Effort & Ease

by Erin Ipjian

If you’ve been studying and practicing yoga for some time, chances are pretty good that you’ve come across this suggestion from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras,

sthira sukham asanam

Postures should be practiced with steadiness and ease.

Yoga Sutra 2.46. While this advice sounds simple enough, the truth is we can spend a lifetime exploring the balance between these forces, both on the mat and off. At times - on the mat - our practice can be quite demanding, challenging us to find our balance, stay a bit longer than we might otherwise believe we can, or experiment with a movement we have never tried before. Sometimes we surprise ourselves, finding a strength we didn’t know we had.

Left unchecked, however, this energy can leave us depleted, never knowing the feeling of having done enough. Here’s where the ease comes into play. Those moments when we soften into child’s pose, feel the weight of our bones anchor down in Savasana, or even practice a method like yin yoga or restorative that invite us to completely soften, we practice the equally important art of letting go.

With a dedicated practice, we become more adept at navigating this interplay of effort and ease. We might even find that the lessons gained from our practice help us believe in our ability to do hard things and yet recognize when it is time to give ourselves (and others) a little grace.

So, here’s to a lifetime of finding balance, on the mat and off. We’re here all week with plenty of opportunities - in studio and online - to help you find it.