About five years ago, my yoga teacher — who was 78 at the time — recommended a daily headstand. I’ve been doing it ever since.
There’s no direct evidence that headstand increases lifespan, but it sits at a compelling intersection of physical discipline and systemic resilience. By inverting your body for just a couple of minutes a day, you engage:
- Balance and core strength — key predictors of functional longevity
- Parasympathetic activation — lowering stress and supporting recovery
- Venous and lymphatic return — potentially aiding circulation and detoxification
And then there’s the discipline factor.
Doing a headstand daily — especially after 60 — implies more than balance. It reflects preserved strength, neuromuscular control, and intentional self-maintenance. The commitment to retain that ability may matter even more than the inversion itself. And it takes barely more time than swallowing a pill.
Train the move. Preserve the mover.
This one was taken earlier this year in Lanzarote, at 63.
(Tip: Don’t do it every day right away — build up gradually.)
