training wheels

It's been awhile since I've last wrote about my yoga practice. The posture above is supported headstand, or in sanskrit, salamba sirsasana. I attempted my first assisted headstand two weeks ago and was surprised by my experience. Being upside down generally creates a bit of fear in many of us since it's not our natural state. Prepping for this posture is tougher than the actual full expression. Initially I felt a lot of pressure on the crown of my head, but once I was relieved of my legs being on the ground and moved them above my head, I felt completely weightless, as though half of my body ceased to exist - a very cool feeling!
Last week I "went up" again, but this time I didn't feel my instructor directly behind me as both legs went up which left me in a moment of panick, kind of like realizing your dad is no longer holding onto the back of your bicycle seat for the first time. She caught me just as I'm sure I would have had a crash landing, and for a brief moment I realized maybe I could have sustained it on my own. Class is tonight. I eagerly anticipate removing my training wheels.