In yoga, there are many balance postures and some of them can be impressive like handstand, one-legged ones. However, body balance is not only about postures. Have you heard about homeostasis??? This is about balance or equilibrium in our body, mind and energy.
Homeostasis (homeo = “similar”, stasis = state, position, “standing still”) refers to the ability of the body to unconsciously regulates its temperature, fluid balance, blood pH, and oxygen tension within narrow limits, while obtaining nutrition to provide the energy to maintain homeostasis to survive. This is the condition of optimal functioning for the organism. Yoga stimulates homeostasis to help achieve & maintain the physiological (physical body systems), emotional (our emotions), mental (our thoughts) balance.
In Yoga, postures (Asana) and breathing practices (Pranayama, Bandha, Kriya…) largely stimulate homeostatic functions of our body through their regulatory activation of endocrine and autonomic nervous systems.
Deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the return of calm, as well as recovery and tissue repair.
Homeostasis also applies to emotions and thoughts. Indeed, when we put down our emotions, feelings and thoughts, at some point of time tension builds up and creates pressure and irritation. When we do not allow our emotions to be felt freely and liberated, they return to stay in our cells and can cause long term illness.
Taking responsibility for our health and well-being with yoga by stimulating our homeostatic systems of elimination, cell regeneration and maintenance of balance, enables physical and mental balance and strengthens sustainable operations of the whole organism that comes directly from within.
