How to find balance, through Yoga practice - this very moment, this very Year!

A circle and a line are two concepts that I have come across a lot in Eastern traditions as well as in Judaism.

A circle represents the feminine energy, infinity, the circle of life and the never-ending process. This is expressed in our body through coldness, softness, relaxation, elements like water & earth.

A line represents masculine energy, direct and goal-oriented movement. This energy manifests itself in our body as heat, stiffness and alertness, elements like air and fire.

If we look at them at the extremes - we will find imbalance, which manifests itself in our everyday life and in cases of PTSD - as Rajas (Hyper-active) or Tamas (turning off the system and disconnection). If we search for the middle, we can find it in the symbol of Star of David. The whole which consists of the two, that are One.

You can find more symbols or practices that rely on the this principle (balance male and female energy) in settings such as yoga, meditation and events throughout the year that focus on processes of change, renewal or devotion.

Also in Kabbalah in Judaism they talk about circles and lines, as two sets of laws that control nature and creation while a person can determine which system he is in, of circles or a line.

The circles system is the endless wheel of life and death, summing up in it all the experiences we know between pleasure and pain and suffering.

The line of integrity system is a process of beginning-middle and end (Self-realization) and movement of self-development for a certain goal.

And then the question arises, how do the two fit together? How do we maintain balance or as Buddha said "the middle path"?

If we start to draw a circle but instead of closing it- the line will continue to curl - we will get a spiral, and this is actually the shape that balances the two -

Between repeating the lessons we learned, with the circularity that symbolizes softness, compassion, earth, and forgiveness.

Along with the line that continues in motion, separates from one circle to the next and continues to ascend at any given moment.

The spiral is a symbol that also reminds us that everything is supported by the earth,

Like a chain of events and lessons through which we passed and continue to pass.

And maybe, on this holiday, Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the jewish new year - we will be heads but remember the tails, the connection to the ground of the spiral.

To remember the tail can mean to remember being compassionate for ourselves along the way, in the stumbling blocks, from which we will simply get up and continue walking and dancing the journey of life.

The practices of yoga invite us to work with these two energies, in order to regulate and balance, to find the middle path.

And how does all this turn into practical practice?

I invite you to explore and deepen the practice known from yoga, with a twist of intention and renewal for the year to come:

1. Balance yoga practice: As part of the regular yoga practice, you can combine practices that focus on balancing the female to male energy. Correct practice includes yoga poses that give female energy that focus on connecting to the ground (backbend poses on the stomach, standing poses) and others that give male energy that focus on energy and movement (inverted poses, half twist, fish pose).

A Sivananda yoga class intentionally incorporates a sequence of postures that creates an overall balance while shifting the focus from one chakra to another, from one energy to another.

Here is a link to a full practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmMww1Wo6Tc&pp=ygUVc2l2YW5hbmRhIHlvZ2EgY2xhc3Nz

2. Meditation for balance: Meditation is an excellent way to understand and create the balance between the female and male energy. By focusing on the breath and raising awareness, you can think of the female and male energy striving to be in development together, thus improving the sense of wholeness and inner balance.

You can connect to the principle of seeing the whole through breathing - inhaling = male energy entering towards me from above, exhaling = female energy letting go to the ground.

Yogic Meditation Guidance & Practice - YouTube

3. Pranayama - Anuloma-Viloma breathing: Anuloma and Viloma are two terms that are common in yoga and refer to the balance of the Prana (male) and Apna (female) energies that flow respectively in the right (Pingla) and left (Ida) nostrils. To understand how Anuloma viloma balance the energies, let's take a moment to delve into the deep meaning of the two terms:

Anuloma: refers to the movement of the airflow in a serial and fast direction from the female to the male, repeating themselves in the natural direction of the nape upwards. The term means "in the natural order" and is intended to bring the flow of energy towards the head.

Viloma: refers to the movement of the air flow against the direction, the term means "against the reversal" and is intended to create no change and disorder in the process of adjusting the breathing.

Enoloma Viloma is a method that focuses on controlling the female and male energy through the manipulation of the breath flow. The main goal is to create a balance between the energies, which in turn will give us control over the life energy flow processes in the body (Prana). Through pranayama, the practice can support the creation of physical, emotional and spiritual abundance, and improve the sense of wholeness for the practitioner on a daily basis.

It is recommended to practice every morning and every evening about 10 to 20 cycles of alternating breathing in a ratio of 4 inhalations, 8-16 pauses, 8 exhalations. For guided practice enter here: https://youtu.be/8QveJnigaR8?si=6MITMhGpmnLERuWe

May we all find balance this new year!

Happy holidays!