As I watched a new yoga student who knows nothing about yoga try to move with mindfulness for the first time it encouraged me ask myself the question: “what good is strength without flexibility?” and “how does this relate to Feng Shui principles”? Feng Shui was developed way back when survival meant having a home that was protected from behind with mountains, a view of who was approaching in front as well as slow moving water without which life was not possible. The strength of the mountain and flexibility of the water provided a balance between safety from severe weather or attack and the availability of food.
A home can have strong bones, strong colors, hold strong memories, have strong placement in the neighborhood or community, or a strong history. These are all positive attributes. A home can have flexible uses, flexible room arrangements, and flexible owners.
But what about our bodies? The more strength we develop, if it is not balanced with flexibility, the more rigid we become. We restrict our breathing, oxygen exchange, make our hearts work harder and limit our options to move in different ways and ultimately our ability to embrace change. As our bodies become rigid do our minds follow or is it the other way around?
Can our homes reflect our rigid thinking and attitudes? Look around your home. Does that feeling of being comfortable cover a more basic feeling of being unwilling or unable to change? Did your strength of ideas at some point become rigid and unyielding? Small changes in the home can begin to open up many changes in our lives. Encouraging our bodies to be flexible and strong can help free us to embrace options and be prepared for when life throws us curves that force us to change whether we are ready for it or not.
So, to answer my own question “what good is strength without flexibility” I would have to say that both qualities are important but without balance we may have trouble weathering a storm.
Copyright 2007. Brenda Rosenberg All rights reserved.
Tags: Brenda Rosenberg, Feng Shui
