As I thought about this month’s theme, Inner Balance, I kept coming back to one simple idea: Balance is not a destination. It is something we continually create, adjust and rediscover as our lives change.

For me, inner balance has a lot to do with finding the right pace for life. I was reminded of this during recent travels. There is something wonderfully freeing about long days of exploration, when the usual schedules and routines fall away and there is time to simply notice what is around you. I found beauty in nature, in changing landscapes and in those quiet moments when I could stop, breathe and take it all in. Even in the fullness of travel, I discovered a different kind of balance—the balance between exploring and resting, moving forward and being present.

Perhaps that is what inner balance looks like in everyday life, too. It may be found in a yoga or Pilates practice, a few minutes of meditation, nourishing our bodies with good food, getting enough sleep or making a choice that supports the person we want to become. It can mean listening to our bodies, creating healthier boundaries, reconnecting with family or friends, or simply giving ourselves permission to slow down.

Sometimes balance asks us to make a change. Sometimes it asks us to let something go. And sometimes, perhaps most importantly, it asks us to find forgiveness where we never thought forgiveness would be possible—including forgiveness for ourselves.

Our main feature, Introduction to Somatic Therapies, explores one pathway toward greater awareness by bringing attention back to the body and its connection to our emotional and mental well-being.

Inner balance can be both technical and deeply personal. It can involve our nervous system, physical health and daily habits, while also touching something more intangible: our sense of purpose, peace, connection and center.

Whatever balance means to you, I hope this issue encourages you to pause, listen inward and discover what helps you feel more whole.

In wellness,

Holly Baker, publisher