Balance

Because we can learn lessons through our body, we should. Think about what balance is at its core. Balance is the multitude of micro adjustments that are necessary for an object to stay upright. When riding a bike you shift left and right until you stay upright. In Balinese culture, they place a heavy emphasis on balance between left and right energy because without this balance one energy would take over and destroy all existence! When balance is achieved, it facilitates an environment conducive to health and growth.
In order to balance, we have to orient our center of balance in alignment with gravity in a way characterized by demanding as the least amount of energy to stay balanced. Our center of gravity (also known as CG) is located roughly between the iliac crest (pelvis) for women or near the navle for men, and down the center line of our bodies. Center of gravity shifts are based upon posture, movement, and body arrangement in space.
A fun thought and movement experiment found in the book “Fight Like A Physicist” introduces the idea of moving body parts to have a clear understanding of the way our CG shifts when our body shifts. To perform this experiment, first locate your normal resting CG. A helpful tool to use is visualizing a tennis ball size shape in the aforementioned position and move it visually as you feel the shifts. This helps you fine tune your awareness. After this has been established, slightly move an arm and track how the CG moves in relation to this subtle movement. Over time introduce more motion and variance in motion. Watch as CG shifts and how your body deals with these shifts. Some enlightening yoga poses for this experiment are all three warrior poses, tree pose, handstand (upside down tree pose), and half moon. Beyond these poses, transitions that help for all the adventurous and advanced movers are half moon to revolved half moon, warrior 3 to pistol squat, and Eka Pada Koundinyasana 2, scorpion pose, opposite side Eka Pada Koundinyasana 2. As our practice develops we will begin to automatically notice the balance required in every exercise, through every plane of motion, and in any situation.

Through developing our balance, our bodies will help us come to an understanding of the universal truth of balance and its practical application. Personally, my first deep insight into balance came one day when I was slacklining. Suddenly some neurons connected to a truth deep within and shifted my entire worldview subsequently improving my relationship to all things around me. Plato believed that we could never learn anything new, only recollect the innate knowledge of our souls. This practice reveals experiential evidence of lessons philosophized about through the ages.
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