After going to my Level 3 YogaFit Training, I was determined to work my way into a headstand away from the wall. Reading Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar and talking to students and other teachers of yoga, I realized that I would need to be patient with myself and not rush it. I had heard that using a corner, rather than just being up against the wall, would encourage proper alignment. I didn’t try it in a corner for several months after my Level 3 training, however, perhaps because of being stubborn. It wasn’t until I had a more thorough reading of Iyengar that I finally started using the corner. Within a month of modifying my efforts in this way, I was finally confident to come away from the wall.
You may be wondering why I would practice something like a headstand every morning. Inspiration is definitely the first culprit. After seeing several instructors in them at my training, I realized that being able to teach headstands to students would require me to be confident in my own. Another reason is that all inversions are considered to be some of the most rejuvenating for the body. Benefits from increased fertility to alleviation of depression are attributed to headstands, handstands, shoulder stands and all of their advanced variations. They’re also the ultimate for strengthening the core muscles.
You might be wondering exactly how long it took for me to move from the corner to the middle of the room. I have been practicing almost every morning since October 2006 and my first successful headstands took place last month (January 2007). The process was very humbling; almost as humbling as it is to admit to all of you how long it took me to do one. Several times I have lost my balance and rolled onto my back (tucking the chin toward the chest came in very handy in these moments). This happened as recently as this week when I was trying to show off my new skill for my husband. I’m always finding new ways to be humbled. Interestingly, there was an article about hands-free headstands in Yoga Journal this month. I always tell my fellow instructors – no matter how far you get with your yoga practice, there always seems to be another level. That is precisely why yoga is a practice rather than something that you achieve.
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