Get Up on your Hands - NOT your Head
I’m passionate about sustainability. For the planet? Definitely.
For your own physical yoga practice? Absolutely!
I’ve had my share of ups and downs, challenges, and injuries when it comes to yoga. Some things I’ve learned the hard way. But I’ve always been a perpetual student, and training (re-training, really, since I already had several certifications in another style) with Lara Heimann helped me get smart in my yoga and transformed my yoga practice and teaching. Lara is a physical therapist, yogi, and founder of the LYT Method, and training with her fueled my interest in biomechanics, functional movement, and offering a safe and sustainable yoga practice.
Here’s one nugget of wisdom I would like to share with you…
Get Up on your hands, not your head.
I love going upside down. For each of these Sunny Get Up pants designs, the image is flipped upside down, so that when you go upside down the image comes to life.
Working on handstand is one of my favorite ways to connect to my core and develop integrated strength. It helps me take a new perspective, challenge myself physically, and upend any narratives about what I think is or is not possible. It’s also an opportunity to practice compassion, curiosity, and trust in my own strength in the face of fear. After a vigorous practice I feel bright and charged up, empowered to take action. I love getting on my hands! If that sounds like something you’re interested in trying, you can join me or any of the other Yoga Lab teachers, or Lara Heimann, for online classes.
But please know that even though I love going upside down, I no longer practice or teach inversions that involve weight bearing on the head or neck (adding load to the cervical vertebrae), including Headstand, Shoulderstand, Plow, or any related postures. I also will not be using pictures of these inversions in Sunny Get Up social media, so please take that into consideration if you’re applying for the Sunny Get Up Ambassador Program.
These postures are just not worth the risk of injury to the neck. I believe that research should inform practice, so if you’re interested in the rationale for this choice, please see some of the references I provide at the bottom of this post.
I hope these pants inspire you to get up and get moving, but please do so safely, with the intention of sustainability for the planet and for your own body.
References & Resources
Bullock, Grace B. Headstand and Neck Safety in Yoga: What You Need to Know, Yoga International.
Hector, R. & Jensen, J.L. (2015). Sirasana (headstand) technique alters head/neck loading: Considerations for Safety. Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies, 19, 434-441.
Remski, Matthew. King and Queen No More? Headstand, Shoulderstand, and the Yoga of Experience and Evidence, Yoga International.
Yoga practice and working on handstand may or may not be right for you, and you should consult with your health care provider before beginning any new physical activity regimen.