Upside Down: Exploring Arm Balances and Inversions

Upside Down: Exploring Arm Balances and Inversions

Balancing on the hands, forearms, and head

With Marion Perrot

This two-hour workshop offers a gradual exploration of arm balances and inversions, with an emphasis on progression, technique, and confidence. No prior experience with inversions is necessary: each pose will be broken down step by step, with various options to adapt the practice to your level.
The goal is not necessarily to “master” a pose by the end of the workshop, but to better understand how to approach it, what actions to focus on, and what exercises to use to continue progressing in your personal practice.

Worshop schedule :

We’ll start with a targeted warm-up to prepare the wrists, shoulders, core, and the entire body for balances and inversions.
We will then explore different types of poses, including:

• Bakasana, the Crow Pose, and some of its variations
• Sirsasana II, the three-point headstand, as well as the transition between Bakasana and the three-point headstand
• Sirsasana I, the classic headstand, and its variations
• Preparatory exercises for Pincha Mayurasana, the forearm balance

Workshop Objectives:

• Understanding the technical fundamentals of the main balances and inversions
• Building Confidence When Your Body Is Upside Down
• Work on body alignment and positioning
• Strengthen your shoulders, arms, and core
• Learn how to enter and exit poses in a controlled manner
• Exploring the role of breathing, concentration, and gaze in balance
• Learn exercises and progression plans to incorporate into your personal practice

This small-group workshop gives you the opportunity to ask questions and make steady progress.
We’ll work with the wall and various props (blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets) to help everyone explore the poses gradually and at their own level. Balances and inversions may seem intimidating, but they become much more accessible once you understand how to build them, step by step.

Prerequisites:

• No experience with inversions is required.
• Regular yoga practice is recommended.
• The workshop is designed for both beginners who are just discovering inversions and those who want to refine their technique.
• You don’t need to be able to hold a handstand without assistance.