At 66, Blue Ridge Yoga instructor Mary Bridle spends time each day reversing the effects of gravity. Whether in the core yoga position Downward-Facing Dog or, as seen here, in the “king of all yoga poses,” Bridle says inversions give her “a different way of looking at the world.”
“The best part about inversion is that it changes your perspective on your body,” she adds. In fact, inversion is said to treat everything from mood swings to insomnia to bad breath. But to Bridle, it’s just one vital component of an entire yoga workout.
Modern-day guru B.K.S. Iyengar claims that nourishing the brain—the source of intelligence, wisdom, discrimination and power—through inversion “enhances clarity of thought and widens spiritual horizons.” For older women, it may stimulate a part of the body that is starting to fail, but don’t try this at home without experienced instruction and your doctor’s permission.
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Part of this complete workout: Mary Bridle, 66, does inversions daily. |
If Bridle’s inverted posture looks precarious, that’s because it is. Sirsasana (sheer-SA-sa-nah), or Headstand, requires mad balance skills, and doing this pose incorrectly can cause serious injury.
Luckily, basic yoga includes several stable forms of inversion for us marginally flexible enthusiasts. To learn more, visit blueridgeyoga.com.
