BestYOULife
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Contact
  • What's Possible?
    • Reviews
  • Blog
  • About Yoga
    • Sivananda Yoga
    • Yin Yoga
    • Yoga Resources
  • About Ayurveda
    • Ayurveda, Diet, and Yoga
    • Ayurveda Resources

Headstand at any age

5/1/2018

 
Picture

The article below was published in the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat newsletter "Connecting with Sivananda Yoga Postures" series.  Padmavati is my spiritual name here at the Ashram.  Now, half way through my 64th year of life, I still daily do headstands and am very grateful for the practice. 


Conquering Headstand at Age 61: Sivananda Yoga Posture Stories 
​
https://www.sivanandabahamas.org/conquering-headstand-age-61-sivananda-yoga-posture-stories/
By Padmavati
Over time, our experience of yoga asanas evolves beyond the physical — the postures become our teachers and companions, showing us our relationship with ourselves and the world. Enjoy this collection of stories submitted by Sivananda Yoga practitioners from around the world, sharing their in-depth connections with each asana of the Sivananda sequence.
 I remember asking James, my first yoga teacher at a yoga studio in Chicago, “’Why would I ever want to learn a headstand?’
In my prior yoga experiences at Bikram and Core Power studios, headstands were not part of the practices they taught … and besides, I was 60 years old.
During my year practicing at the Chicago studio, I started working on my headstand — but only with the assistance of a wall.  There was still fear wrapped around the headstand in my mind, like it was an elusive posture I’d never master. And truthfully, I didn’t care if I did or not.
In 2015, I visited the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas for my first ever yoga vacation. Practicing yoga outdoors while listening to the rush of the ocean inspired me to progress. I practiced yoga twice daily for the week. In the classes, headstands were referred to as “the king of asanas” and one of the best postures for allowing blood to flow through the body. They were done on the mat with no wall support. Even with the touted benefits, I was afraid to try it.

One of the first days I was at the ashram, there was a headstand workshop. I was doubtful but I had practiced yoga the day before with Ambika Katie, who was leading the workshop, and I thought she was a great teacher. So I gave it a try.
There were about 10 to 12 people in the workshop, and we were each at different stages of the headstand. Once there, I felt even more doubtful that I would get enough help to be able to do the posture.

Ambika Katie broke down each of the eight steps for doing the headstand, demonstrating each one. She recommended that we get really comfortable and steady at each step before moving to the next step. This was the first key for me.
I usually kicked up with straight legs, but now I practiced step-by-step, bending my knees and bringing my feet in toward my hips, holding my feet off the ground. 
I practiced just these steps quite a few times. Once I was solid in this position, she explained that I could lift my knees upward first by guiding my heels back, before extending my legs. This was the second key.

I focused on my heels and my knees automatically lifted up, forming a straight line from my head up to my knees.  Again, I practiced this quite a few times before I was steady. The last step was simple because I was solid in the other steps. I lifted my feet — and that was all it took to be in a steady headstand! Now I’ve got it for life.
The most interesting part to me was that I was steady, not shaky. That first time, I held the position for 30 to 45 seconds before I came down. And it was only when I started worrying about how long I could hold the pose that I felt the need to come down.

​I tried it a few more times in the workshop and each time I gained confidence. I even felt brave enough to try the headstand in yoga class after a couple days of practicing on my own. By the end of the week, I felt confident and comfortable holding the headstand for a couple of minutes.
I now do headstands as a regular part of my practice. I teach others to do headstands too — and I’ve even led a headstand workshop at the ashram. I’m now 63 years old, soon to be 64. It’s never too late to learn something new.

Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love,
Mary


​If you haven't signed up for the blog posts, please do.
I welcome you to leave a comment below or post one on my BestYOU Facebook page.
Sharing your thoughts is a gift to all of us!

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Here I am Life!
    I'm living out loud and sending up a flare.

    Join me in creating  the possibility of a happy, healthy and loving world.
       


    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

©2020 BestYOU, Mary Roberts. All rights reserved. All content is the sole property of BestYOU, not to be reproduced without written permission.
Photos used under Creative Commons from emmadiscovery, Phú Thịnh Co, mikecogh, wuestenigel, emily @ go haus go, lisaclarke, emily @ go haus go, anokarina, jasoneppink, mealmakeovermoms, pinboke_planet, JoanDragonfly, theritters, wuestenigel, YourCastlesDecor, quarxdmz, symphony of love, ramesh Iyanswamy, Ryan Dickey, Tax Credits, cursedthing, Five Furlongs, JD Hancock
  • Welcome
  • About
    • Contact
  • What's Possible?
    • Reviews
  • Blog
  • About Yoga
    • Sivananda Yoga
    • Yin Yoga
    • Yoga Resources
  • About Ayurveda
    • Ayurveda, Diet, and Yoga
    • Ayurveda Resources