Health & Fitness
Get Upside Down!
Get upside down in yoga practice and reap the benefits! Going upside down is what we call the "anti-aging" and "anti-depressant" secret of yoga.
Get Upside down!
Going upside down is what we call the “anti-aging” and “anti-depressant” secret of yoga. Going upside down changes your mood in seconds and leaves you with a smile, every time. You do not need to stand on your head. There are surprising techniques that can help you get all the benefits with out the fear or the strain on your neck. Going up side down or inversions, change the way the prana flows. It gets that vital life energy moving upward toward the head and it lifts the corners of the mouth and the corners of the eyes. It lifts your spirits and it’s great for the immune system. Yogis have been doing inversions for years. If you are in a bad mood and need an immediate change, go upside down. I never dreamed I would be able to do a hand stand. I could not do one when I was a kid. But I soon learned it’s possible and fun! Shoulder stand is easier, especially with a block under your low back. But you can just do what we call legs up the wall.
Sit right next to a wall, with your hip touching the wall. Roll onto your side keeping that hip at the wall, so you are in a tight little ball on your side with your bum at the wall. Then swing your legs up the wall and come onto your back. Close your eyes and slow your breath for 5, 10 or 20 minutes. Come out by rolling back onto your side and pressing to your hands and knees. ‘Legs up the wall’ pose is better than a nap. It will leave you feeling rejuvenated and fresh, not groggy like a nap. Everyone can do legs up the wall. It’s safe and relaxing. For other inversions you need the instructions of an experienced teacher. There are some medical conditions that are not good for going upside down. Be sure to tell your teacher if you have glaucoma or blood pressure issues.
Going upside down gives us a new perspective. You will love it. It can be scary to those of us that have never done it. You are never to old to try it and you will soon learn that it is natural and fun.
Give ‘legs up the wall’ pose a try and let me know what you think.
Namasté,
René
