Ideas for Transformation
#98 The Body of Wisdom, part 3 – The Principle Of Stable Center & Process of Centering
By RCG
•
September 6th, 2009
• Recorded: April 11, 2009 •
(1 vote)
(1 vote)
We are continuing our series of podcasts dedicated to the exploration of the body, the somatic disciplines and the underlying principles. Today, we are exploring the first generalized principle that we call "The Center", or "Centering".
- What is Center
- The point around which I organize my body, my balance
- Center of gravity
- The Vertical centerline (in ritual, paratheatre) – "asocial"
- Horizontal centerline (in dance) – "social"
- Leverage for the power (e.g. lifting somebody in dance, or throwing an opponent in martial arts)
- Point of balance
- Center and gravity in relationship – "marriage to gravity"
- Applications of Center
- Center in relationships – fluid center, shifting from one partner to the other depending on the context
- Center in personal growth and rituals – connection to gravity, being grounded
- Center in organizations – core competency
- Size of the Center – what’s encompassed in the center
- Exercises for the Center
- Discovering your center – straight walk heel-to-toe (enhance – close your eyes)
- Shift your center into different parts of your body
« #97 The Body of Wisdom, Part 2 – The Somatic Journey | Home | #99 The Body of Wisdom, part 4 – The Principle of Economy of Motion »
Comments
Centering is a fantastic idea to become keenly aware of. Core competencies, center lines, center of gravity, strange attractors, pivot points, theses, stasis of arguments, etc. etc.
To identify the center in still moments as well as dynamic exchanges is crucial to understanding one’s current position, and whether one is in or out of balance with respect to a central idea.
Moving the center involves being aware of all the connected parts and nudging those parts in the direction of where the center should be. Alternately, moving the center can mean adding or removing parts to the connected whole, which changes the dynamic.
Sometimes the center is a object, but more often the center is an invisible concept and dictated by the scope of awareness. Depending on the scope of awareness, one can simultaneously be balanced, and unbalanced at the same time.
Sometimes the center is in the body, and often we are part of a center that resides outside the body and involves others. In martial arts, the center of the fight is where the sum of the opposing forces comes together. As opponents are eliminated, the balance shifts. Likewise in jazz and orchestral music, one can hear the center of the theme flowing from one section to another as leading and supporting sections alternate with each other.
Cool, cool stuff guys!
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