Be Brave: Balance – There Is Enough
Alright, let’s talk about balance. Not in the Insta-worthy ‘look-at-me-on-one-leg’ kind of way, but in the real, your-life-is-a-hot-mess-and-you-need-some-stability kind of way.
If you’re here because your brain feels like it’s got 72 tabs open and half of them are frozen, congratulations. You’ve just met yoga. Real yoga. Not the watered-down, TikTok-trendy, six-pack-flexing nonsense that’s being peddled as ‘wellness’ these days.
I’m talking about the ancient, lineage-rooted, time-tested practice that’s been sorting people’s lives out for thousands of years. And this month, we’re taking on something big: Being Brave. And guess where that starts? With balance.
Balance: It’s Not What You Think
Balance isn’t about doing ALL the things perfectly. It’s not about being some serene, green-juice-guzzling human who never gets flustered. Balance is knowing where you’re at, seeing what’s out of whack, and having the guts to do something about it.
Most of us are running around like headless chickens, wired on caffeine and stress, wondering why we feel like crap. Spoiler alert: You’re out of balance.
Physically? You’re knackered. Mentally? You’re on a loop of overthinking. Emotionally? You’re about two bad emails away from a meltdown. Spiritually? You’re Googling ‘what the hell is my purpose?’
And yet, we keep piling more on. More goals. More deadlines. More pressure. When actually, what you need is less.Less distraction. Less forcing. Less ‘should be doing this’ and more ‘what actually serves me?’
Balance is the First Step to Real Power
Now, you might be thinking, ‘Josie, I came here for yoga, not a lecture on my life choices.’ And I hear you. But here’s the deal: Hatha Yoga (that’s the real thing, not just a playlist of stretchy shapes) is literally about balance. Ha (Sun), Tha(Moon) – the two forces within you. One is active, fiery, pushing forward. The other is cooling, steady, reflective. And you need both.
Without balance, your practice – and your life – will feel like trying to ride a bike with one pedal. You’ll either burn out or get nowhere. But when you get these energies working together? That’s when things shift. That’s when you get real power.
What Happens When You’re Out of Balance?
Let’s get brutally honest. When you’re off-kilter, you don’t make great choices.
- You reach for another coffee when you really need a nap.
- You pick the quick dopamine hit (hello, social media doom-scroll) over something that actually nourishes you.
- You choose the easy, comfortable path over the one that actually leads to growth.
And yoga? Well, yoga becomes another box to tick rather than a practice that transforms you.
But here’s the thing: Balance isn’t something you ‘achieve’ once and tick off the list. It’s something you practice. Daily. Because life will constantly throw you off – and your job is to know how to get back to centre.
How to Find Balance on (and Off) the Mat
So, how do we start? Here’s what I tell my students every damn day: Be brave. Do the work. Pay attention.
Step 1: Stop Lying to Yourself
Most people don’t realise they’re out of balance. Or, if they do, they’re too stubborn to admit it. If you’re exhausted but still pushing through because ‘rest is for the weak,’ congrats – you’ve bought into a broken system. If you only ever do the yoga that feels comfortable (and avoid the stuff that challenges you), you’re keeping yourself stuck.
This week, your job is to notice. Where do you feel out of balance? What are you resisting? What keeps pulling you into stress, overwork, avoidance, or distraction?
Step 2: Balance in Your Practice
On the mat, balance isn’t just about standing on one leg. It’s about finding ease in effort. This week, we’re focusing on poses that cultivate stability:
- For the mind: Grounding postures like Tadasana (Mountain Pose) – simple, strong, and ridiculously underrated.
- For the body: Standing balances like Vrksasana (Tree Pose) – not to ‘nail the shape’ but to feel where you wobble and learn from it.
- For energy: A steady, uncomplicated breath. If your breath is all over the place, you are too.
And when your mind screams ‘I can’t do this’? That’s your work.
Step 3: Make Different Choices
Off the mat, balance is about what you say yes and no to.
- Say no to the things that deplete you.
- Say yes to the things that actually nourish you.
- Ask yourself: Am I making choices from a place of power, or from exhaustion and habit?
If you’re knackered, rest. If you’re overstimulated, cut the noise. If you’re stuck, move. Balance isn’t a fancy concept – it’s making the next right choice.
The Courage to Find Balance
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Finding balance is not easy.
It means facing your patterns. It means letting go of the stuff that’s keeping you out of alignment – even when it’s familiar and comfortable. It means stepping onto the mat (and into your life) with honesty, awareness, and a bit of backbone.
But the reward?
- More clarity.
- More energy.
- More ability to deal with life without losing your sh*t.
And ultimately? More power to do the things you’re actually here to do.
Ready to Start? Join Us.
If this resonates, stop waiting. Stop saying ‘I’ll start when life calms down’ (it won’t). Stop trying to do it alone.
The Yoga Local App is where you get proper, traditional yoga – no fluff, no gimmicks, just real practice that makes a real difference. Whether you’re in the studio or in your living room, you’ll get the support, teachings, and community you need to actually find your balance – and keep it.
Sign up today. Step on the path. And let’s do the work.
See you on the mat.
Josie x
