How to do it,
why you should,
and the secrets
to making
inversions less
scary, more stable,
and a ton of fun
I LOVE INVERSIONS.
Considering most of our lives are spent
with our heads held high, legs below,
reversing this arrangement feels like a
refreshing change of pace. Plus, it’s got
lots of benefi ts. For starters, inversions
build upper-body strength, balance,
and confi dence, and they prompt you
to see the world from a new perspective
(literally!). Moving into postures where
your head is lower than your heart also
helps to prevent lymphatic fl uid from
pooling in your legs (a result of our
upright lives), while increasing circula-
tion to your brain—a combo that
instantly boosts energy. Then, there’s
the fact that inversions can be just
plain fun. They give us an opportunity
to get a little playful with our practice
and not take ourselves so seriously.Of course, I understand that not
everyone loves going upside down.
Some inversions can be frightening,
especially at fi rst. It takes a lot of
strength—and trust in that strength—
to stand on your own two hands or
forearms. But with the right instruc-
tion, there’s a good chance you’ll fi nd
yourself looking forward to going
upside down and feeling more self-
assured once you get there.
Practice the fi ve inversions on the
following pages in the order that they
appear, holding each as long as you can
before your form begins to suffer. (If
you have a neck injury, epilepsy, eye
problems, a heart condition, or high
blood pressure, talk to your doc before-
hand.) I hope these inspire a new out-
look on your practice—and your life.83
august 2017yogajournal.com