Theme of the month – balance

Every time I was in Perth, I would drive the hour from the city to that studio for the 6am weekday classes to be taught by her.

Once a week she would always teach a balancing class and it was pretty hardcore – sun sals would break up the different standing balances and then the end of the class would be three balancing inversions. There was no talk of sitting anything out, you just got on with it and she encouraged you when she saw fear holding you back.

At the end of this balancing class one week I told her how much I loved that class and would be mind if I replicated it and taught it to my students in Brisbane. She said ‘teach it around the globe but tell them where you learnt it’ and so this morning I taught that very class to the students at FYS.

The reason she taught that same class once a week every week was because she said we all needed more balance in our lives and by learning to physically balance, we brought a sense of focus into the mind which ultimately brings a sense of balance to our whole being.

She wasn’t wrong.

Stress is the illness of our age and especially here in the west. How often do you ask a friend how they are and they will reply ‘so busy’ (read stressed), how often do you put pressure on yourself to achieve more, work harder, find your purpose….how many people do you know who suffer from anxiety and who worry themselves awake most nights…

Finding balance is a cliche in the yoga world but it’s also one of the most important things we can do for our wellbeing. My idea of balance will be different to yours, it’s important that we don’t preach at one another for living the way we want to live.

For example I like being active and engaged, I enjoy challenges and new projects (this is the pitta in me for my ayurveda loving friends) and I enjoy juggling my balls in the air, it excites me and keeps me focused. So when people kept telling me that breaking my ankle was the universe telling me to slow down it made me want to scream. It wasn’t the universe telling me to slow down, it was a bad jump on a friggin trampoline.

However I know when I overdo it and when the balls become too much and I feel overwhelmed and thats when I have to find my way back to my balance. Yours will look different.