This is the third part of a series about being present in the body, which is beneficial to our physical training, dancing, and quality of life. If you haven’t yet heard the sections on Grounding and Centering you may wish to go back and check out those episodes as well. I’ll briefly discuss how to find a Oriented state of being, becoming present in the space in which we find ourselves and aware of the opportunities in the present moment.
Having found a grounded state supported by the floor below us, and a centered state connected to our core strength, the next stage is to get oriented, aware, and curious about our surroundings. Here we seek perspective, exploring different ways of seeing and learning about reality. We use the five senses to investigate, expanding our experience to include the world around us.
In The Living Gita, Sri Swami Satchidananda states that from a yogic perspective, “The body also in a way is outside you. The real you is just simply you--an isolated ‘I.’ All that you have or possess is part of the outside world, part of nature.” Therefore, we are capable of impartially observing the workings of the body and our surroundings, and then responding powerfully.
In yoga and dance, we look around the space, experimenting with positions of the body, levels, viewpoints, pathways, and means of moving and traveling. From the stability of the earth and a strong center, we are able to become mobile, reaching out into a larger experience of existence. Here we experiment with how things work, including the body and the objects around us. We experience trial and error, test hypotheses, and seek knowledge and wisdom through our experience. Here lie our raw materials, the stuff we will later use to convey grace, strength, and emotion.
“Orienting is about knowing where you are in space, which helps you to create a connection with what is real in the present moment. To orient, look around the space that you are in. Use all of your senses to take in what you see, smell and hear the way a dog would when it first enters into a new space.” Jay Fields, Teaching People, Not Poses Fields suggests that “As you hold the pose, look around the room and orient yourself to the present moment.”
Thanks for joining me in this brief discussion of the power of an oriented state of being! Coming up soon I’ll share about using these tools to unleash your creativity! For more free tools and community, come visit me at www.ablythecoach.com
