Overcoming the fear of falling in inversions

Author

Apsara Vydyula
July 17, 2024

One of the first elements that drew me to yoga was the goal of performing a headstand in the center of the room without any external support. Initially, my physical capabilities were not my greatest strength—or so I believed. It's incredible what the mind can convince you is true. With consistent practice, I found myself comfortably supporting a headstand against the wall. The next challenge was moving away from the wall, which brought a very real fear of falling.

Inversions in yoga, such as headstands, are postures where the heart is higher than the head. These poses:

  • Challenge gravity: They require skill and good technique.

  • Offer multiple benefits:

    • Cardiovascular health: Encourages venous return and improves circulation, giving the heart a break from pumping blood to the upper parts of the body.

    • Proprioception: Enhances spatial awareness, leading to better physical coordination and balance. 

Inversions also transform your perspective—both literally and figuratively. They change how you view yourself and your approach to life. The benefits are so profound that shoulder stand is often called the "queen of all asanas," and the headstand is referred to as the "king of all asanas."

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One of the things we want to learn as practitioners is that the setup is critical. What is your mind doing when you’re setting up for the asana? Are you worried? Are you anxious? All of these things are really what you’re working with. The posture is really not very important. You aren’t going to be less enlightened if you get up there or not. But if you do it consciously, without worrying about what you look like, and really just concentrate on what you’re doing, that’s more important.

Maty Ezraty

Overcoming the Fear of Falling in Yoga Inversions

Warm Up Well

  • Ground your body in foundational poses.

  • Start with a sequence of asanas that warm up the spine, shoulders, and hamstrings.

  • Focus on effective core and upper body strengthening techniques.

Don’t Rush the Process

  • Practice modifications and hold the setup of the posture while breathing deeply.

  • Example: Hold dolphin pose with good alignment before attempting a headstand.

  • Focus on stacking your hips over the solid foundation of your shoulders.

Learn How to Fall Safely

  • Transition from the wall to the center of the room by first learning to land in a backbend from an inversion.

  • Or you could practice tumbling and rolling out of the posture safely.

  • Be aware and mindful as you practice falling.

Keep Practicing

  • Consistent practice is key to overcoming the fear and mastering inversions.

Once I incorporated this structured approach into my regimen, I found myself able to perform a headstand in the center of the room. I stopped worrying about how long it would take and simply surrendered to the process. Remember, the true essence of these asanas lies in the journey toward achieving the posture, not just the final pose.

Upcoming Workshop in Chennai:

On that note, I have a couple of spots remaining for my upcoming class in Chennai:

Inversions, Arm Balances, and Headstands Workshop

This workshop is designed for all levels, including beginners. We will focus on the foundational building blocks needed to develop strength and flexibility for arm balances and inversions.

Location: Tattva Studio, ECR

If you would like to sign up for the workshop, please email me at ✨[email protected]✨

If you have always wanted to start working on headstands but don’t know where to start, this class if for you 👇

Keep practicing!