Recently, my world is turning upside down every morning at 6am. It all began when my niece Dena came to visit us here in Italy from Atlanta a few weeks ago. Upon learning that Dena is a black belt in Karate, my neighbor Charles, a Kung Fu teacher, invited her to give a demonstration of her practice.
As I watched my gentle, petite niece stamping and screaming like a fierce roaring tiger across Charles’ porch, I realized something profound. My yoga practice, which has been my anchor for 3 decades, needs an upgrade. In today’s world—where uncertainty reigns and democracy feels fragile—I need to ramp up my warrior within. As much as I abhor fighting, I cannot be afraid to fight for what I truly believe in, and that’s peace.
So, at 6am every day of the week, Charles appears to help me roll, cartwheel, handstand and punch my way to a new level of unapologetic power. These upside-down moves shake me up, challenge my sense of self, and—surprisingly—are liberating. Which is why I want to share this with you.
Why Upside Down Matters Now
Inversions—handstands, headstands, cartwheels, somersaults—mirror the disorientation we are all feeling. When you’re upside down, the usual rules don’t apply. There’s no past or future, only the present moment. You meet yourself anew, stripped of distraction, forced into presence.
As I share in Embody: The Power of Presence in an Age of Distraction, the body is the gateway to stability in chaos. To move upside down, you must be centered. This connection to your core gives you a stability that words can’t capture. You become, quite literally, the center of your own universe.
What Inversion Gives You
- Groundedness in Uncertainty: In a world that feels unpredictable, inversion teaches you to anchor within, rather than relying on shifting external circumstances.
- Fresh Perspective: Seeing the world from a new angle rewires your perception, freeing you from old habits and opening you to creative solutions.
- Core Strength and Confidence: Upside-down moves awaken your core—the seat of stability, power, and self-trust.
- Embodied Presence: Inversions demand your full attention. They pull you out of your head and into your body, cultivating the presence we so desperately need in an age of distraction.
Body Intelligence (BQ): Your Inner Compass
This journey has inspired my ongoing work on Body Intelligence (BQ)—the third intelligence, alongside IQ and EQ. BQ is about knowing and trusting your body’s wisdom. When the world outside is uncertain, your body’s intelligence becomes your compass, guiding you back to stability, clarity, and action.
In a time when AI and technology can easily overwhelm us, mastering our own embodied intelligence is essential. We must master ourselves before we can master the tools around us.
A Final Word of Encouragement
If you, too, feel the world is upside down, I encourage you to try turning yourself upside down—literally and/or metaphorically. Challenge your body, shake up your routine, and discover the stability that lives within your core. Growth is found not in avoiding discomfort, but in meeting it with curiosity and courage.
With love, Andrena