Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.

I have recently had dental surgery.

The 3 hour procedure (which happens to be part one of 4 - eeek! ) left me puffy- cheeked, tired, sore and unable to do any sort of inversion for a week. Even when sleeping I had to elevate with 2 pillows.

So how does one practice yoga or teach yoga classes when 1/4 of the poses are off limits?

It turns out the constraint of not lowering my head below the heart was a huge source of inspiration. I created an entire self practice without any weight bearing through the wrists and keeping the head above the heart.

I loved it so much I taught it in studio.

WAIT WHAT?!  A VINYASA CLASS WITH NO DOWN DOG! (check it out here)

Sometimes adversity forces our hand. Makes us look at the world, our life and opportunity differently.

Contrary to what we usually believe...the best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times—although such experiences can also be enjoyable, if we have worked hard to attain them. The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile. Optimal experience is thus something that we make happen.

-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi-

I have always loved to handstand. This love of getting upside down is less about the physical pose and more the sense of flow that is cultivated when I practice something that is challenging. Ironically, my challenge this time was that my favourite way of being (upside down) was turned upside down!

As Mihaly writes, flow state is achieved when the goal at hand forces our attention and intention into the present moment. This happens when things are just outside of our comfort zone, forcing us into present moment awareness and out of the disordered thinking of the psyche, (the vritti of the mind).

This ordering of consciousness is where we find happiness. In Yoga we call this ananda (bliss) or samadhi (complete absorption).

In these states of flow we often forget ourselves, transcend ourselves, and accomplish more than we ever thought possible emerging with a strengthened sense of self.

It can be a great way of moving out of anxiety and depression as we create a new lens with which we view ourselves and the world.

This moment of quieting the inner critic is known as transient hypofrontality and can also lead to theta brain wave states similar to Buddhist Monks.

You can create these moments on your yoga mat, surfing, dancing, rollerskating, hand standing, rock climbing, skiing, playing an instrument anything that requires your complete focus that enables you to move past your thinking mind.

What opportunities do you have in your life to transcend your thinking mind?

Where in your life do you sit with discomfort or boredom long enough to discover something new?

Here is fun little inversion flow I created for the Handstand Club and my livestream members. A chance to transcend the thinking mind, get playful, find a sense of flow and realise the innate potential we all have. To glimpse wholeness, not through the acquiring of poses but rather the effort, focus attention and intention that is required when practicing these poses.