Beautiful, Bound, and Balanced

We are closing in on the end of this momentous year! I'm filled with so much gratitude, union and lessons. 

As I've continued my yoga journey, I've been led to focus on binds and balancing poses.  During this sweet season of focus, lessons have rippled with echoes of wisdom.

Binds

Binds in yoga are positions in which one links hands together, or hands to wrist, rotating both shoulders and torso, creating a bind or clasp around the body. I'm pictured doing king pigeon and Bound lunge. The beauty in binds is that they inspire flexibility. One must learn to relax, stretch and strengthen their body in order to achieve these postures. That often times comes from time, consistency, challenge, triumph and repetition. The same is in life. In order to achieve intricate, complex statuses and achievements we must exercise time, consistency, be challenged, triumph and repeat. When practicing these poses consistently, it's been my finding that the physical practice inspires and encourages the mental and emotional shift. As if your body is motivating your mind and heart to grow. I'm thankful for binding in that it's highlighted where I must learn to be more flexible and exercise consistency in all realms of life.

Balance

Balancing positions are quite popular in yoga visuals and media. Tree, the pose I'm demonstating and dancer are two beautiful asanas that one may take to build balance. What I've experienced with balancing is that prior to being balanced, one must find strength. Enough strength to lean, stand or hold yourself up on  one leg, or two hands etc. And similarly, like binds,

it takes time, consistency, challenge, triumph and repetition. But once you've mastered it, and are able to stand firmly planted, strong and tall. It's like a mountain, unshakeable, grounded and stable. What are some things in your life that may need strength? Things that cannot quite stand on one foot or be firmly planted in a handstand? Cultivate and love those areas of life with strength building. When we are strong and flexible, navigating through life becomes much more easeful and beautiful. We are less distracted by things behind or below because we are focused upward and forward. 

May you be peaceful, beautiful and love always. 

With love and joy,

Janeen