Balance

Here in California, the vernal equinox happens tomorrow afternoon. At an equinox, the sun is directly over the equator, so its path bisects the earth, and day and night are balanced, that is, of equal length.

This got me to thinking about balance in general, and about ways to pay attention to balance, both in our bodies and in our lives. Here's a great exercise -- stand up and do it right now! It will only take a few seconds, does not involve heavy breathing, and no one will even notice you're doing it.


Stand on both feet. Notice where your weight is --

• Is it equally on both feet?
• It is balanced front to back?
  
• Shift until you are balanced and notice how that feels.
• Focus very intensely on something in front of you, and notice if your balance shifts. If it does, notice how and shift back.
  
• Think of something you're doing later today, and notice if your balance shifts. If it does, notice how and shift back.
• Think of something you did yesterday, and notice if your balance shifts. If it does, notice how and shift back.
• Think of something that makes you happy, and notice if your balance shifts. If it does, notice how and shift back.
• Think of something that makes you angry, and notice if your balance shifts. If it does, notice how and shift back.

This exercise of constantly shifting back to balance should eventually help you be more balanced in your body. It will also help you find balance in your life, because your body will show you when you're out of balance, and you'll become accustomed to noticing and shifting back to balance.

Here's another great way to find balance. Spend some time thinking about how you'd like to spend your time. How many hours a day would you like to spend working (or in different work activities)? exercising? with family and/or friends? eating, sleeping, relaxing, practicing your hobby? Call this your ideal time balance. It is unique to you, and may not fit anyone else's idea of balance.

Now get a tiny notebook, approximately 2.5"x4", small enough that you can put it in your pocket or your purse (they're in every drugstore and quite cheap). Every time you begin a new activity, write down the time and the activity. Do this every day for a week.

Now compare the two, how you'd like to spend your time, with how you are actually spending your time. Do they match? What can you change, either right away or over time, so that what you actually do matches more closely what you'd like to do?