In yoga, there's a concept called 'Sthira-Sukha', which translated from Sanskrit means strength with softness. When we're on our yoga mat doing asanas (poses), we don't want to hold ourselves so rigidly that our entire body is tense, so it's important to remember - or sometimes be reminded! - to find a degree of softness in our poses too. Especially if we are performing a pose that is particularly strenuous, challenging or difficult.

Grounding and strength

On our mat, this generally refers to the physical points our body touches the ground and our ability to be sturdy in that connection. This is important as it gives you a solid base to work with, and that can influence the rest of your pose.

If you're standing, this means even weight in your feet, and checking the alignment of the lower half of your body such as your ankles, knees, and pelvis.

If you're seated, this will usually mean anchoring your sitbones to the floor, your mat, your chair... That your pelvis feels level and comfortable and that you can sit with ease.

Softness and yielding

This will typically refer to the upper body. Once you're firm and well-aligned in the lower half of your body, the upper body should be able to 'stack' over it and relax a little, potentially allowing it to yield completely if you're fully softening into a pose.

However, if you're doing arm balancing such as a handstand or Pincha Mayurasana, your grounding will be through your hands or forearms, and strength through your core and postural alignment. Then the softness will come from your ability to relax into the pose comfortably.

Combining the two

As mentioned earlier, Sthira-Sukha is particularly important when we're holding a challenging pose. Take Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II) for example, standing firmly and grounding through your feet is important, extending energy through your fingers reached out to your sides helps to create the shape of the pose, but being too rigid in the upper body can cause tightness in the shoulders and through the arms. Thinking of floating your arms out instead, to be buoyant, can change the dynamic of the pose and allow you to stand with greater ease.

Strength vs. softness is still useful in simpler poses such as Sukhasana (Easy Crossed Legs); we ground down through our sitbones, find strength in our spine and core, then softness as we relax the shoulders down and relax the facial muscles.

Sthira-Sukha off your mat

As with most concepts in yoga, when we practice Sthira-Sukha on our mat, this is a skill that we're developing to be placed in our 'yoga toolbelt' for use off our mat as well.

Having the ability to ground yourself firmly and feel connected, supported, and sturdy as you go about your day is important, but you also need the softness and flexibility to be able to shift and change with whatever life throws at you. This has the potential to help you get through even the most difficult situations.

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