Your Center: How can you find it if you don’t know what it is?
Astara Robinson, RN, LMT, RYT
Finding your center isn’t some magical or mystical term meant to be achieved by only the practiced, devoted yoga student. Finding your center stems from the act of connecting with your breath. You’ve done it in traffic before, taken a deep breath when someone cuts you off and then let the breath out slowly to calm yourself. See you’re a natural!
Focusing on your breath and clearing your mind at the beginning of a yoga session is vital. Inhale completely stretching the spine long towards the ceiling. Exhale completely slowing down the breath, listen to it as it passes your throat. By focusing on your breath you become present in the moment. Your mind cannot wander to your to-do list or a conversation that you had with a friend. The breath takes you into the now and as you follow the breath in and out you become more mindful in the present.
The mind begins to empty itself of any thoughts except thoughts of what is happening with your body and breath as you sit still apon the mat beneath you. Centering means that you draw breath/energy within while releasing all distractions. This is a practice in itself! New students usually find this to be the most challenging aspect of beginning a yoga practice.
As you find your center it may feel like calm awareness to the present or possibly a more grounding sensation. However it is expressed to you is purely subjective. Allowing yourself to come inward, you are leaving the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Leave it for this moment and the rest of your yoga practice. By becoming centered and consciously trying to remain so thought the duration of your practice, you will notice you can concentrate better on the poses. You’ll notice you can find your center of gravity more easily. You will, with practice, notice which isolated group of muscles need to be engaged in order to move to the next pose. Staying centered will also protect you from ego induced injury.
Trying to find your center and quiet your mind may or may not come easy as you sit still with yourself in the yoga class room. It may or may not become more of a challenge to remain centered with your breath as you move through difficult poses as the class progresses. The goal of a yoga practice is to keep a centered life style on and off the matt. To stay present, connected, grounded, balanced, aware and calm throughout daily life. Yoga’s centering side effect is therapy for mind, body and soul.
You can join Astara Robinson for a Therapy Yoga Basics Class at The Center for True Harmony every Thursday from 9:00am-10:00am. $15 per class. Discounts available with the purchase of a class card. Class is complimentary for first time students at True Harmony.
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