Here is a quote from February 2013 "Yoga Journal Magazine."
Patricia Walden is being interviewed with several other senior level Yoga teachers:
"I'm a very conservative teacher of Headstand and Shoulderstand. My students don't begin doing Shoulderstand for probably a year and a half or two years and maybe three for Headstand. One of the reasons that I take so much time before introducing those poses is that I watch my students walk into a class, and I see their posture. If you're not standing correctly, there's no way you're going to be able to do a Headstand that is safe. There are some students who should never do Headstand."
I will have more to say on this topic very soon, maybe even this week. I like what Patricia has to say especially since she is Iyengar trained and certified. Sometimes I feel like those two inversions are taught too early. I taught and practiced both earlier than maybe I should have. When I first taught Yoga I was coached to teach Shoulderstand to beginners toward the end of their first session. Now I know a much safer way to approach shoulderstand and still I won't teach it right away and definitely not to most newer students of Yoga. What is the rush? There are safer postures which give you the same wonderful results. Something to ponder. Who are we serving when we practice Yoga? If the answer is our egos, then we are aren't practicing Yoga at all.
Be well. Listen to your body.
~ Namaste`
