FEMININE AND MASCULINE ENERGY : HOW YOGA BALANCES BODY AND MIND
In everyday life, we are often torn between the demands of action and the need for calm, between the imperative to do and the desire to be.
This constant to-and-fro between two poles is also a dance of energies, feminine and masculine.
Often perceived as opposites, these two forces actually coexist within each of us. Feminine energy isn't just for women, and masculine energy isn't just for men.
Their balance is essential to living in harmony.
For me, yoga has been the guide that has enabled me to better understand and balance these two aspects of myself.
In this article, I invite you to explore how yoga can help harmonize feminine and masculine energy, to balance both body and mind.
Written by Ana - November 2024
Reducible content
Reading time
Approx. 10 minutes
WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DISCOVER
Understanding Masculine and Feminine Energy: Exploring the principles of Yin and Yang and their influence on our daily lives.
How Yoga Harmonizes These Energies: Yoga as a guide to balancing action and gentleness, strength and receptivity.
Yin Yoga and Feminine Energy: How yoga invites us to cultivate gentleness, compassion and inner listening.
Masculine Energy and Stability Postures: Postures that activate inner strength, determination and commitment.
Practices for Cultivating Balance: Suggested postures and yoga styles to harmonize these two polarities in our lives.
Vivre en Harmonie Avec Soi: Yoga as a path to a more balanced life, rooted in strength and sensitivity.
"Let's take a look!
FEMININE AND MASCULINE ENERGY: 2 COMPLEMENTARY FORCES
Feminine and masculine energy are ancient principles found in many philosophies, from Chinese yin and yang to animus and anima in psychology.
Male energy (or Yang) is associated with action, logic and strength, while female energy (or Yin) symbolizes gentleness, receptivity and intuition.
These two forces are essential and cannot exist without each other.
They alternate like a life cycle: after spring comes summer, then autumn and finally winter. And the cycle begins again.
When we look at the symbol of Yin and Yang, we notice that one seems to "take over" the other. But it's a wheel, rotating and alternating energies in a continuous, cyclical fashion.
My Encounter with Yoga, Empreinte d'Energie Masculine :
For years, without really realizing it, I operated almost exclusively on masculine energy: organization, planning, efficiency, execution, productivity, control, social appearance, rationality and so on.
Like many moms, I had a thousand things to deal with, rarely asking myself how I was feeling. There was always a goal to reach, a list to check off.
And like many people in the West, yoga entered my life as one of my decisions influenced by masculine energy: action, physical performance, surpassing oneself...
But with practice, I began to discover the other side of yoga. In the East, the "physical" practice of yoga comes long after its philosophical aspects have been integrated and practised, via the yamas and niyamas.
In doing so, I rediscovered another aspect of myself, one that craved gentleness, creativity and receptivity.
I learned that my feminine energy, far from preventing me from moving forward, could become a precious asset in balancing my daily life.
Yes, there are postures (or "asanas") that challenge and strengthen the body, but above all, yoga is a philosophy of life, an inner journey that reconnects you with your essence.
Yoga has taught me to listen to my body, welcome my emotions and become aware of my energies, including my feminine energy.
In a society where we women have to be both "strong" and efficient, yoga has given me a space to reconnect with the gentleness and sensitivity that are natural to us, but which we sometimes tend to repress.
HOW YOGA REVEALS AND CULTIVATES FEMININE ENERGY
Yoga is a practice that subtly balances feminine and masculine energy.
Through postures, meditation and breathing, yoga teaches us to alternate between effort and letting go, between action and receptivity.
As moms, we're often hyper-reactive to our children's needs, but rarely do we take the time to listen to our own. This is where yoga becomes a real therapy.
One example that stood out for me was my first Yin Yoga session. This practice, which consists of holding postures for a long time while relaxing the muscles, allowed me to feel a receptivity I'd never explored before. By letting my body relax completely, I discovered a new level of connection to myself. I felt a wave of gentleness and inner peace, as if I'd opened a door to a part of myself I'd long ignored. As if, at last, I'd accepted my own need for respite and compassion.
My Marriage with Yoga, Filled with Love and Kindness :
Feminine energy is also deeply linked to compassion and kindness, not only towards others, but also towards ourselves. As a mother, it's easy to be hard on ourselves, to judge ourselves for our mistakes or moments of fatigue. Yet yoga constantly reminds us of the importance of self-compassion.
When I first started practicing, I was on a quest for "perfection" in every posture. But this wonderful practice gently reminded me that yoga is not about performance, but about connecting with yourself.
She encouraged me to accept my limits with gentleness, as a mother would for her child. That day, I realized that I had to apply this compassion to myself, and that it was part of cultivating my feminine energy.
Since then, I've been applying this kindness on a daily basis, accepting that every day can't be perfect. Whether in my role as a mother or in my practice, I choose gentleness over harshness. In yoga, this notion of "non-violence" (or Ahimsa) is the first yama, an invitation to respect one's body and mind without forcing or blaming them.
Receptivity, letting go and sensitivity are all aspects of feminine energy that yoga helps to cultivate.
By slowing down, listening to my breath and letting my emotions come to the surface, I learned to honor this energy.
This regular practice has helped me to better understand what it means to "take care of myself", and has enabled me to approach my role as a mother with more compassion and patience.
MASCULINE ENERGY IN YOGA: STABILITY AND ACTION
While Yin Yoga reconnected me to my inner gentleness, other practices like Vinyasa Yoga helped me explore and strengthen my masculine energy.
These postures require strength, determination, dynamism and careful attention to body alignment. Masculine energy is activated every time you mobilize willpower, stability and commitment in a posture.
One day, during a session in which I was working on the Warrior III posture (Virabhadrasana III), I realized that this posture is a true incarnation of masculine energy: anchored, stable, forward-looking... But it also honors feminine energy, with the face turned towards the Earth (one of the symbols associated with feminine energy, as opposed to Heaven for masculine energy). My whole body was engaged, and as I held the posture, I felt an inner strength that made me aware of my own resilience.
Yoga, by connecting me to this force, has also taught me that masculine energy is there to help me act and structure my projects.
Whenever I need it, I remind myself of this posture and the stability it brings me. For me, it has become a reminder of the importance of my masculine energy in moving forward with determination in my life projects, while at the same time honoring the feminine energy that offers me the creativity and sensitivity necessary for them to flourish.
THE ART OF BALANCE: CULTIVATING BOTH ENERGIES WITH YOGA
What yoga has taught me above all is that youdon't have to choose between feminine and masculine energy.
On the contrary, their balance is what creates a harmonious and fulfilling life.
In every yoga session, we move from one energy to another: we alternate between dynamic, forceful postures and relaxed, receptive ones. We alternate left (traditionally associated with feminine energy) and right (associated with masculine energy) equally.
One of my favorite yoga postures is of the Tree (Vrksasana). It requires both stability and flexibility, rootedness and openness. As I hold this posture, I'm reminded that to be balanced, I need to welcome both energies within me: the one I draw from the Earth, (with the roots of my tree giving me stability), and those I receive from Heaven (capturing it via the branches of my tree).
This posture has become for me a symbol of the inner balance I seek to cultivate every day. It helps me to anchor my intentions in action, while remaining connected to my gentleness and intuition.
YOGA PRACTICES TO BALANCE FEMININE AND MASCULINE ENERGY
For those who wish to experiment with this balance, here are a few simple practices to incorporate into your yoga routine.
Yin Yoga for Feminine Energy: Practice Yin Yoga postures such as the child's pose (Balasana) or the butterfly (Baddha Konasana). These postures encourage relaxation and receptivity, and cultivate gentleness and self-compassion.
Vinyasa Yoga for Masculine Energy: Incorporate more dynamic postures such as warrior or plank (Phalakasana). These postures demand strength and commitment, reinforcing your masculine energy.
Kundalini Yoga: To raise our vibratory rate and circulate Kundalini energies through our various chakras (or energy centers). This form of yoga is particularly balanced, drawing from movement a form of meditative state or "quasi-trance".
These practices, though simple, allow us to take a moment to return to ourselves, where we can explore and harmonize the two aspects of our being.
CONCLUSION: LIVING IN HARMONY WITH YOUR FEMININE AND MASCULINE ENERGIES
Harmony between feminine and masculine energy is a journey, a path of discovery that we build every day.
Through yoga, I've learned that gentleness and strength, receptivity and action, can coexist within me to help me live a more balanced and fulfilled life.
By cultivating feminine energy, I develop my sensitivity and creativity, and by honoring masculine energy, I acquire the stability and determination needed to move forward.
Whether you're looking for more gentleness in your life or to strengthen your inner stability, yoga can offer you this essential balance. Take the time to reconnect with your energies, experience these two aspects of yourself, and let yoga guide you towards a more harmonious, centered life.
Thank you Ana for this great post!
Your insight into the balance of feminine and masculine energies brings a precious richness to the yoga community. Your insight reminds us that each energy is precious, and that by uniting them, we can cultivate a more fulfilled and balanced life.
HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY LIFE, our identity.
What a joy it is to have you with us, guiding our readers towards greater harmony and well-being!
Ana's bio
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ANAMARIJA BARTEK
Founder of the Origami Mama website
Yogi, repentant lawyer, chocolate addict, salsa dancer, personal development enthusiast and mother of two little princesses... These are just a few of the key words that describe me!My personal journey has led me to explore disciplines such as yoga, meditation and energy techniques, which I integrate into my daily life to cultivate harmony.
Today, I accompany mothers in their quest for balance and personal fulfillment. Origami Mama is a place where moms can rediscover their inner woman.
I help them regain the time and energy they need to shine in the world and blossom once again.
Motherhood, yoga, personal development and wellness come together here to inspire moms to reconnect with themselves, not just as mothers, but as powerful, aligned women.
