Inversions are considered a mainstay in Iyengar Yoga and they are introduced very early to beginners, usually in the form of a shoulder-stand or some variation thereof including simply lying with the legs up the wall. There are numerous reasons inversions are of benefit to us, not least of which is the "restorative" effect. Due to the increase in blood pressure when tipping the head lower than the heart, the baroreceptors in the neck send a message to the brain to slow the heart rate down, thus reducing blood pressure along with slowing the breath rate and even slowing the brain waves. Hence, even though we might be actively engaged in order to sustain an inverted pose such as a headstand, our minds can become very quiet and our energy restored.

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Other benefits include enhancing proprioception and balance, lifting the mood, strengthening the body (including the core and the arms), reducing fluid retention, stimulating the pituitary, pineal and thyroid glands, enhancing willpower and encouraging a "can-do" attitude bringing feelings of empowerment and exhilaration.

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