Creating Balance in Life Through Yoga Without doing a Single Tree Pose
Balance is an essential component of a healthy and fulfilling life. In today's fast-paced world, finding the right balance between rest and activity can be challenging. However, with the practice of yoga, it is possible to create a more balanced and fulfilling life.
I know, I know, adding yoga to your daily life seems like it’s another thing to add to an already busy to-do list. Believe me, I do know because I am currently practicing yoga every day for 365 days. But, there is much more to yoga than physical practice In this article, I will explore how the Yamas, the first limb of yoga, can help you achieve balance in your life.
The Yamas - the first limb of yoga
The Yamas are ethical guidelines that form the foundation of yoga philosophy. The Yamas focus on how we relate to the world around us.
Ahimsa: Non-Violence
The first Yama is Ahimsa, which means non-violence or non-harming. This principle encourages us to treat ourselves and others with kindness and compassion. When we practice Ahimsa, we create a peaceful and harmonious environment that fosters balance. This is the yama I am practicing when I choose to not do physical practice because I am tired or too busy. This is also the one that’s behind my push for body love, respect, and acceptance.
Satya: Truthfulness
The second Yama is Satya, which means truthfulness. Satya encourages us to be honest with ourselves and others. By being truthful, we avoid creating imbalances in our lives that can arise from deception and dishonesty. One of my favourite examples is from a health coaching client from a few years ago. She was feeling frustrated with her family because they kept dumping bags and papers on her kitchen counter. She wanted this to be a clean and pristine area of the house but her family was disrespecting that wish. I asked her if she’d told them how she was feeling. She said she hadn’t. I wondered out loud, “How are they supposed to know it’s upsetting you?” She spoke to them and even now years later, it’s not perfect, but it’s much better and she feels a lot less stress.
Asteya: Non-Stealing
The third Yama is Asteya, which means non-stealing. Asteya encourages us to be content with what we have and not to take more than we need. Practicing Asteya creates a sense of abundance in our lives that promotes balance. This can feel hard especially if finances are tight. One way to practice Asteya is to start a gratitude journal. Each day, aim to write down 3-5 reasons you feel grateful. It might feel hard to start with, but keep going because it gets easier, and more rewarding with time.
Brahmacharya: Self-Control
The fourth Yama is Brahmacharya, which means self-control. Brahmacharya encourages us to use our energy wisely and to avoid excessive indulgence. By practicing Brahmacharya, we can conserve our energy and use it to achieve balance in our lives. The first thing that comes to mind here is learning to delegate. I’ve heard clients tell me they don’t delegate home-care tasks because they won’t be done as well by someone else. Notice how that is making the person who won’t delegate use more energy than they need to. You could also argue that it’s a little self-indulgent because it allows that person to be a martyr.
Aparigraha: Non-Attachment
The fifth Yama is Aparigraha, which means non-attachment or non-greediness. Aparigraha encourages us to let go of attachment to material possessions and to focus on what truly matters. By practicing Aparigraha, we can find balance in our lives and avoid becoming overwhelmed by the pursuit of material possessions. My absolute favourite story about Aparigraha is not about material possessions, but about love. It was told by my teacher Jivana Heyman, founder of Accessible Yoga. He said there was a woman who was deciding to become a monk and worried about still having an attachment to her grown children. She was told that she didn’t need to stop loving her children to achieve Aparigraha, she just needed to love everyone else the same way she loved her kids. That was the way to take the neediness or attachment to her kids out of the equation.
How to practice yoga using the Yamas
This is such a big question… They are important practices to use daily if you can, but it might feel overwhelming to try to do it all at once. And to be honest, striving to do them all at once, straight off the bat, isn’t a yogic approach. I recommend examining where you are using each yama in your life currently. Ask yourself if it feels natural to you or if you are forcing it. If it feels natural, you are already doing it! If it feels like you have to force it, then there is more work to be done in that area. Try the practice I have described for each yama or even DM on Instagram to ask a specific question. I’m happy to help!
And if you’re ready to deepen your yoga practice, check out my Daily Practice Yoga Kit. It has 5 practices you can try including asana, meditation, and ahimsa. See more info below.
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