At the beginning of this entire mess I set a challenge for myself: get strong enough to do a yoga headstand. It’s a simple goal. A silly one even. But I don’t do yoga on a regular basis so this was indeed a stretch goal for me. Plus, this small challenge I set for myself has become a reliable routine for me to look forward to the past couple months locked at home. I look forward to holding myself accountable for completing it day-by-day as I inch towards it.

I’m about four months in now and I can say that I am 95% there. I set out to strengthen my body first. Now my core is stronger, my balance and breathing are much better, and my shoulder strength is right where I need it to be so I can execute this move confidently without hurting myself. When I’m warmed up and stretched, I set out my yoga mat in the garage and slowly work my body into it. I stand, I touch my toes, I plank and pike, I dolphin, and then from the dolphin post I walk my legs towards my head and flow into the headstand. It takes me some time to get up to this point and I see now that it’s that entire process that I enjoy the most. I have to be calm, focus on my breathing, be purposeful with my stretching, and get my mind in a mode to be strong and stable.

Once I’m at 100% confidence in this pose I have my sights set for the more challenging variations of yoga handstands.

Not much of design or fashion post, I know. But I thought I’d share a small slice of something that has made the past bit of time a little bit lovely.

—

Photography by Charlotte Wales