Well done for standing on your head, and doing it as though you are comfortable.
More than that, it was lovely to see a lady who is comfortable with herself. And more than okay with your age. That's refreshing. I like it. Keep standing upside down. I love your perspective.
Oh yes, Therese, I am very comfortable upside down. And yes, I am comfortable with myself. But it takes years to get there. Thank you and good luck to you.
Thank you, Divya. I suspect most older people like myself are very reluctant to say they have 'wisdom' but we do have a lot of experience of life and people and it all adds up. Welcome to my Substack and I hope you also enjoy it.
@Francesca Bossert That was a wonderful informative article.
You spoke about standing on your head (inversion) which was very interesting because a few years ago I bought an Inversion table for my husband at the time but had to return it.
He enjoyed the inversion of his spine but experienced equalliberum issues followed by major migraines.
Which was very concerning. Of course, my suggestions to visit his doctor was immediately dismissed.
But he is doing fine though.
Thank you for sharing your amazingly written article.
Thanks, Ashley. My apologies for not replying sooner, but sometimes comments get lost in the shuffle. Standing on your head is not for everyone, but I love it. Very little in life is for everyone!! I'm glad your husband is OK.
I really enjoyed the reading and the watching. I have just hit 70 and somehow it felt more significant than any other birthday has. It feels like there just isn't enough time left if the next twenty years zip by as fast as the last, well - a bit daunting. Anyway, I have done yoga every day with Adriene (Find What Feels Good) online but just cannot do a headstand. try not to beat myself up about it. I'll be back to read more of your posts. Happy inversion!
Thank you. It is my daughter's 56th birthday today and she is worrying about the big 60. I think we all worry, but somewhere in my 70s, I realised that I actually LIKED being old and wrote a book about it, also called The Granny Who Stands on her Head.
When people ask me how I do what I do, I suggest they read Just Keep Going https://arichardson.substack.com/p/just-keep-going. I don't think I am remotely special in the exercising department (hated it when younger), but I am very persistent and I just keep going. I do yoga in person now and much prefer the energy you get from that, even though the travelling is time-consuming. Yes, time zips by. That's what time does, every day, every week. All we can do is enjoy every day as much as possible and try to forget that our time is getting shorter.
That's a wise advise. I would like to do yoga, but unfortunately I have a negatively twisted Lunch Syndrome. Which deteriorates my bone structure in a rapid pace. But I do have many how -to-do, yoga books.
Thanks so much. I will be 83 next month, so moving on upward. Still do headstands, though I think my writing is more interesting than my headstands. Do have a look around - I write about all sorts of things that will interest all ages, including emotional issues and, well, sex.
Hello Ann! I’ve come to visit from Mika’s find your tribe thread. Lovely to ‘meet’ you and love your start here post! I’m not off to read about the vulva and death. Great idea including some of your favourite posts in your intro 💛
Love it! I tried this (leaning against a wall) back when I was doing yoga every day but the weight on my skull was too painful to try again. Have you had any problem with that yourself?
Yes, from time to time and then it gets better. Another way to do it is by putting 6 foam blocks under each shoulder, head in-between. Then there is no pressure on your head or neck. But I would recommend doing other yoga first to get stronger, before trying it again. I am not a yoga expert - just a yoga doer (Iyengar) but I worry about anyone harming themselves trying these poses.
Thanks. So many people have said so that I am brewing (it's kind of the way I think about it, rather like a storm is brewing) a post about doing at 80 what other people do at 50 should NOT be so inspiring. But I appreciate your comment.
Thank you. You might also like my book, which goes into more detail about why I like being old. And if you don't want to bother reading a whole book, my post https://arichardson.substack.com/p/all-my-future-is-behind-me covers some of the same territory. I hope your talk goes well.
What a wonderful post! I’m going to send it to my mama who turns 86 on Thursday. I don’t think she will be trying a handstand because I had a catastrophic neck injury two and a half years ago doing things in a private yoga no hyper mobile 60 year old should have been doing and still suffer the consequences. But it looks like fun and you are amazing at it! I’ll have a look out for your book too, which sounds delightful! Xxx
I hope your mother likes it. I hope I will still be able to do a headstand at 86, but who knows? Carpe diem. I also hope you enjoy my book. Let me know.
Amazing, I almost stand on my head in Pilates, using the moves known as short spine and long spine. Not nearly as hard as what you are regularly doing. Fab post! And thank you so for subscribing and writing back to me with your lovely reply to my Welcome Letter. I can't wait to read more about you here and in the interview with Debbie Weil!
Wow! Congrats!! I used to do the shoulder stand, but haven’t done it in years. You inspired me, I’m going to start again! What you’re doing looks a little different from, and more difficult than, the shoulder stand the way I learned it. Kudos!!!
What I am doing is headstand, not shoulder stand. I don't know if it is more difficult, but you need to be very strong before attempting it, as you are essentially using your arm and back muscles (as well as your neck) to carry your weight. I don't do shoulder stand any more because I was told it was bad for my neck. Doing any yoga is good. Good luck!
Do be VERY careful if you are trying headstands. I don't want to be responsible for anyone breaking their neck!! You are supposed to cup your hands in an open fashion and put your head in them and just try that with your backside in the air without trying to go up for awhile. And definitely start against a wall. That goes without saying.
Oh London, sounds wonderful! I am out in the countryside in Marshall, Virginia. What a nice offer! - Let’s do it after I get back from a trip, right now I should get off Substack altogether because my best friend of 40 years in Cincinnati, Ohio isn’t in good health. I’ve got to get things taken care of here, and just get out there to her as soon as possible. (Just writing this gives me more oomph and impetus! Thank you!! Now I really will get off Substack altogether until I’m in Cincinnati! 🤗 thank you for the impetus ♥️
I took Iyengar yoga for a few years and never mustered the courage for a headstand. Our teacher used to say that being upside down “teaches you to keep your head when everyone around you is losing theirs.”
Never heard that one before. A lot of people are frightened of doing it, which I can understand, but I took to it like a duck to water. And it's really very easy, once you are strong enough. There are a lot of yoga poses that are positively painful, but this one just feels good.
Ann, I absolutely love this post and your demonstration of headstand. Like you I've been practicing, and teaching asana for over 30 years. While I don't practice headstand anymore due to a neck issue, I do turn upside down with handstand and forearm balance. It's all that you've described! Nice to be here in the space with you.
Just saw your comment to my comment on Office Hours. I immediately looked to your page, found this as the one I wanted to open, scrolled down to see how long it is (some of my early ones are so dang long) and saw the video instead. Brilliant. Love your tone and message.
Thanks. All my posts are short. (So am I, but that is completely irrelevant.). I want people to read them. And I am getting a slowly growing audience (from 25 family and friends last November to 400+ now). And I usually get 67% open rate. Maybe because of the limited frequency and the brevity. Or maybe I am brilliant, but I don't think so. Just thoughtful of my audience.
I think the combination of being brilliant and thought of your audience is the ticket. I've not been posting much. I will read more of yours and get myself going again! I do have 67% open rate as well.
No, I am not brilliant (not dim either) but I have been around the block a few times. Every writer should be thinking about their audience all the time - what do they know? what do they assume? how interested are they in what I am writing about? etc etc. There are some VERY good writers here on Substack @RobertReich @Garrison Keillor and numerous others, so I am pleased that anyone has time to read me as well. Perhaps I will put this comment (amended) onto Office Hours!
I'm well aware of so many and more coming all the time. I know that I have written things that are too long about people they never knew and knowing them in my words isn't an automatic at face value. Sometimes the most brilliant aren't the survivors because they carry a great burden with the gift. Not always, but often.
Well done for standing on your head, and doing it as though you are comfortable.
More than that, it was lovely to see a lady who is comfortable with herself. And more than okay with your age. That's refreshing. I like it. Keep standing upside down. I love your perspective.
Oh yes, Therese, I am very comfortable upside down. And yes, I am comfortable with myself. But it takes years to get there. Thank you and good luck to you.
I loved this post, Ann. I also have a grandma who's about your age, and I hope to learn a lot from your wisdom.
Thank you, Divya. I suspect most older people like myself are very reluctant to say they have 'wisdom' but we do have a lot of experience of life and people and it all adds up. Welcome to my Substack and I hope you also enjoy it.
@Francesca Bossert That was a wonderful informative article.
You spoke about standing on your head (inversion) which was very interesting because a few years ago I bought an Inversion table for my husband at the time but had to return it.
He enjoyed the inversion of his spine but experienced equalliberum issues followed by major migraines.
Which was very concerning. Of course, my suggestions to visit his doctor was immediately dismissed.
But he is doing fine though.
Thank you for sharing your amazingly written article.
Thanks, Ashley. My apologies for not replying sooner, but sometimes comments get lost in the shuffle. Standing on your head is not for everyone, but I love it. Very little in life is for everyone!! I'm glad your husband is OK.
I really enjoyed the reading and the watching. I have just hit 70 and somehow it felt more significant than any other birthday has. It feels like there just isn't enough time left if the next twenty years zip by as fast as the last, well - a bit daunting. Anyway, I have done yoga every day with Adriene (Find What Feels Good) online but just cannot do a headstand. try not to beat myself up about it. I'll be back to read more of your posts. Happy inversion!
Thank you. It is my daughter's 56th birthday today and she is worrying about the big 60. I think we all worry, but somewhere in my 70s, I realised that I actually LIKED being old and wrote a book about it, also called The Granny Who Stands on her Head.
When people ask me how I do what I do, I suggest they read Just Keep Going https://arichardson.substack.com/p/just-keep-going. I don't think I am remotely special in the exercising department (hated it when younger), but I am very persistent and I just keep going. I do yoga in person now and much prefer the energy you get from that, even though the travelling is time-consuming. Yes, time zips by. That's what time does, every day, every week. All we can do is enjoy every day as much as possible and try to forget that our time is getting shorter.
That's a wise advise. I would like to do yoga, but unfortunately I have a negatively twisted Lunch Syndrome. Which deteriorates my bone structure in a rapid pace. But I do have many how -to-do, yoga books.
This is lovely, Ann. Yes, both you and Paul McCartney have reached 80 and both, indeed, can still do a headstand! Well done.
I wish I could personally introduce you to every person I know!
I always say, age is a human concept.
Glad to have found you here.
Thanks so much. I will be 83 next month, so moving on upward. Still do headstands, though I think my writing is more interesting than my headstands. Do have a look around - I write about all sorts of things that will interest all ages, including emotional issues and, well, sex.
That’s fantastic!
I will do. Thanks Ann.
Hello Ann! I’ve come to visit from Mika’s find your tribe thread. Lovely to ‘meet’ you and love your start here post! I’m not off to read about the vulva and death. Great idea including some of your favourite posts in your intro 💛
Nice to meet you, too. Just followed.
Love it! I tried this (leaning against a wall) back when I was doing yoga every day but the weight on my skull was too painful to try again. Have you had any problem with that yourself?
Yes, from time to time and then it gets better. Another way to do it is by putting 6 foam blocks under each shoulder, head in-between. Then there is no pressure on your head or neck. But I would recommend doing other yoga first to get stronger, before trying it again. I am not a yoga expert - just a yoga doer (Iyengar) but I worry about anyone harming themselves trying these poses.
No worries, I haven’t done yoga in years and would need to start all over again before I could get anywhere near a headstand.
Actually, the pain isn't on my skull but on my neck. But, as I said, there are ways around it. I love the upside down feeling.
Love this! You are inspiring 💙
Thanks. So many people have said so that I am brewing (it's kind of the way I think about it, rather like a storm is brewing) a post about doing at 80 what other people do at 50 should NOT be so inspiring. But I appreciate your comment.
Thank you Ann. I so appreciate your post and demonstration. I am speaking on transitions for older women and this will be very helpful. Thank you.
Thank you. You might also like my book, which goes into more detail about why I like being old. And if you don't want to bother reading a whole book, my post https://arichardson.substack.com/p/all-my-future-is-behind-me covers some of the same territory. I hope your talk goes well.
Thank you
What a wonderful post! I’m going to send it to my mama who turns 86 on Thursday. I don’t think she will be trying a handstand because I had a catastrophic neck injury two and a half years ago doing things in a private yoga no hyper mobile 60 year old should have been doing and still suffer the consequences. But it looks like fun and you are amazing at it! I’ll have a look out for your book too, which sounds delightful! Xxx
I hope your mother likes it. I hope I will still be able to do a headstand at 86, but who knows? Carpe diem. I also hope you enjoy my book. Let me know.
Amazing, I almost stand on my head in Pilates, using the moves known as short spine and long spine. Not nearly as hard as what you are regularly doing. Fab post! And thank you so for subscribing and writing back to me with your lovely reply to my Welcome Letter. I can't wait to read more about you here and in the interview with Debbie Weil!
Thanks and thanks for the re-stack.
Wow! Congrats!! I used to do the shoulder stand, but haven’t done it in years. You inspired me, I’m going to start again! What you’re doing looks a little different from, and more difficult than, the shoulder stand the way I learned it. Kudos!!!
What I am doing is headstand, not shoulder stand. I don't know if it is more difficult, but you need to be very strong before attempting it, as you are essentially using your arm and back muscles (as well as your neck) to carry your weight. I don't do shoulder stand any more because I was told it was bad for my neck. Doing any yoga is good. Good luck!
Thank you! And I’ll try Diana’s technique in her comment, using the wall, at least initially.
Do be VERY careful if you are trying headstands. I don't want to be responsible for anyone breaking their neck!! You are supposed to cup your hands in an open fashion and put your head in them and just try that with your backside in the air without trying to go up for awhile. And definitely start against a wall. That goes without saying.
Thank you!
I could even try to show you via zoom if you wanted, Where are you? I am in London.
Oh London, sounds wonderful! I am out in the countryside in Marshall, Virginia. What a nice offer! - Let’s do it after I get back from a trip, right now I should get off Substack altogether because my best friend of 40 years in Cincinnati, Ohio isn’t in good health. I’ve got to get things taken care of here, and just get out there to her as soon as possible. (Just writing this gives me more oomph and impetus! Thank you!! Now I really will get off Substack altogether until I’m in Cincinnati! 🤗 thank you for the impetus ♥️
I took Iyengar yoga for a few years and never mustered the courage for a headstand. Our teacher used to say that being upside down “teaches you to keep your head when everyone around you is losing theirs.”
It is difficult to lose what one is standing on; so there’s that 😁.
Never heard that one before. A lot of people are frightened of doing it, which I can understand, but I took to it like a duck to water. And it's really very easy, once you are strong enough. There are a lot of yoga poses that are positively painful, but this one just feels good.
I feel the blood rush to my head and am instantly put off.
Ann, I absolutely love this post and your demonstration of headstand. Like you I've been practicing, and teaching asana for over 30 years. While I don't practice headstand anymore due to a neck issue, I do turn upside down with handstand and forearm balance. It's all that you've described! Nice to be here in the space with you.
Yoga is a wonderful practice! Impressed by your head stands!!
Just saw your comment to my comment on Office Hours. I immediately looked to your page, found this as the one I wanted to open, scrolled down to see how long it is (some of my early ones are so dang long) and saw the video instead. Brilliant. Love your tone and message.
Thanks. All my posts are short. (So am I, but that is completely irrelevant.). I want people to read them. And I am getting a slowly growing audience (from 25 family and friends last November to 400+ now). And I usually get 67% open rate. Maybe because of the limited frequency and the brevity. Or maybe I am brilliant, but I don't think so. Just thoughtful of my audience.
I think the combination of being brilliant and thought of your audience is the ticket. I've not been posting much. I will read more of yours and get myself going again! I do have 67% open rate as well.
No, I am not brilliant (not dim either) but I have been around the block a few times. Every writer should be thinking about their audience all the time - what do they know? what do they assume? how interested are they in what I am writing about? etc etc. There are some VERY good writers here on Substack @RobertReich @Garrison Keillor and numerous others, so I am pleased that anyone has time to read me as well. Perhaps I will put this comment (amended) onto Office Hours!
I'm well aware of so many and more coming all the time. I know that I have written things that are too long about people they never knew and knowing them in my words isn't an automatic at face value. Sometimes the most brilliant aren't the survivors because they carry a great burden with the gift. Not always, but often.