Balance

I have to admit, I have absolutely no time to write this article. I have spread myself too thin and I’m about to lose my mind. I have been working 7 days a week for the last few months and when I look into the future I only see obligations all throughout the coming weeks. I am finishing my semester at school and my photography business is taking away all the “extra” time for things like yoga journalism. I even keep trying to avoid Becky hoping she will leave me alone about this; to no avail her gentle persistence keeps reminding me of my commitment. This all feels like I am swimming underwater with a breath I took months ago. Why oh why did I say I would write about Balance when I can’t even seem to get my feet underneath me?

I know I’m not the only yogi who feels like this and I know I’m not the only one who has a preconditioned worry about the quality of my work and the quality of my practice. Still, the world keeps turning without my consent. In my experience, Balance is one of those things you don’t realize you have until you lose it. Yet, somehow standing still is harder to maintain than moving forward. If you ride a bike, you know that things start to stabilize as you accelerate. What a strange phenomenon—moving to keep from falling.

If I had to think about it (and I’m not a fan of thinking), I would notice the times when I am the most stressed about time management, quality work, and “perfect balance” are when I’m standing still trying to “think” about the full scope of what I have to do in my life. I tell myself it’s to catch my breath, but I know it’s just to worry about things I can’t control. When I’m standing still, my breath is harder to maintain because there’s no movement to help the rhythm; when I’m moving, the choice to breathe is taken out of my hands and just becomes a part of the process. This is why we are all such a fan of flow-based yoga.

Coming to the yoga room to practice balance is not about standing still; it’s about moving in the direction you’re already going. There are times when you need to take a knee of course, but this again is just another form of movement. There is also a misconception that if we go to yoga 7 days a week THEN we’ll find balance. I find the more I go to yoga, the more I find ways to fall. This is a nice gift because when you get really good at falling, people will think you know how to fly—balance through imbalance still blows my mind.

In my experience, people who compulsively attend yoga are just as susceptible to imbalance as those who never attend. To find balance in your practice, consider the time away from yoga as a valuable tool.

What we learn at the yoga studio is for the outside world anyway, so enjoy your time away if that’s where your life needs to go. If the universe is moving you away from regular practice, the more you beat yourself up for it, the longer your sabbatical will be. The moment you submit to the movement away from the yoga studio, the quicker the yoga studio will return.

My advice for this month is to relish the abundance and to enjoy when your scale starts to tip. Instead of fighting to stand, try laughing to fall. This of course is easier said than done, but consider the alternative: having nothing coming your way. The ice storm from a few months ago will always be my reminder that I’d rather have more food on my plate than not enough to need one.

Gratefully Yours,
Stevan

Have a question for Stevan? Email him at stevankoye@gmail.com. You can find Stevan teaching on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at The Mat, and you can see his outstanding photography on our instructor photo wall as well as on his Facebook page: Stevan Koye Photography. Come check it out!

The Mat's Online Community

Be part of The Mat’s online community by connecting with us on Facebook ("The Mat Yoga Studio") and Twitter ("TheMatYoga")! In addition to having immediate access to our latest studio news, events and schedule changes, you’ll be empowered by information exclusive to the online community:

Featured songs from instructor playlists – NEW in May!
Book recommendations from our staff – NEW in May!
Yoga pose alignment tips and pose modifications featured through our Pose of the Month
Quotes inspired by our monthly theme
Pictures from The Mat community

Come on over to Facebook and Twitter and laugh with us, share with us and give us a virtual smile :) Engage with this community of yogis and share with us through pictures, comments, “likes” and replies! Once you get connected we know you’ll agree, there is nothing better than The Mat community!

Upcoming Workshops!

It's Blair - with Cake!
Satsang with Blair Lewis
Sunday, May 1st, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Our next Satsang with Blair has an extra special twist! The event will be the same inspiring and informative Q&A, fellowship, and community time, but this time, we are lucky enough to enjoy a very special cake donated by our own Tami Chitwood and her Tami Cakes! Tami is entering this cake in a contest earlier in the day, and we will be the lucky recipients to enjoy it when she is done. Here's her description of this amazing creation: The cake is a meditating Buddha statue in a pagoda, with a lantern that will have an amber flickering light in it. It will all be on mossy stone with a backdrop of bamboo. All or most of the cake will be vanilla orange cake with a buttercream icing and covered in fondant.

This Satsang is a chance to get your questions answered about yoga, yogic philosophy, meditation, ayurveda, and a host of other yogic related topics. This two hour interactive discussion is always informative, enlightening and entertaining. Cost is by donation. Please pre-register if possible, so we know how many people to expect, either online or in the studio.

Bhuta Agni - The Yoga of Spring Cleaning
with Aaron Price
Saturday, May 28th, 12:30pm-2:30pm

Bhuta Agni is an ancient yogic practice of purifying the heart and mind of the demons that posses them. Aaron will empower you to let go of negative habits that may be holding you back in life and access your own incredible personal power. We will work intensively with the Bandhas, so please come on as empty of a stomach as possible.

Space is limited and pre-register is required, either online or in the studio.

Yoga Teacher Training at The Mat!

Yoga with a Therapeutic Emphasis
200-hour and 300-hour RYT programs

The Mat is so excited to be hosting Divine School of Yoga Therapy’s teacher training programs. The 200-hour RYT program is still open for registration and will begin in June 2011. For dates, pricing and more details, please visit DSOYT’s website at http://www.dsoyt.com/ or call 682.325.YOGI(9644).

We will be hosting our last two Open House events at The Mat on Saturday, May 14th from 1:30pm-2:30pm and on Sunday, May 22nd from 12:30pm-1:30pm for all those interested in finding out more information. Click here for more information. Don't miss these extremely informative sessions!

My Yoga Story - Helen Henderson

Helen has been practicing at The Mat since February. She is moving to Pittsburgh this summer and we will miss her dearly. We are so grateful that she is sharing her Yoga story with us this month!

Why do you practice Yoga?
I practice yoga in order to quiet my mind. I have anxiety, so I began practicing yoga as a way to learn to breathe through situations that make me uncomfortable or anxious. Yoga makes me really feel my body, and now I have a connection to my body and mind.

How were you first introduced to Yoga? And, when did you begin your practice?
I was visiting a friend in California, and we were discussing my anxiety. She suggested I start practicing yoga, and invited me to join her for a couple of classes with her during my visit. My first introduction to yoga was a 60 minute vinyasa class. I was warned it would be tough, and I was certainly sore the next day, but I was completely in love with yoga, and knew I had to add it to my life. Once I was back in Texas, I started looking for a yoga studio. I began my practice with The Mat on February 28, 2011.

How often do you practice?
I’ve been attending yoga classes daily. It’s the one hour I get during the day to do something just for me. Practicing yoga has given me the ability to think clearly about the things I do the rest of the day. I also attend meditation twice a week. The meditation classes are 30 minutes of bliss!

What are a few of the benefits that you have experienced? How does your practice help you in your daily life?
The physical benefits I’ve noticed with yoga are strength, balance and increased flexibility. These are helping me daily with my posture, and I’m not nearly as clumsy as I used to be. I’ve also experienced mental benefits. My anxiety is under control now, and I feel more in touch with me. This helps in my daily life because I don’t have an immediate reaction to things that happen throughout the day. I take time to think about what is happening, and how I should react.

What is one tip you would give to a new practitioner of Yoga?
If I could only give one tip to a new practitioner of Yoga, it would be to smile. Smile while in the poses and during the transition from one pose to another. Enjoy every moment. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing, just smile and enjoy.

Why do you practice with us, at The Mat?
I practice at The Mat because the studio is warm and friendly! I feel the teachers are there to help each person on their journey with yoga, physically and mentally. Everyone at The Mat is very approachable and will answer questions, or help after class with a pose. The Mat has a fantastic energy, and I feel it as soon as I walk through the door.

What others are saying about Stevan's classes...

"Stevan's classes are always refreshing. He has a special way of linking each class with his own profound life lessons, while giving you the gluteus maximus workout of your life! It is obvious that yoga means so much more than the physical movements for Stevan; and he is able to relate this through his teaching." -Alyssa

"Stevan combines challenging postures with time to breathe and feel... and his great playlists and Star Wars humor keep even the nerdiest of us happy! If you haven't taken his class yet, put it as a top priority!" -Heather

"Stevan’s classes are always interesting. From the transitions through sequencing to his messaging – it’s always something new and fun! He has a whole different perspective on things that makes you take a look at the postures and life in a different way." -Rene'

"Stevan has a way of making everything accessible. His class has a great mixture of challenge and fun. I especially enjoy his meditation class on Mondays. I believe it keeps me out of therapy." -Jackie

"Stevan’s classes are totally unique and never boring! With Stevan I am always challenged and I ALWAYS have fun. He has a way of making even the most demanding sequences feel fun and I always feel encouraged to take a chance and try something new. Stevan makes each student feel like they can explore their own practice and gives us all permission to fall! Having fun, sweating and exploring one’s personal process are all parts of a class with Stevan." -Lisa

Do you have feedback about Stevan or any other teacher at The Mat? Email Becky at becky@thematyogastudio.com.

Visit us at www.thematyogastudio.com for studio information. We look forward to seeing you on The Mat!

The Mat Yoga Studio
670 N. Coit Road, Suite 2381
Richardson, Texas 75080