Building Muscles for Balance and Stability
When I was first learning half moon pose in yoga, I had instructors cue the movement in a couple of different ways. The way that made the most sense to me, you start with both legs on the ground, a Xena warrior princess kind of stance. Your center of gravity is balanced. And then slowly bring your back leg up, with your arms extended and chest open, start to tip forward. There are cues for where to hold your arms and your gaze so that you can hold the final position. The movement is gradual and slow so that you can maintain your balance.
The idea is to be standing on one leg with the opposite leg parallel to the ground, heart open. Kind of like the photo here.
Kind of because an actual yoga instructor would tell you my leg needs to be higher or my hips more aligned or something.
The point is that this is a balancing pose.
This is not an article about how to add more balancing postures into your life. But rather, how to have a posture of stability on your wellness journey. I hope you can make the metaphorical leap with me.
In my article on Moving Your Body, I touched on literal balance and stability as two types of movement that are closely related.
Balance is the ability to maintain your center of gravity (as simple as standing on one foot or as fancy as half moon pose). Stability is maintaining that control while moving (think single-leg knee raise). And that got me thinking about how those two concepts translate to life.
A work/life balance. A balanced diet. A balanced mindset. The horse is in the stable (just kidding, that’s not related at all).
The problem with balance is that it suggests something short-term. Walking a balance beam or a tight rope, riding a unicycle (does anyone do that anymore?), even standing on one foot is not something you do for an extended period of time.
So, what happens when you get off balance?
It’s stability that brings you back to center. Stability is the ability to come back to balance. The mindset to reset when you need to.
And that’s why you need more BS in your life. Because every day that you wake up committed to living your most nutritious and delicious life, every day that you start as your strongest and best self, somewhere along the way, the wind that is life is going to come and try to knock you off balance.
That wind might be someone ordering french fries at lunch. That extra meeting that gets added to your calendar that takes your stress to peak levels. That streaming series that you just have to watch ONE MORE episode of and before you know it the clock says midnight. Your regular workout that feels extra hard and leaves you feeling less than spectacular. These are all things that challenge our balance.
And then what? Do we collapse onto the floor and say “it’s hopeless!” Do we throw our arms in the air and say “fu$% it!” Some days we might.
But here’s the thing. Are you ready for the thing? The truth that will change how you handle the next gust of wind?
The wind is going to come.
We can’t stop it. But we can be ready for it.
We can’t be in perfect balance all the time. But with stability, we can engage those core muscles and get back to balance. We can harness our principles of a nutritious and delicious life. We can make choices to live well in mind, body and joy.
“Our daily choices are making our lives.”
Emily P. Freeman
How to build muscles for stability
Three things to do when you feel like the wind of life has knocked you off balance.
Reset
You don’t have to wait until tomorrow or next week. The moment you feel off-balance is the moment to reset.
What does a reset look like?
You decide. It can be a deep breath, closing your eyes, walking away (for a minute or 10 minutes). It’s taking a moment to recognize what’s happening. Like restarting your phone. It’s a short pause.
Reframe
Reframe what is happening. Adjust your mindset. Whatever negative self talk you might usually give yourself in this moment, let it go.
Struggling to reframe? Name a gratitude. I’m grateful for this moment because . . .
Restart
What is one healthy choice you can make right now? Maybe it’s drinking some water. Maybe it’s a short walk. Maybe it’s calling a friend. Maybe it’s lighting a candle. Maybe it’s putting on some lipgloss and saying some nice things to yourself.
Pick your next right thing for your nutritious and delicious life.
The wind will blow. It’s about having the core strength to find your balance again.
Like any muscle, it takes time to strengthen our mindset for stability. Keep practicing. Keep coming back to center. Soon, you’ll be ready for that wind.
Be well, my lovelies.
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