My handstands have never really progressed further than kicking up and using the wall for support. I’ve been able to balance maybe three seconds on a good day, but that’s it. Until today. I went to a vinyasa class with a new teacher, and towards the end of class she announce we were going to work on our handstands: “Stand with your feet together, tailbone slightly tucked and core engaged. Raise your hands toward the ceiling and flex your wrists. Imagine now doing exactly the same thing upside down.”

I moved over to the wall and practiced my usual kick-up. Once up I flexed my feet and let my head hang (as opposed to looking down) while trying to balance. What if I pretended I’m standing on the ceiling? I started imagining the ceiling under my feet, straightened out and suddenly felt really stable. That is, until I got so excited about the aha! moment that I lost concentration…

Sometimes a different explanation is all it takes to break through to the next level in an asana you’ve been practicing for years!