Your Energy States: Finding a Balance

Somedays you feel like you’re stuck in a messy thick mud puddle trying to figure out how to deal with your life stuff: job, family, kids, financial struggles, health issues, retirement or (fill in anything you’re dealing with right now). On other days it feels like you have rockets strapped to your feet as you race through the day at 500 miles an hour crossing all the items off your to-do list. Either way, it’s likely a matter of too much energy or a lack of it. In other words you need to either light your fire or slow the burn. Knowing your energy states is key to managing stress and finding a balance.

If you’re on the path to self-awareness, you know how temporary these states are. How long an energy state, even a balanced one, lasts varies from person to person. For me, temporary is two or three days (at most) depending on what’s going on in my life. More than that, I know something is really off. To figure it out for yourself you’ll need to call on your self-awareness skills.

You can start the process by asking yourself these two questions. Why is this excess or deficiency manifesting at this time? How do I know when my energy is balanced? Sometimes we’ll find an answer and sometimes we won’t, but the important part of the process is our inquiry. Once you’ve answered these questions to the best of your ability, you can implement your chosen technique in a safe and helpful way. 

Choosing and practicing specific techniques can help you light your fire, slow the burn or find and maintain a balance. Here are three suggestions on managing your energy states from the yoga tradition.

1. Transforming a Lack of Energy to Light Your Fire
According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly everyone is overtired or overworked from time to time. Unrelenting fatigue is a whole different matter. When fatigue lasts longer than a few days, is more profound, and isn't relieved by rest, it’s a sure sign that you need to see a medical professional. Temporary fatigue, or lack of energy, usually has an identifiable cause and a likely remedy. To light your fire, think, “move, stimulate, and energize.” Here’s a combination breath and movement technique you may find helpful when you sense a lack of energy and need a boost. It’s called, Breath of Joy. It’s typically done in a standing position but is easily modified for sitting in a chair. It’s from the Yoga for Your Mood Deck by Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression, founder of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute, and a leader in the field of yoga and mental health.

The purpose of The Breath of Joy is to awaken the whole system, increasing oxygen levels in the bloodstream, temporarily stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, and focusing the mind. 

Caution: This practice may not be appropriate for those with high blood pressure or who suffer from eye or head injuries.  

Breath of Joy Instructions 
To practice Breath of Joy, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and parallel, knees slightly bent. 

1. Inhale one-third of your lung capacity and swing your arms up in front of your body, bringing them parallel to each other at shoulder level, with palms facing the ceiling. 

2. Continue inhaling to two-thirds capacity and stretch your arms out to the side like wings to shoulder level. 

3. Inhale to full capacity and swing your arms parallel and over your head, palms facing each other. 

4. Open your mouth and exhale completely with an audible ‘Ha,’ bending the knees more deeply as you sink into a standing squat and swing your arms down and back behind you like a diver. Chair Modification: bend forward in the chair and swing your arms down and back behind your body.

5. Repeat up to nine times. Don’t force or strain the body or breath; simply be absorbed by the peaceful stimulating rhythm. Return to standing. Close your eyes and experience the effects. Notice how quickly your heart beats; feel the sensations in your face and arms, and the tingling in the palms of your hands." 

2. Transforming Energy Excess to Slow the Burn
This state may manifest in one of two ways. 1) You may feel nervous, anxious, ‘spacey’ and unfocused; experiencing poor digestion or difficulty sleeping, or 2) Your mind races, works overtime with a burning need for perfection, competition and over achievement, often leading to feelings of irritation, frustration and anger. To slow the burn, and reach a balanced energy state, think “cool, calm and relaxed.’ Legs-On-the-Chair-Pose is a technique you may find helpful when you sense an excess of energy.  

Legs-On-the-Chair-Pose Instructions
Props: a sturdy chair, a pillow or folded blanket for the head, a timer and a music source (optional)   

1. Select a carpeted area or use your yoga mat to practice this pose.

2. Set your timer for 10 – 15 minutes and start the music if you choose to use it.

3. Sit down close to the chair, swing the legs up and place your calves on the chair seat.

4. Adjust yourself so that your knees are over your hips.

5. Place the pillow or folded blanket under your head. 

6. Close your eyes and breathe normally.

7. When the timer goes off, bend the knees halfway toward the chest and roll to the side, using your arms to slowly sit up.   

Chair Modification: Sit with a comfortably straight spine with your chin parallel to the floor. Close your eyes, relax your hands on the legs, palms down. To come out, Stretch the arms and legs in any way that feels comfortable.

3. Transforming Energy Excess to Find a Balance
When your energy is harmonized, you are more likely to find yourself feeling stable, grounded and balanced between alertness and relaxation. The Gesture of the Mountain is called Hakini Mudra in the yoga tradition. You can think of mudras as a GPS (global positioning system), providing directions to your energy to help it move where it is needed in the body or to tune into the specific qualities you are working with. 

Gesture of the Mountain Instructions
1. Hold your hands in front of your body.

2. Touch the tips of fingers and thumbs on one hand to the tips of the fingers and thumbs on your other hand. 
 
3. Allow space between the palms as though you were holding a tennis ball.

4. Relax your shoulders.

5. Rest your hands on your lap.

6. Breath normally. Hold Gesture of the Mountain for two to three minutes (or longer if you feel comfortable).

Hope these tips help you manage your energy states.

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