Finding Balance

Yoga has been a presence in my life for around twenty years now. Various difficult and painful events in my life have meant that I have sought out various strategies to cope. During these, and other difficult times, I have turned to yoga and found solace in the practice – and therefore my life. I have only found the balance I sought through a regular self-practice. I used to think that balance was a straight line or equally weighted scales and finding balance in life meant to keep everything on an even keel. Yoga, however, has enabled me to see that balance is accepting the ups and the downs, and staying centred throughout.

A Dedicated Practice

I felt the sutra 1:14, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali; ‘Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness.’ was significant because I recognise the need and the benefit of regular practice to support my mental, spiritual, and emotional health. When I struggle to find motivation, both for yoga and in life, I have sometimes allowed my yoga practice to slip or stop altogether, and I always recognise in hindsight that yoga would have supported me if I had been dedicated enough. I related this to what I felt was similar in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1.65 ‘The practitioner will succeed; the nonpractitioner will not. Success in yoga is not achieved by merely reading books.’ I believe to succeed means to continue to follow the yogic path of practice, dedication, and the constant attempt to control the modifications of the mind, which in turn will help give one balance.

Challenging Times

The harder the challenges become in studying and learning to teach, the more important it was for me to lean into yoga. I think it is invaluable to teach students the importance of finding their own practice. Whilst I believe that attending a class and finding a good teacher to guide you, yoga can only truly be found when one goes within. This could happen during a class, but I believe that if teachers can give one the tools to take to one’s own practice, and that students practice regularly, this is where one will meet their Self. I know it takes dedication to form a regular practice: my own practice consists mainly of meditation, pranayama, and asana and the regularity of it has changed drastically over the years depending on many factors. I have found it particularly hard to keep up with my regular practice whilst working, studying and being a single parent, however, I recognise that during this difficult time of juggling life, this is when I need to show up to my mat.

Yoga: A Vital Support Tool

If I can show up on my mat, then inevitably I can show up in my life, and for my loved ones, in a more positive and balanced way. I want to teach my students the benefits of meditation, how it can help steady the mind and support those who may suffer from the challenges they face in life, and how that regular practice is key. There is often no one to rely on but myself as a single parent. I am responsible for my children, so it is vital that I can support myself. I cannot think of a single better tool to help support myself and my family, than yoga and I wish to share that with others.