Blessings,
Here are some questions I am investigating this week. If anyone has any thoughts on these questions ? please share. I really look forward to learning from other people?s experiences and insights.
What is balance?
How do we achieve balance in our lives and in our practice?
What do we focus on while in asana to help us achieve balance?
How does balance help us on the Yogic Path?
Why is balance important?
What techniques can help us find balance?
Blessings Be?
Blessings,
Here are a few things I have found helpful when it comes to inviting balance in my practice:
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[li]Making sure to stretch both sides of the body. Whichever side is tighter, more sensitive, off kilter or otherwise less flexible than the other, I try to give it a little bit extra attention so as to balance it with the other side.
[/li][li]Making sure to do counter-poses and resting poses afterwards to feel the energy as it settles down and comes to a rest.
[/li][li]In-between stretching one side and the other I will rest a moment to feel the difference in energy between the two sides. After doing both sides I again rest for a moment to feel the awesomeness of balance!
[/li][li]Watching which side I start with, which foot I move first, what leg I put up while resting, what leg I put under when sitting, and so on. Once I recognize my unconscious pattern I then consciously choose to do the opposite. If I tend to rest my head to the left when on my belly before some asana, say, the Bow, then I intentionally rest my head to the right. At first this practice was very uncomfortable, but now it has become natural and very comfortable.
[/li][li]Standing in Mountain Pose I watch my energy as it swings from one side to the other or forward/backwards, or some other particular direction. By settling my energy down into my feet and making sure that all nine points of contact in each foot is present ? this practice really helps me work with and understand where I am off balance and what particular areas I need to work with in order to achieve balance.
[/li][li]When breathing I focus my attention on balancing the prana as it comes through the nostrils, into the lungs, and throughout the body. I will the energy to balance between each nostril, each lung, and each side of the body. While it is natural for one nostril to be more open than the other at any given time ? switching every few hours or so (nasal cycle) ? by willing the air to go equally between the nostrils, lungs, and body, I have found it drastically improves my ability to be balanced.
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Blessings Be?