Why You Should Be Doing Balance Poses
The physical practice of yoga incorporates a lot of balance. Hearing the word ‘yoga’ might even immediately bring to mind the visual of someone on one foot, hands or their head. It might, at first take, appear showy, but there are actually many reasons why you should give balances a chance. Here are a few of my favorites:
01_Mind/Body Connection: balances require an open dialogue between your mind and body. The brain sets the intention for a movement, but it’s another story if the body is willing and able to follow through. As we practice balances, we strengthen the neural pathways that take us from idea to physical action. And unlike a passive stretch, balances keep that alert communication going as we consistently assess and readjust to hold ourselves as steady as possible in the pose.
02_Meaningful Strength: balances wake up *all* of the muscles and tendons in the working group, from the major players to the smaller supporters. Want to experience how that feels? Try standing on one foot and bringing your attention to that working foot and leg. You’ll begin to notice every muscle firing at some point to keep you stabilized - muscles you may not have even known you had! This creates more well-rounded, deeper strength, which is always a good thing for feeling your best.
03_Awareness: try dropping into an arm balance and then think about your to-do list for the day. It’s almost impossible. With all of the mind/body connections and muscle firings, we kind of go into overload in a good way. Meaning, we’re completely conscious of the present moment with not a lot of brain space to get distracted. With all of the competition for our attention during our day, it feels so good to set the mind to one task and be fully immersed in it.
04_Energetic Connection: as we practice balance physically, we literally begin to embody it as a personality characteristic. In yoga, we learn of the ida and pingala - the energy channels or nadis that flow and criss-cross throughout your body:
☀️Ida = right energy channel, right hemisphere of the brain, solar (masculine) energy, warm, stimulating
🌙Pingala = left energy channel, left hemisphere of the brain, lunar (feminine) energy, cool, nurturing
Balances help to stimulate and clear blockages along these pathways, creating harmony physically, mentally and emotionally.
05_They’re Fun: balances remind us not to take ourselves too seriously. When you fall out, laugh. Do a little dance. Keep it light and reconnect to your sense of play and experimentation. Allow yourself to tap into your inner child and embrace the silly. What’s the point of all of these wellness practices if we’re not enjoying ourselves?!
I hope this has inspired you to look at yogic balances in a new light, especially if they’re not your favorite type of poses. If you want some practice, give this little sequence a try during your next flow.