Alternate title could be: Surefire way to get eaten alive by mosquitoes and other various bugs while practicing yoga on your porch 😉
Hello lovelies!
I know I have been promising you some videos, and they will be coming again. But for right now, I am pooped and running low on filming/editing time. I am heading on a vacation and hope to either film there or regroup and have some videos for you when I get back.
For now, I have a fun workout to get you into that oh-so-scary headstand.
Now, I don’t know if you remember or not, but I used to be headstand challenged. So much so, that I did a solo 40 day challenge (actually, some of you participated!) and learned how to do a headstand – no wall, no fear.
And I thought today, I would show you some of the preparatory poses to get you into one. The key in these poses is that they build strength AND start to get your body used to the weight and alignment of a headstand.
Downward Facing Dog
Come onto your hands and knees on your mat. Reach your hands out just past your shoulders. Tuck your toes and lift up into an upside down “v”. Try to lengthen your legs, your spine, and your arms. Push your heels towards the ground and press your hands firmly and completely into the mat. Â Hold for 5 breaths.
Forearm Plank
Come onto hands and knees again. This time, take your forearms to the ground with your elbows under your shoulders. Start with your arms parallel to each other and then, without moving your elbows, slide your hands together to clasp them. Tuck your toes and lengthen your legs. Draw your belly button into your spine. Hold for 5 breaths.
Dolphin
From forearm plank, take and exhale and push your hips towards the sky. Hold for 5 breaths. After your fifth breath, you can alternate back and forth between forearm plank and dolphin. Inhale to forearm plank. Exhale to dolphin.
Headstand Prep
Keep your hands clasp, but come onto your knees. Walk your head into your hands. The crown of the head touches down lightly – it’s not what holds your weight, the arms and shoulders do this along with your core. Rest the back of your head into your hands. Slowly lift your hip up, just like in downward dog. Start to walk you feet in closer and closer until your hips stack over your shoulders.
Kick up
Weee! Start to kick up. Try one leg at a time. Lift your right leg up, then your left. Then see if you can lift one and float th other along with it. THis is a good one to start doing near a wall or with another person to catch you. Remember – the key here is to keep your core super strong.
Headstand
Eventually, you’ll kick up and hold steady. You’ll be upside down, changing your perspective on life. It comes with time, grace, and perseverance. I know you can do it. Once you are up, keep squeezing your core and your legs. Try not to our all the weight into your head. Feel it more in your shoulders. Hold for a few breaths. Maybe a few minutes.
Gently lower your legs down. Try one at a time and then eventually start playing with how you release. If you fall, now worries. It helps you learn and conquer fears.
Happy inverting!
Peace and love,
Jessi
