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Equilibrium in Yoga: Finding Deeper Meaning Through Awareness and Balance
Equilibrium
noun
a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.
Equilibrium in Yoga: Finding Deeper Meaning Through Awareness and Balance
Equilibrium—a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced—has long been a goal of yoga practice. It’s not just about balancing the body in a pose, but about finding balance in the mind, the emotions, and the very energies that flow within us. This balance, or samatvam, is echoed in both ancient yogic texts and the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar. But what does it mean to truly reach equilibrium, and how can this concept be understood through a deeper philosophical lens, drawing from sources like the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra and Sufi wisdom?
The Microscopic Awareness: Beyond the Physical Body
As Iyengar described, many practitioners approach yoga as a physical exercise, mechanically moving through asanas without deeper reflection or involvement. The habitual practice might bring some physical benefits, but yoga—true yoga—is not about physicality alone. It's about developing a microscopic awareness, an inner penetration that awakens the intelligence within.
When we reflect on the deeper aspects of asanas, such as Iyengar’s teachings on Tadasana (Mountain Pose), we begin to see the interconnectedness of the body and mind. By aligning the inner and outer foot, engaging the thighs, and lifting the abdominal region, we’re not merely standing still—we’re creating a chain reaction of awareness that influences the breath, the senses, the mind, and emotions. In this sense, asana becomes a tool for aligning not just the physical body but the energetic and mental bodies as well.
This idea aligns beautifully with teachings from the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, a sacred text that offers 112 techniques for realizing ultimate consciousness. One of its core messages is that awareness transforms everything. The same posture practiced with habitual physicality might only engage the body, but when done with awareness, it becomes a spiritual tool—a gateway to deeper understanding and balance. The Tantra teaches that by bringing full awareness to even the most mundane actions, we access the divine.
Balancing the Energy Within: Surya and Chandra Nadis
Iyengar’s emphasis on balancing the masculine (surya nadi, or sun energy) and feminine (chandra nadi, or moon energy) forces within us mirrors ancient yogic and Tantric teachings. These opposing forces represent the dual nature of existence—activity and rest, heat and coolness, day and night. When these energies are balanced, we reach a state of equilibrium where life flows harmoniously.
The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra speaks of transcending duality through awareness, where the play of opposites—masculine and feminine, light and dark—merge into one unified field of consciousness. In yoga practice, this is symbolized through balance, where the body, mind, and energy converge, creating a state of harmony.
Linking It All Together: Purusha, Prakriti, and Yoga Practice
In yogic philosophy, we are made of two fundamental aspects: purusha (consciousness) and prakriti (matter or nature). These two forces, like Shiva and Shakti, represent the balance between the stillness of awareness and the dynamic energy of life. Our yoga practice aims to unite these forces within us. When we practice asanas with awareness, we unite our purusha (inner consciousness) with our prakriti (body and energy).
The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra offers techniques for this union. By focusing on breath, sensations, or stillness within movement, we are not only working with our physical body but also touching upon deeper aspects of our being. We are not just stretching muscles; we are stretching awareness itself.
Iyengar's teaching highlights this same principle: As we align the physical body, we also align the subtle body. We refine our energies, ensuring that the masculine and feminine, the active and passive forces within us, are working in harmony. The pose, then, becomes not just a physical exercise but an expression of the union of opposites—a path toward samadhi, or spiritual enlightenment.
The Importance of Balance in Everyday Life
The balance we cultivate on the mat reflects the balance we need in life. Just as in yoga we must balance surya (active) and chandra (restful) energies, in life we must find equilibrium between doing and being. The Sufis remind us of this through their teachings on surrender—the idea that while we must take action in life, we must also learn to let go and trust the process.
This equilibrium is also echoed in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna reminds us that samatvam—equanimity—is the essence of yoga. We practice not for results, but to create balance and steadiness within ourselves, regardless of external outcomes.
Equilibrium and the Deeper Meaning of Yoga
When we look at yoga through the lens of these ancient teachings—whether Sufi, Tantric, or Vedantic—we begin to understand that yoga is not just about physical alignment but about energetic and spiritual alignment. It’s about uniting the masculine and feminine, purusha and prakriti, mind and body.
Through awareness and balance, we transform not just our physical practice but our entire experience of life. The inner penetration that Iyengar speaks of is nothing less than the union of opposites—an alchemical process that brings us closer to wholeness.
The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra teaches that even in the most mundane actions, when performed with awareness, we can touch the divine. Similarly, the Sufi mystics remind us that through surrender and balance, we glimpse the true nature of existence.
In our yoga practice, each asana is an opportunity to align the forces within us, to unite Shiva and Shakti, and to find the equilibrium that leads to a deeper state of consciousness.
Conclusion: The Deeper Meaning of Equilibrium in Yoga
Equilibrium in yoga is more than physical balance. It’s a spiritual state where opposing forces—mind and body, purusha and prakriti, activity and rest—come together. It’s about creating harmony within ourselves so that we can move through life with grace, awareness, and strength.
Incorporating the teachings of Iyengar, the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, and the Sufi traditions into our practice allows us to go beyond the physical form and into the deeper layers of yoga, where true transformation and healing can occur.
When we practice with awareness, we create a sacred space within ourselves where the forces of life and consciousness meet, and it’s here, in this union, that we find true equilibrium—both on and off the mat.
Zahir Akram - Eternal Seeker
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