Today in class we discussed meeting yourself where you are at.
Once you accept that you are starting from where you are at, at this very moment, your steps toward whatever your goal is can begin. Today we are talking about meeting yourself where you're at in the context of balance. In all of the yoga classes I have taught, it can be something people struggle with both on the surface and on a deeper level. We come to class often as a new practitioner expecting to be 'already there,' to be able to hold a balance pose, to have a perfectly balanced life. But often, we get discouraged because we are unwilling to be kind to ourselves, to stop expecting so much from our bodies, to allow ourselves the freedom to find the balance over time.
“But here’s the deal, sweet stranger. You deserve to be the protagonist of your own wonderful, bizarre, terrifying little life. If you decide you are enough, you are enough. You don’t need to wait for some grand external validation of your worth before you offer your kindest heart to yourself. – Kathy Brown.”
So here are some steps to help you create better balance in your practice.
1. Stop worrying about what others think.
Your drishti is your focused gaze. In the physical sense, if you are looking around you during a class and worrying about what others think of your pose, it is very easy to lose your set gaze and lose your balance. We cultivate our drishti by looking at one steady point during our pose. Beyond the physical, drishti is used as a means of developing concentration. It can help to enhance focus during times of meditation or simply as you go through the day.
2. Practice Grounding
When we attempt a standing balance pose, I often ask practitioners in my classes really work to ground their feet, first lifting their toes and slowly lowering them one at a time. If you focus on the connection between yourself, your feet, your mat, and the earth beneath you, that 'grounding' practice will allow you to come into the balance pose with more ease. Similarly, the idea of finding that connection between yourself and your mat, your place in the world, your home, your community, will help you find a sense of balance in your life.
3. Turn your gaze within.
This tip again focuses on your drishti. When you feel like it is safe to do so, maybe in a seated pose or meditative pose, practice closing your eyes. This will allow you to have greater awareness of your body in space. At the same time, this will allow you to reduce outside distractions and change your focus to your breath, a mantra, or your meditation. Over time, you may begin to notice changes in your ability to focus your gaze when your eyes are open, and to focus yourself. You can try this focus exercise even during work for a minute or two at a time.
4. Take care of and nurture yourself.
Your body needs rest, nutrients, and water to perform at its best. Be sure to give yourself rest when you need it, nutrients, and hydration. This may seem obvious but in the western culture, it is something we struggle with. regularly. We tend to push our bodies beyond our limitations and quickly become impatient. Simply nurturing yourself with steps such as maintaining a bed time, trying to eat nutrients, and hydrating, can help give you energy throughout your day. It might feel like a lot to tackle all at once so try starting with setting a bedtime, or routine before you go to bed, to help you sleep better or try eating one meal a day consisting of whole foods. You may find that one step toward this self care will leave you feeling more balanced and lead to an overall more balanced life.
5. Be consistent.
Show up for class whether you feel like it or not. Stay in a seated meditation or child's pose the entire time if you need to. Those times when we feel like we cannot go to class are usually the times our bodies and minds need it the most. Over time, the physical balance will improve simply by practicing and even if it is not noticeable at first. Every time you come to class, your muscles are working to remember the poses and the stability in those poses. Through setting aside a time for class, whether its daily or weekly, you may find yourself beginning to build balance into your life and creating healthy habits rather than just thinking about them.
(#drishti #balance #balancetips #meditation #yogagaze #consistency #yogablog #createbalance #selfcare #selflove #positivity #yogaclasses #yogaonline #positivequotes)
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