How one man began to master his handstand, and his heart in the process
By John David Nelson
I never liked to work out.
In high school, I thought the gym was gross. Every machine and person there seemed redundant and, worst of all, boring. So I didn’t go. Who cares, I said. Ignoring my health and fitness, I focused on being in high school. I put myself under a lot of pressure and felt stressed.
In college, I majored in musical theatre and needed to start exercising. I tried yoga at a local studio and never looked back. The beautiful studio, the effective classes and the social aspect brought me back just two days after my first class and frequently thereafter.
Three months later, I had dropped 20 pounds and was asked to teach. I jumped at the opportunity. Only 20 years old, I was ready for some new experiences. My teacher training included yoga. Every pose worked quickly, bringing a little “yin” to my otherwise intense “yang” college life.
I started to find myself in these classes. I had time to release tension, feel strong in the moment and cultivate love in my life. My outlook shifted towards the positive.
Six years ago, I decided to start each yoga class with an intention of love. I said, “I will find my heart chakra in every pose,” or “I’m going to love every pose we do,” or my favorite, “I’m going to give my body a kiss.” It was therapy without anyone else’s consent, and it was liberating.
The old high-strung me was falling away and a new side of me was emerging. Suddenly, I could tackle anything. I felt like I could take on the world. Well, except for one thing.
The one nagging discrepancy in my I-can-do-anything attitude? Handstand. For years, when a teacher suggested it, I did Shoulderstand or Tripod Headstand or anything but Handstand. Then, I decided 2013 would be the year I “got” Handstand.
I was working at home, going back and forth between Handstand against the wall and then to the pull-up bar to do a set of pull-ups. I repeated mantras like, “You can’t get better at anything unless you do it,” and “Nothing is going to change if you keep everything easy all the time!”
I was struggling to find the right place for my hips. I couldn’t just rest on the wall. I kept falling until at one point, I scissored my legs to try and hold myself in place. It worked. I didn’t fall.
Handstand away from the wall is an arm-strengthening ab exercise. How exciting. Combining what I know from Crow, Downward Facing Dog and Plank, I am now able to find strength in Handstand that I’ve never been able to find in anything else. My arms are much stronger and my back has never felt better.
Then real yoga happened. I realized this little discovery in my body was having tremendous effects on my heart chakra. I was happy—more than happy. I finally knew what had been missing from my life. My intention from class slapped me in the face.
If we look for the tiny details in every pose, including the feeling inside of our hearts, we start to change. If we can cultivate new space in our practices by feeling love during asana, surely we can do this for other aspects of our lives. It’s all connected, isn’t it?
So the new me has translated this into my out-of-the-studio self and I have had a tremendous year in 2013. I can feel my energy shifting into a space of great success.
And it all started from Handstand.
One Response to “Using asana as a practice of creating and feeling love”
November 19, 2013
Sadé ArmstrongCongrats John!!!!! I’m so proud of you. I never tried yoga but after reading this I have to give it a try. You are truly blessed. Love ya!