I started practicing yoga over 10 years ago, practicing on and off since and more consistently in the past several years. Even though I feel that I have a strong practice, I have shared that I have never felt comfortable with inversions. I think that it’s because I was never taught how to safety get into and out of headstand or handstand.
Usually in class, I would do all the prep poses for an inversion but never really try to get into the inversion itself. Actually for about 10 years, I would get about halfway up into headstand, legs curled tightly into my body forming an egg-shape and I would just hang out there, balancing on my head. But I couldn’t get into the full pose.
It’s funny. I feel like in most yoga classes today, it’s assumed that everyone knows how to get upside down. The proliferation of handstand photos and other crazy inversions on Instagram seems to reinforce the notion that everyone can do it. But I couldn’t and I felt like a missed some special class or lesson along the way.
First time getting this far in tripod headstand
It wasn’t until last fall that I finally was able to do an unassisted headstand. Since then, I’ve been committed to working on my inversions particularly handstands. I’ve read countless tutorials and watched so many videos. Each and every one made it look so simple and so easy to float your legs up into the air and stand on your hands.
Sure.
While with headstand, I was able to logically figure out how to lift myself up, I could never do the same with handstand or even tripod headstand. Every time I tried either one of those poses, I would feel the weight of my body bearing down on me. It seemed impossible to lift that weight up off the ground and into the air.
Over the weekend, I attended a handstand workshop. For two hours, we played. What I loved was the time and attention that our instructor spent on teaching us how to engage our body and the muscles in the core, shoulders, glutes and legs so that we knew how it was supposed to feel when we actually would try to get into handstand. It was like training our muscles so that we would rely somewhat on muscle memory in order to get safety into the posture. She also spent time in the beginning listening to our fears about the pose.
I’m crooked and lopsided but I could care less. I’m upside down!
My fear is a fear of kicking up into the pose. It’s not about balance or even that my arms aren’t strong enough to hold me. It’s a fear of that moment of lifting up off the ground, letting go and trusting myself and my body. It feels like you are tipping yourself so far forward that you might fall on your face and at that very moment, you kick up into the air. As a result of this fear, I often would decide in my mind beforehand that I’m not capable of kicking up into handstand. I wasn’t committed to the process or the pose so my body felt heavy instead of light.
We practiced various ways of lifting up off the ground and of feeling lightness in our bodies. I still couldn’t do it and I was beginning to feel frustrated. Finally, on my last try, I kicked up by myself into handstand. As I came down, I had the biggest grin on my face.
Exhale. Release the Fear. Engage the core. Lift up light as a feather.
I’m not quite sure what was different this time around but I think that I’m learning to use my fear in a different and more productive way. I still have a long way to go but this is progress.
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I am blown away by this skill. You must have an incredibly strong core! Now I want to go try it… I’m calling you if I break my neck. LOL!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Work It Out: Chest & Biceps
Great post! I, too, need to practice my handstands! We do them a lot in CrossFit (and Handstand Push Ups against a wall). I used to be able to do them as a kid no problem but now, I need to regain that core strength and body control. Way to go, girl!
Running Hutch recently posted..Do I NEED races to run?
Thank you!! Honestly, I think that when we’re kids, we have no fear and so it’s so much easier to do things like cartwheels and handstands. But now that we’re older, we know all the things that could happen!! Once I got over the fear of kicking up, the pieces clicked together.
Great post!! I love handstands but they’re definitely not easy! Congrats to you for conquering!
Wow! Sounds like a great workshop and a great breakthrough — and something that will carry you even further. .
Coco recently posted..Healither Ways Of Coping With Stress
Nice job! I’m the same as you. Inversions just scare the crap out of me and I know that is what’s holding me back. Plus, I’ve never really been properly taught one on one how to get in and out. I’ve had a little help here and there but never extensive instruction. A workshop devoted to it sounds amazing! I can’t wait to see you upside down more!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Marathon Monday Week 4
I took a headstand workshop and then this one. After each one, I was able to figure out the pose and get into it safely. I think that’s the big thing – we’re not really taught how to do the pose or at least in class, they don’t devote a lot of time to teaching your step by step. I mean, you could ask for help but I know so many people who would rather struggle through than ask for help in class.
I haven’t mastered the headstand yet but then again, I haven’t been trying. Great job!!
Natalie recently posted..Bling bling
Awesome job!!! I’m definitely not there in my yoga practice!
Kierston @candyfit recently posted..Reppin’ It Out with #StrongerRx!
CONGRATS!!! I haven’t been able to do them unassisted yet. I think that I am with you … I haven’t been able to let go. Working on it
Madeline @ Food Fitness and Family recently posted..Cathe XTRAIN Workout Series
First of all I think it’s absolutely fantastic that you’re tackling this head on…literally =) I have no aversion to inversion. I don’t mind being upside down. But I want to learn to do it right since I have no experience. I will have to check to see if I can find a workshop like this. It would be perfect. Keep it up Christine!
Heidi @BananaBuzzbomb recently posted..Grateful To Be An Inaugural #Omniten
Thank you Heidi!
AMAZING!!! I feel the need to try but not sure I will!
Jody – Fit at 55 recently posted..Gratitude Monday & Blogging Friends!
I was just talking with someone about this – a runner friend does yoga and was talking about one class she doesn’t like just because of those! It’s the kicking up part she kept saying. When I think of headstands I think immediately of being 10 and taking gymnastics. We’d have headstand contests.
Heather (Where’s the Beach) recently posted..More XTrain Workouts
You’re amazing! I can’t wait for you to be a yoga instructor… a job you were meant to do, teach and inspire! btw you look hot in that yellow Oiselle “Rundelicious” Top!
Lisa @ RunWiki recently posted..A Healthier Strawberry Milk
haha. Thank you Lisa. I love my Rundelicious top!
I am SO impressed with you and your strength and commitment to your yoga practice! This inversion workshop you attended sounds INCREDIBLE on so many levels and just LOOK at you in full out headstand!!! You ARE SO STRONG!!!!
Jess recently posted..Powerful and spring-y
Thank you Jess! It’s been a really interesting journey and so fun to see progress.
Do you know what I love about you and this blog? I get to see you grow as a person, embracing your fears and overcoming them only to become stronger because of them.
Well done Yogi!
Katie @momslrb recently posted..Cherry Limeade Nuun Giveaway
Thank you Katie. That means a lot to me!
LOVE the way you describe getting into handstand. That is exactly how I feel when I’m kicking up. It’s almost like an “oh s@#t” moment. Congrats on getting up on the last try; letting go; just doing it; and grinning from ear to ear…You ROCK!
She Rocks Fitness recently posted..Green Pancakes ROCK
Thank you!!! Yes, it IS an “oh s@#t” moment for sure!! But that grin? So worth it.
Great job facing your fears! I totally know what you mean about that moment when you leave the ground!
Caroline recently posted..Yoga Teacher Training {Week Six}
This is so cool! You look amazing in the pose and I would never know that it wasn’t just a natural thing for you. Congrats on conquering your fears!
misszippy recently posted..Running pace vs. running effort
I cannot stand on my head or my hands, but would love to do this eventually. I’m terrified I’ll break my wrists! Very cool
And you have amazing patience.
beka @ rebecca roams recently posted..Weekly Workouts Roundup + Core Work
I would love to do a headstand eventually! Will admit I have some fear though.
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..Dear Body, I Love You.
Oh, how I love this post! As you know I am/was in the same boat with inversions. And for me, headstand is about fear too. I love that you are working on letting it go and using it more productively. And you are making me believe that I will be able to do the same!
ilene recently posted..Nine Things I {Almost} Know for Sure about Parenthood
Way to go and great post! I need to keep working on my inversions
Awesome job! Kicking up to handstand freaks me out too. I can do it and have no real reason to fear it but I hate it. It’s so scary!
Whitney @LiveRunLoveYoga recently posted..Keep it Simple and Worry Less
I totally knew that you felt that moment of bliss when you fly into handstand.as soon as I read this!! Love this!!!!
My phone typed “fly” but I’m going to leave it: )
“fly” seems to be the perfect word.
Good on you! It is a liberating feeling isn’t it!?! Something meditative about being upside Down! So glad you achieved this!
Jess recently posted..Chocolate Chip Cookies
This is a great way to look at inversions girlie! Headstand is something I’m trying to work on, too. Keep it up!
Alyssa recently posted..March Goals
Wow, this is so cool. You are totally facing your fears head-on, hehe, literally (ok I couldn’t help it!! so punny…). I think that would be what scared me too, the lift-off, so to speak, and injury, of course. You look so graceful, honestly, in these poses, it is so beautiful!
jobo recently posted..Musings on the (mostly recovered) knee and running outside.
Awww, thank you my friend! and yes, it’s very punny
Yes to facing fears and challenges and/while observing yourself doing exactly what you were afraid to do! I’m a Certified ParaYoga teacher (been teaching for 14 years), and my teacher, Rod Stryker says (among many intelligent things) that being a yogi means “tolerating the intolerable,” and that *that* aspect of it, even more than what you are literally doing with your body (i.e., inversions) is what “advanced” yoga is. Your soul doesn’t care if you can do a headstand, but it *does* care if you don’t live its purpose. I’ve only been reading your blog for a few days, but can see plenty of soul purpose in you, Christine. Hari Om!
Barbra recently posted..Meditating on Installation Art
Love that – “tolerating the intolerable.” Such a great way to describe it. Thank you Barbara for your kind words!
You are welcome!
Thank you SO much for posting this! A goal of mine is to learn how to do a handstand, but it seems like it will forever before I can get there. I see all those instagram photos and get jealous sometimes! this was really encouraging to read, so thanks!
katie z recently posted..finances | Total Money Makeover [month one recap]
Thanks Katie! Yes!! The IG photos totally made me feel a bit jealous. You totally can do it. For me, it was helpful to have someone break down the pose and help me figure out what parts of my body I needed to engage. And use your core!! I always forget
Good luck!!