By Patricia Varley, MHSA
One of the reasons I moved to Naples in January 2000 besides the beautiful weather and tropical environment was that I had a strong desire to slow down and create a more balanced and stressfree
life. Having grown up and worked in the New York metropolitan area I was the classic type
A personality. I valued myself more on how much I did each day and how fast and productive I
was in accomplishing the many tasks on my never ending list of things to do. I did not believe
that having a balanced life where I could “be” and just relax and reflect at times was valuable let
alone possible. Very often though we are forced to slow down if we don’t make the choice to
create balance on our own. I had some minor health problems that got my attention enough that
I listened to my doctor in the Northeast who told me that my “medicine” sort of speak was to
integrate yoga into my life once I moved to Naples. Now I had practiced yoga in the past, on and
off for years, but I never sustained it as a steady “diet”. I was always too busy to take the time to
slow down enough to commit to a consistent practice. However, after I moved and started my
new life in Naples I was inspired to make the commitment to myself by integrating yoga as a key
component of my newly balanced life.
I have been practicing yoga for about the past 2 years, consistently attending class 2-3 times per
week (and utilizing my home videos when I am on the road). As a result I not only have more
flexibility physically, and more balance externally, I feel more peaceful, calm and centered
internally. I now realize that true balance must FIRST come from within so that the outer
changes and shifts can occur. When I practice a balancing posture such as tree pose I am
focused, in touch with my breath, in the moment and centered in my core. The acceptance of my
body and my self as I deepen the posture is a model for how I am continually balancing my
work, relationships, money, physical health and spiritual well being. It is as if I am returning
home to myself, to the truth of how we are all meant to live, from our center, our core where we
can more easily and effortlessly integrate all the wonderful aspects of our life experience.
As a business and personal coach and national speaker I have worked with individuals and
groups from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds. The common thread and
challenge I see in most of my clients is that they experience professional and personal lives that
are unbalanced which results in feelings of overwhelm and inefficiency and ineffectiveness in
their time management. So many of us have mastered the art of human “doing”; we are
conditioned and rewarded for this behavior in our Western society. However, it is at the price of
broken relationships, poor physical health, financial lack and professional burnout, and no time
to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Many people feel out of control. However, we do have control
over how we choose to approach our lives- from the inside out. We do have the freedom to
choose balance from our inherent nature in that we were created as human “beings”. We can start
making decisions that align us with our truest values and balance our time and energy in all areas
of our lives. Not only is it possible with the right tools such as yoga, it is necessary if we are to
experience life the way we were meant to. Optimal physical health, financial prosperity,
professional purpose, loving relationship and quality leisure time to enjoy our beautiful
surroundings start with believing that it is possible and make the commitment by taking the first
step. It takes time, courage and quiet reflection to know what our boundaries are, when to say
yes, when to say no and when to compromise. Yoga was that first step for me and has helped me
to maintain a sane equilibrium in all areas of my life. I invite you to do the same. You are worth
it!
©Patricia Varley
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