Centering meditation is a type of meditative practice that has been around for thousands of years. It helps you feel calm, grounded, and focused, and it can also help create more balance in your life.
The benefits of centering meditation include reducing stress, improving sleep quality, and strengthening your immune system. It can be used alone or in combination with other mindfulness activities, like breathing exercises and chanting.
Practicing centering meditation regularly can also be helpful in coping with challenging emotions. It can help you to be aware of how you feel in the moment and make healthier choices, such as avoiding distractions or eating healthy when you’re feeling anxious.
Yoga and energy work classes often begin with a short centering meditation. This can be done by standing still in a yoga pose or sitting on a chair, and it can be as simple as closing your eyes and focusing on your breath.
Centering meditation can be a great way to de-stress before engaging in activities that require you to be active, like running, dancing, or playing sports. It can also help you to refocus your mind on the positive aspects of the activity so that you don’t get caught up in negative thoughts and emotions.
A study of college students found that centering meditation helped participants reduce their stress levels (Fox, et al., 2021). The study used a unique online centering meditation intervention and measured stress in participants through the Perceived Stress Scale and mindfulness via the Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised.