Learning to fall...or how I mastered my headstand

Folks who know me know I'm super into yoga.  I try not to talk about it too much because I fear it will be annoying - but I truly feel that the lessons I learn on the mat are the lessons I need in my life.  Life imitates yoga or yoga imitates life or maybe both!

So, I had been practicing yoga for some time, getting stronger, more flexible and better able to balance month over month.  I could easily pop up into a headstand if I was near a wall and although I never actually used the wall, I couldn't imagine that I could do a headstand without the safety net.  I just didn't trust myself. Didn't have the confidence.

One day a few months ago I was late to class.  So instead of being able to tuck into the corner of my usual hide-away spot, I had to set up my mat in the center of the room.  When it came time for headstands, I sat quietly on my mat, too worried about trying without the safety of the wall.  My teacher, who is a bit tough, immediately called me out. "Why aren't you doing a headstand?" I let her know that I was afraid to fall and she walked over to my mat and said, ok, so you need to learn how.  She helped me into a headstand and then pushed me over and I fell. This happened 2-3 times. She then smiled and said "Ok, now you know how to fall.  Do your headstand."

Since then, I have been able to do a headstand just about anywhere. Sometimes I still fall, and when I do, I smile to myself, focus, and try again.

What if you didn't need to be afraid of failing, you could could fall and fall and get back up each time until you trusted yourself enough? How would your world be different? I invite you to consider the possibility that learning to fall is well worth the wings it gives you...