Reverb10: 12.12.10
December 12 - Body Integration This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)
Hm. That's an interesting question.
I feel the most integrated when I practice kick-boxing or martial arts. I'm the most basic of basic when it comes to both - I only work out with the kickboxing club on weekends and I had a taste of kung-fu when I helped the TA practice for her upcoming tournament.
However, she told me something that stuck with me (which her instructor told her): "Coordination is a bitch."
I assume that when you get extremely experienced, some movements just become instinct. But for me, coordinating my entire body is a strenuous mental task. Usually at the end of a session, both my mind and body are exhausted.
One notable moment: when practicing punching drills, my instructor, Master Curtis, wrapped a martial arts belt around my waist. He demonstrated how to best channel my momentum - to ground myself in a solid position and feel the strength ripple through my entire body. All of my force would come out of my arm, to land the most solid strike possible. The belt, he explained, was to track my force. My lower body must remain grounded. The belt must hang between my legs at all times. As I move forward to strike, it must not swing wildly to either side, but rather, stay as still as possible - failure to do so would show evidence that I lost momentum from my lower body.
It was one of the most difficult tasks I have ever done.
Similarly, throwing a punch with an alternating kick (lead with the punching right arm, kick with the left leg, then switch) while remembering to maintain a strong guard? Tough. Especially when I had to keep in mind if my back heel remained grounded, I kept the toe pointing to a minimum and I maintained a good form throughout. You can imagine how many times I stopped, disoriented because I led with the wrong hand or forgot which foot I was supposed to be kicking with. If you can't...there were many instances where I lost my bearings. Oops.
The coordination (or lack thereof) between mind and body is exhilarating and frustrating at the same time. But it is an intense exercise in concentration that is new to me and exciting challenge.
Runner-up? When we cool down in yoga or kick boxing. I can feel my body melting into the floor as I recover from the motions I put my body through. I almost feel like I am aware of every heart-beat, every movement. Makes me want to take up meditation.
On a finer note, this is my last night of duty for the semester! Yaaay! Of course, I have hardly any studying to show for it. I plan to spend the better part of tomorrow in the economics library boning up on developmental economics and astronomy. Hopefully I can sneak in some gym time, but if not, I can always walk laps around Schenley Park with my notes in tow. My fellow RA, Lynn, and I plan on escaping to Phipps Conservatory on Thursday to soak in the Holiday Flower Show before I get slammed with my Intermediate Micro final (groan - wish me luck/pray for me/etc on that one). I took a mini-sabbatical from my blog to let me get through finals and recharge my batteries.
Also, look out for my annual holiday card post! (It'll probably be tomorrow.) It will have screened comments, so feel free to post if you'd like to get something from me in the mail. No reciprocation necessary.
Hm. That's an interesting question.
I feel the most integrated when I practice kick-boxing or martial arts. I'm the most basic of basic when it comes to both - I only work out with the kickboxing club on weekends and I had a taste of kung-fu when I helped the TA practice for her upcoming tournament.
However, she told me something that stuck with me (which her instructor told her): "Coordination is a bitch."
I assume that when you get extremely experienced, some movements just become instinct. But for me, coordinating my entire body is a strenuous mental task. Usually at the end of a session, both my mind and body are exhausted.
One notable moment: when practicing punching drills, my instructor, Master Curtis, wrapped a martial arts belt around my waist. He demonstrated how to best channel my momentum - to ground myself in a solid position and feel the strength ripple through my entire body. All of my force would come out of my arm, to land the most solid strike possible. The belt, he explained, was to track my force. My lower body must remain grounded. The belt must hang between my legs at all times. As I move forward to strike, it must not swing wildly to either side, but rather, stay as still as possible - failure to do so would show evidence that I lost momentum from my lower body.
It was one of the most difficult tasks I have ever done.
Similarly, throwing a punch with an alternating kick (lead with the punching right arm, kick with the left leg, then switch) while remembering to maintain a strong guard? Tough. Especially when I had to keep in mind if my back heel remained grounded, I kept the toe pointing to a minimum and I maintained a good form throughout. You can imagine how many times I stopped, disoriented because I led with the wrong hand or forgot which foot I was supposed to be kicking with. If you can't...there were many instances where I lost my bearings. Oops.
The coordination (or lack thereof) between mind and body is exhilarating and frustrating at the same time. But it is an intense exercise in concentration that is new to me and exciting challenge.
Runner-up? When we cool down in yoga or kick boxing. I can feel my body melting into the floor as I recover from the motions I put my body through. I almost feel like I am aware of every heart-beat, every movement. Makes me want to take up meditation.
On a finer note, this is my last night of duty for the semester! Yaaay! Of course, I have hardly any studying to show for it. I plan to spend the better part of tomorrow in the economics library boning up on developmental economics and astronomy. Hopefully I can sneak in some gym time, but if not, I can always walk laps around Schenley Park with my notes in tow. My fellow RA, Lynn, and I plan on escaping to Phipps Conservatory on Thursday to soak in the Holiday Flower Show before I get slammed with my Intermediate Micro final (groan - wish me luck/pray for me/etc on that one). I took a mini-sabbatical from my blog to let me get through finals and recharge my batteries.
Also, look out for my annual holiday card post! (It'll probably be tomorrow.) It will have screened comments, so feel free to post if you'd like to get something from me in the mail. No reciprocation necessary.