Is balance an illusion?

Some seem to think so. And though I’ll grant you that the natural state of the universe is flux – ebb and flow – that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be mindful of the equilibrium status of our lives.

Here’s my take on it: If you hope to sustain anything, you have to strive to strike a balance.

The key here is “to strive.” You certainly won’t always be balanced, and your priorities may shift at different moments, but not being negligent about other important areas of your life, is essential.

Perhaps finding balance in life is akin to getting the oil changed in your car. You know that you’re going to have to tend to it here and there, and you expect it, so you’re never caught blindsighted. (And certainly if you fail to change your oil, your vehicle is just not going to run optimally, or sometimes, at all. I speak from experience here. ??‍♀️)

Whatever it is you do in life – be it a 9-5 job, full-time parenting, a rockstar career, or even all of the above somehow – you will benefit from striving to find balance. Burning the candle at both ends may work on the short-term, but on the long term it can lead to burnout.

Instead, tend to the fire of life by adding kindling as you go… whether that’s in the form of a yoga class, a phone call to a loved one, or even giving your two weeks’ notice when necessary.

Today’s yoga practice is, yes, all about physical balance. But is it?

In fact, one of my favorite things about yoga is that it’s not just about the physical. Yoga fosters mental calm, discipline, and relaxation, in addition to building strength and flexibility. As we seek to find balance in one aspect, in my experience, it starts to affect the rest of the “whole.”

As such, today’s yoga practice may be a metaphor for life. There are many challenging postures in this practice, and you very well might fall out of them… but just get back in. Try again. Seek balance, but don’t always expect it.

I truly hope that you enjoy this yoga practice and that it contributes to all kinds of personal equilibrium.

Can we ever achieve perfect balance? Surely not. Balance is a dance, and it’s fleeting and transitory. But maybe that’s part of the beauty of life – if it were all easy-peasy would it be worth it?

Have a beautiful weekend, friends. Would love to know your thoughts on this topic – and this practice – in the comments below.