Strength
Balance
A big part of asana (yoga postures) is
balance. Slipping and falling on ice is a
real risk in venturing outside in Vermont
in the wintertime. The balancing skills
we gain from practicing yoga help us
prevent injury if we slip and/or fall. When
we practice yoga postures, we are often
balancing evenly on both feet or moving
from one foot to the other or spending
time balancing on just one foot. As our
balancing skills increase, we tend to roll
with a fall instead of stiffening against it.
And we have a better chance of regaining
our balance and not falling at all.
“Birds make great sky-circles of their
freedom! How do they learn it? They fall.
And in falling, they’re given wings.”
- Rumi
62 VERMONT MAGAZINE
It’s easy to stay inside and to overload on
cookies and hot chocolate during long
winter nights. Along with this comes too
much sugar and carbohydrates, and a loss
of muscle tone and energy. Practicing yoga
postures increases strength and releases
endorphins, giving us a blast of positive
energy.
“Awaken your spirit to adventure. Hold
nothing back. Learn to find ease in risk.
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm.
For your soul senses the world that awaits
you.
- John O’Donahue
Flexibility
When we practice yoga we practice
balancing effort and ease. Most of us are
either stronger than we are flexible or
more flexible than we are strong. As we
move through a sequence of yoga postures
we identify our boundaries and accept
ourselves as we are. We practice to correct
our imbalances. Increased flexibility and
strength allow us to continue to do the
things we want to do during the frosty
days of winter.
“Flexibility is the presence of structure in
the absence of rigidity - like the valves in my
veins that keep my blood flowing in the right
direction. As limber beings we can sway and
bend without snapping. Even under intense
pressure, we are able to return to normal,
when we call upon our inner strength. Our
minds, like muscles, must be consistently
stretched and tested to remain pliable.
Allowing us to become more accepting of
ourselves and others.”
- Lawren