In a physical sense, it's often hard to find balance because we are either too cautious or not cautious enough. We are too risky, or maybe afraid of taking a risk. It's strange, because this is often tied to the make up of what we believe and what we believe we are. We train our minds with our experience, creating patterns of practice to become pathways in our brains and our lives.
Because of these patterns, stepping outside of our comfort zone and into balance is scary, creating a fight or flight response, or fear. Fear of death or dying, Patanjali says, even affects the wise. Testing our boundaries and becoming fearful or scared. It is then no surprise that we cannot find balance in our own lives, or in the physical postures we attempt on our mat.
I make no secret that I consider our asana practice to be training for life. Just as we need to learn the opposite of our habits, risking, or protecting, we need to apply the same tools to our lives. This is something that I've begun to work more and more with as I balance my work life and my passion. It's a struggle I think most of us are trying to overcome. Finding work-life-balance, spending more time with our loved ones, or taking the opportunity to just enjoy our lives is often pushed to the back burner because were too afraid we won't make enough money, will disappoint others, or maybe disappoint ourselves.
These fears become one more block to finding a true selves, and realizing our life's potential. In the spirit of self-study, I encourage you to look deeply into your own habits and see if there's a point to balance in your own life. Take the step and enjoy the risk or the safeguard, even if it is scary.
For more information on my workshop, you can visit the Karuna Center for Yoga and Healing Arts website at www.karunayoga.com
Namaste!
