Yoga for Better Balance
This photo is from my fundraising walk in Cornwall for The Pink Place and the amazing work they do. I’ll provide a full update soon about my walk from Marazion to Coverack!
Balance comes when we learn to embrace both steadiness and calm.
Finding balance is part of life, in our work, personal lives and the importance of balance in our physical body. Recent research shows adults aged 65 and older often experience falls each year leading to injuries. Yoga practice has become increasingly important as we age, making it an excellent preventative practice. I teach balancing postures in all classes to build both physical strength and mental focus beyond the mat.
I have put together 6 tips to help you improve and maintain balance in our yoga practice.
Start from the ground up in every balancing posture. Aligning the feet, legs, upper body and arms are your foundation to all yoga postures. Rooting down and pressing into the corners of your feet and extending up through the crown of the head. There is a real sense of stability being supported by the earth and lifting towards the sky.
Find your “looking place” also known as your Drishti or focal point. Choose something that will keep your gaze fixed. Keeping your gaze focused on the ground allows the brain to feel protected and anchors your attention and balance.
Take your time, be patient and let go of any frustrations. Embrace the wobbles and falls as these are part of life that give us valuable insight which help the body to learn. Come into a balancing pose with patience and awareness with support from any props. Props are training tools that help to develop proper alignment before progressing.
Activate abdominal muscles before and during poses. A strong core serves as your body’s centre of gravity and it is important to bring awareness to the centre line of the body. This brings awareness to weight distribution in your balancing posture.
Breathe mindfully with calm and steadiness which can help you to stay stable in your balance. The better you are able to focus or use the breath as an anchor, the easier it will become to get balance in your yoga poses.
Practice consistently and don’t be afraid of balances. Remember everyone has to start from somewhere and this can only be achieved from a regular practice. If you fall out of your balance pose one day, try again the next day, and the next; this is where the magic happens!
“Balance is he key to everything. What we do, think, say, eat, feel, they all require awareness, and through this awareness we can grow.” _ Koi Fresco
If you would like to learn more or join one of my classes, then please get in touch
by email nina@yogasansaar.co.uk or simply book a class online.
