I crossed a big personal threshold tonight and thought I’d tell you about it, because I think my experience probably will be familiar to many of you.

For a very long time, I have been terrified of big inversions like sirsasana and pincha mayurasana, and just the thought of facing them left me with horrible sweaty palms and nausea. I didn’t understand what was happening, but I was so so afraid, and the only times I had ever been fully into these poses was after a great deal of hand holding and assistance from some very patient teachers.

 The great Iyengar teacher Patricia Walden once spoke openly about a fear of inversions she had when she was younger, and how her teacher, BKS Iyengar helped her overcome it. I think his words might help many people. I know they helped me.

According to Walden, Iyengar said to her “Go beyond the limitations of your mind,” and up she rose into pincha mayurasana, never to be afraid again.

Well, lo and behold, tonight before I taught my seven o’clock class, in my mind I heard Iyengar’s words, and I began trying. No nausea, no fear. I just tried. And after two or three attempts, up I went. Very light and steady. I managed to hold that pose for at least two minutes while someone looked for my phone so they could snap a picture.

I finally did it!!! Just goes to show we are more capable than we know.

Thank you Mr. Iyengar and Ms. Walden. 

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