Serenity in Scrubs: Balancing Acts: How Yoga Helps Nurses Stay Grounded
- Cynthia and Laura Love
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
Nursing is more than a job—it's a calling that demands physical stamina, emotional resilience, and mental clarity. As a nurse, you’re often the calm in the storm, the steady hands and heart in chaotic moments. But outside of your shifts, you’re also managing family, personal goals, and your health. That’s a lot to carry.
Proper balance isn’t just about standing still without falling—it’s about navigating the moving parts of life with strength, clarity, and grace. And one powerful tool that can help cultivate that balance is yoga.
Why Finding Balance Off the Clock with Yoga Enhances Life On the Clock for Nurses
🔹 Physical Balance
As nurses, we’re on our feet for long shifts, moving patients, assisting with procedures, and often running from task to task. Practicing poses that build physical stability—like Tree Pose—strengthens the muscles that support us and helps prevent injury. When our bodies feel strong and steady, we’re more equipped to care for others.
🔹 Mental & Emotional Balance
Yoga teaches mindfulness—being fully present in the moment. That’s a valuable skill in a profession where stress and decision fatigue are real. Staying centered reduces anxiety, improves focus, and helps ward off burnout. It gives us the pause we often don’t realize we need.
🔹 Balance as a Way of Living
We often feel pressure to “do it all.” But constantly rushing from one commitment to the next without reflection wears us down. Balance means honoring your limits. It means saying yes to what feeds your soul—and no to what drains it. Listen to that quiet inner voice; it knows what brings you peace.
Yoga in Focus: Tree Pose (Vrksasana)~Find Your Balance
A pose that invites stability, strength, and calm.
When you want to feel grounded—whether before a shift, after a stressful day, or just in your living room—Tree Pose offers a moment of calm and confidence. It strengthens your legs and core, improves balance, and centers the mind.
How to Practice Tree Pose:
Begin in Mountain Pose (Tadasana)—standing tall with feet together, arms at your sides.
Root down through all four corners of your feet and engage your quads.
Shift your weight into your left foot.
Bring the sole of your right foot to rest either:
above the left ankle (toes still touching the floor),
on the inner shin, or
high on the inner thigh—avoid the knee.
Use your hand to help lift your foot if needed. Toes point down
Hands come to heart center in prayer. Stay here, or extend your arms:
Out to a “T” and then
Lift the arms overhead, palms facing each other or touching in prayer.
Find a focal point on the horizon to help maintain balance.
Breathe deeply and hold for 3–5 breaths.
To release, lower your arms back to a T, then gently lower your right leg. Return to Mountain Pose and repeat on the other side.
Alignment Tips for Balance in Vrksasana:
Keep your spine tall and hips facing forward.
Engage your core for added stability.
Keep the lifted knee externally rotated.
Keep your gaze steady—it helps your body stay steady too.
Your Balance Practice: Reflect & Reset
This summer, ask yourself: “What area of my life could use more balance?”
Take a quiet moment to reflect. Jot your thoughts down without judgment. Then, brainstorm a few simple, creative steps you could take to bring more balance into that area—whether it’s your time, your health, or your inner peace.
Once you've listed your ideas, pick one or two that feel most realistic right now. Start there. Keep a journal to track your progress and be sure to celebrate every step forward.
A Final Reminder:
Balance isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about checking in with yourself, honoring where you are, and permitting yourself to grow gently, one day at a time.
We’d love to hear from you!
What’s your favorite yoga pose? Do you have a quote or mantra that helps you find your center?
Share in the comments—your words might inspire a fellow nurse to take their next breath a little more mindfully.
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