For the first 5 years of my yoga practice, when the teacher chirped, “OK! everyone to the wall for inversions!” I would jet out of the room for a long, fake bathroom break until I was sure the horror had ended.

One day she intercepted my dash for the door, and asked me why I always left my mat empty during the wall work. I fessed up: They scared me silly. I had a total freak out just thinking about being upside down in a room full of strangers, and being as my arms couldn’t even hold up a shopping bag for very long, I was sure I would be unable to do a handstand without doing myself serious bodily harm.

Then my teacher said something wonderful: “Don’t think of it as an inversion, just get curious about seeing your life from a new perspective!” That, coupled with her permission to work slow and low at my own freaked-out beginner level, let me eventually break through my blocks.

Now I rock handstands in the middle of the room, no problem.  It takes time (and strength), but it’s possible.

During this sequence, I want you to give yourself permission to go for it by taking these baby steps: stay in alignment, be where you need to be, and work on the preparations until you feel confident going farther. When you want to slip out the door and hide from fear resist withdrawing and plunge further into the pose even if it means taking one last shaky inhale. Each iota of physical strength directly correlates to building courage.

Promise.

Specifically, you’ll learn:
Wall Body Opener
Eagle Arm Stretch
L Shape Handstand
Clasp Hand Stretch
Sadie's 30
Wall Heart Opener
Handstand Split Prep
Full Handstand
Camel Pose
Child's Pose


See You on the Mat,
Sadie

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