Yoga has several postures that are impossible to catalog, all are called Asanas and has a specific defined purpose. However, some postures are inverted and make you practically upside down, these are called ojasánas “Ojas” in Sanskrit means force, which already gives a clue to the difficulty of these positions.
Ojasánas are usually practiced at the end of the class, as they require a high level of concentration and are also indicated only for experienced practitioners at an advanced level of Yoga, as they denote strength and balance to be performed correctly. The most common are Sirsasana (inverted on the head), Sarvangasana (inverted on the shoulders), Vrishkasana (inverted with the scorpion on the forearms) and the Maha Kakasana (handstand).
From the physical aspect, the ojasánas are invigorating, because increase blood flow to the brain and organs in the abdomen. In this way, they stimulate the nervous system and the circulatory system. They also play an important role in weight loss plans, because in this position the blood supply to the thyroid region is also increased.
In the mental aspect, the inverted positions promote a new vision of the world. Upside down we also see the whole world rearranged and we need to encourage principles of tolerance, acceptance and adaptation so that we can understand that what we see is not immutable. These positions also stimulate and strengthen the self-confidence, security and willpower, as they are not simple to perform and also require a good deal of balance and preparation of your body's muscular infrastructure.
We emphasize that ojasánas should only be done under the supervision of a specialized teacher and should be performed in moderation in people who have high blood pressure, heart problems, glaucoma, herniated discs, arteriosclerosis or who have already suffered a stroke. In these cases, an individual study is necessary to evaluate the case before trying to achieve an inverted position.
Text written by Roberta Lopes from the Eu Sem Fronteiras Team.
