Developing Balance

Jesus grew relationally, physically, and spiritually while here on earth. He also developed prudence in handling life’s varied circumstances. (Luke 2:52: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.) By His Son’s example, God affirms that He is interested and concerned with your total person. He wants you–and all His children–to be balanced individuals, continually maturing in each life area including your “Child of God” and “Self-Care Manager” roles. God cares about all areas of your life. He wants to help you balance your roles and goals. Yet balance itself has no specific objective. It is a constant state of motion and flex. To help you understand this, imagine the following:

• You stood up and twirled around several times.

• You ran in place for several minutes and skipped to the corner of the room and back.

• You twirled around twice more.

• Then you immediately tried to balance on one foot.

Now imagine the subtle adjustments you had to make in your foot and body to maintain equilibrium. This imaginary activity is designed to give you a picture of what you’re attempting to do in balancing the different aspects and roles of your life during any given day. Developing balance is a skill—with the constant give and take. Today consider asking God to help you cultivate this skill. You can do it. It’s a doable and reasonable process! Joan C. Webb Author, Speaker/Teacher, Life Coach, IW LifePlan Facilitator www.joancwebb.com

Christian Yoginis are WILD for Wild Thing Pose

Enjoy increased strength and balance with the Wild Thing Pose!

Wild Thing Pose (also called “Flipped Dog”) has these benefits:

• Strengthens the back, arms, belly and legs.
• Stretches and strengthens the wrists.
• Improves sense of balance.

Wild Thing Pose Step-by-Step:

Step one: Come into Plank Pose and place one hand under the face so that hand is in front of the shoulder.
Step two: Turn the body to stack hips on top of each other. Now the shoulder and wrist are inline.
Step three: Feet become active, toes spread and press into the inner edges of the feet as hips draw up and other hands rests on the hip or extends straight up.
Step four: Heart opens as thighs strengthen while extending through inside of leg and inner foot presses towards the floor.
Step five: Gaze is up.
Step six: Lift top leg straight up. Flex the foot.
Step seven: Then drop the leg behind you, curving the back and rolling the shoulder back to lift the heart.
Step eight: Turn the body back over into Plank Pose to finish the series.

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This is an excerpt from our guide to self-care, Christian Yoga: Restoration for Body and Soul.