Inversions don’t have to be intimidating, flashy, or reserved for advanced students. In this episode, I break down the three pillars of teaching inversions and share how to approach being upside down with structure, progression, and nervous system awareness. If you’ve ever felt unsure about when, how, or why to teach inversions, this framework will bring clarity and confidence to your teaching.

Episode Highlights:

• Why inversions were traditionally practiced as tools for regulation, not performance.
• How modern yoga culture has distorted our understanding of being upside down.
• What actually qualifies as an inversion, beyond handstands and headstands.
• The difference between mild, moderate, and intermediate inversions.
• Personal reflections on unlearning unsafe inversion habits.
• Pillar One: Structure before shape
• Pillar Two: Progression before performance
• Pillar Three: Nervous system literacy
• Situations where inversions may not be appropriate to teach.
• Where inversions fit best within a well-sequenced class.
• How inversions cultivate humility, discernment, and emotional awareness.
• Why the deepest impact of inversions is internal, not physical.

Waitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Sequence Smarter – The Living Body of Asana
For teachers living in India, reach out to Janessa at admin@ahamyoga.com for special local pricing
Join our mailing list
Find all the resources mentioned in this episode
Connect with us on Instagram