Often we find it hard to centre ourselves if we are feeling scared, upset,angry, frustrated etc. My personal experience has been that following the flow of my breath does bring some settling but I don’t necessarily end up feeling centred – think becasue following my breath in and out of my body is an experience that involves movement. For me, centredness has a quality of stillness, a quality of rest.

The following exercise helps to regulate emotions as we go and find a kind of calm state that anyone can achieve.

Start by becoming aware of your breath and then follow your breath down into your body … and try to let your focus settle into your physical center, at the bottom of your inhalation. That sense of the bottom of our breath is our centered calm point.

You might rest your hand there…at the place where you find the bottom of your breath. And just keep your attention on where your breath bottoms out. If your breath moves, move your hand with it. Keep this place company. You will know when you are centred.