In September, I started my Yoga Teacher Training with my amazing teacher at my favorite yoga studio with a small group of amazing students. While I’m still processing all the joy and work that is the YTT, I am working on establishing a strong home practice. It’s not easy and, for me, particularly not easy because of all those distractions and thoughts competing for my attention when I’m practicing (chitta vrittis, anyone?) My mind is swirling to the next thing. What should the next pose be? What’s the next thing after I finish practice? What should I cook for dinner? So I am learning little by little to bring myself back to my center every time I get scattered and distracted. During my morning practice today, I realized that I have a sort of a process for doing that:

• First, go into the body and focus on how the pose feels. Am I strong? Can I hold this pose and breathe with ease? What can relax while I’m making an effort towards the pose?

• Second, focus on the deeper feelings of the pose. What is the dominant sensation? How does it feel inside? Is this pain or intensity?

• Finally, try to see what the overall feeling is, what my inner voice is telling me. Am I safe? Are my body, mind and spirit safe?

What’s your way of coming back to center?