Finding balance – no matter what kind of balance it is: emotionally, figuratively, financially, physically - can be a difficult task. There are complete self-help courses on finding the work/life balance, on balancing your relationships, balancing your finances.
One of the major draws for people interested in yoga is learning how to balance – both balancing on one foot (or one hand!) but also finding the balance in your own life to avoid stress. Personally, yoga has helped me greatly in this way: balancing my emotions (not as quick to anger or sadness), as well as feeling more stability as I physically walk through the world.
Louise instructs Alecia in natarajasana - "king dancer pose"
The Balance sequences of yoga asanas can be some of the most challenging of any yoga pose. It is true that some days really are better than others. One day, it may be quite simple to stand on one foot and raise your arms overhead, but the next day may bring a completely different feeling. Both internal and external factors play in to your sense of balance: how much sleep you got the night before, what you eat, your stress level, your hormonal and/or blood sugar levels. When I was at my lowest point last year with Lyme disease, I struggled very much with balance. Lyme challenges your balance alone, but when you introduce new medications and chemicals in to the body, there is an even greater chance of imbalance. It took many months of practice to get back to the point where I felt comfortable doing balance poses. The real lesson for me was finding an internal balance, and letting that shine through to the outside. Plus, a good dose of self-understading, and just realizing that it did NOT mean I was doomed to be sick forever if I could not balance on one foot.
The focus of this month’s Yoga Teacher Training was on balance poses and hip openers – two classes of yoga asanas that are very challenging physically, but that also have emotional and psychological ties. Like balance poses, hip openers – any pose that internally or externally rotates the hip muscles – can bring up deep seated emotions and feelings. The hips, being attached to the base of the spine, have a direct connection up to the brain. Hip openers are some of my favorite poses, personally, because they are the ones that truly make me feel different after finishing them.
Hannah and I doing a partner variation on Eka Pada Rajakapotasana - "One Legged King Pigeon Pose"
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Standing on one leg while washing dishes, or brushing your teeth. Make sure to also switch to the other leg so that you do both sides!
Using a drishti - a point of focus and concentration - is key in balance poses
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Finding a drishti, or a point of intense focus, is one of the keys to finding freedom and expansion in balance poses. In standing balances, your drishti point is often looking out over the horizon at a fixed point. Do not choose something that moves (like your reflection in a mirror) as this will cause imbalance.
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A high lunge is both a hip opener AND a balance pose. You can start out with your legs closer and slowly widen your stance. For more stability, you can also place your back heel on a wall and still get the benefit of the pose.
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Vrksasana, or tree pose, is probably one of the most recognizable yoga poses. It also serves as both a balance pose and a small hip opener. You can also place your foot at your calf, and you can perform this standing next to a wall, in case you feel the least bit wobbly.
What a great post!
I want to go to yoga class right now…
She’s not ready for it now, but I wonder if yoga would help my youngest’s hips. They’re stubbornly resisting treatment, and we’d love to avoid surgery if possible. Hmmmm … something to look into.
As I’ve told you before, please sign me up for your first yoga retreat!
I love the hip openers too! Also twists. And triangle pose is my absolute favorite (and my husband’s least favorite…i think he enjoys the warrior poses most). It leaves me feeling awesome. I missed my class last night but you’ve inspired me to make sure I do my practice at home this evening.
Fantastic post Lolly! These are some of my favourite poses to do!
Thank you for continuing to update on your journey with yoga! It is a wonderful reminder to me to get back to the mat.
I miss my yoga classes so much. I really should work on a solid home practice until I can get back to taking classes again.
Thanks for all your great info about your yoga training. It really is inspirational to read and “watch” you go through this learning process. and every time I come here I totally want to find a quiet spot and work on some poses.
I also feel the most emotional change in my body after doing hip openers, and love the challenge of balance poses. This is such a great post about the benefits of both, and thanks for the tips on working them into every day life!
I’m so impressed by your inner strength. I’ve just started practicing yoga (still somewhat sporadically), and it really helps me to read about it…thanks for sharing your experience…best, Jenny
Outstanding post from a yoga neophyte. I actually and shamefully gave up when everyone around me was younger and thinner. How silly!
This is all so interesting to me! I’ve never done yoga and I’ve never known anyone who did, so I’m definitely on the outside looking in. I’m so impressed with your flexibility! I could definitely benefit from this.
I love the tree pose! It really makes me feel different afterwards—it’s so empowering. Thanks for all the wonderful information!
this is a neat post, dude. thanks!
I have tried yoga for a while and stopped.
Perhaps it’s time for me to get back to it!
I’m just back from a writer’s retreat, and we had a yoga class every day during that week-long retreat. I had been wanting to try yoga for a long time, but never got around to doing it, so that was my first time. We had a wonderful teacher, which helped a lot. I loved it! Considering that was my first time doing yoga, I truly was amazed at seeing all that my body could do. It was a great feeling!
I’m so thankful that you have published another article on yoga.
You write so well.
Tally
Hi Lolly,
I just found your blog while browsing ravelry. As I surfed around, I thought hmmmm….her husband looks familiar. Then it struck me. I have been reading your husband’s blog for over a year now! I keep planted tanks *and* I knit. How about that! (I have also had lyme disease, too, but my situation was quite uncomplicated and easily treated.)
Anyway, just wanted to say that I like your blog. Happy knitting!
Kelley
I love that picture of your doing the “One Legged King Pigeon Pose”! I could’ve sworn I saw a pigeon doing the same thing the other day!
Thanks for the tips! I’ve just begun getting into yoga and it’s a little bit daunting, but so worth it.
I really like your site. I have had trouble losing the weight recently. It was all so easy at the beginning when the weight was rolling off. But things have slowed down a bit.
Your site has renewed my courage to struggle on down that happy road of merky weight loss.
Finding balance has hit the spot! Yes, that’s what it’s all about. Balance in weight! Balance in emotions!
Thnaks for being you
I read this post back when you first wrote it, and then tonight while I was washing the dishes it came back to me. Amidst the many recent changes in my life, I really need to find a balance. Especially this week, as my husband’s work hours have just drastically changed and I find my evenings very … different. I stood on one leg while I washed my dishes as I thought about finding a new (calming!) rhythm and balance for my days. Thanks for writing a post that stuck with me
the short – can you recommend some yoga CDs for home practice?
the long – Hey, I live in Ireland, just went to yoga for the first time in over 15 months (since the last pregnancy yoga session!) and enjoyed it so much! I remember thinking that it was the first time since the birth of my baby nearly 15 months ago that i felt really relaxed and centered and not worrying about anything but inhaling and exhaling! It’s true, having a baby makes you just put yourself last, if you’re not careful!
Anyhow, I signed up for a 10 week course on monday evenings, and if money wasn’t so tight i’d be tempted to do a second course, on friday mornings. I spent the evening looking into different classes in my area, and reading through many of your yoga posts in your blog (because your blog was the first that came to mind when i sat down to read about yoga!!) and I noticed you mentioned that you use CDs or DVDs for home practice! I’m determined to practise at home during the week, to make the most of my monday class, I’ll just have to leave the dishes be dishes when my little one has her nap! I think an audio CD would be ideal for me as it would keep me focused! I don’t know why I’ve never thought of it before, I’ve done yoga classes before, but my home practice never really took off, as I never got advanced enough to know how to do the asanas without looking at a book, and which one would be good to do next… if you could recommend some CDs for me I’d be ever so grateful!
I think I felt the calm and relaxation so much more this time, because before I’d had the baby I never felt too stressed out, and I always walked several miles a day, and while I enjoyed going to yoga, I always had so many other things to do as well! Now for the first time in years I’d have the time and space to practice at lunchtime.
As for my knitting, I think I might try some yoga socks when i’ve finished M’s little dress!
Anyhow, I better go… keep blogging, your posts are really inspirational, be they on knitting, yoga, photography, cooking, travel, you always write with passion!