Cultivating Balance
Author: Deva Scott Robertshaw
Having weathered a year of ups and downs and a rather cautious end to 2021, the relative freedom of the start to 2022 may have come as somewhat of a surprise to us. January, the month of good intentions has passed, we have entered February and so it seems like a good time to think about what we would like to carry into the rest of the year.
We suggest trying to cultivate a sense of balance, as it is something that can help us all, regardless of our circumstances. Bhakti yogis try to practice an attitude of surrender, built on the understanding that we cannot control the world, a message which has been writ clear by an unpredictable pandemic. An attitude of surrender is not always an easy one to have and takes time to develop. Cultivating balance is a step in that direction when the world around us feels shaky. What can give us that sense of balance? We start with being present and noting the rhythms around us in nature: the changing of the seasons, the rhythm of sunrise and sunset and within ourselves, the rise and fall of our breath.
A sense of balance helps us both in our daily lives and in our practice as yogis. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the teacher and inspiration behind Kirtan London's mission, credited his commitment to bhakti and many of his achievements to having a steady routine. While magazines and social media try to sell us ideas of chasing goals, achievement, and comparison, why not think about what will give us more balance in our life. What does balance mean to you? Which areas of your life would be improved with greater balance? It might be as simple as taking some time for yourself each day or making a comforting batch of kitchari, an Ayurvedic dish which promotes balance in the body.
From our side, we are happy to provide the opportunity to immerse the mind, body and soul in kirtan every Friday, which definitely feels balancing and grounding; to sit and free your mind in an atmospheric space, re-centring yourself after the busy working week. Kirtan has certainly become part of the rhythm of our lives, as familiar as the ching-ching-ching of the karatal cymbals. We invite you to join us every Friday at one of our two weekly events: the Mantra Lounge in Covent Garden or at OmNom in Islington.
