I bow to @merchantcityyoga .All the mysore teachers there (@judifarrell100 @yogaroseinsta @katizzyd) have managed something I thought impossible. For the 15 years or so I have been practicing, I have had a dislike of inversions. I say dislike but it started with a panic attack. I worried throughout my practice because the last pose was headstand. My stomach was a mess, sick, wanting to escape, pure fearful. Every day. And there lies the key. Because Rose Ann, Judi, Kat supported it every day, the magic began to happen. To overcome, consistency is needed. Of course it has to be wrapped warm with devotion, faith in the method, love. But that comes if the container of consistency is there. Being a Mysore teacher is not easy, especially these days where consistency and devotion are pushed aside in favour of quick fixes. Mysore requires attention, patience and long game strategy from the teacher, as well as good humour and integrity. So I really appreciate what all my teachers hold for me (also Rosina and @mysoreyogaparis ). Remember this took 15 years. But it has happened, in my favourite of places: Rose Ann’s magical Mysore intensive. A couple of weeks ago, she had the absolute insight to split my practice. I alternate postures each day. The end of intermediate is 7 headstands. My biggest nightmare. I would go to great lengths to avoid them, if I could. But I can’t because avoiding does not make things better. For a little while, I carried on, missing the headstands. But I missed them in both ways. ‘Great, I don’t have to do them’ but also ‘if I ever wanted to, would I be able to do them?’And then she split the practice. Giving more space but still having consistency eased something in my mind and body. This is different from avoiding. This is empowering, discipline in the purest sense of the word (disciple, learning).What is the magic? The magic is that I look forward to the headstands. They are my favourite part of the practice. Even the one I cannot do, and even if they are still dubiously executed and should really shout TIMBER! when I come out of them. The enemy has become the best friend. And if that is not magic, I don’t know what is.