In this week’s class, we explored hip strength – a favourite of mine, and a class that always serves as a reminder that finding steadiness in a posture begins long before the shape itself. Many of the poses we practiced were balancing postures, where stability depends on how well we engage the core and support the standing leg.
Take Tree Pose (Vrksasana) as an example. Often, we step into the pose by immediately lifting one foot and placing it against the standing leg, hoping balance will magically appear. But without intention and preparation, the body usually wobbles and the mind follows — busy, distracted, and focused on not falling rather than being present.
There is important work to be done before the foot even leaves the floor.
First, we engage the core — drawing in through the root lock (mula bandha) and the abdominal lock (uddiyana bandha) to create inner lift and stability. Then we switch on the standing leg: engaging the glute, squeezing and hugging the muscles around the hip, and rooting firmly down through the foot. Adding a steady gaze point (drishti) helps anchor both body and mind.
When this strong foundation is in place, lifting the opposite foot then becomes less of a challenge. Balance feels more accessible, not because the pose is easier, but because the body is working intelligently. From there, stillness follows more easily — both physically and mentally. We try to soften the breath and draw the mind inwards, and the posture becomes a place to be rather than something to survive.
Without this foundation, the opposite happens. The body wobbles, the breath becomes shallow, and the mind is preoccupied with fear of toppling over. Stillness feels impossible because the nervous system is in a constant state of correction.
With practice, all of this preparation starts to happen much quicker. What once felt like many steps to remember begins to switch on in less than a second. The foundations become second nature, giving you more time to truly inhabit the pose rather than think your way through it. While this can feel like a lot — especially for beginners — it is this very attention to strength and engagement that ultimately creates more ease.
So if you ever feel that yoga is asking you to “do more,” remember…
Strength creates stability.
Stability creates ease.
And from that ease, stillness can arise.
See you soon in the cabin 😊
Michelle x
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