One of my primary practices is to work and move from my navel center.
Have you ever given up on your goals or intentions? I have. Especially in the past, I could identify a bad habit or adaptive pattern of behavior. I could see what its purpose was in terms of supporting or soothing me. I could see the better option, and still I couldn’t muster the energy to follow through. My answer for all of this has been to connect with and strengthen my navel center.
I feel fortunate that through many years of yoga, breathwork, meditation, and other embodied practices, I have learned to breathe deeply and nurture a connection there. This allows me to move from my center, and it’s very helpful. Indeed, when I feel scattered or ungrounded, this is the place that brings me back into alignment.
Simple things help me return here. I can take a deep breath into my belly or practice a few minutes of long, slow, deep breathing. I can listen to my body and rest when I am tired. Taking care of myself is navel wisdom, so eating food that truly nourishes me supports this connection. I can bring awareness and consciously practice an aligned posture. Activities such as walking, dancing, swimming, or bringing my full attention to an ordinary task like washing the dishes all support this relationship with my navel center, and it only requires that I bring my awareness to it. Simple, not easy.
I prioritize this because I know that my connection to my navel strengthens my physical body. More subtly, it is also where my courage lives and where I can access my deeper intuitive knowing. Acceptance becomes something I feel in my body. My intentions become real. Claro.
This is why the navel center holds an important place in both my books, The Mother Ache and Integration Alchemy. It is where healing and insight are supported to take root in our daily lives.
What helps you return to your center, dear friend?