Tags
Asana, Balance, Foundations, Handstand, Headstand, Inversion poses, Seven years old, Sirshasana, Upside down, Yoga
Been seeing things upside down of late and not surprisingly, that provides an excellent, if completely opposite point of view.
Turn everything on its head, think of your usual foundations as being lighter, more sensitive and gentle. Conversely, consider that which you usually rely on for agility, detailed and technical operations, and how that can become your foundation.
School’s back – hooray – term two of my yoga studies course. Can’t tell you what a relief that is, in fact, term break is one of half a dozen or so things (all at once) that have really, really sucked about the last two weeks. I’ve really missed my yoga classes and five hour Saturday study sessions!
Right now in our asana intensives, we’re looking at inversions. First we studied standing poses (to build a strong foundation), then balancing poses (can’t balance til you have a good foundation) and now upside down poses (testing your foundations and balance, but totally in reverse).
Asana practice is big on developing your strengths equally… which makes much more sense studying it all slowly and methodically than it ever has in the ten or so years since I took my first yoga class.
Not to mention… inversions are actually very good for combating depression and anxiety. You could say I’ve been doing them a lot lately!
Excitingly, my sirshasana (headstand) is starting to develop very nicely. For years I wouldn’t try it, thinking it was beyond me. Then I did try, but couldn’t do it, so I stopped trying for ages. Then suddenly I could!!
It’s still something I do against the wall (not quite free-standing), and until today, I’ve been getting there by kicking up my legs instead of slowly raising them in a controlled way.
Now, using the wall as a ‘safety net’ only, I find myself able to play with the pose… test the balance point between my head and forearms… noticing exactly how I need to engage my core muscles… considering the extension of my arms and shoulders into the floor while my feet stretch skywards.
So exhilarating!
We also played around with handstands (against the wall), and more than anything else, this is something that instantly transports me back to being seven years old.
Specifically, doing handstands against the wall conjures up memories of being a small girl in a tiny asphalted courtyard at school… a group of us girls would relentlessly practice doing handstands, days, weeks and months on end.
It was a time when turning my world upside down was one of the best things in life!
Yet here I was, a grown woman of thirty-seven, with two other students and our teacher, contemplating throwing our legs up in the air while being supported by our arms.
As children, we trust our own abilities, and the solidity of a wall. But as an adult there’s such fear associated with flinging your head south and your feet northwards – can we support ourselves when the world is upside down? As grownups, our first reaction is to assume we’ll hurt ourselves, that we won’t be able to handle it.
I felt that fear in the pit of my stomach. I watched as our teacher demonstrated and I remembered what it was like to be that small child (showing off her knickers with her dress around her ears), who, even when she had a broken arm (with an old-style heavy plaster case) still managed to do handstands (don’t ask how!!).
Invoking that mini-me, I did it, left shoulder still slightly painful from my pushbike fall, but… there I was. Strong, upside down and having wiped thirty years of worry and fear away in a single fluid move!
Inversions are excellent for your digestive system and give your organs a break from the demands of gravity. They generate a sense of well-being, strength, confidence and aliveness.
More, I find they help increase my sensitivity and trust… in myself. Can I rely on my feet to find the wall (if needed)? If I fall, can I do so in a controlled and safe manner? Can I find my way to a balance point that makes me feel strong instead of fragile and vulnerable?
Yeah, apparently I can…
~Svasti
Svasti: A Journey From Assault To Wholeness 
great to have your salad days looking back at you!
inversion, as you said is quite refreshing just as the fact that inverting your old trousers lets go all the old laid back papers of appointments and meetings that had been killing you all days went past.
i, myself am from the land of origin of yoga but all i apprehend from here is that you have a much stronger affinity for this amazing science. indeed it is really very heartening yo spend your time in the yogic asanas.!!
Happy seventh birthday anyways 😛
I never doubted you. Glad things are getting brighter for you.
@Rajat – Yes, yoga is something I love with all my heart. In fact, during class I was struck by the realisation that I spent much of my younger years doing yoga-like activities (there was no such thing being taught at the time where I grew up). Yet, handstands, splits, and generally stretching myself every which way is what I did as a girl, obsessively. I am yet to visit your wonderful country, but that is high on my list of priorities for sure. And thanks for the birthday wishes! 😉
@tricia – Heyyy, things aren’t all the way back to normal yet – not even my version of ‘normal’ (which probably isn’t how other people would define it). But between cycling, yoga, the love of good friends, and growing ever more determined not to sink further into the mire, I’m getting there.
As a child I was terrified of handstands and headstands. Not hard to understand as I was overprotected and constantly told that doing those things would hurt my neck or break my back. So I didn’t do them.
However, as an adult, I’ve overcome my fear, and I love the exhilaration of being able to do something that most of the adult population wouldn’t go near with a forty-foot pole. So I rejoice with you, Svasti. It’s yippee fun!!
P.s. Isn’t it your real birthday soon? 🙂
@Amanda – What a terrible thing to do to a child… tell them not to follow their natural instincts to play. I’m glad you got over that fear and are now joining in the fun! And no, my real birthday ain’t for months and months 🙂
That sounds like fun! I remember doing the handstands and cartwheels and even headstands as a kid. I loved doing that stuff…would probably do me good to get back to it, but after some practice first… :o|
Congratulations on your achievements!
@earthtoholly – I think its so interesting that we don’t retain our natural abilities from our childhood. I mean, its entirely possible for us to do so. But our culture tends to mean we leave such things behind (unless you’re a gymnast or ballet dancer or something!). Which is a shame, for the physical benefits that are gained, as well as the mental/emotional ones. I say go for it! Have another go at doing them, its brilliant fun!
I hope to read more of your blog over the next few weeks. I’ve been drawn to try Buddhist meditating, any old meditating, and yoga in the past. I did all these things for a while but without much commitment. I’ve since dipped my toe in again and I would like to join a meditation class. With yoga I do a simple sun salute dvd sometimes, but I’ve been a bit put off yoga classes in the past because I can never walk the next day, it all feels too intense too quickly. Anyway sorry for the ramble, will read more of your stuff soon. Thanks x
@bluesilk – Hey, thanks for visiting! I’ve had an on/off relationship with yoga over the past 10 years as well. Without a doubt.
Just doing sun salutations can be enough, until you feel ike you want more. Only you can know when that is.
If you’re getting too sore from going to a yoga class, perhaps try to find a more gentle class/teacher, and/or talk to the teacher where you have been going and let them know that you can barely walk the day after a class. They might then be able to find a gentler way for you to participate.
Yoga should never leave you feeling like you can’t walk!
thank you for your good advice. I’m sure the stiff muscles would ease off but they do seem to push you quite hard from the start. I’m not especially elastic to begin with x
@bluesilk – But this is what I’m saying. Yoga class shouldn’t be about pushing people hard! You are meant to work at a pace that’s appropriate to you. If the teachers at the school you’ve been going to aren’t operating that way, then I’d suggest finding a school that does.