In my personal yoga practice, I devote a lot of time to balancing poses like Utkatasana (Awkward Chair), Vrkasana (Tree), and Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon). I have to admit, this is mainly self-preservation: I have intrinsically poor balance, and I make greater strides in conquering this when I have been practicing my balancing poses.
Conversely, if I slack off on balancing poses, the results are noticeable (and not much fun). For example, a few months ago I was camping in the Drakensberg in South Africa. It was during a cold spell, and the last thing I wanted to do was go outside my warm(isn) tent to practice my balancing poses. If I was doing anything, it was going to be something heat-building! Alas, it wasn’t long after this neglect of my practice that I fell off a rock while crossing a stream, ending up soaking wet and with a gash on my shin.
Because I prefer to avoid those situations, I make a concerted effort to practice my balancing poses – as should all frequent travelers! In case you still need convincing, here are some of the benefits of ramping up your balancing pose practice:
Develop stability.
This is my favorite benefit of balancing poses, and what keeps me coming back to my mat. The stability that you develop from balancing poses helps keep you upright whether you are hopping across rocks in a stream (like me), engaging in adventure travel (like mountain climbing, in the picture above), or navigating the cobblestones of a quaint town.
Increase strength.
As with all yoga poses, a consistent practice increases your strength. Balancing poses like Utkatasana strengthen your leg muscles in particular, which are used in many travel-related activities, from long walks along the beach to long hours in a museum.
Reduce tension and fatigue.
In addition to the physical benefits, balancing poses present a number of emotional benefits. Among them is a reduction in tension and fatigue – two things that travelers often have in spades!
Image credit: Maria Ly