Written by Amanda Dzengeleski
To celebrate the addition of Candlelight Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra to our weekly schedule, we are offering a FREE class on Wednesday, September 20 at 6:15-7:30 p.m. Bring a friend and join us In-Person at The Parlour or Online. We look forward to sharing this sacred time with you.
In September, we will explore how to cultivate balance in body, mind and heart in our Lunchtime Learning series. Join us every Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
September 6: Balance with the Gunas with Ainslee
September 13: Sthira and Sukha - Balancing Steadiness and Ease with Amanda
September 20: Fascia and Balance - A Functional Approach to Balance with Sam
September 27: Vision, Drishti and Balance with Aviva
Our ability to maintain balance relies largely on the integration of three vital systems: the visual system, the vestibular system (inner ear) and proprioception. The visual and vestibular systems work synergistically to orient us in space and guide our balance. Proprioception is the unconscious awareness of our body position based on information perceived through our muscles and joints. A deficiency in any one of these systems can impact our ability to move and balance safely and effectively.
Our vision plays a vital role in our ability to balance well. Our eyes are wired to connect to our muscles, and give our brain a sense of where our body is in space. When we fix our gaze in the right place we have better control of our bodily position. In yogic tradition, a “drishti” is a point of focus that can help you stay balanced in a posture. Keeping your gaze fixed on a stationary focal point makes it easier to remain grounded and find steadiness in a pose.
Most of us will have difficulty when trying to balance with our eyes closed. When we close our eyes, we rely on our other balance sensors to keep us upright. In fact, balancing with the eyes closed helps to strengthen the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. The vestibular organs provide information regarding the position of our head in relation to our surroundings. When we practice postures that bring our head out of its typical alignment, like Warrior III, we exercise our vestibular system.
Like the visual and vestibular systems, proprioception plays an important role in the coordination and control of balanced movement. Our proprioceptors send fast-firing signals to our brain, which instantly communicate to our body how to adjust our position to keep us upright. The National Library of Medicine suggests that as we age, our proprioceptive function declines. Yoga can optimize our proprioception by challenging the ways in which we stay balanced and upright in a physical practice. Yoga brings a mindful awareness to our movement patterns and overtime strengthens our ability to move more fluidly and with an appropriate amount of force.
A regular balance practice can improve stability and reduce the risk of falling. Those with visual, vestibular or proprioceptive challenges may benefit from practicing balance postures against a wall or using the support of a chair. Despite all, give yourself the grace to meet your body where it’s at.
At Dogwood Studio, we adapt yoga poses to your body promoting increased elasticity, strength, balance, decreased reactivity, and sense of well-being. We are here to support your regular balance practice. Consider scheduling a private yoga therapy session for a customized yoga practice. or join us for a group class.
If you have questions, reach out to us at info@dogwoodstudioyoga.com. We are here to help.
Amanda Dzengeleski is a 200-hour registered yoga teacher (RYT), lifelong student, and lover of movement. She first discovered yoga as a form of mind-body medicine that cultivated a deeper state of self-awareness and personal growth. Using a trauma-informed approach, Amanda empowers her students to move freely and intentionally in celebration of body, mind, and soul.
SAM Sather, founder of Dogwood Studios, is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT) and an Insight Yoga Institute (IYI) endorsed teacher. She individualizes the yoga practice with appropriate modifications for participants’ unique bodies and medical histories with a focus on finding calm and improving health. She offers several live, online and in person yoga classes as well as private sessions so you can focus on your needs one-on-one.