Yoga and the Art of Remaining Balanced

Life can be a difficult balancing act. But try we must, whether we succeed or fail. (Broadway in midtown Manhattan.)

Last month, I wrote about how each of us has a sacred duty that we are called upon to fulfill in this lifetime here on Earth. The difficult thing is not only figuring out what that is – though if you sit still long enough and listen to your heart, you will – but also executing it. For sure, we will be thrown off-balance at times as we try.

Over the years I’ve been teaching yoga, there are perennial yoga teachings that I return to over and over again because I think they are important to keep top-of-mind. One is this lesson from the Bhagavad Gita:

You have control over actions alone, never over its fruits.  Live not for the fruits of action, nor attach yourself to inaction.  Established in Yoga, O Arjuna, perform actions having abandoned attachment and having become balanced in success and failure, for balance of mind is called Yoga.
— Krishna speaking Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita (Chapter 2)

Though the Bhagavad Gita is describing Karma Yoga, or the “yoga of action,” I like to remind students who do yoga asana practice that the goal is not to be able to touch your toes or stand on your head. More importantly, the goal is to cultivate equanimity in our mind as we attempt to touch our toes or stand on our heads or run the marathon or whatever. And whether we’re practicing yoga on the mat or out in the real world, the way we cultivate this equanimity is by simply giving it our best shot while not being attached to the results. Buddhist Teachings say:

Equanimity is letting go of the fruits of our actions.

This teaching is really resonating with me right now. New York City is fully open again after 3 years of pandemic restrictions and concerns. It feels absolutely wonderful! Lately, I’ve been working on re-building the nonprofit I founded, Keoni Movement Arts, back to where we were when the pandemic brought us to a halt in March 2020. Building anything from the ground up is filled with many uncertainties, but I keep reminding myself to just take things one step at a time, follow my instincts and give it my best shot, and try to stay calm as the results come in. This kind of thinking has really helped.

I know that you are thinking about your next goals and next steps. I know that you may be feeling off-balanced a bit as you pursue them. Please know that you are not alone, that you are experiencing what everyone else here on Earth has experienced at one time or another. And I hope that yoga can help you to let go of the results as you take your best actions. Always remember: though you may have had some particular destiny in mind, the actual arrivals may end up being more exciting and fulfilling than you could have ever imagined.

A long while back a friend told me of something he had heard some famous movie director (perhaps George Lucas) say. It was something like: films are not completed, they’re simply at some point abandoned. Similarly, it is not our job to complete our duty, but rather simply know when it’s time to let go of whatever results we’ve achieved and then move on. I’m going to take that advice by ending here and simply saying that I wish you best of luck in practicing yoga in action and I wish you exciting moments ahead!

May you be happy, …
May you be healthy, …
May yoga help you to give it your best shot, …
May you not be attached to the results, …
May you remain balanced, … for the benefit ALL Beings everywhere.

Aloha and Metta,
Paul Keoni Chun

Staying balanced while practicing virasana (hero pose) can be a challenge for everyone, but without life's curveballs, we cannot grow.