The Yogini Way: Finding Balance in a Chaotic World

Life is a sequence of balancing poses. Though it may seem like yoginis have mastered the art of standing on one leg, that doesn’t mean we don’t struggle with finding that same stability in our lives. Finding stillness amidst a chaotic world has become especially crucial in recent weeks. Surely, we can all relate with this challenge. This is why we’ve come up with a few simple steps on how to introduce balance in our personal lives:

Set Boundaries

Other than providing a non-slip surface for your practice, what does a yoga mat represent? Boundaries. It’s especially hard to find at home given that most people are not used to working outside of the office. However, it’s very important to treat your home as you would a yoga class by setting physical boundaries for yourself. For instance, find a peaceful corner of your house to work in if you don’t already have a home office. This is to discourage you from working in bed, which the Harvard Business Review points out as a major productivity killer. Your mind easily blurs the difference between work and relax modes, and this breeds unnecessary stress and distraction. Aside from work, you can also apply this concept to your other tasks, like a corner for reading or your mat practice.

Dress for Success

Psychologists have found that getting dressed for work, even if you’re not actually leaving the house, is a great way to maintain a sense of control. It can help you get out of the bed in the morning and prepare for Zoom meetings throughout the day. More importantly, this is also a trick you can use for your daily practice. Sleep in your leggings and change into work clothes after a session of yoga at home.

Create a Routine

Days might be starting to feel endless — this is where a journal or calendar can help. Try writing down a rough schedule of your days or weeks to provide more structure to them. For instance, you can spend your mornings for practice, breakfast, then finishing some work tasks. And then, instead of spending an hour on Netflix at lunch, why not use it productively? Gala Bingo has a few recommendations for a more productive lunch break. These include learning a new language, reading a book, or ticking off your daily chores. After these, you can get back to work and before you know it, you’re prepping for dinner and switching to relax mode in the evening. Writing down a schedule is also one way of setting boundaries.

Go on a Digital Detox

It’s very tempting to scroll through your phone now that you’ve got so much time on your hands. But like we do in yoga, mindfulness is key to minimizing stress. Baltimore-based dietitian Courtney Ferreira suggests turning off your notifications and setting time limits for your social media use. Ask yourself what you need to use your phone or computer for the most, like working or reaching out to people. We need the support of our friends and family now more than ever. There are ways to stay connected, and it’s best to prioritize those over scrolling mindlessly.

Make Time for Practice

Whether it’s a full mat practice or a quick meditation, it’s always a good idea to practice yoga regularly. Fortunately for practitioners, many yoga teachers are taking their classes online, continuing to provide students with the guidance they need. Whatever style of yoga you do, maintaining your practice is the best thing you can do to find balance right now.