Sirsasana - The King of Poses
My relationship with Sirsasana, head balance, started when I was very young. As an introvert, I was always looking for ways to be invisible, and funnily enough, it was only when I was looking at things from upside down, that I could really retreat into myself. This constant has been with me all through my yoga life and as soon as I could balance on my head the Iyengar way, it became one of my "go to" poses, and still is, when I want to feel calm, composed and go to my quiet place.
I especially like to practice it outdoors, in crazy places like on the edge of a cliff (don't tell my mum), or in the middle of Rome, or at the airport; not because I am an exhibitionist, quite the opposite actually, but because sometimes the mood just takes me, and I have to be upside down, to see the place I'm in from a different perspective. My favourite place is looking out to sea, somehow seeing the sky below the earth is extremely thrilling to me and for a moment, the world around me disappears.
This photo was taken by a colleague and is outside the beautiful Winchester Cathedral. We were taking photographs to put on my promotional poster for their studio and all the teachers there had to pick a place and a pose. I chose the cathedral. I grew up mainly in Winchester and the cathedral is a place I love to go back to and visit often. It was a home coming photo as I had been away for 12 years living in Portugal and wanted to express my love for my home town where my yoga journey started in 1990. The photographer captured the moment when a group of school children walked by. I could only see their feet and lower legs so I was remarking on how many nicely coloured socks the kids had etc and they were marvelling at this strange (old to them) lady standing on her head outside the cathedral!
My funniest moment in the king of poses however, was when on one rather hot day, I was practicing in the hall at Quinta Mimosa Retreat Centre, Portugal, and I was very focused on all the points of alignment, very poised and aware and yet at the same time, very relaxed. This feeling of complete calm came over me and I closed my eyes, and drifted off; literally I fell asleep standing on my head.
It's definitely my comfort pose. Not to say that I don't have to work hard, my thoracic area and shoulders always need work, and my legs of course, but it's a pose that I don't mind working at as I have reached the point where I can stay and really feel the benefits. I still feel the adjustment from Gabriel Gallibriano gave me to my thoracic every time I go up - she was teaching at Maida Vale institute in I think around 2006 or 2007. I was hiding at the back but balancing, and she came around and skillfully jabbed me with two fingers just between the shoulder-blades. My shoulders lifted and my chest opened and I always make that adjustment with her in mind.
I enjoy hugely the variations in Sirsasana - I'm still trying to master full padmasana but it's coming. I also love sirsasana II with the palms flat to the floor and am looking forward to exploring all the other variations in Light on Yoga, so important for us as students to have a go at those more challenging poses from the back of the book!