One of the biggest fears I have for my upcoming solo caretaking stint is that Mom will fall again, breaking another arm, or worse. Dad can barely let her walk around, so great is his fear of this - and they don't even have a flight of stairs. I've got two, and need to figure out how I can get her safely down to her bedroom and shower, and make sure she doesn't go downstairs without me accompanying her. I fear she'll simply topple over a kids' gate. I wonder if a simple chest-high band or bar will be enough to remind her to ask me for help, if she wants to get down? Or will she simply try to go under it?
Meanwhile, I have the same kind of fears for myself, only they have to do with inversions in yoga class. I've always had a fear of being upside down, despite being able to turn a decent cartwheel. At the same time, those yogic handstands and forearm balances hold quite a bit of awe and fascination for me; they are the epitome of grace and fitness. Never mind that I am light years away from being able to do a basic headstand. (Confession: I've been subscribing to Yoga Journal for years without actually practicing yoga. I just liked looking at slim, beautiful people doing yoga. I call it 'yoga porn.')
In any case, at my most recent class, when I had managed to do this kind of upside-down egg headstand, with teacher Jennifer's help (am I supposed to call her 'yogi Jennifer?' Don't have the lingo down yet), she told the class afterward about her early upside-down fears, of cracking her wrist, or skull, or spine. Aha! I'm not the only one. Ergo, I must in theory be able to achieve a headstand, too, and conquer these fears of crashing and cracking. I learned that the headstand involves good balance on the crown of your head, plus adequate reliance on your arms, rather than on your neck muscles; you must also have enough strength in your core to get those plow-pushers -- I mean, legs -- up and over your head.
Three weeks until Mom comes. Can I conquer both fears before she gets here?
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