Finding Balance the Stone‑Stacking Way

I love how stone stacks stay upright even when they look a bit wonky. You can have a pebble sticking out on one side, a slightly uneven base, or a shape that looks like it shouldn’t work at all — and yet it stands. The secret isn’t perfection. It’s placement. It’s all about where the weight sits.

If the centre of mass is over the middle, the stack stays steady. It doesn’t have to be symmetrical. It doesn’t have to be neat. It just has to be centred.

Our bodies work exactly the same way.

Balance isn’t about holding yourself rigid or trying to look perfectly aligned. It’s about keeping your weight over your feet — your own centre of mass over your own base of support. When you do that, everything feels easier. You don’t have to fight for balance. You don’t have to grip with your toes or tense your shoulders. You simply stand, move, and shift with far less effort.

The moment your weight drifts too far forward, backward or sideways, your body has to scramble to correct it. That’s when balance feels wobbly, tiring or unpredictable. But bring yourself back over your feet — even slightly — and suddenly the whole system settles.

Just like a stone stack.

So next time you’re walking, standing, or practising balance work, think of those wonky little towers you see on beaches and riverbanks. They stay upright because they’re centred, not perfect.

Keep your body over your feet and you’ll find your balance without fighting for it.