All of us have similar anatomy...
Some of us have more use of the body in our day to day and thus have a higher capacity creativity and versatility. The potter and the plumber both access different ranges than the postman and the office worker, somehow with the same equipment. As we age, similar challenges occur at a structural level, though different challenges occur for each of us based on our use or misuse of the body.
There is a new concept in the realm of physical therapy : not to build capacity on top of disfunction, lest we build deeper habits of disfunction. What is it to build truly functional patterns?
The primary functions of the human body are likely the same for all. Optimizing for these basic patterns allows us to cultivate a deeper understanding of what it is to be human and may help us to age more gracefully, with vigor and vitality into our extended age.
The simpler way is to start as children do : on the floor, in the water, of the womb. For those of us who have been on land, it can be a difficult process to return to simpler ways, but the path is easy with progression and a guide.
Can you feel your heart beat ?
The breath is our friend.
Ease and joy are essential qualities as we cultivate greater range of motion with more ease and accessibility than ever before. Strain is useful in limited doses, but it is important that we do not make it a way of life, lest we struggle til the end.
To begin we squat. If this is easy, thank God. For many people, life in cars and cubes, adorned with modern comforts, has made the foundational human position challenging to access. Much of standing and walking puts tension in our lower bodies that can be easily alleviated by accessing their opposite : the low position and its stability.
Balance is a guide as we move forward: where do we cultivate tension? Where do we cultivate ease?
A group process is essential as most of us have been disconnected by technologies intended in part to connect us. By learning to re-engage with the physical world, we can connect to life with more fullness and a richer experience.
Where and when to find me :
At present I am not hosting any group sessions, though I am open to it.
By understanding ourselves as part of a community, conscious or unaware, we can begin to bring a clearer focus to our connections.
The world of Islam is an interesting bridge for me: everywhere all over the world, people practice simple movements of the body at a regular pace and time, connecting in with a greater movement, the human race. I believe that we can learn from each other and grow into increased fullness of existence here in this world as we cultivate a richer awareness of our daily habits, rituals, and routines.
Some basic patterns include squatting, crawling, hanging, standing, walking, and fighting.
Typically what we fight in our every day varies, but typically it is a quality of attention that desires freedom against constraint. By training qualities of attention, focus, and discipline, it becomes possible to transform any tension into a practice of self development a betterment of our relations.
Sensitivity is one of the most important qualities, as it teaches us to better cultivate our relationship with senses near and far.