Dynamic Balance

“At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.”
T.S Eliot

The famous lines from T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets speak not only of this particular time, but in general of fall’s airy, mutable changes, her dance as it were. October engages the Astrologic air energies of Libra. Her Venus rulership seeks relationship and connection. She also wants the bills paid, and money in the bank. Ayurvedically, air and connectivity grow more prominent in fall’s Vata quality. It behooves all of us, no matter how grounded and stable we think we are, to become aware of the restless, dry, cooling surplus imbuing these days and nights.

Because like increases like, when we are at the mercy of changes we cannot control, we feel unstable and may seek out others to fulfill and balance our needs. This attracts and adds to the very thing we already have in abundance, which increases the turbulent imbalances. What we want is to call the opposite of what is already present…to dance the polarities.

Acknowledging the season’s mobile, restless, spacey over-flow, how do we create not merely static balance, but a dynamic balance, a dance that serves over-demanding, fast paced days? It is easy to sit, meditating in a cave when we don’t have others we are responsible to, or a self that is multi-tasking as matter of factly as breathing. Perhaps changing one simple moment each day will offer us a still point in the dance?

Easy tools to bring the body to center:

*From a Vata Centering point: Make your Yoga Practice slower, steadier, and smoother. Don’t hold positions for extended periods, rather do multiple repetitions. Become more aware of your center as the source for all Asanas/Poses. Stand on the earth, visualize feet in grass, or dirt. Feel your fingers or toes spread wide in sand. Do not deplete or over-stimulate your body with too much heat or over-do.

*Eating selectively is a powerful tool that re-fills, re-nurtures, and grows consciousness. Drop, or reduce as many stimulants as possible, especially caffeine. Eat less raw foods. Choose salty, sweet and sour tastes, such as squashes, grains, and rice, oranges, avocados, bananas, grapes. Despite being in season, reduce amount of apples and pears. Use warming spices such as cinnamon, cumin, nutmeg, and ginger.

*What you do for yourself physically, do mentally and emotionally. It’s all of a piece. Be in the moment before automatically caring for another. Cultivate serenity by being with self, at the core, not the extremities. With Venus stimulation, it’s important to feel beautiful. Don’t leave self care as a last minute eyebrow tweeze while driving down the street. Venus energy appreciates touching and being touched. Dry, airy Vata uses warm oils, (sesame is healing,) and massage to re-balance and stimulate physically. Loving our bodies connects us back to self when we are anxious or restless.

*This can be a highly creative season, especially when a daily routine of self-care feeds creative juices. When balanced, these energies are sensitive, enthusiastic, flexible. When out of balance they are controlling, fearful, anxious. We are fortunate in our abilities to create and animate our days, how we respond to the news, other’s demands, our seeming loss of power. We’ve been building muscle for tough times, now we get to PRACTICE.

Asana: Do a series of Sun Salutations, focusing on the breath moving in and out with each move, your core alive to beginning each extension. Feel the lovely flow, the dance you are creating. After a series of five rounds, sit with yourself. Who are you becoming? Each day, a small miracle changes us forever.