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Strength, Balance, and Flexibility

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As we journey through life, our bodies naturally stiffen and tighten, much like a tree that grows rigid with age. We may start to move more slowly, feel more aches and pains, and lose that vibrant energy we once took for granted. But it doesn't have to be this way.


Yoga offers a way to reverse these tendencies, helping us regain flexibility, strength, and balance. By consistently practicing yoga, we can unlock the body’s potential to feel young again. We not only improve our physical movements but also release tension, allowing energy to flow freely and restoring a sense of lightness and vitality.


In this chapter, we’ll explore how yoga helps you regain control of your body, making it a strong, flexible, and balanced vessel for your life’s journey.


Think back to when you were younger. Chances are, you moved with ease. Most children are naturally flexible, able to twist, bend, and stretch without a second thought. But as you’ve grown older, you’ve probably noticed that your range of motion isn’t what it used to be. Maybe you’re not as quick on your feet, or you move more slowly. Those little aches and pains that weren’t there before? They start creeping in. You might feel less energetic, less adaptable to change, and more prone to injury. And let’s face it—those injuries take longer to heal now, don’t they?


It’s not surprising. This gradual decline in flexibility, energy, and resilience doesn’t happen overnight—it sneaks up on you, little by little. And while it’s not mysterious, it’s definitely something you start to notice more with each passing year. However, becoming aware of this change can actually be a turning point. It can be the very thing that sparks a commitment to yoga.


As your body tightens, it becomes less comfortable to live in—like trying to wear a shirt that used to fit perfectly but now feels way too small. This tightness doesn’t just make movement difficult; it also makes your body less efficient and more prone to disease and degeneration. The body, as it stiffens, starts to choke itself from the inside.


This internal contraction restricts the flow of blood, fluids, and essential life force. And when your circulatory system can’t function at its best—when it can’t nourish and oxygenate your cells—your body begins to suffer. This undernourishment speeds up the aging process, causing the body to dry out and harden.


Nerves, glands, muscles, and the intricate energy networks in your spine all become subject to this slow decline. But the good news?


Yoga can dramatically slow down—or even reverse—this process. With regular practice, you can bring back the flexibility of your youth. You can become more durable, stronger, and more vibrant than you ever were as a child. Through yoga, you learn to focus your physical and mental energy more effectively, and your body becomes more alive, creative, and efficient in everything you do.


There are countless physical benefits from practicing yoga, but the three that you’ll notice right away are improvements in balance, strength, and flexibility. These three pillars of yoga are the key to keeping your body not only functional but thriving as you age.


Now if you were to ask ten men and ten women which comes more naturally—strength, flexibility, or balance—you’d likely get predictable answers.


Most men would confidently say strength, and most women would lean toward flexibility. But here's the interesting part—almost no one would say balance. That’s because balance isn’t something that just comes naturally. It’s something we have to create.

Balance happens when strength and flexibility are in harmony. It’s not about being strong on one side and flexible on the other—it’s about cultivating both equally. Only when these two qualities are even do we achieve true balance, both in our bodies and in our lives.


Strength


Let’s take a moment to think about how strength impacts our daily life. Have you ever noticed how, when you’re feeling run-down and tired, everything feels heavier? It’s like you’re carrying extra weight—not just physically, but mentally too. You feel sluggish, like you’re dragging yourself from one task to the next. But when you feel strong and energized, it’s like a switch flips. Suddenly, you feel lighter, and life seems less demanding.


It’s an interesting relationship—the weaker you feel, the heavier everything seems. On the flip side, the stronger you are, the lighter and more effortless life becomes. And this is one of the true gifts of yoga: a regular practice can help you build strength while making you feel light and agile.


Now, think about this: if you were twice as strong as you are right now, you’d feel significantly lighter. Imagine feeling like you weighed half of what you do right now. Your body would feel buoyant, and moving through your day would be effortless. Your entire experience of yourself and your body would shift. You’d move with more ease, confidence, and stability.


As your strength grows, so does your overall tone and stamina. You start to feel more grounded, more resilient, and capable of handling whatever life throws at you. The steps you take become lighter, and the world feels a little less heavy on your shoulders. Even your day-to-day activities feel smoother, and life becomes more enjoyable.


If this resonates with you, then it’s time to embrace the process of building strength. One of the best ways to do that is through your yoga practice. When you find yourself in a pose that challenges you, instead of avoiding it, lean into it. That discomfort is where your strength develops. So next time a pose pushes your limits, welcome the challenge with a smile. It’s not just building physical strength—it’s also strengthening your mind and spirit.




Flexibility -


is one of the gifts yoga offers, and it’s more than just being able to touch your toes or bend your body in new ways. As you increase flexibility, you’re not only restoring lost movement—you’re also erasing the tension and internal conflicts that build up over time. These tensions, if left unaddressed, eventually show up as pain. The more flexible you become, the harder it is for pain to settle into your body. Why? Because pain and tension are really just forms of blocked, stagnant, or misdirected energy. When you’re more flexible, you open up those blockages, allowing energy to flow freely again. Your entire body feels cleansed, renewed, and those areas that once felt stuck finally feel released.


Think about it—pain is often the result of neglect. It’s your body’s way of signaling that something needs attention. Whether it’s a toothache, a backache, or a headache, pain is a message that shouldn’t be ignored. Healthy teeth don’t hurt, just like a healthy back doesn’t ache. The healthier you keep your body, the less it demands your attention in uncomfortable ways.


When your body is operating in its optimal state, you experience something incredible—you almost forget about it. Your awareness shifts from constantly thinking about your aches and pains to simply living, feeling clear, clean, and even a bit transparent. This is probably how you felt when you were younger, free from the grip of bodily discomfort. The healthier you are, the less concerned you become with your body. It frees your mind to explore new horizons, to discover more about yourself beyond just the physical.


At first, yoga makes you more aware of your body, especially if you’ve neglected or misused it. You start to notice where the pain is, where things feel off. But as you continue to care for yourself through your practice, your awareness begins to expand. You no longer just focus on the body—you begin to transcend it. Your attention shifts to new levels of experience and learning.


In the end, being supremely healthy allows you to feel like your body is in the background, quietly supporting you without demanding attention.


It’s like driving a perfectly tuned car—when the car is running smoothly, you’re not worried about it breaking down. You’re simply enjoying the ride, the scenery, and the people with you. The same goes for your body. When it’s taken care of, it works so well that it no longer dominates your thoughts. You’re free to focus on the world around you, and on living your life to the fullest.


The goal isn’t to obsess over your body, but to give it enough care and attention so that it functions as the perfect instrument it’s meant to be—supporting you, not weighing you down.


Balance


When we talk about balance, it’s easy to think only of physical coordination—the ability to stand on one leg or hold a pose without wobbling. But balance goes much deeper than that. It’s not just about staying upright; it’s about creating harmony within your body, between the left and right, front and back, top and bottom.


Most of us are not truly balanced. You might notice, for example, that you’re stronger on one side of your body than the other. Maybe you can turn your head more easily to the left than to the right, or you can cross your legs one way comfortably but struggle to do it the other way. Perhaps you find it easy to bend forward but stiff when it comes to bending backward. These imbalances might seem like small quirks, but they actually create stress on your body over time. Certain muscles end up doing more work, while others are neglected, leading to tension, discomfort, or even injury.


Yoga helps bring everything back into balance. It works to create symmetry throughout your entire body, making you not only strong but also flexible in a balanced way. It’s like hitting the reset button, allowing your body to work as one cohesive unit. And when your body is in balance, you feel more comfortable in your own skin. Movement becomes smoother, and the strain that once pulled you out of alignment fades away.


But balance in yoga isn’t just physical—it’s mental and emotional too. Yoga teaches you to balance the impulse to push, control, and be assertive with the equally important ability to surrender, yield, and be passive. This mental balance is just as crucial as the physical one. When you find the sweet spot between effort and ease, between pushing forward and letting go, you create a sense of equilibrium that enhances your practice—and your life. Instead of one side overpowering the other, you allow both sides to complement and support each other.


In the end, yoga is about creating balance—within your body, your mind, and your spirit. And once you achieve that balance, you’ll find that everything in your life flows with a little more grace and ease.


Love

Sumit

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If someone were to ask, "What is the purpose of yoga?"  they might expect a simple answer. To get flexible? To de-stress? To get stronger?...

1 Comment


tracyamarshall93
Nov 01, 2024

Love this message 💕 a good reminder to give ourselves grace as we age but still continue to challenge our mind body and spirit. - Tracy

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10405 E McDowell Mountain Ranch Road Suite 130

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

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