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She Says She's Centered, but ...
How do you know?

If someone, Centered Riding Instructor or not, is saying they know what 'centered' is and how to do it and they can teach it to you, wouldn't it be nice to know if they're on the right track?

One time I asked a Centered Riding Instructor about a rider we were watching, 'Is she centered?' and the Instructor replied, 'You can't expect a person to know that if it's not their own body.'  Er....   Note to self 'Don't take lessons from this lady ... (!)'   (Personally, if it's a Centered Riding Instructor, I kind of expect them to be able to know this.)  

Twenty years later, I understand what she meant (but I'm probably not going to take a lesson from her, either.)

Here's the thing, in the grand scheme of things, in the big karmic balance sheet, there's no way you can *know* the experience of another person because you're, simply, not that person.

OK, given that, is it possible to look at a student and give them feedback about whether or not they are centered?  Why, yes.  Is it possible to look at a rider or a horse or a person on the ground and figure out whether or not they are centered?  Why, yes.

Does it take some practice being able to discern this?  Yep.  But it can be done.  And if you're hiring someone to explain this to you, you might want to know if they actually know what it means to be centered, how to get there, if they can share that knowledge with you, or if they can even tell when you are centered.   Like, if you're paying them for this, you kind of want to make sure they have this ability.  At least, I do.  I want the real McCoy, not the knockoff.

So, here's some pointers to get you started on being able to see or tell if someone is centered.

Things that indicate the person probably isn't centered:

If someone says, 'Here's how you get centered' and they move their body or some part of their body intentionally, as in moving the body makes the person become centered, it's a pretty safe bet they're not centered.  Like if they bend their knees, similar to the Tai Chi opening stance, it's a real safe bet they're not showing you how to be centered.  (Unless they're actually a practiced Tai Chi aficionado, in which case, they were probably centered before they moved and they know the moving had nothing to do with centering - so chances are the real deal wouldn't move, 'cuz they know that, but maybe they figure you need to see them move so they do.  Not likely.)  If they 'obviously' roll their shoulders up and back and down and then assume a horse stance, they're probably not centering.  

If they become stiff, they are probably not centered.  They could be, but it would be a long shot.

If you can tell they are using muscles in any way to stay upright, you could reliably conclude they are not centered.

If the person continues to talk the same way they had been talking or in an overly animated way, they are probably not centered.  (Unless they were to begin with, but centered people often aren't talking.)

If their breathing stops or becomes regulated, they're probably not centered.

If their footfalls are heavy, they are not centered.

If there is the quality of 'thrusting forward' they are probably 'efforting' and if they are 'efforting' there's a good chance they are not centered.  

On the horse, if there's any gripping at all, the rider is most likely not centered.  

If the horse sounds heavy and ponderous, the horse is not centered.

Things that indicate the person probably is centered:

If someone says, 'Here's how you get centered' and nothing seems to move but all the sudden something seems different, this person might be showing you how to do it.  

If they sway a little bit, like a breeze passed through, that's a good sign.  

If all the sudden you take a deep breath and realize there's less tension in your own body, that's a real good sign.

If they aren't talking, but seem to be patiently aware, that's a good sign.

If their face is lacking tension, that's a good sign.

If they 'float' their hands into position for holding the reins, that's good.

If their knees release (which is way different than bend) that's good.

If their body 'floats' into a plumb position, this is good.

If the person and the horse walk lightly, without effort, this is good. 

If the person's legs drape around the horse and move as if glued to the horse, only there's no muscle involved!, then they are probably centered.

If it looks like the horse and rider are one, there's a good chance they are centered.

Eventually

The reason for doing this is that it has a positive impact in your riding.  When you are centered, you are not gripping.  This allows you to sit deep, because you're not squeezing yourself off the horse.  It also allows you to use your muscles when and as you wish.  You don't get worn out doing unnecessary things and you move more in harmony with the horse.  It's more pleasing to do and more pleasing to see.  Your aids become quiet and unobtrusive.  

Many of the classical masters are centered.  Many good riders are naturally centered.

One for sure doesn't even need to have a name for it in order to do it.

My instructors in the late 70's were deeply centered and 'Centered Riding' hadn't been coined yet.

The rub is when someone says 'I'm centered, here's how you do it' and they demonstrate something that isn't centered.  At this point they have robbed you of not just your money but also your ability to truly understand what centering really is and how beneficial it can be to you and your horse.  

When they demonstrate the wrong thing, your handy lizard brain records it exactly and labels it as 'this is how to center.' And from here on out your handy lizard brain will pull up that sequence of actions and do them exactly like that every time it hears the word 'center.'  Because that's what lizard brains do. And every time your lizard brain does this thing it labeled as 'centered' you won't be centered, and you won't experience the benefits of being centered.

Because centering is fundamental to Centered Riding, I teach this in the first lesson.  I teach it so that the student knows how to achieve it - yes, there are steps, just not steps that involve moving body parts, and how to recognize when they do and don't have it, and how they can practice it in daily life.  And yes, I can give feedback.  That's another one of the benefits of being centered.

Whomever you go to, ask them to show you how to center and notice what they do and what happens.  Make sure you've got the real deal.

Cheers!

L

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"The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities." 

~ James Allen