There aren’t many species with such a clear, and aesthetically pleasing, centre as us humans. The navel of Da Vinci’s Vitruvian man being the centre through which all the other body proportions emanate. This centre is the core of our humanity through the elongation and narrowing of the spine to form a waist during evolution, allowing us to efficiently walk and run by being able to counter-rotate the body at the waist (see celebrating-the-gluteals). It also houses our somewhat reduced digestive system, relative to our hominid ancestors, as we instead expanded our brains, powered by meat-eating, pounding and cooking. The grounding of our feet allowing our arms and hands to hunt, gather and process high-quality food, through our strong centre. This centre is associated with solar, fiery, qualities in Yoga philosophy, the courage to act in accordance with our values. This fiery discipline (tapas), is paired with what appears to be the opposite – contentment (santosha). Santosha invites a deep sense of acceptance of the present moment, together with cultivation of a sense of plenty.
“Your work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart to give yourself to it”
Dhammapada
How do we reconcile a drive towards change and improvement, with a sense of acceptance and joy in the state of the present? As the brilliant psychologists that they were, the Yogins noted that real change occurs when we can push through an open door, rather than engaging in depleting battles of will-power. Having the privilege of being able to work in something we love is a powerful open door. And the cultivation of body awareness gradually helps us gain a better felt sense of what nourishes us and what depletes us, allowing us to develop helpful, rather than damaging, habits.
Come and celebrate our centre with me!