![]() Photo credit: pathstohealth.com Over the past couple of years, Headstand (Sirsasana) and I have had a rocky, love-hate relationship. Because I originally learned headstand against the wall, it took me a long time to move away from the wall when practicing this pose. Then, when I'd finally moved away from the wall and was feeling pretty comfortable in the pose in the middle of the room (and loving the pose), I fell out of it (happened when it always does--when my mind wandered and I stopped breathing & being present). Although I didn't hurt myself at all when I fell, I was freaked out enough to stay away from it for a while. Over time, I eventually came back to the pose and I am now in love with it again, but there are still moments when I come into the pose in a crowded class that I choke up a bit, the nerves come back, and I feel myself pulling away from the pose in a way that I don't do when I come into it on my own at home. So, when I came out of headstand and into child's pose at the end of class last night, I had this thought: I want to do headstand more. Not just when I practice in class, or when the mood strikes after a home practice, but much more, every day--enough so that the weird issues and mental blocks that I've now associated with this pose (a pose that I really, really love!) will come down. So what have I decided to do? What I always do when I want to make a change or incorporate something new into my life--I've scheduled it :) That's right, I'm going to put headstand on my calendar for the next 100 days. No exceptions--once it's scheduled, it's booked. Now, who's going to join me? Here are the parameters that I've decided on:
If you're new to headstand and would like to try it, there are great directions on how to come into the pose on Yoga Journal's site, here. For inspiration, check out the picture below: And with that, I'm off to experience Day 1! I'll provide periodical updates on how it's going and how headstand has changed for me over the next 100 days... Thanks for joining me in the journey (and it's the journey, not the destination...right, my fellow TS yogis?)! Namaste, Mary Catherine
Aimes
6/21/2011 04:49:18 am
I LOVE this idea.. as a yogi with a broken toe I miss my healing yoga like none other. And I think headstand will be the magic pose for me (done carefully) as it doesn't require feet at all! :-) 6/21/2011 06:57:55 am
What fun! I basically do this anyway because 1) I love being inverted, and 2) I totally feel off balanced the next time when I take a day or two off. Glad you'll be joining me in daily headstand world :)
Mary Catherine
6/21/2011 08:28:07 pm
@Aimes-Yes, you should def join! SO sorry about your toe but it sounds like you're finding ways to still fit in a bit of practice--even if it's not always asana. I totally understand falling out in front of a room full of people--you're right, though, shows that we're human. Comments are closed.
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HELLO!I'm Mary Catherine, a Cape Cod-based yoga teacher, painter, designer, writer, mom, and list-maker extraordinaire. My goal is to inspire you to start living a more creative, simple, joyful, + purposeful life.
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