Balance within balance

Our theme in yoga this week is balance. I selected this theme, as I typically do, at the beginning of the week depending on the energy I'm feeling and what’s going on in the world outside of me. This past weekend marked the summer solstice, the start of summer, and a full weekend of plans. As I was looking at my calendar Monday morning, I realized this upcoming week was also pretty full. It’s the summer energy! And I thought, what do I need more than anything right now? Balance. Balance between having fun, working on In The Flow, and focusing on my own wellbeing.

On the yoga mat, we practice balance in many different ways - from standing on our tippy toes, to being on one leg, to even arm balancing. The asana practice is filled with poses that challenge our physical stability. And the same goes for life. There are daily reminders of the balance between push and pull, going harder and backing off. The yoga mat is always a beautiful metaphor that helps us learn more about who we are and how we want to live.

So what is balance within balance? I think (and the yoga sutras back me up here) that balance is found in the space between effort and ease - the strength and the flow. The yoga sutra Sthira Sukham Asanam reminds us that the posture should be steady (sthira) and comfortable (sukha). Though this sutra directly refers to asana (physical posture), it’s widely understood to reflect a broader yogic principle: that all practice - and life - should be held with both grounded effort and gentle surrender. Balance is not static, but a dynamic interplay between holding and letting go, doing and being.

Think about ways you may be placing too much effort into something right now. Something that doesn’t feel sustainable, nurturing, or fulfilling. Something you’d like to feel more easeful, comfortable, and relaxing. On the flip side, think about where you’d like to put more effort - maybe a goal you have in mind, or something you enjoy that you’d like to give more attention to.

I offer these four journal questions to guide your reflection:

• Where do you feel called to put effort in your life right now?

• Where do you want to invite more ease into your life?

• What is currently getting in the way of creating more balance?

• If you felt truly balanced, what would it feel like in your body?

Summer is a beautiful time of year that calls us to take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days - and also to rest, recharge, and connect with nature and those around us. As you start your own summer, how can you create your own balance of effort and ease, on and off the yoga mat?

Want to go deeper? I’ve got you in two ways! Download my Life Audit for more clarity on your purpose and priorities. Receive a free week of online yoga, meditations, journaling, and reflections.