I've been learning about "centering" at the beginning and the end of each yoga class. If you've ever been to a yoga class without it, you might feel ripped off.
Why is centering important? Coming from a culture of faster-is-better, it made me wonder...
"Centering" your body is like centering clay on a wheel. The most basic ceramic technique starts with slapping a handful of clay in the middle of a metal disc (wheel) before you pull it up into a cylinder. Without it, the clay throws you, not the other way around.
If you watch a master do this before you give it a try, it looks easy. They throw the clay on the wheel, place their hands over it, and pull it up into a given shape. Within a minute they could have a finished work.
As a beginner, I thought, "I'd love to have an ice cream bowl. " (the end product)
Lacking patience and wondering why it was difficult when it looked easy, I became frustrated.
Like ceramics, yoga centering/meditation looks easy. But it is important to remember that no master is born a master, rather it takes practice.
More importantly, it isn't about (the end product) instead it is the journey that makes it forth the while.
Start by enjoying your journey...
t.
