Finding the Sweet Spot

It's early days in 2020, really just the tail end of the holidayseason. Often in January we experience a burst...of energy, optimism,determination. Perhaps that burst is tinged with stress. How do weharness that freshness and lightness without over efforting and thenburning out? To be in the state of balance, of Sattva, wherein wenourish body, mind and spirit with healthful practices, it's importantto use intelligent effort. If we only ever senselessly drive ourselveswith mindless tapas, we don't invite that sublime experience of purityand lightness that characterize the sattvic state of being. And, if weare "over-efforting" on the path to being well and whole, we end updepleted, crashing, and likely reverting to not so healthy habits.

As yoga practitioners, how do we cultivate this balanced state?
Many of us push too hard. Often our response to stress (evenhealthy stress) is to push, and then push some more. This can lead to akind of sensory amnesia—we lose the ability to actually feel all thatis happening within our own bodies. The practice of yoga is not one ofoveractivity—We sometimes work hard but ideally we use intelligenteffort to better support ourselves. When we have that conscious blend ofeffort and ease, when we touch into this deep harmony with ourselves,when we feel that "hum" during yoga practice that signals a sublimebalance of effort and ease, that's when the practice of yoga ripens andmatures into something beyond a 'workout'.

Many of us have learned to over rely on the yang parts of our being.But, when we are reminded what balance feels like, we become morecurious and open to what it’s like to be in a constant start of harmony.When we start to touch into this sattvic state, we prioritize our innerrefuge of stillness.

Ask yourself what is in balance in your body, in your life, what is outof balance, and how you might invite the quality of Sattva into youryoga practice. Maybe a gentle class, or SATYA, or restorative yoga.Maybe being curious and open about how you can invite qualities ofstillness and refuge even during a more dynamic practice.

As always, we invite you to come with an open, curious mind, leave your ego at the door, and see what happens.

Love,
Leslie