This is advanced reference material. Beginners should not try it. Whether to practice it at all should be decided with an experienced instructor, after checking your own condition and the environment.
A photo of someone upside down on a board is striking. But this picture explains an advanced pose. Rather than copying it right away, treat it as material for reading what conditions and support the move needs.
01. Not a first yoga pose for beginners
NCCIH advises yoga beginners to avoid extreme poses such as headstands. On an unstable board, it isn't a move you can try just because the water is calm.
First learn on land from a qualified instructor, and check whether it suits your condition and the water environment. If you have related health issues, such as with your neck or eyes, you may need individual advice from medical professionals and your instructor.
02. The picture explains your center and points of support
The original marks the body's center line, a triangle of support and a 90° elbow. The faint figures in between show that there's a process of going up and coming down.
Please don't take this as a pose where all your weight goes on your head. The original also says to lift through your shoulders to ease the load on your head and neck, but you can't learn the actual move from that sentence alone.
03. Choosing not to try it is perfectly natural
The original also lists preparation steps, such as securing your paddle and choosing calm water. But having things ready is a separate question from whether you can do an advanced pose safely.
SUP yoga can be enjoyed with low poses and comfortable movement, too. Going back to the balance poses below and choosing practice that suits you is a good choice as well.
Sources and scope
The artwork is Starboard's original headstand infographic with Kelly Huck, kept as reference material; the explanation is Starboard Korea's commentary. We don't present it as a step-by-step sequence for beginners to teach themselves, and we put NCCIH's advice first: beginners should avoid headstands and get an instructor's help.
The illustration is Starboard's original artwork; the explanation is Starboard Korea's editorial guide, translated into English here. Sources checked: 2026-09-08.
