Karen Kirsch
movement educator

Body of Knowledge

Strengthening your core is a phrase we're hearing more often in the wider world. Their was a time when core brought visions of the remains of an apple or a nuclear reactor melt down. But with the proliferation of Pilates and the cross fertilization of Bartenieff, Pilates, Yoga, and Feldenkrais into the fitness world, core has become a common term for people to worry about. Really when you started reading this did you have a little twinge of discomfort somewhere? Fueled by a thought like " I'm not doing my strengthening exercises or I'm not paying attention to my core...[more]"

Strengthening your core is a phrase we're hearing more often in the wider world. Their was a time when core brought visions of the remains of an apple or a nuclear reactor melt down. But with the proliferation of Pilates and the cross fertilization of Bartenieff, Pilates, Yoga, and Feldenkrais into the fitness world, core has become a common term for people to worry about. Really when you started reading this did you have a little twinge of discomfort somewhere? Fueled by a thought like " I'm not doing my strengthening exercises or I'm not paying attention to my core as I sit here or............. But what is your experience of core? not what should you be doing to it to make us stronger, healthier, trimmer. All admirable ambitions but only if they allow the essence of your core, the essence of you, to flourish. We often set goals then try to beat or re-form our selves into them.
Take a moment to drop your awareness your sense of ME into your center, notices what area you identify as center. Is it below your navel? Is it close to your spine? Is it an anatomical image? Another type of image or color? Or a sense of space, empty or structural? Their is no right way to sense your core, images may not be your strength. What do you discover when you greet your core? Sensation, lack of sensation, emotion any thing is possible. It's you at this moment, it maybe a familiar sensation or a new one, it is your core with a gift of sensation to tell you something, to make a greater mystery, to have a moment of being, being with. You maybe interested in exploring with sound, movement or stillness following what to sense as you come to core awareness. The amazing yet ridiculously obvious thing about your body is it's always with you. If you want to learn more about yourself it can be your textbook, your laboratory and your teacher. And sensing, fully accepting what you feel (welcome or not) is YOU. Your sense of self comes from your sensation. The observer self, a fascinating capacity of our complex brain allows us perspective, imagination and ability to think before we act. But it is our felt sense that we live in continuously. It doesn't matter if we are aware or not we still live in and act from our felt experience. Bringing awareness, to our inner sensation, our experience of self can nourish and feed our core, our essence. Now press your feet into the floor and grasp your thighs with spread fingers to feel the muscles of your legs engage. Feel the strength of your muscles and the intention to connect with the floor/the earth. stay with it continuing to keep the connection and strength imagining it coming from your core into your legs it engaging the muscles deep within you.. Let go slowly and feel the expansion of your body every direction radiating from your core with ease and attention. You in this moment now. In your strengthening don't forget to begin with your being, the you that develops from you core sensation. [less]

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  From Karen Gorrin, MA, LMHC

  Given on Wed Sep 12, 2007.

  Karen is awesome. It is my pleasure to work with her on the Harmony Hill Cancer Retreat Center program faculty...[more]

  Karen is awesome. It is my pleasure to work with her on the Harmony Hill Cancer Retreat Center program faculty, and I highly recommend her talent and insight about all things emboddied.    [less]