Steadiness and ease - Key to balance in your life
What a trip 2020 has been so far, eh? I know that we are all striving in our own ways to navigate the uncertainty, changes and grief that this year has brought to us so far. This has brought up for me the challenge of balance.
With my clients both coaching clients and yoga students I’ve been working on the concept of steadiness and ease. The balance between the two concepts incorporated into your daily life can help guide you toward a more grounded sense toward the challenges that you meet along your path.
We strive and effort for steadiness, stability so much of the time. Whether it is in a physical practice such as yoga or weight lifting, or in parenting and maintaining healthy work relationships. At the same time we yearn for joy, comfort and happiness. The Sanskrit words for these two opposites are Sthira and Sukha. In all aspects of our lives it is important to balance Sthira and Sukha, creating a shared and connected practice. In yoga asanas for example we employ these concepts continually. The connection of the earth provides us with a strong, steady, stable, grounded and firmly rooted sense. Usually the parts of the body that are touching the earth are closest to the ground, are where we can “feel” Sthira the most. Whereas, Sukha is often experienced through those parts of the body further from the ground – such as raised arms in tree pose or your upstretched hand and fingertips in triangle pose. Off the mat and in our daily lives we tend to effort more seeking stability and strength. This can be tiring and so singularly focused. So, the question that comes up is how can we bring more comfort and joy, lightness to our daily lives (or yoga practice)? How can Sukha make an appearance to balance out our efforting? Sometimes a simple reset – a pause, a few deep breaths, or relaxing of your facial muscles – can do the trick. Often having the awareness of body sensations can help to release the effort and bring in more ease. Play around and find what helps you most!
While we wind down summer I challenge you to find balance and inner harmony during these last dog days of summer by incorporating more Sukha into your life. Go for more walks, sleep in late one morning a week, carve out time away from electronics and enjoy more meals with your family. Give yourself permission to bring balance and inner harmony into your life by cultivating both Sthira and Sukha.
By the way…I’ll be “appearing” on a podcast on Monday, August 24, 2020 at 11am PST. My host is Lorraine Beaman of Career Central and she will be interviewing me as we explore the benefits of refocusing in order to refresh yourself so that you may openly explore your path now and as we move away from summer! Here are the details – sit yourself down, put your ear phones in or connect your device to a speaker and listen in! If you join live you can ask questions! There will be a replay as well. I sure hope to “see” you Monday!!
https://www.voiceamerica.com/promo/episode/125135
Looking for individual or team coaching or one on one yoga? Contact me today for your free discovery call at focusedpath4life@gmail.com
Lisa