Yoga meditation and Christian Centering Prayer: Moving Inward

Below are examples of the layers one might move through and between to reach deeper and more one-pointed meditation/concentration.  The yogic model on the left is the koshas, or sheaths of being in comparison to the Christian model on the right.

In the Yogic  Himalayan Tradition to reach the bliss body, or atman one would follow these 5 steps:
1. Sit in stillness.
2. Establish diaphraghmatic breath.
3. Relax the body.
4. Establish breath awareness at the base of the nostrils.
5. Use a mantra or other alambana to establish one-pointed focus.

Centering Prayer Model of Moving Inward

In Thomas Keating's guidelines for Centering Prayer one would follow these 4 steps to reach divine awareness.
1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within.
2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly, and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and acion within.
3. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever-so-gently to the sacred word.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.

Both of these methods use a word or phrase to encourage a letting go, or unwrapping of the outter world.  In Yogic meditation the mantra is repeated consistently to focus the mind.  Whereas in Centering Prayer, the sacred word is repeated when a thought is recognized in the mind, to draw it back.  
Blessing in your practice.
Andrea