Testimonial About Stacy and Supported Head Stand

Hi Stacy,

Attached is the piece of artwork I clipped out of a recent issue of Yoga Journal (I don't remember which month). I love it because it reminds me of when you helped me get into this pose at your Chair Yoga workshop. As I told you on the phone, the pose terrified me when I got into it because I could not feel my legs. I don't know why I could not feel my legs – it was puzzling, disconcerting and downright scary.

 

However, as I look at the picture, I am reminded that you helped me overcome my fear of going upside down (which, I am sure, comes in large part from having lens implants in both eyes following cataract removal surgery a year and a half ago — even though the eye surgeon said the pressure in my head should be OK, there's always the lingering thought…"Really?").

 

The picture is a reminder that we often (if not usually) need to work with somebody else to overcome our fears. Getting into this pose – even briefly – was a big step for me, and I could not have done it without your guidance, encouragement and support.  Now I know that I can do it safely, and I am willing to try it again. Fear dissolves in the presence of guidance, encouragement and support.  I have only had one other such powerful "overcoming fear" experience in my yoga journey — it was when Karin Stephan got me to stand up (I was walking with a cane following my bout with Guillain-Barre Syndrome) and do a small backbend (which to me was terrifying because I had no sense of balance at all).  Again: guidance + encouragement + support = growth in strength and self-confidence. 

 

Oh, before I forget to mention it, I also like the little red bird in the lower corner of the picture waving the white flag of surrender. It's a cute visual reminder that to surrender is to accept (with compassionate self-awareness and without critical self-judgment) what IS, plain and simple.  That's always the starting point of positive movement.

 

Namaste and a hug,

D