3 minute head stand
Yeah jags that is really the perfect question. I am just now reading a book
Science of Yoga by William Broad that was published recently. I just finished a chapter where he shows that despite yoga people claiming that yoga has aerobic benefits that really isn't true. It sounds like later chapters will fill in some positives.
In general it would seem like any positive effects would be some combination of reducing the risk of bad stuff and increasing the chances of good stuff. In a way such a pose is just like a kind of isometric exercise, i.e. it builds muscle but also coordination, balance, postural awareness. Then a bit deeper it will help with circulating all kinds of fluids - blood, lymph, whatever. Maybe deeper yet there get to be interesting effects on sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Hey and it develops some mental concentration too!
I would say too that yoga is a system with many parts and head stand is just one part so another aspect is to see indirect benefits, i.e. head stand helps with some other yoga practice or pose which then itself has this or that direct benefit to health.
Here's an interview with the boss:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXJEzPGZqo8
