Why Would You Want Two Legs Behind Your Head?
To begin… there really isn’t a good “reason” to ever put both legs behind your head!
However, if you practice Ashtanga yoga following the sequencing of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, then you will inevitibly reach this tricky posture about a third of the way through the Intermediate Series.
To begin with, I would recommend spending a significant amount time in the posture that comes right before this one: Eka-Pada-Sirsasana. If you are looking for some tips to help deepen the “One-Leg-Behind-The-Head” posture, check out my previous Wellness Wednesday blog post that explains all types of “extra stretches” you can do to help open the hips and prepare your body for both these positions.
Secondly, many students have spent years… YES, I said Years, working on this posture. It is not uncommon to be stopped by your teacher at either Eka-Pada-Sirsasana (one leg behind the head) or Dwi-Pada-Sirsasana (two legs behind the head) for somewhere in the range of 2-5 years. This is not a punishment for the student. It is a gift and a blessing.
Without taking the time to really find the openings needed in one-leg-behind the head pose, you will not be able to progress through the sequence without pain, nor will you be able to move through the Advanced sequence with ease.
It is important to think about how you can grow your practice over a few decades… and with this in mind, slow growth is good growth. It’s not a race. There is no finish line to reach.
A few helpful tips:
Keep your head up the whole time you’re bringing your second leg back
You have to hold the first leg with the strength of the neck and head
Push the meaty part of the calf down the back so it doesn’t get stuck on the shoulder
Once the legs are both back behind the head, try to pull your chest through, forward between your legs, so you can move a little deeper into the pose
Spend some time deepening your experience with “yoga-nidrasana” (the posture that comes directly after this one) - Lay on your back with two legs behind your head and try to realx
If you’re struggling or stuck on this posture, I hope you find these little tips helpful. Remember, this is not a position to rush through. Breathe deeply and realize it might take some time to patiently, but persistently, change your body and mind.
Let me know if you have any other helpful tips or tricks for getting your legs behind your head in the comments below, or if you’ve found any kind of useful application for this asana in real life!
