Unshakeable, Yet Fluid: The Octopus Guide to Stability

The Paradox of Unwavering Control

Maori Octopus, Octopus maorum (image credit info here)

When we pursue stability, our minds often picture rigidity: concrete, steel, a fixed, unmoving post. In the world of true movement, whether that be in yoga, Pilates or in daily life, rigidity leads to strain, tension, and eventually, failure. True stability must be flexible.

This paradox is perfectly captured in the ancient yoga sutra: Sthira Sukham Asanam—meaning finding Steadiness (Sthira) and Ease (Sukha) in your Posture (Asanam). The firm foundation must always coexist with fluid comfort.

To help understand this powerful concept, we look not to a rock, but to a master of non-rigid stability found right here in our waters: the Māori Octopus (Wheke). This incredible creature has no skeleton, yet it can anchor itself so firmly against a strong current . Its strength is not found in bone, but in its powerful, intelligent centre and its ability to distribute an unwavering anchor through flexible action.

Join us as we dive into Stability, the Wave Wellness CREST principle that teaches us how to find rock-solid control without ever losing our ease or our grace.

Defining Stability

So, how do we translate the concept of Sthira Sukham and the power of the Octopus into our practice?

At Wave Wellness, our definition is:

Stability: The unwavering control of the body's foundation and anchor points to ensure proper form.

The key here is "unwavering control," not maximum tension.

Bracing vs. Anchoring

Many people mistake stability for bracing, a rigid, locked, all-or-nothing muscular squeeze. Bracing is brittle; it tires quickly, restricts Respiration, and leaves you vulnerable to injury when challenged.

True stability, inspired by the Octopus, is anchoring.

• Anchoring is intelligent and multi-dimensional. The Octopus doesn't rely on one fixed point; it uses hundreds of suction cups and powerful limbs to sense the current and adjust the pressure accordingly.
  

• Anchoring means establishing a strong but responsive, connection through your Core and foundation. It allows your periphery (your arms and legs) to move with Ease (Sukha) because the centre is held with Steadiness (Sthira).
  

Stability is the vital foundation that allows Elongation to create space and Timing to create flow.

Stability in Practice (The How-To)

To anchor like the Octopus, we must teach our body to establish unwavering control at the foundation while remaining fluid in the movement. The secret lies in activating the deeper, responsive stabilizing muscles, rather than relying on the superficial 'bracing' ones.

The Multi-Point Anchor: The Octopus Principle

Think of the Octopus using its flexible tentacles and hundreds of suction cups to grip the sea floor. It finds multiple, balanced anchor points simultaneously, ensuring that if one releases, the others maintain the connection.

• In Tabletop (Pilates/Yoga): Your four anchor points are your hands and your knees. Don't just place them, actively press them down while simultaneously imagining a gentle draw of energy inward toward your central Core. This light inward pull creates immediate Sthira (Steadiness) without tension.
  

• In Standing (Mountain pose/Thunderbolt in Yoga): Your two anchor points are your feet. Instead of gripping with your toes, press down through all four corners of each foot. Feel your arch lift slightly, engaging the deep muscles of the leg. This roots you down for maximum Stability.

Observe my feet in Thunderbolt - I have lifted my toes to enable me to find the four corners of my feet and then I will re position my toes, spreading them on my mat

Moving from your Centre

Stability is not about stillness; it's about controlled movement. The Octopus moves an arm only after the rest of its body is secured by its central intelligence.

• Movement Cue: The "Pearl in your Belly": Imagine a large pearl resting just behind your naval. When you move an arm or a leg (like extending a limb in Bird Dog), your primary job is to ensure that precious pearl does not shift, wobble, or tip. This constant focus on an internal, unmoving centre is the definition of unwavering control. (As an aside, an astonishing fact I recently encountered - the largest sea pearl ever found was 34kg! (the Pearl of Lao Tzu)).

• The Reward (Sukha): When your centre is held with this deep control, your limbs are free to move with Ease (Sukha) and grace, enhancing your Elongation, balancing your body and refining your form.

The true test of your Stability doesn't happen when you're anchored on the mat; it happens when the physical or emotional currents of life hit you unexpectedly. The Octopus Strategy offers a practical way to maintain unwavering control in these everyday situations, proving that stability is transferable:

The Desktop Anchor: Stability While Sitting

When seated at a desk for hours, even if we’re disciplined enough to get up for a quick leg stretch every hour, we often slump and lose our anchor.

• The Octopus Cue: Imagine your sit bones are two powerful suction cups anchored firmly to your chair.

  
  

• Action: Press your sit bones down and forward slightly. Then, engage a soft, deep Core current to hold your spine long (Elongation). This small adjustment activates the postural muscles, allowing you to sit with Steadiness (Sthira) and comfort (Sukha) without bracing.

  
  

Navigating Turbulence: Stability in Transit

Position yourself now inside a train, boat or an aircraft and walking through the carriage or cabin when in motion, this is a situation that constantly challenge your foundation and where your non-rigid control shines.

• The Multi-Point Anchor: Think of the Octopus's flexible arms. This is an image that recently sprung to mind when walking down the aisle on a slightly turbulent flight. I was returning from Fiji after a relaxing break where snorkelling had been on the agenda and fresh in my mind was the awe of the underwater world.

  
  

  When you step onto a moving train, hold on to an overhead handle when a standing passenger on a bus, or walk down a shaky aircraft aisle, you need multiple, dynamic anchor points.

  
  

• Action: Press into your grounded foot, but allow your knee and ankle to be fluid (no locking!). Your deep Core works overtime to subtly correct the micro-shifts. This is true dynamic Stability—your centre remains calm and unwavering while your periphery flexibly absorbs the movement.

Silent footage of the Māori Octopus, video credit info here.

The Impact of Stability

In all these scenarios, your physical stability feeds your mental stability. When you anchor your body (Stability), you immediately improve your Respiration. When your breath is steady, your mind is steadier, allowing you to observe the environment and respond with grace, embodying the full meaning of Sthira Sukham Asanam.

This is the power of unwavering control: You remain anchored to your centre, allowing you to move through life’s currents with grace, intelligence, and peace.

Conclusion: Living as a Non-Rigid Anchor

Stability is the intelligence of your being, the unwavering ability to anchor down without ever becoming brittle. It is the fluid strength of the Māori Octopus, which achieves rock-solid control through flexibility and a powerful, responsive centre.

This week, challenge your idea of strength. Rather than bracing against the world; instead, anchor. Find the Steadiness (Sthira) and Ease (Sukha) in your posture, whether you're standing in a balanced pose or standing on a moving bus or walking in the supermarket aisle.

Every moment you practice your Core control and steady Respiration is a moment you choose unwavering control.

We invite you to carry this principle with you:

The unwavering control of the body's foundation and anchor points to ensure proper form.

Ready to build your unshakeable foundation?

We are currently gearing up to launch our full Wave Wellness online studio and offerings in the new year. Get ready to explore Stability and the full Wave Wellness CREST principles in depth with classes designed to build foundational control accessible from anywhere. 

We have a range of classes on offer and look forward to welcoming you into the Wave Wellness community!

I may have had a relaxing break...yoga is a daily practice for me and a portable one, become a part of the Wave Wellness Community and feel alive and energised. With our services, you can literally practice from anywhere!.

Image credit info - Māori Octopus, Octopus maorum

Photographer: Mark Norman

Source: Mark Norman

Copyright Mark Norman / CC BY (Licensed as Attribution 4.0 International)

Video credit info - Silent footage of Māori Octopus, Octopus maorum.

Videographer: Julian Finn

Source: Museums Victoria

Copyright Museums Victoria / CC BY (Licensed as Attribution 4.0 International)