We all hear this and strive for balance, but what does that really mean to you?
In an ever changing world, we can feel off balance and tossed around by the goings on around us in an instant. Most of us are experiencing some kind of fatigue, cost of living pressure combined with global gloom, that our edge of balance might be feeling a little thinner.
Balance is a state of equilibrium or equipoise, or from Samkhya philosophy, known as the Sattvic state
Physically balance is an even distribution of weight or force
Psychologically, balance is steadiness of the mind, calmness and ability to be present
Emotionally, balance is the feeling of stability and clarity, accepting the ups and downs
In our lives, balance is the habit of calm behaviour, sound judgment, reason or perspective
I’m sure that you will agree with me, that the practice of yoga helps with all of this, our practice can become our ground, our centre to find our way back into balance, time and time again. Life is chaotic, the minds nature is to wander and balance doesn’t just happen by accident, it takes conscious attention and refined attunement to create a state of equanimity.
What is attunement?
Attunement was the early term adopted by practitioners of energy medicine, originally developed by Lloyd Arther Meeker and his colleagues. Meeker taught and practiced attunement as a central feature of his spiritual teachings. The practice of yoga helps us to attune to ourselves, each other and to something larger than ourselves (call it what you want, god, universe, love, light) it helps us to get out of the smallness of our minds and open to a more expansive state of awareness.
What does attunement look like with another?
Well if a baby was crying, an adult seeing the baby would recognise through attunement that the baby needs something, maybe the baby is hungry, the adult would then pick the child up to feed them. In adult relationships, relating through attunement might be knowing that “I’m fine” doesn’t actually mean that, and mindfully digs a little deeper into what’s going on beneath the surface. When we attune to another we allow or own internal state to shift to come into resonance with the internal state of another. This is what allows us to feel safe in relationship, to be felt, close and connected. To be in harmony or balance with one another. This attunement however requires boundaries, or that feeling of anothers internal state, can disrupt or own equilibrium and throw us off centre if we are not aware.
What is Sattva?
Sattva is one of the 3 Gunas or ‘modes of existence’ a philosophical and physiological concept by the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy of which everything and everyone consists, in different proportions. The 2 other states are Rajas and Tamas. Rajas is the state of activity, motion, energy or fire and passion. Tamas is the quality of lethargy, disorder, anxiety, negativity and ignorance.
Sattva is the quality of balance, harmony, constructive, creative, positive, peaceful, being-ness.
As we go through the day we find that we naturally shift from higher Rajas in the morning hours, Tamas often kicks in about 3pm as we ebb and flow through the day. We can help cultivate more Sattva through breath work, asana, meditation, diet and what we consume through our sense organs.
Physical balance
Standing on one leg can be one of the most humbling yet functionally helpful parts of asana practice. The great news is, if you wobble and feel like a fool, this is something that you can improve even as you age! By staying active and strengthening the core and lower-body muscles that help us stay steady on our feet, we can maintain our balance and help prevent falls. Balance is the ability to distribute weight in a way that will let us hold a steady position or move independently without falling. A great way to improve your balance is to stand on one foot (do both sides) as you brush your teeth. Habit stacking is the best way to improve at anything, as it doesn’t have to be a long time, it’s the regularity that will help more.
Also by helping your feet become more pliable, flexible, strong and supportive will help too. Getting out of your foot coffins (aka shoes) and going barefoot, spreading out your toes, strengthening the small intrinsic muscles in your feet and moving your toes independently will really help provide a broad, stable supportive base. Also working up the columns of the legs and building more core and glute strength, especially over 35yrs as your body starts to break down muscle faster than it can build it. Smaller weaker muscles are more susceptible to injury and we all know how physical injury or illness throws our whole system off balance!
Balance is a moving target
What brings you into a balanced state at one point in your life, will not at another point. It may have been easier to live out of balance before you became so aware! As you attune more and more, it might mean a more refine process is require to bring you to that Sattvic state. Remember that what ever works for you, might not work for someone else. This is your journey, only you can find your centre.
Try this deep core practice to help improve your balance