The Goddess did a headstand today in her yoga class.
Now I do understand that readers under the age of say… 25 … won’t find this at all earth-shattering, but nonetheless I can hear the applause and gasps of admiration from anyone within a half-decade of my 40+ years.
Especially if you haven’t attempted said stunt since … oh, I don’t know …. fifth grade?!
However, as with so many of the asanas (poses) one does in yoga, the Physical aspect is seldom as life altering as what goes on in your head.
As we all knelt down facing the wall, blankets folded to protect unsuspecting shoulders and necks, I could hear the sharp intake of breath as the instructor outlined what we were about to attempt.
And the head-chatter starts …
“Headstand?”
“Is he insane?”
“Has he seen how much extra weight I’m carrying?”
“I could crumple my neck like an accordian, never to stand upright again.”
“Ok, head in hands, legs walking toward wall … don’t think my knees have ever been this close to my nose … breathe … and Push!”
“Wow, look at that! I’m up!”
“Thank god for the wall but still, I’m UPSIDE DOWN!”
“I think every ounce of blood in my body is now in my head!”
“What does he mean … Breathe?”
“In this position?”
“Breathe in … Breathe out … Breathe in …. Breathe out … hey, this is not so bad.”
“Breathe in … Breathe out … you know what?”
“I think I could try this again tomorrow.”
“And maybe, in time, move a little further from the wall?”
And as I dropped my legs back down to earth and settled to recover in Child’s pose, I began thinking about what else I might not be trying because it looked to scary … seemed too hard …. or threatened to turn my world upside down.
Things not yoga related.
Things like leading webseminars, and writing ebooks, and picking up the phone to talk to strangers.
Things as adventurous as sky-diving and as mundane as new recipes.
Things that, for some deeply hidden reason, I’ve already decided I’m not good at – could not be good at – without ever having given myself a chance to prove otherwise.
Do you have things like that?
Well, I’m going to challenge you to pick one of those things – just one – and do it.
Make a commitment here in the comment box, and then come back and announce it to the world.
The cheers we give you will be deafening!
And don’t you dare listen to the chatter in your head – it’s just there to protect you.
And you don’t want to be protected.
You want to be brave, and audacious, and deliciously daring.
You want to feel the exhilaration of blood rushing to your head and the thrill of heights conquered and demons crushed.
I know you do, because I do too.
I worked it out while I was upside down.
Bliss and blessings, dear ones.
The Goddess known as Jacqui