Balance -- Topic for September 2006 Issue of Blind Faith Bodywork's Spiral Eye Newsletter

Balance is fleeting, or so I've learned from my yoga practice - and from life. Yet it's still something I long to have more of- balance between my business, personal time, and time dedicated to relationships - balancing my needs versus those of others - finding time for rest, exercise, mental activity, and - oh, yes, I almost forgot - play.

Balance seems to require constant consciousness and self-awareness. What do I need right now? What is necessary for the long-term? If I lose track of priorities or take on too much, I can feel scattered and overwhelmed. (Let's face it, sometimes life is just overwhelming and out of our control.) One of my personal priorities needs to be quiet time, space for non-doing. In these moments, priorities often settle themselves, and I can let go of what is unimportant, or at least perceive what can be set aside for now.

As in yoga, balance requires regular practice, and may be easier to achieve on some days than others. Maybe it's maturity or self-knowledge, or maybe just exhaustion, that makes it easier for me to recognize when I need a break, some quiet time to find the peace within the overwhelming drive to accomplish stuff which is so much a part of this culture. And if I'm constantly striving to do things, when can I have the time and awareness to notice the fleeting balance which I sometimes achieve?

Enlightened Humor?

Why does it take Buddha so long to vacuum his couch?
He has no attachments.

What did the Buddhist say to the hot dog vendor?
Make me one with everything.

Why did the meditator decline novacaine while at the dentist?
She wanted to transcend dental medication.

Quotes

"We trained hard - but it seemed that every time we were
beginning to form into teams, we would be reorganized.
I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new
situation by reorganizing. And what a wonderful method it
can be for creating the illusion of progress while
producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization."
- Gaius Petronius Arbiter, died 66. A.D.

"The important thing is this:
to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are
for what we could become."
- Charles Dubois

"The greatest gift of a lifetime is to be exactly who you are."
- Joseph Campbell

"Aware that life is available only in the present moment and that it is possible to live happily in the here and now. We are committed to training ourselves to live deeply each moment of daily life. We will try not to lose ourselves in dispersion or be carried away by regrets about the past, worries about the future, or craving, anger, jealousy in the present. We will practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. We are determined to learn the art of mindful living by touching the wondrous, refreshing, and healing elements that are inside and around us, and by nourishing the seeds of joy, peace, love, and understanding in ourselves, thus facilitating the work of transformation and healing in our consciousness."

#7 of the Commentaries on the 14 Mindfulness Trainings.
from 'Inter Being: 14 Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism'
by Thich Nhat Hanh
www.plumvillage.org

Hawk
by Sue Redding

clear sky
gliding high
sharp eye

far seeing
long knowing
high flying

I don't see anything
others couldn't see
I just have a different vantage point

I don't fly higher
than others could
but I know I have wings
and a willingness to soar

Good Snooze: 10 Tips For Better Sleep
by Kim Droze

From premature aging to a compromised immune system, the side-effects of sleepless nights can add up, according to Barbara Harris, editor-in-chief of Shape magazine. She says getting in the best shape of your life requires more than just a good workout. In fact, Harris maintains that in order to improve your overall health, you need to take a holistic approach that focuses on seven main areas: sleep, exercise, diet, spirituality, emotions, body image, work.

Sleep is crucial for optimum immunity, Harris says. When you do not get enough shuteye, your workouts may be less effective and you are more likely to store fat. But that's not all. Your ability to manage stress throughout the day is also compromised. Studies reveal women frequently turn to food to soothe themselves in times of stress and eat more to raise their energy level.

10 tips for a good night's snooze:
1. Get regular exposure to daylight, especially in the afternoon.

2. Prior to bedtime, use dimmer switches or turn off a few lamps to lower the lighting in your home.

3. Don't allow yourself to nod off on the sofa. When you start feeling drowsy, get up and go to bed.

4. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. Don't make it a satellite office, study hall or entertainment center.

5. When you can't sleep, try using imagery and thoughts to relax. Deep-breathing techniques also work.

6. If you haven't dropped off within about 20 minutes, get out of bed and read or engage in some other quiet activity. Go back to bed when you get sleepy.

7. Put the alarm clock out of sight. Clock watching doesn't help you sleep & it may even keep you awake.

8. Sleep specialists recommend lying on your back or on your side, not your stomach.

9. Get Fido and Fluffy their own comfy beds. In a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, half the people surveyed had their sleep disturbed by pets.

10. Only take over-the-counter sleep aids as an occasional emergency measure. You can build up a tolerance to them very quickly. If you find yourself relying on them, see your doctor.

This information was provided by eDiets.com, Copyright 2003.

Editor's Note: Excerpted from an article in Massage and Body Work Magazine, June-July 2003. How can you know 20 minutes have passed (6) if your alarm clock is out of sight (7)?

Other tips that may help with sleep:
- Regular times for going to bed and getting up can help your sleep patterns.
- Most people need 9 hours of sleep a night, not 8 or less.

- Be careful about caffeine intake, especially in the afternoon and evening. This includes coffee, black and green tea, chocolate, and some soft drinks.

- If you suffer from sleep disruption (waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble going back to sleep), try listening to soothing music or a slightly dull recorded book, available at most libraries.