Wednesday, May 25, 2022
  • HOME
    • ABOUT
  • BLOG
    • SPOTLIGHT
    • HEALTH + WELLNESS
    • LIFESTYLE
    • YOGA + MOVEMENT
  • PODCAST
  • BOOK CLUB
  • PARTNERS
    • DIRECTORY
    • PROFILES
  • EVENTS
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CONTACT
MN YOGA + Life magazine
  • HOME
    • ABOUT
  • BLOG
    • SPOTLIGHT
    • HEALTH + WELLNESS
    • LIFESTYLE
    • YOGA + MOVEMENT
  • PODCAST
  • BOOK CLUB
  • PARTNERS
    • DIRECTORY
    • PROFILES
  • EVENTS
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
MN YOGA + Life magazine
No Result
View All Result

Balance Is a Myth

by Betsy Weiner (she/her)

April 25, 2022
in Health + Wellness
201 8
305
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
April 25, 2022
in Health + Wellness

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine who is a Doula created some parenting classes for new moms. She reached out to me about coming in to lead a talk about finding balance in their lives. I laughed and told her, “I’ll come in and let them know that there is no such thing!” She politely told me perhaps she would look elsewhere to find a different leader on that topic. Oops, a missed opportunity perhaps, but I just can’t lie. What I mean to do is give permission to let go of the expectation that “someday” when all contingencies have been met, you will be in a state of total balance. If you constantly search for this elusive state where everything in your life falls into perfect harmony … well, friends, that may be a fruitless search. 

Balance is often the idea that everything gets  its fair share: time for your spouse or partner, your children, your work, your friends, your hobbies, your exercise routine, resting, laundry, cooking, and everything else you would like to fit into your day with equal energy. Does that sound like life? On any given day, some of these things will move higher on the “to do” list and others will move down. Maybe we need to rebrand balance as “recalibration”? We put undue pressure on ourselves to have every part of our lives in total harmony. 

We hear and read so much about the pursuit of balance. An entire category of postures (asanas) are balance poses. In many of these postures, we notice most when we are off balance because we fall over! Often it is easier to notice on our yoga mat than in our daily lives when we are out of balance. We find ourselves exhausted, short-tempered, or reaching for things to numb ourselves. We spend too much time in one area of our lives and little or no time in another, and we feel the world tipping around us too far in one direction. This can be a great tool for self-awareness. When we notice these feelings or reactions, it’s an opportunity to get quiet and bring ourselves back. We eventually learn to realize the perfect place is right now in this moment as we choose it. The world will not shift to our demands, but we can shift our perception of the world, and in doing so, create what will allow us to thrive. 

  The yoga tradition has a belief  a part of you remains in balance, no matter what: the part of you that is always at rest, always at peace, and can discern what you need for you to thrive in any given moment. These philosophies and practices teach  and show us everything is always in a state of flux. Just like the balance postures, the awareness of what needs attention keeps us upright! Some days we might need rest, and other days we might need to go for a run. At times our work needs more attention, and at other times, we require rest and rejuvenation. Perhaps the point is to acknowledge total harmony cannot be a destination. The journey is a state of flow where listening, discernment, and action all interact with one another. 

We feel the pressure to “have it all,” but what does that even mean? We cannot believe the images we see on social media or  T.V. are real. These are lives that have been carefully curated, and the outcome is something unattainable and certainly unsustainable. It’s not to say that we can’t be inspired by what we see, but it might be less stressful if we release the concept of total harmony in all aspects of our lives. Embracing doing less and enjoying the spaciousness that comes with more time ultimately helps us to decide what would serve us in any given moment. This seems like a nice counter to the constant striving and achievement-based pressure cooker happening all around us. Let go of the myth of balance, and instead make choices that bring you in closer alignment with the peace and calm available to you whenever you are ready to listen.

 

A dedicated teacher, guide, and humble student, Betsy Weiner has been working and learning in the spaces of yoga, meditation, Yoga Nidra and spiritual life coaching for over 20 years. She believes we already have everything we need within, and that each one of us is whole and complete, exactly as we are. Betsy moonlights as a back-up singer in a cover band and thinks laughing might truly be the best medicine.

Related Posts

How Yoga Saved Me … and Still Does
Health + Wellness

How Yoga Saved Me … and Still Does

April 25, 2022
Health + Wellness

Finding Joy Through Balanced Relationships

April 11, 2022
Aromatherapy For Travel
Health + Wellness

Aromatherapy For Travel

March 2, 2022
Which Supplements Should You Use?
Health + Wellness

Which Supplements Should You Use?

January 19, 2022
5 Superfoods to Enhance Your Yoga Practice
Health + Wellness

5 Superfoods to Enhance Your Yoga Practice

January 10, 2022
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Tags: balanceminnesotamn yoga life magazine
Share122Tweet76Share31
Previous Post

Studio Spotlight: Up Yoga

Next Post

How Yoga Saved Me … and Still Does

SIGN UP

BLOG

Transcending Balance

Transcending Balance

May 24, 2022 in Yoga + Movement Many of us, when we think about practicing yoga, immediately feel a sense of intimidation. Thoughts of arm balances, complex postures, and smooth [...]

Read more
How Yoga Saved Me ... and Still Does

How Yoga Saved Me … and Still Does

April 25, 2022 in Health + Wellness Like most, I came to yoga because I needed to lose weight, and yoga seemed less harsh (and less work) than lifting or [...]

Read more
Studio Spotlight: Up Yoga

Studio Spotlight: Up Yoga

April 18, 2022 in Spotlight I had the pleasure of sitting down with the owner of UP Yoga, Lindsay Grabb. UP Yoga is a heated power vinyasa studio in South [...]

Read more
Finding Joy Through Balanced Relationships

Finding Joy Through Balanced Relationships

April 11, 2022 in Health + Wellness The year was 2016. December. My very spirited children were three and seven years old. I was also a business owner and wife. [...]

Read more
Advertising Opportunity

Advertising Opportunity

April 6, 2022 in Uncategorized While this weather doesn't fee like summer will ever arrive, we are hard at work lining up our summer yoga series: Yoga at the River [...]

Read more
On the Cover

On the Cover

April 4, 2022 in Spotlight Congratulations to Ericka Jones — the winner of our cover model contest. Name: Ericka Jones Pronouns: She/her Where do you live: I currently live in [...]

Read more
YogaTed Yoga

YogaTed Yoga

March 31, 2022 in Partners YogaTed Yoga is NOT about the poses.  It’s not about the outfit.  It’s not about being flexible.  It’s not about being 28.  It’s not about [...]

Read more
Yess Yoga

Yess Yoga

March 31, 2022 in Partners Yess Yoga, recently voted BEST of MN from MN Monthly, is an inclusive and accessible community that brings everyday magic and growth into our world to [...]

Read more
Up Yoga

Up Yoga

March 31, 2022 in Partners Up Yoga exists to EMPOWER you to generate connections, TAKE ACTION, and be a LEADER in your own life.  We deliver on our mission through [...]

Read more
Mudita Wellness

Mudita Wellness

March 31, 2022 in Partners At Mudita Wellness, our goal is to help you be the best version of you – the version where you feel balanced, healthy and whole. [...]

Read more

INSTAGRAM

Follow Us!

  • the energy of the mind is the essence of life

#mnyogalifemag #mnyoga #yogamn
  • Are you coming to our virtual author talk with @drrachelallyn Tuesday night??
  • If you understand the language, the sky speaks to you

#mnyogalifemag #mnyoga #yogamn
  • I AM patient and kind to myself

#mnyogalifemag #mnyoga #yogamn
  • I am trying to shatter the myths of what a yoga body looks like. Yoga is for every BODY ... not just the thin, flexible, bendy bodies. It’s also for the bigger bodies, the disabled bodies, the injured bodies, the fragile bodies, the senior bodies, and any other bodies i’m missing. 

Yoga can be slow, gentle, and modified so that it is accessible to YOUR BODY. Yoga allows us to get into tune with our bodies — which tell us everything we need to know if we listen. And yoga offers us a way to listen acutely, and respond appropriately. 

Yoga has been a part of my life for over 20 years. This past year I dug deeper into my training to help others create more wellness in their lives. 

Follow @diannebondyyogaofficial ...she is one of the most phenomenal accessible Yoga teachers I have met. I recently completed her #YogaForAll training — which you should check out 💖  you’ll freaking love her! 

Join me on Patreon for weekly classes if you’re looking for a slower, gentler, more accessible approach to yoga. www.Patreon.com/amyzellmer

#yogavibes #positivevibes #consciousness #energy #mindfulness #yogajourney #goodvibes #yogaflow #yogapose #universe #meditation #selflove #healing #yogaposes #yogajunkie #yogaaddict #iloveyoga #awakening #yogalifestyle #gratitude #yogainspiration #happiness #spirituality #igyogacommunity #yogapractice #inspiration #yogagram
  • Would you rather ...
1 or 2 hour class

#mnyogalifemag #mnyoga #yogamn
  • Yoga can play a role on our immune support with a few of it
  • Trust the timing of your life

#mnyogalifemag #mnyoga #yogamn
  • Every phase and transition in your life is imprtant and valid

#mnyogalifemag #mnyoga #yogamn

© Copyright 2021 | MN Yoga + Life Magazine

  • HOME
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
    • ABOUT
  • BLOG
    • SPOTLIGHT
    • HEALTH + WELLNESS
    • LIFESTYLE
    • YOGA + MOVEMENT
  • PODCAST
  • BOOK CLUB
  • PARTNERS
    • DIRECTORY
    • PROFILES
  • EVENTS
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CONTACT

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In