A centered journey

"Journey to Center." the second book by Thomas F. Crum, is an interesting, informative read on how to "center," a method of relaxation and heightened mental awareness. I picked up "Journey" with a bit of skepticism, a little leery of the practicality of self-improvement books. What I found was a volume full of informative anecdotes and practical exercises for every day life.\nCrum proposes that all people can perform at their peak if they center, a method of relaxation that aligns the soul, mind and body. People who are centered will experience better athletic performance, higher productivity in the office and more fulfilling personal relationships. I read those claims with a small amount of skepticism. \nMy skepticism was laid aside after the first section on the physical centering. Crum told a story of how he almost perished in a skiing mishap by panicking, losing sight of his companion and their destination. After centering he was able to hear his companion and made his way to safety. \nCrum also wrote about an exercise to find the physical center of the body, the area at which the body is able to perform at its peak. He asserts that focusing on the physical center will help improve balance, performance and the mental aspects of any activity. When I enlisted one of my skeptical roommates to help me find my physical center I was surprised at how effective the exercises provided were. I really could sense the difference between my physical state when I was centered and when I was not. \nCrum also offered a section on mental centering. There were several amusing stories concerning the emotional state of center. One story focuses on an aikido sensi who led a platoon of Japanese troops in World War II. By focusing on his emotional center, he managed to have no casualties during the entire duration of the war. The sensi's center, his intuition, managed to save the lives of all of his men. The main point of this section is learning to self-trust. \nI found the use of examples extremely useful in this book. Not only do the chosen anecdotes add much-needed illustration for Crum's abstract points, but they also provide an easy way to remember the lessons. \nI recommend this book for anybody who is particularly interested in self improvement. It's not a book that I would pick up just for pleasure, but the information contained in it is useful if you are looking to relax and perform better.