Centering for power and well-being

Have you noticed how some people seem to have full control over the way they stand, move, behave, act, and react? Some would enter a room and all heads would turn their way. They radiate a commanding presence (as if they had their own built-in spotlight) and become the center of all attention and energy. Others may simply go their silent little way yet exude an enviable aura of wholeness, serenity, and inner joy.

These lucky people with remarkable control over their bodies, minds and emotions, and who project tremendous radiance, are most likely centered. Centering has puzzled and intrigued philosophers, artists, psychologists, and health practitioners through the ages. Great religions, philosophies, and disciplines like yoga, tai chi, and oriental martial arts have come up with many exercises, meditations, and rituals for centering.  

What Is Centering?

Centering is the conscious (although some people do it unknowingly) practice of controlling the body, mind, and emotions to gain physical balance, grace of movement, mental focus, good health and well-being, and great personal power. It is both an art and a science because it involves the purposeful training of the body and mind to maintain their peak vitality and efficiency.

The use of centering is most beneficial whenever you feel tired or unbalanced, when you want to concentrate or focus, when you need to project and command attention, and during times of great fear, uncertainty, tension, and stress. Centering builds strength and flexibility, promotes deep relaxation, reduces anxiety and stress, induces mind/body healing, increases clarity and focus, relieves chronic pain, enhances creativity, creates lifestyle balance, and develops personal charisma and magnetism.

Centering Techniques

• The breath. Centering starts with correct breathing. Centered breathing is diaphragmatic, deep, and relaxed. Both sides of the lungs should be expanded to receive their maximum, relaxed, and pleasurable capacity. The breath has to flow, never forced or tense. Regular pacing is the most effective way to inhale and exhale for good centering, health, and vitality.

• The body. The human body is symmetrical and, thus, must be moved and carried mostly in balance. By studying how your body moves and responds to factors like stimulus and gravity, you will learn to keep it balanced and aligned. Muscular support is very important to movement and centering. Correct body centering produces great posture and a sense of efficient body dynamics. Proper body carriage and movement create a look of power and attractive grace.

When your body is centered, you get a very "secured" feeling. You don’t easily get stressed or off-balanced. Finding your "center point of balance" is very important. Yoga and other physical disciplines point to the area two inches below the navel to be the power center of the body. There are actually many center points in the human body. A good yoga or dance teacher can help you locate these points. Full body stretching exercises and movements such as those in Ananda yoga and tai chi tone the body, and are spiritually uplifting, physically exhilarating, and deeply relaxing.

• The mind. Your mind has a calm center. It is actually a state of mind where you can find peace, quiet, and joy. Achieving that mental state can be done through reflection, introspection, meditation, and other mental stilling activities. De-cluttering the mind is important towards the achievement of a relaxed, serene mental state.

• The emotions. Controlling the emotions is very important for a balanced and stress-free life. Understanding how you act and react to situations, events, and people are the key to gaining mastery and power over your emotions and feelings. Negative emotions are destructive and can cause diseases in the human body. Filling your heart with positive attitude and joyful feelings create an efficient, peaceful, and centered mind. This will help you achieve great focus to help you attain your dreams and live a healthy, happy, and fulfilled life.

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