One of the main principles of yoga is balance. "Sthira sukham asanam"-- in everything we do there should be effort and ease, both qualities united, existing simultaneously. In Yoga Sutras, which is considered to be one of the main texts on yoga, Patanjali writes about the quality of being present, alert and relaxed at the same time. The book doesn't mention any specific pose or a sequence of poses, instead Patanjali talks about controlling our breathing, which in turn disciplines our mind and allows us to be fully present. This idea of reconciling the opposites, "ha" (sun) and "tha"(moon), yin and yang, is at the core of many wisdom traditions, yet so often we forget and become rigid, we get stressed, hold breath and tense up. If we could only remember in a challenging situation how to find balance of strength and relaxation, effort and ease, we would be so much more effective. Remembering to breathe fully, would supply much needed oxygen to the brain and muscles and we would be able to make better decisions. When the mind is clear, when we feel peaceful, we are much more likely to make the right choices. We are good at what we train, we can practice being mindful and peaceful in a sequence of challenging yoga poses or a sequence of strength or balance exercises. If there is a challenging situation, can we see it as an opportunity for practice?
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