggle.
The reason it often is for a lot of people is down to lack of technique, insufficient tuition and misunderstanding of the foundations (there any many techniques floating around in the yoga world that are not useful or helpful).
After many years of practicing head balance, I’m thankful to have relearnt this practice directly from someone who is widely regarded as one of the worlds most revered asana teachers. It’s been a game changer!
I’ve since helped 100’s of students and teachers rebuild and relearn their practice.
I’d love to help you develop and enhance yours.
Because the posture is so simple there is little room for error if you wish to practice this posture competently and regularly.
Establishing correct foundation and building the posture with precision will keep your body balanced.
The base needs to be perfect.
Head balance (Sirsasana) in the classical texts is often refereed to as the king of asanas. It was recommended as a daily practice to help keep the body healthy, full of vitality and youthful. On a biochemical level, some benefits of an inverted body include bringing more fresh blood to the brain, relief to the heart muscles as a natural gravitational force draws the blood out of the legs, and relief for the veins. It's a practice that brings great benefit to the whole body system.
If our asana time is limited, head balance (together with shoulder balance), should take priority over other postures.
Head balance may look 'spectacular' but it is one of the easier postures - it is Tadasana standing on your head. However many people do this posture with too much muscular effort because they are out of alignment with gravity. They simple 'get up at any cost' and then it becomes a question of purely physical strength rather than grace, finesse and ease. If the skeleton is aligned in the correct way, the posture becomes light and effortless.
Your body has several secret weapons to utilise during such practices of which we will uncover during the workshop.
In this workshop you will learn the correct anatomical application of this asana.
You will break it down into various phases and construct it from the earth upwards.
Whether you go up or not, you will learn in-depth the foundations and principles to develop a safe, longterm and sustainable practice.
I look forward to sharing and helping you develop your practice
Teacher
Rory Viggers
Rory's unique teaching style skilfully enables you to uncover a greater depth of awareness and understanding in your practice. Informed by multi-disciplines his approach is intelligent, passionate and insightful. I am a direct student of one of the last living greats, Dona Holleman. The yoga I share has purpose, intention, precision, intelligence and soul. It continues to be informed by all the inspirations in my life, past and current teachers, mentors, trailblazers and most importantly from the precious and essential time in my own daily Sadhana where ideas are incubated, experimented and processed. I teach long term practitioners, yoga teachers, yoga teacher teachers and those new to yoga with my partner Dory Walker.
"Having practised yoga for many years, it was a huge relief to find that your professionalism and approach to teaching was in synch with my own and I felt totally at ease and responsive with being a student under your careful and artful guidance. You both are yoga craftsmen."
Liz, Yoga Teacher
"To be guided along the path whilst connecting together in sangha finding our own way home is vital today. Thank you so much for being such knowledgeable and sincere guides offering what so many don’t”
Sona, Yoga Teacher
Location
Pavey House
18 Waterloo Street
Clifton, Bristol
BS8 4BT
What to bring
All equipment is provided (but feel free to bring your own mat).
Register for ‘Head balance workshop’
Early Bird Price: £35 pp
Regular price: £45pp
FAQs
Is this workshop suitable for me?
This workshop is open to all who have a yoga practice.
Do I need to go upside down?
No. The focus is on preparation and learning the foundations and method.
Refunds + Cancelations
This workshop booking is non-refundable.