After moving to an island, this typically land-locked human decided to get a paddleboard as a way to get out on the ocean. I’ve gone a handful of times now and been humbled quickly. As someone who has spent all my life in the mountains, I have little knowledge about the ways of the ocean. It’s been a perfect activity to stretch my comfort zone and see what it can teach me.  One of the basic lessons has been around balance, both in my body and my mind.

LESSONS FROM A PADDLE BOARD

A practice in physical balance, though obvious with paddleboarding, is an important one.  Moving from kneeling to standing is a lesson in trusting myself and the board. Staying centered on the board and remaining calm help the process significantly.

With some of the health issues I’ve encountered in the last few years, I have lost some balance ability, which makes it important for me to find ways to practice. Paddleboarding is definitely that. I’ve seen how tightening up and trying to predict the movement of waves quickly takes me to my knees or for an ocean dip. 

When I relax, gaze out ahead and settle into the rhythm of paddling, my body moves more smoothly with the board and waves.

These are similar practices that help me keep a more balanced mind in daily life, which have helped manage health symptoms effectively.

BODY CUES

I know that whenever my shoulders tense up toward my ears, when my jaw and stomach become tight, and eyes straining, then my breath becomes short and shallow. These physical reactions all point to a racing mind. Whatever choices I make when my mind and body react this way is typically not the most thought out and helpful. 

All of these cues, though, are more subtle and easy to overlook than the immediate feedback of ocean waves. Most of us have been taught to ignore our body’s cues and focus more on trusting our thoughts. 

That is the amazing thing about life experiences. They are there to help guide us to the lessons we need to learn so we can begin to guide ourselves to more subtle, inner knowing. This process is the basis of Yoga – experience, discern, let go.

A LESSON OF BALANCE FROM NATURE

When I think about balance, the image of a tall, towering tree comes to my mind. Trees that are thriving have balance between the stability of their roots and lower trunk with the mobility of the upper trunk, branches and leaves. They have to have both or they will be knocked down or blown away by the wind.

They learn and adjust as they grow with the patterns of the weather they live in. Some trees live in an environment where the wind always blows from the same direction. They will look different than the same species that grows where the wind changes directions constantly.

As humans, we don’t have physical roots and are more mobile than trees. But we still need to find the balance between stability and mobility. For us, the mind is the stage to find lasting balance. Our bodies reflect where our minds are at.

It’s an ongoing process to manage mind fluctuations. When the mind becomes overly stable, thinking becomes rigid, inflexible, stubborn, narrow, and controlling. When the mind becomes overly mobile, thinking becomes excessive, ruminating, tangential, distracted, and impulsive. 

BALANCE REQUIRES SELF-AWARENESS

The first step in managing the mind to find ‘just right’ equilibrium is self-awareness. You can not change what you aren’t aware of.

Since the body is a more tangible experience, it is a wonderful resource to use to become aware. This is how practicing yoga asana is a helpful tool for a lot of people. By moving the body, you can start to notice sensations in the body that don’t get a second thought when we are running around during our busy days.

I know for myself, becoming aware of the breath created a deeper sense of awareness. It was amazing how much it helped to slow down and calm my mind. As an athletic person, I experience how breathing can actually change my performance. The breath is an amazing, always accessible tool.

Both body and breath give us a lot of information about our mind state if we take time to become aware and listen. 

PRACTICE WITH LIFE EXPERIENCES

Back to paddle boarding. The other day, when we turned around to head back to our starting point, there was a strong headwind. Rounding a point, the wind became stronger and my mind thought, “I really don’t know if I can make it back.” It also started to get mad at my partner, Greg, like he could control the wind?

I immediately took a deep breath and long exhale, slowing down my mind. Then I paddled with more determination, I got around the point. The breath slowed my mind down to take conscious action, rather than letting the negative story take hold and lose sight of my options.

In order to practice self-awareness, we have to pause and come back to the present moment. When the mind is ruminating about the past, worrying and planning for the future, it’s not self-aware. Awareness only happens in the present.

BEING PRESENT AND MEDITATION

On some of my personal social media posts about paddle boarding here on Jeju Island, one common response from those who also SUP is “it’s so meditative.” Do you know why that is?

In order to keep physical and mental balance on the board, you have to be present. Being present is also a prerequisite for meditation. Since our minds are rarely present, when it’s there for more than a few seconds, it does feel meditative. This is true for any activity that keeps your mind focused in the present. This is what science calls the “flow state.”  

4 LESSONS

A recap. To practice cultivating lasting balance, that has nothing to do with being in a yoga pose or the right environment:

• Bring your mind to the present
• Cultivate self-awareness of your thoughts
• Breathe consciously
• And paddle board, or rather use your life experiences to practice

Balance is a process and a practice. Just like in a yoga pose, where the body is making constant adjustments to keep balance, the same goes for our minds. You will need to keep making adjustments when the mind wanders and distracts. Accept this and you’re well on your way to a more consistent balanced mind state.

Namaste.

P.S. It can be especially hard to find balance when emotional turbulence is happening within our relationships. The mind gets lost in the story of fear, pain, and worry. Discover the process to gain balance in the midst of chaos and conflict in the free masterclass, “The Find Calm Formula™.”