Eye of the Hurricane

Practicing alignment of the body, breath, and mind increases ability to differentiate between activity and inactivity, activation and stillness. This includes a growing awareness of a constant, unchanging center, building one’s ability to find the eye of the hurricane.

 No matter what is swirling about the eye of the hurricane, the center is calm and steady.

 Nestling into this center, it is possible to maintain balance and to detach from discomfort or irritation during a challenging pose.

Asana practice that leads to “the eye of the hurricane” supports meditation.  It is possible to sit in unruffled stillness for an extended period of time.

This opens space to observe the mind.

On my meditation cushion, sometimes I visualize sitting alone in a small boat in the center of a large, calm lake on a beautiful day.  The gentle swaying of the boat has no more movement than my heartbeat.  My steady, sweet breath settles to the lightest touch of a breeze, the barest of ripples on the surface of the smooth, bright waters.

 Islands dot the perimeter of this lake.  These islands are named for their inhabitants: my Job, my Family, my Errands, today’s News, the Problems of the World, and so on.  During my practice, my mind produces thoughts, and I might become caught up in them.  When I realize this, I leave the “island” and return to the boat.  For this meditation practice, my aim is to stay in the boat, the small, calm and steady boat in the center of the lake.

After meditation practice, I will visit some of these islands.  I will be more discerning about which I visit, what I do there, and how long I stay.

 And when life stirs up a hurricane, I will be better able to avoid getting blown off course by the winds.

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