Finding Balance On and Off the Mat
New Time. New Place.
Lampin’ Yoga Miami has changed locations! All of our yoga classes will now take place at Lamar Louise Curry Park in Coral Gables, located at 2665 De Soto Blvd.As per the popular vote, we’re pushing class back an hour to 6:30 to catch the later sunset of the spring months. For the first week at our new spot, we’ll be working on balance, both on and off the mat. Balance goes much deeper than just holding Tree Pose. Read below for a breakdown on the ways we can seek balance both in our yoga asanas and in our day to day lives.
Tune inward.
We will never find total stillness when holding yoga postures. Our bodies are constantly making slight movements that throw us off. The key to finding stability in your posture is not to cease all movement, but rather to become aware of your body’s natural movements. For instance, let’s think about Tree Pose. When you feel your weight starting shifting inward, shift your weight back outward. When you feel yourself falling outward, shift your weight back in. Finding balance and stability requires effort and focus. The moment that we lose focus is the moment that we lose balance
While strength of the balance leg and ankle is required, staying stable in your postures requires even more mental strength. The mental strength to focus entirely on our posture, and center of stability. Once your mind starts to think about events not related to your mat, you’ll find yourself falling out to the side. The more you practice focusing your mind on the subtle movements and shifts of your body, the more you’ll notice that you’re able to bring yourself back to your center of stability. Just like anything, this requires tremendous practice. When you do fall, it is absolutely OK! Losing our balance is how we find our balance, so don’t be afraid to ride your edge and get wobbly!
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”-Alber EinsteinBalance is an infinite journey. Not a destination.
Both on and off the mat, balance is something we constantly seek but will never find. When holding a yoga pose, we are constantly working to bring our body back to the center of balance and our mind back onto the mat.
The same applies to our lives off the mat. Many of us struggle to find balance between work, a healthy social life, family, and our own hobbies. There will never be a time in your life when you spend a perfect amount of time in each subcategory of your life. Sometimes, you will be called to dedicate more time to work, such as when trying to save money. Sometimes, you’ll be called to lend emotional support to a family member. And sometimes, like during the lockdown, we’ll find ourselves with nothing but time to dedicate to our own hobbies and passions. Our center of balance in life is constantly changing, and there’s no way for us to stop it. Just like we practice becoming aware of our body’s subtle movements on the mat, practice becoming aware of the subtle changes in your environment. Once you become aware of the situation that you’re in, you’re able to act from a point of knowledge. By understanding better the conditions that you are in and the changes you are going through, you are able to validate your emotions and give yourself the space you need in the moment.
