Do you sometimes feel that the world is tipping to one side and you cannot find your balance?

In yoga we practise balancing postures and balancing yoga exercises. These are essential to help out body and mind to be centred and feel in harmony.

What’s great is that you can do standing balancing postures or breathing exercises at any point during the day and it’s a lot more inconspicuous than doing a head stand (which does require balance, but it’s in another league).

The key to achieve balance is to focus on the process, not the outcome of your actions. In yoga terms, this is detachment, or non-grasping.

Let’s see Tree Pose.

To develop your one-legged balancing pose you have to take gradual steps.

1- Stand solidly in Tadasana, Mountain pose. Feel grounded and at the same time connected to the sky through the crown of your head. Draw your shoulders down and away from your ears. Anchor your gaze softly on a non moving spot on the floor or wall in front of you. Find your Ujjayi breath.

2- Feel the fours corners of your feet firmly on the floor. Shift your weight onto the left leg and into the left foot. Draw the abdominal muscles in towards the spine, pointing the tailbone straight down toward the left heel. Lift the sternum.

3- When you are ready, bend you right knee and place the sole of your right foot next to your left ankle. Practice this until you feel at ease. Then bring your foot up as high as possible on your inner left thigh. Avoid the knee and press your foot and thigh into each other.

4- Slowly bring your hands into prayer position (Namaste) in front of your heart. Steady the eyes, breathe, and relax the mind. Release your shoulders and breath.

If you want to take it a little bit further you can place your right foot over your left leg in half lotus.

Always remember to do it in both sides, right and left. There is always one side that will be easier than the other. If you feel patient and brave, you can start trying it out on your most difficult side and then go to the easier side.