I remember the first few classes that my now favorite yoga teacher taught at our health club. She used a few prompts and instructional cues that I'd never heard before but really liked. One that particularly resonated with me was to "Find a place between ease and effort." I thought this was a perfect prompt! I liked being given permission to listen to my body, to find the depth in a posture that I could sustain without pain, knowing I could back off if needed. Too often in a class setting, I've been tempted to compare my progress to others. Occasionally I've even pulled or strained a muscle as I pushed myself in competetion. This new prompt encouraged me to heighten my self awareness, to shift my focus from the outer to the inner while stretching and exploring my edge. In the case of a couple of poses, such as the headstand and backbend, over time this approach led me to surprising places beyond my original perceived limit.

Aside from a yoga practice, there are plenty of other areas in life where it could be helpful to make modifications to find a place between ease and effort: work, relationships, spirituality, community service, homemaking, personal growth, health and wellness, to name a few. Which areas seem to be calling out for your attention? More effort may be required to keep from stagnating in some of these areas. It's always good to be comfortable, yet not complacent. Choose an aspect of your life and reflect upon:

What feels neglected, stale, or uninspired?

What's the underlying potential here?

What could create more enthusiasm and momentum?

What next steps am I willing to take to explore new possibilities?

Feeling overwhelmed is practically epidemic, so I'm guessing there probably are other areas of your life that feel all-consuming. You may need to lessen the pace or ease up on the intensity to feel better. Consider an area or two where you are expending tremendous effort:

What makes you feel stretched to the limit?

What would feel better?

What could make a dramatic difference?

What committed action will move you in the desired direction?

As you and your family make the transition from the end of summer back into a fall work or school schedule, I invite you to examine your life circumstances with fresh eyes and make adjustments to find your ideal place between ease and effort.