Why the Handstand?
by Dr. Watson Jordan
People ask why I incorporate handstands into my work. The quick answer is that we can either give people a fun reason to remember us or they’ll create a reason on their own, perhaps neither fun nor flattering. It’s easy to recall a team training when the facilitator does a handstand.
But it’s not just a quirky personal touch - for me, there’s a deeper significance in each handstand.
Often in my talks, I ask, “Where does hope live?”
The answer is, Hope lives in community.
I saw the first upclose handstand more than 10 years ago when I started practicing at Hot Yoga Asheville. In community, we see people doing inspiring things. We think, "If they can do it, maybe I can, too."
This flash of inspiration follows a learning style called "expert to novice," where we learn by watching someone doing something we aspire to and then asking them how they did it. I saw people doing handstands at yoga—just a few, but enough to spark my interest. I asked them how they did it, and over time, with suggestions and encouragement, I gained confidence and improved.
My handstand is still a work in progress, but it constantly reminds me of two germane lessons.
For me, the handstand became a tangible reminder of the hope and encouragement a community provides. It’s a reflection of how connection and support can help us achieve our goals, no matter how challenging they may appear.
Second, a handstand literally offers a shift in perspective. Upside down, the world looks quite different, and this altered viewpoint serves as a powerful metaphor. It’s a reminder that adjusting our perspective can transform our challenges into opportunities, and that a fresh outlook can turn a difficult day into a masterpiece.
So, why the handstand? It’s more than just a physical feat - it’s about standing out, staying hopeful, and always looking at things from a new angle.
To start … put your hands on the floor…
More about Dr. Watson Jordan
As a lifelong educator, Watson enjoys working with groups to tailor team experiences to their unique needs. The cornerstone of his programs is the 5 3 1 resilience plan, which focuses on our inner circle, community involvement, and identifying our core beliefs.
As an author, his work includes, ‘Mine, Ours, and Yours: A Father's Journey through the Life and Death of a Child’, a book that explores tragic despair and unearths hopeful resilience. Published in 2021, his book, ‘Resilience: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Made Us Wiser and Stronger’ is a collection of essays from global leaders who provide thoughtful and powerful insight into how adverse conditions do indeed drive us to become wiser and stronger.