There was a time when Mount Everest was considered too tall to climb. Rising 30,000 feet out of the Himalayas, the mountain was thought to be unscalable. It was just too high and there was too little oxygen at the top. For years, even the most skilled mountaineers were wary and intimidated by its massive size. Many of the early expeditions ended in tragedy and death. Finally, in the year 1953, a brave New Zealander named Edmund Hillary did the impossible. He and his Sherpa guide Tenzig Norgay reached the summit of Everest. They cemented their names in the history books and proved the naysayers wrong.
On the North shore of Oahu, there are countless surf breaks of unparalleled quality. Dubbed the “Seven Mile Miracle,” this stretch of coastline is world-renowned for huge waves and perfect conditions. Over the course of the 1950’s, as surfing became popular in the islands, most of these spots were conquered. The lone break that remained unridden was called Pipeline. Even by Hawaiian standards it was dangerous. The reef at Pipeline is perilously close to shore, creating a gigantic wave that breaks in extremely shallow water. Much like Mount Everest, it dissuaded even the most talented surfers. In the year 1961, an ambitious young man named Phil Edwards paddled out at Pipeline, caught a wave, and safely rode it into shore. Once again, the impossible became reality.
As miraculous as climbing Mount Everest or surfing Pipeline may seem, I think they both pale in comparison to the wonder that is fried ice cream. I have no idea how it is possible to fry ice cream. I just know that it is delicious. Especially at a Mexican restaurant on a hot summer evening after a few margaritas, but I digress.
Getting back to other things that are considered impossible. When I teach Yoga and offer arm balances in my classes, people get scared. They immediately assume that such postures are impossible for them. Despite my encouraging words, thorough instructions, and visual demonstrations, many students are hesitant to attempt arm balances. They either conclude that they lack the requisite upper body strength, or they worry that falling is going to cause injury. Both of those concerns however are false.
While upper body strength does help with arm balances, it is not nearly as important as proper alignment. The key is to get the underlying geometry correct. If you create the right foundation, the pose will follow. The universal thread that connects all arm balances are bent elbows. In the Chaturanga arm position, the elbows are bent at a right angle, the forearms are perpendicular to the earth, the upper arms are parallel or slightly angled, and the palms are spread into the ground. This particular arm and hand placement allows for an even distribution of weight. No matter what arm balance you are attempting, having Chaturanga arms is going to be the key to your success.
The other false assumption with arm balances is the danger in falling. Take it from someone who has fallen out of every arm balance on multiple occasions. While it can be humbling and a bit uncomfortable, rarely does it cause injury. The fact of the matter is that all arm balances are done fairly close to the ground. It just seems like you are frighteningly high up when you are in a pose like crow or crane and there is nothing between your face and the earth. In reality, your nose is only a few inches away from the mat. However if you are not used to it, that short distance can feel like hundreds of feet. There is a psychological hurdle involved in any arm balance. Again, it has nothing to do with physical strength or even flexibility. It’s all mental. You just have to convince yourself that everything is going to be fine despite the fact that you are using your arms to support your body weight in a manner that feels completely unnatural at first. It takes some time and practice, but you will eventually get there.
The next time you are on the mat and challenged with a seemingly impossible arm balance, just think about Mount Everest or Pipeline or fried ice cream. Everything is impossible until someone does it.
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