Like many of you, we here in Colorado were steeped in a deep freeze over the weekend. Temperatures have loosened their icy grip a bit today; however, when I went outside to let my horses out of the barn this morning, I was greeted by a hurricane-like wind that created a sort of micro-blizzard.
As I stood there, head tucked and shoulders shrugged up to my ears, I watched my mare, Luna, buck around the corral in passionate opposition to the uncomfortable blowing snow. When the wind stopped, she stopped, walked calmly over to her hay pile, and began eating as though nothing had happened.
I guess this was Nature’s way of reminding me that we are always somewhere on the continuum of effort and ease. And that everything flows in cycles; nothing is permanent.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a collection of 196 sutras, or adages, on the theory and practice of yoga offers the saying, “sthira sukham asanam.” This is roughly translated as “yoga postures should be both stable and comfortable.” It is also often known as the balance between effort and ease.
I’ve been playing with the concept of this balance lately and noticing how it plays out in my life off the mat. Realizing that in living this human life, I effort way too much. And through my effort, I fall under the illusion of control. My body becomes rigid. My mind becomes rigid. And what I think I’m controlling generally controls me.
Conversely, when I lean too far into ease, I become lackadaisical, apathetic and drift into the misbelief that the Universe will provide me everything I need with no effort on my part. Then I’m stuck.
Balance is a dynamic force because energy is always moving. My guides keep inviting me to dance between the two seemingly opposite forces of effort and ease. They remind me I don’t have to be perfect or to try to feel valuable by doing everything that comes my way. They also have nudged me to baby-step toward what scares me, so I don’t confuse easefulness with laziness.
Just like in yoga practice, I’m noticing when I sway too far over to one side or the other. I can call on my strength to hold me steady without gripping. I can use my breath to help me surrender into effortlessness, but not all the way into laziness.
And like Luna the mare, I’m giving myself grace when I buck and brace, and I’m beginning to accept that everything–whether comfortable or uncomfortable–moves through. Sthira sukham asanam.
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