Position of the Week: Salamba Sirsasana (Supported Headstand)

Benefits: This is a great pose to practice if you are stressed or depressed.  It will strengthen you lungs, arms, legs and spine.  It will tone the abdominal organs and improve digestion.  It is therapeutic for menopause, asthma, infertility and insomnia.

Okay, I know that this week's POTW is a day late- my apologies!  But as a result, I have an even more exciting position to share with you.  Today, for the very first time in my yoga practice, I went into a Supported Headstand.  Acutally, it was more of a Supported Supported Headstand, because we practiced it in between two chairs against a wall.  But what a rush!  I never had the oppurtunity to go into this asana.  I had tried doing it at home during my own private practice, but was too worried to topple over and fall into Vinny's big screen TV- he would not be pleased.  I really need a bigger space to practice at home.
 

So today, my fabulous teacher taught us how to use chairs to practice going into this pose, and let me tell you- the feeling you get when you are actually doing it is unbelievable.  It really comes down to mind over matter.  You know there is a wall behind you, and you know there are chairs supporting you.  The trickiest part is actually telling yourself that you are going to be fine.  Remember when you were a kid and you would flip upside down from the swing, do 10 cartwheels in a row, and kick up your legs and try to walk on your hands?  We did it then, why are we so afraid to kick our legs up now?  You just need to put that unecessary fear on the backburner and put yourself to the test.  Once your legs are up in the air, you can overcome any negative emotion.  You are stable and supported, you are strong and powerful, you are in a headstand!  When you come out of it and rest in child's pose for a few breaths, you literally feel the blood rushing through your veins.  Your entire body and mind is emersed in the surging feeling of positive heat, and you are booming with energy.  The mix of the beneficial effects of the pose as well as the realization that you can conquer a simple fear unite together to allow this asana to rejuvinate your spirit.

Namaste,
Lady Lotus