Weekly Newsletter:

July 16, 2025

The Art of Balance: The Concept and the Skill

Balance is delicate

There is an art to it.

One has to find it.

In yoga, there are poses—and behind each pose, a practice.

Here’s a lovely discussion of balance in yoga: Yoga Mind Yoga Body

“When we talk about balance, both in the physical sense as well as metaphorically, we often use the words finding balance. We do that as if balance were a magical state that we only need to discover, hiding somewhere under a giant lotus leaf. Once we find it, then we simply ‘have’ it, is the implication, and we don’t need to worry about it any longer. This is, of course, not really how balance works. Practicing the art of balancing is a continuous act, and that is actually a good thing.”

Balance—The concept

It is a verb and a noun. Perhaps that says it all.
It is something that is worthwhile to try to find.
It can be literal — as in not falling, but maintaining one’s balance.
Or it can be a concept. “Staying in balance”

Balance—The skill

** Physical balance, or not falling down: Requires strength, attention, and practice.

**Finances or not overspending — your balance sheet of what money comes in and what goes out.

**Emotional balance refers to the ability to maintain a stable state of mind, where positive and negative emotions coexist without overwhelming each other. It’s about finding equilibrium amidst life’s ups and downs, allowing us to navigate challenges effectively. Emotional balance plays a crucial role in both personal and professional settings. It helps us manage stress, maintain relationships, and make sound decisions.”

Source: https://focuskeeper.co/glossary/what-is-emotional-balance

**Nutrition — maintaining a comfortable weight, enjoying your food.

It can be learned.

It must be practiced…

It’s dynamic — one can never hope to always have it!

Several weeks ago we talked about the Autonomic Nervous System:

Getting to Know Your Brain

The autonomic nervous system works without our will or idea about what we should or want to do. It is not like picking up a spoon.

The autonomic nervous system controls our actions in a much different way. It’s connected to our emotions. Our circumstances. Our bodies balance stress and relaxation.

Sympathetic Nervous System - Fight or Flight (Response to stress)

Ready for action:

Increasing heart rate.
Dilating pupils.
Inhibiting digestion.
Mobilizing the body’s resources for immediate action.
Stimulated by adrenal gland — Adrenalin.

Parasympathetic Nervous System - Rest and Digest (Relaxing):

Relaxes the body.
Conserves energy and facilitates recovery.
Slows down the heart rate.
Dilates blood vessels.
Stimulates digestive processes.
Regulates bodily functions like salivation, tear production, and urination.
Stimulated by vagus nerve.

“National Relaxation Day”

Celebrated annually on August 15. We thought an adult would have pitched the idea for this holiday, but it was actually Michigan-based Sean Moeller who thought of this day in 1985 when he was nine years old! With an idea like this, we are sure he must have gone on to do many other great things in life.

🔎 So, how do we find balance?

Find physical balance and not fall down?
Find financial balance and not fall into debt?
Find emotional balance and find peace of mind?
Find physiological balance?

Fall asleep when you need to..

Enjoy food and not overeat or stress about weight..

Heal from injury or disease..

Perhaps these “skills” are ALL more connected than we realize.

One helpful method of beginning to find balance is to work with your parasympathetic nervous system. To start finding balance, nurture your rest-and-restore mode:

Meditation
Friendship
Family
Exercise
Gentle movement or stretching
Restful, regular sleep

These quiet acts help your body feel safe again—so you can heal, focus, and stay grounded. Upcoming newsletter—exercises to increase physical balance and avoid falls. Stay tuned…