The concept of balance in yoga might make you think of tree pose or handstand, but the sutras discuss finding balance in asana (your yoga movement practice) as a whole, not just in the classic "balancing" poses.

The concept of balance flows easily from the yoga mat to real life, especially as a working mom with a full schedule. The philosophy does not simply translate into perfecting work-life balance, but rather challenges us to explore a life that is both structured and fluid.

Keep reading to learn about sthira and sukha in yoga philosophy and asana, and examine how they might be applied to your own life and motherhood.

Note: Sutras quoted in this article come from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, an ancient text of yogic wisdom compiled and organized in the Sanskrit language by Patanjali sometime in the early centuries CE. Translations and quotes describing the sutras are from Tantra of the Yoga Sutras: Essential Wisdom for Living with Awareness and Grace by Alan Finger with Wendy Newton.

Sthira and Sukha in Yoga Philosophy

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the concepts of sthira and sukha can be described as steadiness and ease, respectively. Alan Finger and Wendy Newton translate sutra 2.46 as, "Asana is practiced to develop a stable and relaxed body." In my studies, teachers have referred to sthira as structure, steadiness, strength, and effort, whereas sukha references ease, relaxation, softness, and gentleness.

2.46 Sthira sukham asanam

Sutra 2.46 specifically refers to the asana practice, or the movement portion of yoga. When we are physically on our yoga mat practicing, we can focus on what it feels like to find both structure and relaxation in individual poses and across the practice as a whole.

Rather than powering through a strength flow with every muscle engaged and working the entire time, we can explore periods of ease and rest throughout the practice. And even when we are experiencing a challenging pose, we can explore whether there are places on our body we can relax, even as other areas work hard to maintain the pose.

The sutras go on to explain that focusing on this balance pushes our awareness into the now. When we carry this practice off the mat, we improve presence and release dualities to instead rest in our true nature.

Applying Balance in Everyday Motherhood

Our society is wired to productivity, busyness, and accomplishment. Even after working hard all day, moms are expected to pick up their kids and tote them to a different activity every evening, keeping the whole family engaged in a cycle of doing.

This standard is why I built my entire blog and wellness business around slowing down. But, my goal is not to swing in the complete opposite direction where schedules and goals don't exist. Instead, a balance between doing and being, pushing and resting, productivity and recovery is necessary for us to more readily step into the present moment without burning out.

Applying balance between these two concepts to your everyday and throughout your year can support your ability to stay present in all your roles, including at work and at home. As working moms, it's easy to fall into the belief that we need to be taking care of something (anyone else have the running to do list in their mind?) but sometimes the best thing we can model is steady relaxation and gentle routine.

Practicing this balance is also an excellent way to incorporate natural rhythms into your life. Embrace slow mornings before the pressures of work seep in, block specific times on your work calendar for creative problem solving and thinking, or shift your family's evening routine as the long days of summer slowly shift to dark winter.

Start on your yoga mat and in reflection, then seek out ways to begin making shifts toward balance in your day to day life.

Put It Into Practice

Sthira and Sukha Exploration Yoga Practice

This 18-minute yoga movement practice and short meditation offers an opportunity to explore the concepts of sthira and sukha through lunge pose. Consider these concepts as you practice, and keep them top of mind in your other yoga practices and poses as well. Finding balance between structure and fluidity is something we can do in every yoga shape.

Translate Your Yoga Practice into Your Every Day

Before you go, spend a few moments, maybe even with your journal, reflecting on effort and ease in your daily motherhood. Where are you pushing? Where are you relaxed? Are there opportunities to find a greater balance between these two states of being?

When you examine your year, are there times of year that are busy and times that are more easeful? Do they feel balanced, or is there a need to integrate more of one throughout the year to ensure solid periods of rest amidst the busyness?

When you get to the end of your day this evening, consider (without judgment) whether you managed to balance busyness with rest, structure with fluidity, and effort with ease. If you felt there were portions of your day where swinging back into one or the other would have been supportive, take note and strive to make that shift tomorrow.

More Ways to Ease the Overwhelm

• The online yoga studio for busy, working moms seeking a slower way of life offers monthly pre-recorded yoga and meditation you can use to sink into a slower pace, plus a slow down framework where you can restructure your most overwhelming challenges into peaceful, rhythmic routines that support you and your family.

• Two-minute Reset Meditations for Routine Calm Days includes ten completely free two-minute meditations for you to capture a moment of calm right now, without spending an hour at the yoga studio or taking paid leave.

• The Mama Naturalist on my website and Substack is a space where I share both conceptual and practical guidance on slowing down, connecting to nature, and living seasonally.

• Mindful Moms Digest offers exclusive yoga and meditation classes, nature stories from a wildlife biologist (me!), and free, supportive resources including links back to every blog post for busy, working moms journeying toward a slower, more seasonal way of life.

• Cultivate Calm Mornings is a structured series of three yoga workshops that supports you in transforming your morning routine from chaotic to calm.