Centered and Grounded

One of the results of practicing yoga or any martial art form is becoming centered and grounded. Centering means more than being at the center of gravity or being physically balanced. As we seek mental and emotional balance, we are also seeking to be “centered,” and the result is personal peace and calm.

In yoga and other martial art forms the challenge is not only to seek self-peace and calm, but to also become grounded, which refers to being aware of the energy (qi) around and within us and keeping “rooted” and focused on the present moment.

As practitioners of yoga and the martial arts we engage in quiet sitting, moving, and standing meditations. We learn to focus on our breathing, which keeps us in the present moment, slowing and calming our mental and emotional energies, relaxing and clearing our mind.

It seems our daily lives are filled with so many distractions—television commercials costing millions of dollars for 30 seconds  enticing us to buy products, news media selling unique ideas of the news to raise their ratings, bright colors and lighted billboards fighting for our attention, and our personal cellular phones ringing or flashing updates nonstop telling us we’re losing out on a sale—so stop and purchase the item before it’ll be too late!  We float around all day pushed about by the energies fighting for our attention. We automatically respond to traffic lights, alarm clocks, cellphones, bills, health needs, family needs, and the disturbance goes on nonstop. By the time we go to bed at night we wonder why we are so exhausted, and why we did not accomplish everything on our list for the day.

However, when we feel grounded and centered, we take control of our life. We find ourselves on solid ground, not controlled by every energetic whim fighting for our attention. Rather, we tend to be focused on our daily agenda, shutting out disturbances, setting priorities, and completing our tasks one-by-one without anxiety. We take control of the steering wheel of our daily life purposefully and intentionally, including our nervous system, brain, and our overall health. We actually become consciously aware of any imbalance that may cause illness, stress, and anxiety.

When we practice our chair yoga and tai chi daily, we grow energetically centered and grounded. Anxiety and stress are also energy systems—but we want the correct chemical energies, such as serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, which help promote happiness and pleasure while reducing depression and anxiety. Our brains release these positive chemical energies naturally as we do our tai chi and chair yoga exercises.

Keep keeping on…relax, stay calm, and focused!  You are doing GREAT!!