Why Is Balance Important In Yoga Exercises

Why is balance important in Yoga exercises will be understood once we come to comprehend what Yoga is all about? Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yujir Yogey’ meaning to join, to yoke, to put together. One of the meanings derived from the three is to restore – to restore what is lost.

Unfortunately, thanks to our modern day lifestyles, most of us have lost our balance. Yoga primarily seeks to restore that balance. This balance is between the different organs and systems of the body as well as between the body, mind and spirit.

To restore balance Yoga resorts to the following 5 principles:

Right posture
Right breathing
Right relaxation
Right diet
Positive thinking and meditation

These, put together, help restore the lost balance to the body and mind. The tools Yoga uses for restoring balance are Yoga poses (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), cleansing techniques (kriyas), Yogic diet. But the most stress is nowadays laid on the physical aspect of Yoga. Quite naturally, we begin with the body.

There are literally thousands of Yoga poses that help in myriad ways. They are classified as follows:

Standing poses
Seated poses
Supine poses
Prone poses
Inverted poses
Balancing poses

Of these, the balancing poses, though the most difficult are the most beneficial. They bestow the most results upon the practitioner. However, they have to be done right and maintained for a period of time. Hence Yoga, if done regularly and properly – particularly the balancing poses help restore the lost balance in the body and between body and mind. But be careful with the practices too. Don’t stress, don’t force, don’t over do. Remember, “Rome was not built in a day.” Yoga, likewise, calls for practice and patience. The results are bound to follow, but one day at a time.