Finding your balance…

I wrote this article for the October edition of Talk of the Town, Saltburn’s monthly news magazine, hope you like it….

(Photography by Class 4 Studios)

How is your balance? If you think I’m talking about standing on one leg, then I am. If you think I’m talking about your life, then I am.

Being ‘in balance’ can be described as ‘different elements that are equal or in the correct proportions.’ I would describe it as finding your middle point, balance is never static, it is constantly moving, a little this way, a little that way.
Have you even been on a strict diet only to end up falling off the wagon and bingeing on junk food? Think of a pendulum, if you pull it one way it has to swing back in the other direction before it finds its balance again. If you go too far in one direction i.e. a strict and limited diet, you will normally end up going too far in the opposite direction i.e. a junk food binge. If you are able to stay balanced in the middle, a little this way, a little that way, a bit of healthy food, a naughty treat here and there, you will be far more likely to stay away from the unhealthy extremes at either end.
The logic of balance and finding your middle can be applied to all parts of your life. Think about exercise, have you ever set yourself a challenging gym programme which will see you working out 5 times a week? How long can your motivation and commitment last for? A week, a month?
Everything has two extremes, everything has degrees of the pendulum swing, and if you go to the extremes you won’t survive for long. In the middle there is no energy pushing or pulling, there is peace. When you stop swinging and concentrate your attention in the middle, you will find more energy than you ever imagined as the struggle is always with the opposites.
How do you do this? You don’t follow the extremes, if you feel pulled in one direction, let it go, and get back to your balance. It takes time and practice to do this but it’s worth it. Life is a balance of holding on and letting go.
By Vicky Rees
Vicky is a Pilates Teacher and owner at Studio 21 Yarm, the studio is located at 21 Yarm High Street and hosts a variety of levels of matwork and equipment Pilates sessions. From beginners to advanced matwork, antenatal Pilates, postnatal Pilates, Pilatesstick classes and Reformer sessions, Studio 21 has something for everyone, get in touch today! www.studio21yarm.co.uk or contact Vicky on 07929 601043.