Urdhva Padmasana in Sarvangasana (Upward Lotus in Shoulderstand) registers as 4* on the scale of difficulty.
I can’t think of a more appropriate pose to mark the halfway point in my project to attempt all poses in BKS Iyengar’s Light on Yoga. Urdhva Padmasana in Sarvangasana not only combines the learnings of a great number of poses covered thus far in the project (Padmasana, Salamba Sarvangasana I, and Urdhva Padmasana in Sirsasana, to name a few); it also carries with it the symbolism of the lotus – so relevant to the midpoint in this journey.
As I mentioned in my post on Urdhva Padmasana in Sirsasana, our greatest experiences on our mats bloom from the mud of the challenges we face in our practice. Like a lotus rising from murky waters, we flourish when fed by experiences that put us to the test – mentally, physically, or emotionally.
The countless challenges of this project have tested and strengthened me as a teacher, a student, and a person. Poses I find difficult or near impossible help me learn to leave my ego off the mat. The daunting task of writing about 200 poses teaches me the value of diligence and patience. Examining asanas I once considered mundane sheds fresh, new light on familiar poses. Each day that I open up Light on Yoga and begin exploring the next pose, I learn something about myself and my practice.
The project is only halfway complete and some of the most physically challenging poses await. No doubt, I will find myself frustrated, unmotivated, irritated, and exhausted at various points along the way. But, the journey thus far has taught me that each of those moments of darkness, doubt and despair will bear fruit in the end. Sometimes, the sweetest moments in life are born from struggle.
Related posts:
- No Mud, No Lotus: Urdhva Padmasana in Sirsasana (Upward Lotus in Headstand)
- Points on Puzzlement in Parsva Urdhva Padmasana in Sirsasana (Side Upward Lotus in Headstand)
- Listening to Both Legs in Eka Pada Sarvangasana (One Legged Shoulderstand)
- Niralamba Sarvangasana I (Unsupported Shoulderstand I)
- Supported in the Arms of the Mother: Salamba Sarvangasana I (Supported Shoulderstand I)
Tags: asana, ego, Iyengar, Light on Yoga, Padmasana, patience, Salamba Sarvangasana I, Urdhva Padamasana in Sarvangasana, Urdhva Padmasana in Sirsasana, yoga
Congrats on making it through the half way point! I have just started YTT – so your blog and the challenges you face each day are an inspiration for me. Keep up the great work and I’ll be following along!
Thanks, Maria! YTT will change your life. Best of luck on your journey.
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