1. Centering and declaring completion (2 min)
Centering and declaring you are complete is the first step to enter the session. It's all about coming to the moment, grounding yourself powerfully. Centering is simply balancing your body, breath and start to come back to the present moment. It can be achieved through a prayer, observing the breath, body awareness, or listening to a sound (bell, light music). The intention here is to open a space for you to explore your own boundaries, to relax from all worries, stresses and "day dreams", and come to this moment to the reality of your body. From this center, now take a strong decision to be complete. Drop all past incompletions and create a powerful inner space. Only then we can enter the space of Yoga.
In fact, anything that follows, the whole class, including weight-training, body postures, breathing, chanting, intention, everything is to simply move in the space of completion, in the flow of this moment, in yoga.
Centering will generally happen in a comfortable sitting posture. If necessary, you may sit on a chair, or any other posture that makes you feel at ease.
- Sit in a comfortable position
- Breathe naturally, witnessing the sensations in your body
- Connect to an inner prayer or chant aloud the mantra of Eternal Bliss:
nithyaanandam parama sukhadam | kevalam gnaanamoortim|
That (Being) in the state of Eternal Bliss; that which grants the ultimate well-being. The One in the state of aloneness; the abode of all knowledge
dvandvaateetam gagana sadrisham | tattvamasyaadi lakshyam|
Who is beyond the state of duality, expansive like the vast space; Reminds you of the goal 'You are that'
ekam nithyam vimalam achalam | sarvadee saakshi bhootam|
The One that is Eternal, beyond the state of purity and impurity, steadfast and is the witness self in all living forms
bhaavaateetam triguna rahitam | sadgurum tam namaami ||
That which is above all emotions, the One devoid of taint of the three qualities (the One who wields the qualities at His will).
To that MASTER (Sadguru) I surrender.