IT’S ALL ABOUT Balance

Do you feel as if your life is perfectly balanced at this point in time? Does your mind and body have a steady neutral rhythm day in, day out? Is your YIN completely equal with your YANG?

Erin Yarwood finds shares some ideas on how to restore the balance.

Most of the time we are slightly off kilter, in some way or another. And often without even realising it. With our health and fitness regimes for example, we’re usually ‘all in’ with one form of activity or another, completely committed to our favourite workout style, or what we feel or are led to believe we are meant to be doing.

Yet being open minded to trying new things, along with what we already love can be beneficial to both our minds and our bodies, often resulting in far better outcomes with training. Thus, having a more noticeable effect on the benefits that physical activity adds to your life and wellbeing.

For example, you might be a complete gym junkie, hitting the gym at any moment you get the chance, even if your shoulders and triceps are still hurting from this morning’s upper body session. You love lifting weights and getting big and strong, and that is awesome! The thought of stretching out or doing a Pilates class for example may make your skin crawl and muscles shriek with bewilderment, but did you know that some simple stretches or focused core work may be just what your body requires? By adding these often unthought of or somewhat foreign activities to your current schedule, you may find that your form improves considerably, and you begin lifting heavier weights with ease.

Or perhaps you may like your simple stroll along the beach, a brisk march along the boardwalk or hiking the trails out along our amazing local trail network. But as much as you love the outdoors and often rugged and uneven terrain, you are finding injury is beginning to muck up your favoured outdoor activities. The thought of finding the time to even begin a rehab routine at the gym to help improve your stability, strength and balance might make your mind slightly boggle, but it may be the perfect addition that your body is craving. And in turn, enabling you to take more pride in your stride each time you trek out on your expedition, with confidence and certainty.

Maybe you are amazingly flexible, prefer the slower paced momentum in life and are known as a chilled out and relaxed individual. Someone who is often in their complete Zen zone. Sometimes that tranquil quality has got to give, especially with certain stresses we encounter each day. You may benefit from leaving your usual comfort zone and chucking on a pair of boxing gloves to throw a stress releasing punch or three here and there, helping to iron out any frustration or uneasy feelings. The natural endorphins released will have you feeling a million bucks in no time, and soon you’ll be back to your normal, calm and happy self.

It’s all about balance. And about opening our minds to experience life at its best and for our minds and bodies to perform at their optimum level.

If that means pushing yourself out of your comfort zone by trying something completely new or adding something to your day-to-day routine that you never dreamed you would in a million years, it might just be what you need to create complete harmony, happiness and balance to your life.