We’ve been exploring balance these last few weeks in class. Here are some tips to help your balancing:
– Keep breathing!
– Keep the gaze soft but focused
– See if you can soften the pose, even if that just means releasing the back teeth. Also, you’re allowed to move about in the pose- keeping the pose rigid and still will make it harder to balance.
– Keep it slow and work in stages- rather than rushing to get your arms above your head in vrksasana (tree pose), sort out the legs first and then maybe take the arms up when you feel steady.
– For standing balances start with some toe and ankle exercises (see post below on foot health) to warm-up and bring awareness to the feet.
– Have fun- it doesn’t matter if you fall out of the balance, just keep practicing! Try balancing on different surfaces (yoga blocks or a scrunched up yoga mat are good), or changing your gaze to look up or to the side- notice the effect this has on the balance.