Seeing the World Differently—What Headstands Teach You About Life

Every year during the summer months, I introduce headstand in my in-person classes. For most people, it’s half headstand – learning how to position and develop shoulder strength. And every year, a handful of people manage to go up into the full headstand, and it’s always a wonderful, uplifting moment for everyone in the class.

One of the most powerful aspects of practising headstand is the literal and metaphorical shift in perspective. I’ve been practising headstand for over 30 years and teaching it for nearly as long, and I still find it one of the most transformative things an ordinary person can do. Beyond all the health and physical benefits, I believe the true magic of headstand lies in this perspective shift.

I’ve often written about not being a sporty child or teenager, and how little physical confidence I had. When I first took up yoga, I appreciated its physical and mental benefits, but it was when I learned my first free headstand that my perspective truly changed.

Here’s how the magic takes place:

Seeing the World Differently – When you go upside down, everything looks and feels different. This change in orientation can be a reminder that challenges in life often just need a fresh perspective. What once seemed impossible suddenly becomes achievable with patience and practice.

Building Resilience – Overcoming the fear of falling is part of the process. If you’ve ever avoided trying something because of fear of failure, headstand offers a real-time lesson in courage. (And if you do fall, it’s not as big a deal as you think!)

Mind Over Matter – A headstand isn’t just about strength—it’s about trust. You learn to trust your body, breath, and balance. This trust spills over into other areas of your yoga practice and daily life, making you more confident in your ability to handle challenges.

Inviting Playfulness – There’s something childlike about going upside down. Many of us did headstands and handstands effortlessly as children, but as adults we develop fear and self-doubt. Reconnecting with that sense of fun and curiosity can be incredibly liberating.

Overcoming Self-Imposed Limitations – Over the years, I’ve taught many people to go up into their first headstand. They are usually ecstatic! So many times I’ve heard: “I never thought I would!” or “I thought I was too old for this.” I was the same. For a non-sporty girly girl like I was, standing strongly on my head felt completely unthinkable.

Rewriting the Self-Image – Linked to the previous point, achieving a posture you once thought was beyond your ability changes the way you see yourself. As someone who can now do a headstand, you begin to see yourself as stronger, more confident, and capable of tackling challenges.

Headstand isn’t about performing a fancy pose, it’s about discovering new strength, courage and possibility within yourself. Whether you ever go fully upside down or not, the journey towards it can be just as transformative – reminding you that change is possible at any stage of life.

by the beach