Headstand bad for your eyes?
According to a new Australian study published in the journal Optometry and Vision Science, headstand (Salamba Sirsasana), among other things, may lead to glaucoma and short-sightedness if you are already at risk for these conditions.
Professor Charles McMonnies, from the University of New South Wales School of Optometry and Vision Science, said, "Yoga head stands, weightlifting, sleeping face down, playing instruments like the trumpet and swimming laps are some of the many ways of causing eye pressure spikes. Pressure spikes are fine if you have healthy eyes. But all the people out there with these conditions, and so many others at risk of them, can be negatively affected, and many don’t know it.”
It seems the trick is knowing if you are at risk. Will you keep on doing headstand or does this study make you a bit wary?
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Comments
Will you keep on doing headstand or does this study make you a bit wary?
Yes, I'll keep trying to do headstand. ;) I'm already near sighted, so other than updating my eye prescription, the benefits outweigh the risks.
Posted by: jennifer | November 7, 2008 08:57 PM
Hmm, this does make me a bit wary.
I have a family history of glaucoma, and have actually wondered in the past whether the pressure of headstand could be detrimental rather than beneficial to my eye health, not least because about 6 months ago I developed a floater in my right eye (quite unusual since I'm only 26). I can't be sure that the floater is related to sirsasana, some other yoga asana, or something completely different, but I will be looking further into the details of this study ...
Posted by: Natalie | November 9, 2008 10:34 PM
Isn't the practice of yoga all about balancing benefits and risks? Isn't the point that we know our bodies? I wonder how yoga eye exercises can impact the conditions for pressure spikes. It's good to be aware of findings like this. I wish research reports on the benefits of Salamba Sirisasana were as provocative.
Posted by: Patricia | November 10, 2008 12:47 AM
I think it is important for teachers to remind their students of this (mine always does) before each class.
Posted by: Andrea | November 10, 2008 01:01 PM
I reguarly do headstands of up to 5 minutes, even though last year I had multiple retinal detachments. I did no inversions for a year after my surgery to allow the eye to slowly heal. Now that I am well, I make sure to breathe throughout every pose. (I NEVER hold my breath!)
The inversions seem to help my situation. I do yoga about 5 times per week.
Posted by: steve | November 10, 2008 05:49 PM
I thought this was common knowledge.
Posted by: pam | November 12, 2008 12:47 AM
Graded Yoga practice will not put pressure to any part of the body.
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Posted by: Rajesh | December 6, 2008 02:12 PM
I reguarly do headstands of up to 5 minutes, even though last year I had multiple retinal detachments. I did no inversions for a year after my surgery to allow the eye to slowly heal. Now that I am well
Posted by: Kavi | December 24, 2008 07:17 AM