Finding Balance in Turbulence

This morning’s yoga practice was all about balance—a good 60 minutes of moving from one demanding balancing pose to the next. Completing this practice required rooting into my purpose and keeping a sharp mental focus, serene calmness, flowing movements, equilibrium, and equanimity.

It also required a lot of strength and flexibility.

While in this practice, I became aware of how these same qualities of groundedness, focus, calmness, equanimity, flexibility, and strength are necessary to maintaining balance in our day-to-day life.

We all hear others say they want balance in their lives. But what does that mean, really? Is “balance” about 8 hours working, 8 hours with friends and family, and 8 hours sleeping per day? Or does having balance in one’s life go deeper than that?

Applying the same qualities to achieving balance in our lives that enable us to enjoy balance on the yoga mat would mean that we know exactly who, what, and where we are in every breath. We live deliberately. We know exactly where we are going and what it will take to get there from where we are with a calm mind, strong body, and open heart. As we transition through the events of our lives, regardless of how challenging or turbulent they are, we first ensure that we have a firm foundation, keep our focus, and maintain an even blissful equilibrium.

I know that when I try to force or demand balance in life and on the yoga mat, I fall.

Balance, in its own way, is about understanding and controlling our power. It’s about finding the strength within ourselves to stay steady and overcome external forces that will try to knock us off center. The practice of balance teaches us to be the calm in the eye of the storm; so, as the winds of the world swirl around us, grounding, focusing, finding calmness and equanimity, flexibility, and inner strength will keep us firm in purpose and being.

And living with balance.