5 tips for improving balance in yoga
The concept of balance in yoga often means many things. Our physical yoga practice is especially good for challenging our balance because it teaches us to hold poses while supporting our own body weight. When we hear the word “balance” in yoga, it’s not uncommon to associate this with balancing on one leg like in Half Moon pose, or standing on our hands in Handstand. Whilst this provides a good gateway into the act of balancing, it forms part of a larger meaning within the yoga discipline.
Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or beginning your journey, the act of balancing is challenging, largely because it’s ever-changing. But, that’s also part of the discipline, learning to adapt to changing situations, we’re all trying our best. These top tips can help you form a broader picture of balance as they apply to your yoga practice.
5 tips to improve your balance in yoga
Steady gaze, steady breath. It might seem like a no brainer, but a wandering eye often leads the body to follow in that direction, ie: to fall! Similarly, when we’re faced with challenging balance poses, the breath can get a little choppy. Maintaining a steady gaze and even breath can be useful tools in focussing our efforts to the task at hand.
Embrace movement. If you’ve ever glanced down at your standing foot in Warrior 3 pose, you’ll know there is a hive of movement that responds to the action of balancing on one leg. Balance is not fixed or static, rather is dynamic and embodies movement and is ever changing. The work is in learning to be present in those moments of constant change.
Expand your sensibilities. As yoga practitioners, it’s important to broaden our perspective so when we refer to the term “balance”, we’re not just talking about standing on one leg, hand or arm. Rather, we’re also talking about spreading the attention and the effort evenly throughout the body and mind as we experience a pose. This helps to facilitate a sense of clarity, managing challenges with an open heart and open mind.
Create diversity. If all we practice are the poses that we enjoy or those we are more proficient in, invariably there becomes an imbalance. Take for example Chaturanga (or “Vinyasa). If you’re go to transition is Updog into Downdog, try diversity your backbends to include Cobra or Locust. This helps to bring balance into our backbends, creating a sustainable practice for our spine and body.
Take your time. If the thought of balancing on one leg has you rushing into the pose to get it over and done with, it’s helpful to take a step back. The ability to transition slowly and mindfully through the act of balancing in yoga can help develop mental resilience and acuity. The quality of patience can bring us into a sense of grounding, helping to soften a cluttered or stressed mind.