Inversions

Inversion: 

perhaps the two most associated poses with any yoga practice are the headstand (Sirsasana) and shoulder stand (Sarvangasana) long considered to be the king and queen of all yoga poses as they bring a balance of Shakti, the divine feminine energy located at the base of the spine, and Shiva, pure consciousness that sits at the crown of the head. These are inversion poses, defined as any posture where our head is below our heart, giving us an upside down view of the world. 

I have three favorites here, part of my twice daily routine, two of which are really easy to practice, downward facing dog and the very simple forward bend. Neither of these postures take much time to learn or to put into immediate use and receive the benefits of inversions. My third favorite is the queen of all poses, the shoulder stand, a bit more complex but not impossible to learn. It's mostly a matter of trust that our body will support us through this hold, and it's with that surrender that we gain the unique benefit offered by inversion poses, our perspective of the world instantly changed, rearranged from the familiar to a slight shift of view that causes us to reconsider how we've long viewed our daily lives. Everything is seen differently from these postures, most especially when we're complete upside down, poised, and yet surrendering ourselves to a full turn of how we observe the world. 

it's a shift of energy that brings deep insights. 

and we see that nothing is ever completely as we've believed. 

the health benefits along are worth giving these priorities in our practice, they ease anxiety and will instantly lower our blood pressure. These are energizing postures, but subtle, causing an awakening in perspective as well supporting our immune system and strengthening the body. Inversions are considered to be a fountain of youth, vitalizing, improving circulation and giving the heart the deep rest that it so richly deserves. 

yet it's that shift in view that truly calls me to these postures, inversions, seeing what's familiar from a new perspective, different every time a pose is held, and how this will then carry onward to how I see the world. 

such a subtle shift...

and I see that nothing is really as I've long believed. 

the world is always changing.

uniquely to my view. 

~

Peace, Eric