The World Turned Upside Down

It seems that over the past few weeks the world is being turned upside down and inside out...turmoil abounds in Egypt, Bahrain, Wisconsin...you can't help but think, is all this uncertainty and change a good thing?


Putting a yoga twist on the subject the idea of turning upside down is a very good thing. Yogic philosophy teaches that one thing is for certain: nothing is permanent. Everything is in transition. We might try to create the illusion of stability and security by having things line up somewhat predictably, but inevitably all things change. What this teaches us is to first, know that "this too, shall pass". Secondly, it reminds us to stay focused in the present moment...not to leap ahead into what is yet to unfold or ruminate on what has already happened. If we can practice being more in the present moment, life suddenly seems to be less overwhelming.


So how do we experience and practice being in the present moment? And how do we do it when things are seemingly facing the "wrong" direction?


We experience it by particular poses that keep us in the present moment. Inversions and balancing poses are especially effective in doing this. Try this and see what happens for you:


Stand on one leg and focus on one single point out in front of you. What happens when you're in this pose and you start thinking about your latest challenge or concern? Do you stay centered or do you topple over? If someone else is with you, can each of you stand on one leg at the same time and hold a conversation without hopping about the room? The simple act of focusing on ONE thing brings us more into the present moment. It narrows our ability to multi-task, keeping us in the NOW.


To turn your own world upside down placing your head below your heart works wonders. A simple inversion is to bend forward with your forearms on a chair, feet a comfortable width apart, knees slightly bent, head resting on your arms and your eyes closed. When we were in elementary school, we would "rest" with our heads on our crossed arms on our desks...withdrawing into ourselves and turning the volume down on the outside world.


If you're a more experienced yogi/yogini other beneficial inversions include: legs up the wall, supported shoulder stand, handstand, headstand, wide legged forward fold or hanging on your inversion table/chair. When we invert our physical body it calms and cools our brain's activity, enhances our immune system through stimulating the movement of our lymph, lowers our blood pressure and feels amazing.


So as our larger world seems to be turning itself upside down and inside out...why don't we do the same thing? Not only will it do us physical good, but part of life is being able to see the world from a different perspective.


Try it out and see if you can hang out upside down!