Queen of All Poses

Did you know that I’ve been practicing Salamba Sarvangasana, Shoulder Stand Pose, since I was six years old?

Since my early days in first grade-elementary school-when I found myself extrapolated from my small and cozy kindergarten where I had been since I was three years old, into this giant school that ran grades up to high school, I experienced tremendous levels of stress that I still remember quite clearly. At such tender age, I worried that I will be lost in that school to never be found.

I still have an ingrained belief dating back to those days that I was born with no internal GPS. I can easily get lost within a block radius, if the area is unknown to me. Finding my north, south, east, west direction is certainly not one of my strongest skills set, so finding my way back into the classroom after recess, was a heart stopping endeavor that led me to one very day crawl in a little corner feeling utterly defeated.

I recall now warmly that day when I was discovered, on the verge of crying, by a sweet high school girl because I couldn’t find my classroom after the recess was over. The alarm had long rang calling in the students to return to their classes. The hallways had become empty, and even in the tranquility of the empty hallways, I could not find my way back. I grew agitated and kept going up and down the stairs trying to find my floor from the cantina until I retreated into a corner and began to panic. This high school girl, who had stepped out for a bathroom break, saw me. She asked if something was hurting me, if I was in pain. That must have been the look on my face! An Angel had descended to save me, I thought. She had the sweetest demeanor and smiled reassuring me that she will help me find my classroom.

I still remember her little chuckle when I explained, quite dramatically, how doomed I was to fail first grade because I was now so late for class. I stated that even if she brought me to class, I would be embarrassed, the Teacher will be upset, and my Mom would be so disappointed, and that my life was pretty much over. The fear and stress in a child, as I look back, is as real as the one experienced by grownups.

The high school God-sent-angel-girl walked me to my classroom where class was well underway and talked to my teacher. My classmates laughed, and of course, I was utterly embarrassed. Yet, I was also relieved that my Teacher had pardon me and had shown a sign of understanding by making me a card with the number and letter of my assigned classroom. When the class was over, my guardian angel was waiting for me by the door to walk me over to the gate to meet my Mom, who was thankfully on time to pick me up. She did this for the next few days until I had memorized my path.

I must add that this watching over angel of mine proceeded to tell my Mom that I was the cutest little thing. I can imagine now how adorable I must have been to her looking back, so tiny to be thinking that it could possibly mean the end of my life. She also understood I was, according to me, in real distress. This was definitely not a tantrum!

Fear has been my most loyal companion during childhood!

That fear of being lost in school was gone once I memorized my path, but it was quickly replaced by another fear. If I would be waiting for my mom outside, and she was late, my mind would race to scary thoughts that would put me under such elevated levels of stress-worrying if something had happened to my Mom, I would certainly be lost to possibly never be found since I wouldn’t dream of finding my way home.

During those first few rough weeks/months in school, I would come home without even removing my uniform, and I would go to bed to do shoulder stand for as long as I could while my Mom prepared lunch. One day, she kept calling me to come to the table to eat, but there was no response. Apparently, I had entered into a nice little trance where I had zoned out her voice. All I remember is that it felt so peaceful holding what I now to to be the Queen of all Asanas. In that tranquil space gifted by this upside down shape, I soon got startled by my Mom, who stepped in the room to see why I was so suspiciously quiet. Her demanding voice asking me what “crazy thing” was I doing.

Normally, I would have been at the kitchen or at the table being quite the Miss Little Chatterbox. Lately, I had been going straight to the bedroom. I got reprimanded for “jumping in the bed”, which I did love to do, but that was not what I was doing at that time. I had access stillness and a way to relieve my little tiny person stress.

That was the last day I did shoulder stand as a natural coping mechanism for stress, not to worry my Mom, who thought I could get hurt, but I did put my legs up against the wall from then on and for years to come till present time, which is a great modification for those who can’t support the weight of their legs held above the heart for a few breaths.

The inner body knows!

One of the great benefits of this pose considered to be The Queen of All Poses is that it relieves stress and anxiety, and that’s exactly what my little six year old body and mind knew and felt it needed. It knew it all on its own. Thankfully for me, I got transferred to a smaller school the year after where I wasn’t so lost in the sea of giants, them high schoolers. Yet, the experience stayed with me.

It’s not a complicated pose!

Simply, lift your legs off the floor and support your middle back with the palms of your hands while keeping the elbows in and parallel towards each other. Activate the abdominal wall to help maintain the weight of the legs. Keep the legs straight and active, and point the feet. Feel the weight of the body, as you press with the back of the shoulders. It’s called “Shoulder Stand”, use the shoulders. Invite a feeling of lightness that reaches the entire body up towards the ceiling, and breathe consciously and deeply. If not, simply opt for elevating your legs and let them be supported against a wall.

This asana helps improve circulation, thus providing you with a feeling of rejuvenation. It’s perfect for after a strenuous practice, or a long stressful day thanks to its calming soothing effects in the brain, which helps relieve stress. It’s important to know that women during menstrual cycle are advised to refrain from any inversions, though they can still benefit from its modification of placing the legs up against the wall to help with even swollen feet.

The modification version is definitely my go to pose after long walks or long days too, it’s the Queen of my world.

Obstacles: setbacks and plateaus