As I write this it looks like the tropics in a monsoon outside, green, lush and very wet! What a contrast to the recent long dry days of heat and endless watering of plants. Nature however knows best and is just creating harmony through balance!

How about YOU? Do you feel in balance at the moment?
For me, one thing for sure during the last few months has been a sense of striving for balance while the ground continuously seems to shift beneath my feet. And that’s the thing about ‘balance’, it comes and goes depending on life, the surface we are standing on, the dynamics of the environment around us, and how we feel at any given time.

One day everything goes swimmingly, we feel we have both feet firmly planted on the ground, we feel in harmony and at ease with ourselves and those around us. Other days it only takes one small thing to knock us over and create havoc, dis-harmony and dis-ease!

That’s why we need to continously work and aim for balance everyday. Everyday is a new day in mind and body. We need to face each day, show up to our practice and start again. Practicing each and every day to bring our minds and bodies back to a feeling of peace and calm! Doesn’t that sound good!

So let’s start today by practicing the art of finding balance. Find a comfortable seat, place the palms of your hands together at the heart centre in Namaste mudra, sit in silence for a few minutes taking long & deep breathes. Allow your body and mind to settle, slow down and for a minute allow yourself to be fully present and attentive. Find an intention for your day and/or yoga practice and maybe extend gratitude to all the wonderful things you have in your life.

When you are ready with the hands together slowly extend the arms up above your head, part the hands and bring them back down by your sides saying out loud or to yourself “May I be happy”. Then bring your left hand straight up again above your head and lean over to your right, saying out loud or to yourself “May I be safe”. Bring that arm down and then do the same with the right arm, this time leaning over to your left saying “May I be free”. Bring the arm back down and then sweep both arms behind you, interlace your fingers and straighten your arms bowing slightly saying “May I be calm and peaceful’. Then bring the hands back together at the heart centre.
Bow your head to the earth,and when the time is right open your eyes and look out into the light!

This is a lovely sukhasana practice which you can do once or many times. The first round giving loving kindness to yourself and then on subsequent rounds you can extend it out to members of your family and friends etc. I find by doing this I balance myself with those around me! Try it and let me know how you get on!

Try a balancing breathing practice such as Box or square breathing today!

Life is a daily balancing act!

The poem below is by the great Buddhist philosopher JeTsongkhapa (1367-1419).

To keep in touch, please do respond to this email or you can join my Nia and ‘Yoga for All’ WhatsApp groups where I aim to post daily with photos, videos, music etc. It’s great fun and there is always lots to share so if you have the App and would like to join just let me know. All I need is your mobile number to add you to the groups.

May all beings be peaceful
May all beings be happy,
May all beings be safe
May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature
May all beings be free

Warm wishes,
Cheryl