What they don’t teach you in yoga class

Balance : (Etymology) Middle English balaunce, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin ^*bilancia, having two scale pans. (Definition) A state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces

I have been trying to do handstands for a few months now. My yoga teacher keeps telling me to relax, to keep my legs straight, point my toes and to make small adjustments using my core to find the right balance. Sounds easy enough right? Afterall, it’s all about a series of equal and opposite reactions, resulting in a state of equilibrium.

I was relaxing on the couch with my teddy bear this afternoon and I thought I’d try an experiment. I wanted to find out if I could get 红豆 (my teddy bear) to do a headstand (his arms are too short to do a handstand). The idea was to find out if without a central nervous system for coordination, nor core muscles to effect tension, is it possible to find balance?

Ta da….

Moral of the story?

There is a sweet spot. No pushing. No pulling. Where one can just be. One just needs to find it.

Oh, and of course, there really is such a thing as a Yogi Bear.

~ by huey on September 6, 2008.