A Yoga Reflection: Stay in the Middle, Stay in the Center

As I prepared for a yoga sesh—just getting back into it after a long, I mean looonnnggg, lay off—I heard the inner voice whisper “stay in the middle, stay in the center” as I was setting my intention. ⁣

I’d been thinking about having patience, being discerning, seeing what is and isn’t readily apparent among other dancing thoughts and focal points. ⁣

And yet “stay in the middle, stay in the center” appeared, as if to remind me that from the center…⁣

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Balance is easier… you seemingly can ‘stretch’ further from this place as well… ⁣

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You can hold perspectives from and be informed by all 7 directions (starting with the first one within)…⁣

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Time seems to move slower…⁣

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Space seems ever present…⁣

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You feel more grounded and more connected…⁣

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You can sit in the seat of the centered self. ⁣

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When not in the middle, in the center, you can feel yourself out of balance, your alignment goes askew, you reach and push instead of stretch or expand or open, you find yourself in positions you cannot sustain. ⁣

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I first notice when I’m not in the center as it feels like something isn’t quite feel right, like something doesn’t fit or is just off a bit. The longer I stay out of center, the more the imbalance and misalignment shifts toward instability (of thoughts, of emotions, of perspectives, of commitments, of wants). The tension and stress rise, while joy and peace steadily decline. It keeps going this way until I awaken to what’s occurring. ⁣

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But today, I paid attention to what was there. I didn’t say, “no I’ve got this other intention over here so you’ll just have to wait.” This time I didn’t force it aside. I stayed open. I listened. I stayed in the middle, in the center, and peace emerged.