Overthinking without ever taking action. Ignoring your physical health to prioritise your career. Withdrawing from friends and family. These detrimental behaviours (and many others like them) can be traced back to an imbalance in the three Enneagram centres: body, heart, and mind. 

Ultimately, each centre needs to fulfil its role and remain distinctive. Each centre should support, not dominate, the other centres. As a coach, it is your task to guide clients towards a healthy integration and alignment of their three Enneagram centres, allowing them to achieve an optimal version of themselves.

What Are the Three Enneagram Centres?

The nine Enneagram types are grouped into three centres: the body centre, which governs instinct and action; the heart centre, the source of emotions and relationships; and the mind centre, which handles thinking and planning. Each person has all three centres present inside themselves, but they are primarily influenced by one centre. 

• Mind Centre: Type 5, the Expert Observer; Type 6, the Vigilant Questioner; and Type 7, the Positive Dreamer. 

• Heart Centre: Type 2, the Supportive Cheerleader; Type 3, the Ambitious Taskmaster; and Type 4, the Sensitive Maverick.

• Body Centre: Type 8, the Tough Protector; Type 9, the Adaptive Diplomat; and Type 1, the Meticulous Judge.

What Is the Body Centre? 

The body centre, often known as the action or gut centre, is integral to our being as it guides us through the physical world. It’s our first sense of self. Through our actions, movements, and physical presence, we can experience life in its fullest form. Have you ever had a “gut feeling” about something? This instinctual wisdom originates in the body centre, a blend of intuition and bodily awareness that often speaks louder than words. 

Within the body centre, we find three core instincts that drive our human experience: 

• Self-Preservation Instinct. This instinct is about basic survival and self-preservation – our need for food, shelter, and safety.

• Transmitting or Sexual Instinct. This instinct goes beyond reproduction, encompassing our desires for intimacy and connection. If we’re inspired or passionate about something, this feeling, too, arises from our sexual instincts.  

• Navigating or Social Instinct. We are biological organisms, and our social instinct refers to our primal drive to find community. As social creatures, we have an inherent drive to interact, bond, and belong within a community.

“The purpose of the instincts is to keep us alive. We move towards what is life-giving, and move away from what is dangerous to our lives.” – Christo van Staden, Aephoria Organisational Development consultant, coach, facilitator, and biodanza teacher 

What Is the Heart Centre?

The heart centre, also known as the feeling or image centre, occupies a unique and essential place in our emotional and relational landscape. It is “the place of relatedness”, says Christo van Staden. “A place of I and you, where I see you as a human being, not a role or an ‘it’.” The heart operates on a level that transcends materiality. When healthy, the heart centre is like a flower that blooms to share its fragrance with the world.

Blaise Pascal’s words, “the heart has reasons the mind knows nothing about,” beautifully encapsulate the essence of the heart centre. 

• Feeling Centre. As the feeling centre, the heart is our emotional epicentre. It’s where our emotions reside. This centre is less tangible and material than the body centre, yet its impact is profoundly felt in every interaction and relationship we form. 

• Image Centre. The image aspect of the heart centre delves into our self-perception and questions of worthiness. It may prompt you to ask: “Am I worthy of love?” as this facet of the heart is deeply intertwined with our sense of identity and self-worth. When imbalanced, it can lead us to alter our true selves, adapting to what we believe others expect from us. This shift can result in ‘I and it’ relationships inside of “I and you” relationships. 

“The heart centre is about authenticity. What authenticity really means is a quality of the unguarded, vulnerable heart; the heart in the relation.” – Christo van Staden. 

What Is the Mind Centre?

The mind centre represents a boundless and expansive aspect of our consciousness. It’s a domain where imagination, understanding, and the discernment of reality converge. Unlike the body and heart centres, the mind is not individualistic; it’s a collective space of seeing, knowing, and comprehending the world around us. 

The mind, in its purest form, should not interfere with the other centres and try to control them. However, the ego often traps the mind, leading it to construct stories and fantasies of control that can result in anxiety and keep us enclosed in the mind. “Set your mind free,” urges Christo van Staden.

The Mind Centre: The prefrontal cortex makes sense

The brain’s region for self-direction, self-control, self-management, and self-coaching is the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This is the part of the brain that becomes active when we want to make sense of data logically and reason our way to a solution. This thinking capacity is responsible for a lot of our intelligence and ability to understand, retain, analyse and generate information. At its best appreciates we have a clear, focused mind, but it can also become busy, distracted and overwhelmed.

Robin Sharma perfectly summarised the mind centre when he said: “The mind is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.” As we become stressed, tired, unfit, hungry or overwhelmed our prefrontal cortex can get hijacked. At this point the prefrontal cortex is impaired. It struggles to stay in control and on top of distractions, impulses, and stay focused on doing a good job on the task at hand. 

The Pitfalls of Disconnection Between the Enneagram Centres

When we don’t integrate all three centres, “we miss key information,” warns Christo van Staden.  “Whatever is developed becomes developed in a very uneven way.” For example, having great insights (mind centre) without corresponding action (body centre) results in stagnation. 

Here is what imbalance in the centres can look like: 

• Body Centre Imbalance. Focusing solely on the body centre might lead to physical feats, but without the emotional depth of the heart centre and the intellectual context of the mind centre, these achievements may lack meaning.

• Heart Centre Imbalance. An overreliance on the heart centre can engulf us in emotions, overshadowing logical thought and practical action. This can lead to being overwhelmed by feelings.

• Mind Centre Imbalance. When the mind disconnects from the other centres, it starts to mistrust instinctual intelligence and will exert control. It will try to control the body and manage the heart, which manifests in enormous anxiety. Similarly, an imbalanced mind will lead to stagnation since we are stuck in the mind and not taking action. 

How to Coach Through the Three Enneagram Centres 

Coaching through the three centres does not strictly follow a linear sequence; it often happens simultaneously. The mind, body, and heart are intertwined in such a way that changes in one can (and should) instantaneously affect the others. That said, your client needs to be in their body for coaching to be effective, and thus embodiment work is strongly encouraged in the initial coaching stages.

At the same time, if we want to get into the body, we require a directive from the mind. The mind needs to be engaged in the process. Meanwhile, the heart centre is also crucial at the beginning of the coaching process, as the coach must connect relationally with their client. That can only happen through the heart. 

But the journey of integration is “not so much about techniques as it is about disposition,” says Christo van Staden. “I try to meet people where they are,” he adds. His approach points to the importance of tailoring your coaching method to the individual. For instance, people who identify either as Enneagram type eight, nine, or one may benefit significantly from embodiment work such as yoga or breathwork, more so than the other Enneagram types.  

“Conversational coaching is just one aspect; other modalities should support it.” – Christo van Staden.

How to Coach Through the Enneagram Centres in Groups vs Individuals 

Christo van Staden’s coaching approach intricately balances individuality and collectivity when integrating the body, heart, and mind centres. He urges coaches to consider the following: 

Balance Individual and Collective Needs

Van Staden emphasises the tension between individual and collective needs in his coaching. He believes in the wholeness of both dimensions, where the individuation of each person contributes to the collective’s evolution. 

In group settings, the development of individuals and the group are mutually supportive. This interdependent relationship forms the foundation of his philosophy, where the growth of one element invariably aids the growth of the other.

Engage the Mind

Van Staden uses group practices like ‘pure dance’ to bring attention and consciousness to being present in the mind, as well as the body and the heart. He stresses the importance of engaging the mind through intellectual understanding and encouraging conversational dynamics, as they enable individuals to view the world from diverse perspectives.

Create a Safe Space

When working with the heart centre, Van Staden focuses on the capacity to contain strong emotions and vulnerabilities. This process necessitates a safe environment where individuals feel comfortable revealing themselves and connecting authentically. This approach allows for more genuine interactions and the development of empathy within the group. Coaches should take the time to build that safe space for their clients. 

How to Coach Through the Enneagram Centres Across Different Age Groups

If you work with different age groups to integrate their three Enneagram centres, your coaching strategies should reflect your client’s stage of maturity. For example, younger children are naturally connected to their physical selves, making body-centric approaches and activities more effective for them. In contrast, adolescents, who grapple with identity and self-image issues, might require strategies to ease the mind and foster a sense of autonomy. Van Staden recommends incorporating your coaching style with developmental and maturity theory. 

Additionally, coaches should do the following:  

• Understand Identity Maturation Stages. In the self-protecting stage of adult development the focus is often on the body centre and dealing with issues like anger and control. In the conforming stage, the heart centre becomes crucial, with a focus on belonging, connection, and emotional responses to feelings of isolation. Lastly, in the specialising stage, individuals develop their distinct identity, and the mind centre takes precedence to emphasise mental capacities and individual competencies.

• Incorporate Enneagram Styles. Understanding an individual’s Enneagram style can offer insights into their predominant centres and how they might approach body, heart, and mind alignment. This understanding, combined with knowledge of their maturity stage, can guide your coaching process.

• Consider Personal Experience. Van Staden managed his own anxiety by focusing on embodiment work, such as breathing techniques and dance. This example highlights the importance of adjusting your coaching style to individual tendencies, while also “taking your own advice”. Coaches can certainly benefit from embodiment practices themselves.  

The Role of the Three Enneagram Centres in Inclusion and Diversity 

Van Staden’s approach to integrating the three centres is particularly relevant in diversity and inclusion training within organisations, where the focus is on embracing diverse perspectives and experiences. That’s where embodiment work comes in. Embodiment work can quickly bring people together in shared experiences, a powerful approach in settings where physical and emotional safety based on race, sexuality, or disability has been a historical concern.

The Advantages of Integrating All Three Enneagram Centres 

For coaches, all three centres provide a comprehensive framework to understand possibilities in the coaching journey. When you understand and can align each centre, you have access to a multitude of strategies and entry points for effective coaching. 

For clients, the alignment of the three centres supports personal transformation through a combination of physical, emotional, and mental integration. This method not only fosters deeper, more lasting change but also helps clients reconnect with their bodies and minds, which is especially important in our increasingly isolated society.

Advantages of Nurturing the Heart Centre

By nurturing the heart centre, we sit in our feelings and ensure we feel them. Acknowledging and engaging with our emotions not only enriches our personal experiences but also strengthens our connections with the world around us. 

“The heart is the seat of the soul, the place of true knowing.” – Christo van Staden. 

Advantages of Understanding the Mind Centre

When nurturing the mind centre, the focus is on harmonising analytical and imaginative thinking. This balance allows the mind to expand and explore a vast array of perspectives, free from the constraints of the ego’s narratives. A balanced mind complements the body and heart centres, leading to more insightful and integrated thinking. 

This enhances our decision-making capabilities and encourages creativity.

Advantages of Engaging with the Body Centre

Engaging with the body centre involves a journey of embracing and balancing our bodily instincts so we aren’t dominant in one – for example, our sexual instinct. We need to engage the body centre and meet each of our fundamental needs for nourishment, rest, and companionship. That is an unavoidable step in human development.  

The Path to Wholeness: An Integration of the Enneagram Centres

Integrating the three centres – body, heart, and mind – gives you a robust framework for transformative coaching. It’s a chance to provide your clients with a pathway to greater resilience, emotional intelligence, and agile, thoughtful decision-making. As Christo van Staden says, “Body, heart, and mind – it is wholeness.”

Do you want to elevate your coaching? At Aephoria, we have an engaging AIM Coach Community where you will receive support on this journey. Simply accredit in AIM for Enneagram and/or AIM for Maturity, and you will automatically be added to our community.