IMPROVING BALANCE IN YOGA

People who are new to yoga, often struggle with balance.

There are some key points that might be useful to consider.

CALM MIND

I find that balancing poses are often a great mirror for our state of mind. If the mind is busy and distracted and already onto things that need be done after the class or other distracting thoughts, balancing becomes considerably harder.

In order for balance to occur the mind must quiet down. A helpful tool to calm the mind is to focus on the drishti or point of focus with the eyes. Usually for standing poses this is a point in front of you on the floor.

Focusing on the steady rhythm of breath, also helps to centre the attention.

Simply allow yourself to breathe and let go of thoughts.

STRONG FOUNDATION

Another useful reminder in any yoga pose is to work from a stable foundation. In standing balancing poses these are usually our feet.

Start by spreading the toes wide- yoga is all about enjoying the vast range of movement and space that the body naturally allows. Only that years of conditioning with tight clothes and shoes and hours of sitting in front of a desk has somewhat confined this. So let’s use these precious moments of yoga to reclaim the space that is naturally ours.

Spread the toes wide, even if using your hands to help it.

And then equally distribute the weight between the heels and the balls of the feet. In order to have a well-balanced foundation with your feet the arch should feel lifted and light. Keep the toes relaxed as you lift the arch. At the same time, press down the base of the big toe so that not too much weight is put onto the outer side of the foot.

PRACTICE

Last but not least the best way to improve balancing is practice.

Pattabhi Jois, the founder and Guruji of Ashtanga yoga always said that Ashtanga is 1% theory and 99% practise.

The more you practise the stronger the feet and legs become, the subtler is our awareness for the body and balance.

The primary series of Ashtanga yoga is called Yoga Cikitsā which can be translated as Yoga Therapy. It purifies and heals the body. The more we practise the more we will reap the benefits. Especially the standing poses are designed to practise equal balancing on the feet, lengthen the spine, open the chest and breathe properly.