Wild Dingo

This week, I’ll be offering TWO FREE yoga classes:

1. Friday March 6, 5:15-6:45 PM, Yogasource Los Gatos 90-minute Power Yoga Class
2. Sunday March 8, 7:30 PM, Lululemon Santa Row 60-minute Vinyasa Flow Class

Check my calendar for details. Sunday’s class will be a very basic Vinyasa that will open and strengthen the entire body with some cool tunes.

Friday’s class will focus on headstand. I’ve wanted to teach a headstand class for a while but I’ve avoided it because my core strength has been in the potty. Yet no matter where my core strength is, I’m always able to get myself up into headstand in some format, whether I pike my legs (using more core strength) or bring my knees to my chest (using less core strength).

I love inverting. Turning your world upside down has wonderful effects on the body. The gravitational pull of your body in the opposite direction creates tons of space in your spinal column. Whenever I travel on a plane and have been sitting for a long time, my back ends up in knots. As soon as I get to the hotel room, I plop down a hotel towel on the ground, do some gentle warm ups then pike up into hand stand two or three times for 5 to 10 breaths. Voila, pain is gone. Going upside down somehow resets my spine, relaxes my tight muscles and reminds other muscles how to engage a pain-free standing and sitting posture. Plus, handstand is as invigorating to me as double espresso. I don’t normally caffeinate. I don’t exactly need it given I’m a bit of a spaz. But hand stand has a way of waking up your body and mind.

Headstand on the other hand, has a more calming effect and can be used to close your practice. I first learned headstand long before I was a regular yoga practitioner. I bought a yoga book and basically taught it to myself in my living room-without the use of a wall. Because the book didn’t mention using a wall. Imagine that. Today, I’ll use the wall whenever I feel my core could be at risk of failing me. Because it’d be nice to be able to practice again another day.

So Friday is headstand night. But just because it’s a headstand focus doesn’t mean we’ll ignore other areas of the body. One of my favorite things about power yoga is its natural tendency to address all planes of the body: front, side, back, top and bottom (standing). To prepare for headstand, much of the focus will be on shoulders and core, however we’ll be sure to open and strengthen hips, thighs, hamstrings, arms, spine and side body. Seem like a lot to cover in 90 minutes? Well, give it a try and find out!