I was watching TV the other night, and a familiar feeling came up all of a sudden.
I had just seen a commercial. In it a couple sat in an airport, and through the window behind them, a plane taxied past them. I can’t even remember what the commercial was advertising, but I knew right away what I was feeling.
It’s been happening pretty consistently since probably around 2002, and it usually takes about four to six weeks to appear. I know it well by now.
It’s the air travel itch.
I was surprised to feel it so soon, as we had only been home from our holiday travels for about ten days. Then I realized that we drove for that trip, and it’s been about six weeks since the last time I flew.
It’s not that I don’t want to be home. I love sleeping in our own bed, being in the comfort of our routines, enjoying time with our friends here, and exploring in “our own backyard.”
I just love to fly. There’s something so exciting and adventurous about it. Being suspended in the air feels magical, exhilarating, and refreshing to me.
Then, there’s the shift in perspective you get when you land in and experience another place. The air smells different. The weather might have changed from where you were. People might speak in an unfamiliar way. The landscape might vary from where you originated. Untold adventures await.
If you’re going someplace new, there’s so much to explore. Even if you’re going someplace you’ve been a bunch of times before, you’ll probably notice some changes. Traveling offers a great opportunity to observe and discover.
Maybe that’s another reason why I love yoga so much.
Just like travel, your yoga practice offers so many opportunities to observe, explore, and discover. It’s an adventure that unfolds differently each day.
When you do a posture practice, you can notice how each pose affects you physically. You can go deeper and uncover how the postures and practice overall influence your energy level, your emotions, and your mind.
Whether it’s the introspection of a forward fold or the exhilaration of a backbend, there’s always something to notice, something to feel, and something that’s evolving in your practice, and those insights can help you on your mat and in your life.
In particular, inversions offer a powerful opportunity to observe and shift your perspective. Your orientation to the outer world changes, much like it does when you fly. Because you’re upside down, you see things differently. You might literally see things that you wouldn’t normally, like a spot on the floor while you’re in Sirsasana (Headstand) or a hair on your big toe while you’re in Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand).
You might feel something that you can’t quite find in the same way in any other pose, like the strength of the arms and shoulders in Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand), the gentle traction of the neck when you really let the head hang in Uttanasana (Intense Forward Bend), or the gentle awakening of the lower chakras in Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Foot Intense Forward Fold).
When you come out of an inversion, you’ll find a host of other things to observe and shifts in perspective. You might find greater physical strength or muscular opening. You might feel invigorated, grounded, or calmer.
Similar to when you return from a journey somewhere, you can look at things with fresh eyes after an inversion. In my experience, I find that I can think more clearly. I might suddenly have the answer to a question I’ve been asking. I feel more confident and ready to tackle whatever challenges I’m facing.
Though there are several inversions that you probably practice regularly like Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) and Uttanasana (Intense Forward Bend) with your feet still on the ground, not everyone is comfortable getting their feet over their head for a full inversion. Even if you are well-versed in full inversions, there might be some days that you wish you could do them with less effort.
Don’t worry. There's a prop for that.
The Great Yoga Wall® offers unique, safe, and effective ways to invert with ease. It’s the closest I’ve found to “flying” physically in yoga. You can experience Sirsasana (Headstand) in a way that decompresses the spine and doesn’t putting any pressure on your head and neck. You can rest in Halasana (Plow Pose) without compressing your neck or forcing your shoulders into a position they’re not ready to take. You can even use the Great Yoga Wall® to help you get into Viparita Karani (Legs Up the Wall) in a breeze.
If you don’t have a Great Yoga Wall® near you, then there are so many inversion variations that you can do to help you find those amazing benefits, depending on how you're feeling. The important things is just to keep practicing, whether your feet are on the ground in a standing pose or flying towards the sky in an inversion. You have the power to change your life in your own unique, individual way through your practice, and the world is a better place when you do.
Speak Your Truth
Do you love to fly or hate it? What's your favorite thing about traveling? Are you a fan of inversions? What’s your favorite inversion and how do you practice it? If you could ask me a question in person about inversions, what would it be? Let me know below in the comments!
In wellness, joy, and purpose,
Tami