a [mostly] balanced lifestyle

You say gluten, I say gluten-free [sometimes]. Let's just figure out what's best for each of us so we're mostly balanced, sound good?

Yoga Sutra 2.46 says that our "posture (asana) [should be] stable (sthira) and comfortable (sukha)." In order to breathe with ease, whether in a twisted upside-down yoga pose or in the midst of a conversation, we should essentially have a focused and sturdy foundation alongside a gentle, joyful essence.

And so essentially, yoga offers us this practice of being courageously grounded and committed to whatever we are doing, without force or strain, in order to experience the present moment easefully.

Easier said than done, am I right or am I right?

Reestablishing balance is a result of looking within, which means observing all of our physical and mental components without judgement: baggage, talents and triumphs, losses and embarrassments, past and present circumstances. It is these characteristics and experiences, after all, that make us who we are.

When we are able to uncover a clearer perspective, we can begin to notice what is out of whack, or what is making us feel off. It is not unlike repairing a car engine: we see the check engine light illuminate, look through all of the car parts, eventually notice what isn't functioning optimally, and act accordingly in order to bring everything back into balance.

Yoga International explains: Cultivating sthira and sukha as we move through the days and seasons of our lives establishes a foundation for fully realizing our spiritual aspirations, for accomplishing our worldly goals, and for weathering the inevitable changes and difficulties that come our way.

That being said - reinstating balance is not a means of perfectionism. We would not know light without dark, and so we cannot accept and realize balance without, well, imbalance. If we were all perfect porcelain robots, life would be no fun, but it is more fun if we are mostly balanced instead of uncomfortable.

Click here to read the full post, including 5 tips to help you dust off whatever is making you feel unstable and restore the [mostly] balanced state that exists within us all.

What do you do to restore and enhance the balance that is already within you? What makes you feel both securely stable and easy breezy?

Continue onward for more goodness: how to wash fresh greens for a balanced diet, discounts on some of my favorite things to support a balanced lifestyle, tunes and wellness happenings.

Photo by Renee Choi, wearing Hyde organic apparel in DUMBO, Brooklyn.