Balancing Issue

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I had a very frustrating thing happen to me last night during my practice. I had a very difficult, if not nearly impossible time holding tree pose while balancing on my right leg. I am right side/hand dominant and just had to fight to keep myself steady on that leg. I was able to hold it very well when my left leg was the one I was balancing on. Does anyone have thoughts on that?

I have no idea why but I am going to concentrate on balance poses at some point during my practice this week and in particular, tree pose and warrior 3 as I noticed the same issue in that asana as well. I felt myself start to get very frustrated and I finally had to tell myself it takes time. I know that if I continue my practice and do balance poses in just a few times a week, I can regain my strength while balancing on my right leg for either pose. On a BIG plus side, my practice helped me drop 1.6 pounds this past week! Onward and upward!

#2

[QUOTE=reikihealer83;64288]I felt myself start to get very frustrated[/QUOTE]
There’s your key. Sounds to me like your poses are trying to help you with something.

#3

That would make sense maybe my balance both on and off the mat is what is missing. Thank you for your insight!

#4

If you were my student, I would have you feel that frustration in all its intensity. If it began to dissipate, I’d bring you back into the balancing pose to rekindle the feeling. Frustration is a powerful emotion and balancing poses are bringing it up for you – what a gift and opportunity! Something within is unintegrated. You’re not going to figure it out with your mind. You have to feel it. Your practice of yoga is giving you that opportunity.

#5

Oh I do feel the frustration lol. I am going to work my practice and I know I will get the balancing down both on and off the mat!

#6

The first thing you need to do is relax. There is a reason it’s called “practice”. Just remind yourself of that. The goal is not to do a perfect “whatever” (do be safe though in order to not injure yourself). You can push all you want with your mind but it really comes from within your body.

#7

[QUOTE=a.mi;64333]The first thing you need to do is relax. There is a reason it’s called “practice”. Just remind yourself of that. The goal is not to do a perfect “whatever” (do be safe though in order to not injure yourself). You can push all you want with your mind but it really comes from within your body.[/QUOTE]

a.mi,

Thank you for reminding me that this is a practice:) I think sometimes I forget that this is a journey and the end is NOT what to focus on but the journey and amazing feeling that a consistent practice can give me. I have gotten a bit better with my balance and have been working on it in every practice session since I have posted this topic and I have been practicing everyday so I am going to keep going at it. All I know is, I love my practice and feel so much better since I got back on the mat:D

#8

just breathe…

#9

[QUOTE=David;64293]If you were my student, I would have you feel that frustration in all its intensity. If it began to dissipate, I’d bring you back into the balancing pose to rekindle the feeling. Frustration is a powerful emotion and balancing poses are bringing it up for you – what a gift and opportunity! Something within is unintegrated. You’re not going to figure it out with your mind. You have to feel it. Your practice of yoga is giving you that opportunity.[/QUOTE]

Nice post, David!.. :slight_smile:

#10

Since the soul cannot experience frustration it is a manifestation of the ego. Imagine how you would handle the pose if you were merely doing it for your spirit with only the experience in mind - not the attachment to the doing or the bettering, or the achievement.

While I am a firm believe in addressing emotions that come up in the process of the practice, I do not place students in a position to experience anything other than joy. That can be an ideal but just as the perfect pose is being worked toward so to are we working toward joy in all things.

More pragmatically, balancing has three components; musculo-skeletal, respiratory, and mental. When these things work together in tandem we get the most juice from the practice of balancing. It is important however, to remember that it is called a “practice” for a very good reason.

#11

Thank you InnerAthlete! I have noticed that my balance poses have gotten better as of late thankfully. I do practice with a rug under my mat and am wondering if that may have had something to do with it. What do you think?