This phrase works much better for me than "May the Force be with you.” Truthfully, wouldn’t you rather flow through life than force your way through it? Both words connote movement, but approaches and results are worlds apart.
Force seems to have a destructive quality about it, while flow has a more natural and expansive feel to it.
Flow in positive psychology, also known as the zone, is the mental state of operation in which a person feels fully immersed in activity with an energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the performance of the activity. In essence, what characterizes flow is the complete absorption in what one does.
A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that flow correlates with happiness. Research shows that people who experience a lot of flow regularly also develop other positive traits, such as increased concentration, self-esteem, and performance.
Flow on the mat
The experience of flow is what hooked me on TriYoga, the type of yoga that I practice. My practice on the mat gives me the tools to be present to myself and feel integrated, in spite of life’s daily demands and distractions, often amplified by technology and social media.
Letting go of tension in life is a lot harder to do than to commit to practice or to hold a challenging pose. My yoga mat provides me with a safe laboratory on which to practice and nourish myself, helping me flow with more ease and grace during all of life's moments.
Life flows in spite of our actions, but not always in a smooth, rhythmical pattern that suits us. Losing our balance is easy. What do you do when this happens to you?
Hopefully, by now, you’ve acquired a set of skills and tools to help you regain your equilibrium when thrown off course. The feeling of balance can become a moving target as life continues to happen all around us, and often it may not last very long.
It takes work to figure out what our bodies, mind, and soul need to achieve and maintain balance within. With attention, awareness, and the discipline to practice regularly, we can achieve balance and stay in the flow.
Reboot your flow
If life has you spinning out of balance, perhaps you need a reboot. Better yet, how’s about a new set of tools to add to your bag of tricks to help you find balance and regain your flow?
Join me for Finding Balance On and Off the Mat Workshop, at the Goldring-Woldenberg Jewish Community Center, 3747 West Esplanade in Metairie, on Sunday, July 16th from 3-5 pm. Click here for details and to register.
TriYoga Flows, a complete Hatha Yoga method, is the union of posture, breath, and focus, and is beautifully described below by TriYoga's founder, Yogini Kaliji.
Through applying the principles of YogaFlow, one begins to feel the life-flow. Extension in all directions expands awareness. Relaxation-in-action allows one to maintain balance. Rhythm of body and breath tunes one to the inner dance. Economy of movement cultivates having only thoughts that are needed. Wavelike movements remind us to remain at peace within the pair of opposites.
May the Flow be with you,
