Inversions
Inversions can be fun, challenging, and nerve-racking. Also, they can, and often need to, be adapted and modified to every body. Students report a light, calm focused feeling after being upside down and the science is there to back up their claims. Without adequate preparation and instruction, inversions can be an intimidating proposition. Students are given step-by-step instructions and safeguards in this workshop
Example Workshop Schedule
1-2 Hours: Overview of benefits and risks of being upside down. Students often say that being upside down changes their perspective. It does. It also has the ability to change much more. Blood pressure, heart rate and lymph flow are all affected by inverting. Most individuals can benefit from these changes; however, those with various health concerns need to be informed about the risks and their subsequent options.
2-4 Hours: Lecture and practice concerning headstand. Headstand creates a strong sense of calm focus. It also builds strength in the scapular stabilizers, core, back and respiratory musculature. Students move through a practice designed to facilitate headstand or adaptive practices. Individual headstands are observed and discussed. Students learn about long-term strategies for achieving the pose and ideas to reap the short-term benefits without the risks. Compensation postures are introduced.
2-4 Hours: Lecture and practice concerning shoulderstand. Shoulderstand places the neck in a precarious position and should be approached with sufficient education, preparation and awareness. Students move through a practice designed to facilitate a variation of shoulderstand. Strategies for pursuing shoulderstand with a chair, block or wall are introduced. Students learn about individual differences in the neck and shoulders as well as long-term strategies for achieving the
pose given their structure. Various compensation postures are introduced. Risks are thoroughly discussed.
1-2 Hours: Lecture and practice concerning handstand. For individuals with neck injuries, traditional head and shoulderstand may not be options. Handstand can be an invigorating and relatively safe way to invert. Use of the hands as foundation, posture preparation, and balance techniques are introduced in this practice. Heart rate changes in handstand differs from the other inversions. Discussion of physiological and energetic differences included.
Inversions can be fun, challenging, and nerve-racking. Also, they can, and often need to, be adapted and modified to every body. Students report feeling a light, calm focused feeling after being upside down and the science is there to back up their claims. Without adequate preparation and instruction, inversions can be an intimidating proposition. Students are given step-by-step instructions and safeguards in this workshop
Example Workshop Schedule
1-2 Hours: Overview of benefits and risks of being upside down. Students often say that being upside down changes their perspective. It does. It also has the ability to change much more. Blood pressure, heart rate and lymph flow are all effected by inverting. Most individuals can benefit from these changes; however, those with various health concerns need to be informed about the risks and their subsequent options.
2-4 Hours: Lecture and practice concerning headstand. Headstand creates a strong sense of calm focus. It also builds strength in the scapular stabilizers, core, back and respiratory musculature. Students move through a practice designed to facilitate headstand or adaptive practices. Individual headstands are observed and discussed. Students learn about long-term strategies for achieving the pose and ideas to reap the short-term benefits without the risks. Compensation postures are introduced.
2-4 Hours: Lecture and practice concerning shoulderstand. Shoulderstand places the neck in a precarious position and should be approached with sufficient education, preparation and awareness. Students move through a practice designed to facilitate a variation shoulderstand. Strategies for pursing shoulderstand with a chair, block or wall are introduced. Students learn about individual differences in the neck and shoulders as well as long-term strategies for achieving the
pose given their structure. Various compensation postures are introduced. Risks are thoroughly discussed.
1-2 Hours: Lecture and practice concerning handstand. For individuals with neck injuries, traditional head and shoulderstand may not be options. Handstand can be an invigorating and relatively safe way to invert. Use of the hands as foundation, posture preparation, and balance techniques are introduced in this practice. Heart rate changes in handstand differs from the other inversions. Discussion of physiological and energetic differences included.
Duration
2-14 hours
Components
Facilitated Discussion: The physiology and energetics of inversions
Lecture and Practice:
Common inversions
- Headstand
- Shoulderstand
- Handstand
- Short-term preparation for all poses
- Modifications for all poses
- Adaptations for all poses
- Long-term preparation
- Compensation practices