The last week has been huge in my life and that of all Brisbane Lions Fans and to be honest I am exhausted. In addition to being a fanatical football supporter, Yoga is also passion of mine, especially yin yoga which encourages me to slow down and in such a fast-paced world I find it is important to do. Being on holiday, and deviating from my usual morning routine. I have realised the importance of yoga and meditation in my day.
In yogic philosophy, Yin is ease, feminine, fluid, and beautiful while Yang is pressure, masculine, rigid and functional. We learn that we need both but most of us in the modern world could afford to tip the scales in the favour of Yin and allow ourselves to slow down. The goal is to be balanced in all aspects of our lives.
When I learnt the fundamentals of yin during my teacher training it included, the importance in our lives to create balance, I was reminded of a chemical reaction which reaches a state of stability when it proceeds at the same rate as the reverse reaction, like the Yin and Yang aspects of our lives. In nature, we see the chemical reactions taking place and it shows us that when allowed to reach their natural conclusion they find balance just as we can find balance by recognizing what it is that we need. There is a requirement to listen to our intuition to find this balance as we tend to go through life not paying attention to what we are lacking or needing in our lives because we are so busy getting stuff done and thinking about what we need to do next that we do not allow ourselves time to just be, enjoy and notice.
The extreme of this is when we cannot bear to spend time alone doing nothing. We cannot sit with our thoughts because we are so used to acting. I took a friend of mine to a float tank a few years ago. The idea of a float tank is to take off your clothes and float. That’s it, nothing else, breathe, float and notice your thoughts and how you feel (the water is highly saline, so you are not able to sink). This act does require a fair bit of practice to lie still in a bubble for one hour but I did not realise that there were people who actually could not do it. My friend had to exit the tank after 20 minutes because she could not allow herself to slow down. I found this upsetting and felt sad for her but she wore it like a badge of honour the way we are conditioned to believe busy is superior to relaxing. I encourage you all to take time to bring a little yin into your day perhaps start with 5 minutes still meditation and build up to 20 over a couple of months. While travelling in Melbourne, I incorporated meditation into my daily routine much to the amusement of my 12 yo niece. With so much going on in the lead up to the "granny" I needed some down time. It is having clarity on what you need to have balance in your life not tipping the scales all at once. Find your equilibrium and notice what it feels like. It is better than the high you will get from any drug, and it is all within you.
In our fast-paced lives, it’s easy to lose sight of balance. Embrace the power of yin and discover the clarity that comes from slowing down. Whether you’re a busy professional or a passionate fan, taking just 5 minutes for stillness can transform your day. Join me in a personalized coaching journey to find your equilibrium and unlock the potential within you. Don’t wait—take the first step towards a more balanced, fulfilling life today!
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