Surfing Your Balance

Hello World! Welcome! Please come in, take a seat. Can I get you a shmoke and a pauncake? No?

..Today's entry is going to be about a balancing technique that I have been working on and so far I'm giving a thumbs up to.  The best way I can describe what this technique like is implicated in the title of this blog: Surfing Your Balance. Clever, ey?

When you come into your balancing pose such as Tree (Virksasana) or Standing Extended Hand to Big Toe (Utthita Hasta Padangustasana), pay attention to your standing foot and where you are being thrown off balance. Are you swaying to the left? To the right? Side to side is most common, but check also if your being thrown forward or backward. While focusing on where exactly you are losing balance, try to train yourself to pull the side of the foot down when it begins to lift. So for instance if you are standing on your right leg and your right inner foot starts to lift and you start fall towards the right, focus your mind to that lifted arch and consciously pull it down. When its down you can come back to rooting all four corners of your foot into the ground, and breathing into your regained balance.  You can introduce yourself to this "surfing" technique by coming into your balance pose, and intentionally gently lose your balance. This way you can gradually teach yourself what it feels like to bring your attention to the area of your body that is making you lose balance right away; after some time and practice, pulling down the part of your foot that is losing balance will become natural and easy.

      

       I refer to this technique as "surfing" because after a while of practicing this exercise it begins to feel like your grooving with the flowing movement of your foot, much like standing on a surfboard when surfing! Woah! Keanu Reeves face Woah! The more you relax and listen to your inner guidance,the more you'll be able to feel the balance from the inside which then becomes converted to actions on the outside. Just remember to keep your toes wide, all four corners grounded (or the best you can), and the inner arches lifted. But hey, this technique doesn't have to be left on the mat; go ahead and practice it anywhere! In line, at work if you're standing, when you're dancing, at cat funerals--- where ever you feel appropriate.This gives you a chance to take your yogic concentration/matter where ever your whimsical life may carry you.

     

   Another benefit I wanted throw out about this technique is that it works out the muscles in the arches of our feet, especially the medial longitudinal arch which is the inner/highest arch on your foot.  This area is the cause of pain for thousands of people, growing every day. (HOLLA AT MY PREGNANT LADIES OUT THERE! HEEEEEY!). A weak arch can cause a grip of pain because it supports your whole body weight, acts as a shock absorber for all your awesome jumps slash flips, and contributes to a stable walk, whilst continuing to bounce back to position with obedience and precision. If not worked on, the medial longitudinal arch can weaken due to various reasons such as habitual biomechanics that oppose natural anatomical alignment; the hormone relaxin in pregnant women; and types of shoes. As for the other arches of the feet,  the metatarsal arch and lateral arch, this "surfing" technique is great for preventing arthritis and tendonitis.

 I feel that now would be an appropriate time for me to shout from the roof tops I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Just a yogic observer.  These are suggestions and conclusions I have made from research and experimentation. As always follow a practice that is right for you.  However, for you serious inquirers out there who want a list of my references, I'd be happy to share. Ready? Ok, here it is: GOOGLE.COM. Check it out, I think its really going to make a splash soon! ;)

     Last little yogic note I'm going to nerd out on you with is this: Bandhas.  Bandhas are translated as "locks."  Pada Bandha is translated as "Foot Lock."  In Hatha Yoga, Pada Bandha is encouraged to hold as an energetic action as means to acquire a strong sense of grounding and stabilizing the firm standing foot. This awakens the pranic energy, and consequently results in more energy, more life force, and clarity.  The effects of surfing your balance encourages a stronger Pada Bandha, and after practicing this technique I'm hoping it will make it easier to maintain Pada Bandha throughout an entire hatha yoga class. (or at least standing and balance parts of the class).

So I want to offer you some homework: Come into your expression of tree pose or some other standing balance pose (I would suggest starting simple), and really truly focus on your standing foot. Spread your toes, root your foot down, and focus in on what parts of your foot is lifting when you start to lost balance.  When you register whats lifting, pull it down. Go slow, allow yourself to play around, don't take it too seriously, and remember to breath.  

Hope my technique helps your balancing practice, and always feel free to comment if you feel the commenting urge.

Cheers and Namaste.