Month: February 2016

to do list

FOCUS TASK DONE
INNER BREATH EXPANSION

INCREASE PULSE COUNT PER BREATH PHASE (INHALE AND EXHALE) IN A LINEAR INCREASING METHOD GOING UP AND DOWN. 1.2.3.4.5.4.3.2.1
  BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE

PLACE YOUR AWARENESS IN YOUR SPINE AND IN A PLACE IN YOUR LIMBS (EXAMPLE: CENTER OF SPINE AND LEFT ELBOW) BREATHE AND MOVE ONE POINT FROM THE OTHER.
  TENSION PLAY

PERFORM A REGULAR TASK LIKE OPENING A DOOR WITH YOUR HAND AND THEN REPEAT IT WITH YOUR ARM TENSE. NOTE THE DIFFERENCES AND PLAY WITH IT.
  SPEED

PERFORM A TASK LIKE SITTING IN A CHAIR IN REGULAR SPEED AND THEN REPEAT IT SLOWLY WHILE CONTINUOUSLY BREATHING. NOTE THE DIFFERENCE.
  GRACE

CHOOSE TO PERFORM A DAILY TASK LIKE PICKING UP A PAPER FROM THE GROUND WITH GRACE. MOVE SMOOTHLY AND CONTINUOUSLY KEEPING YOUR EYES AND BODY UNHITCHED FROM UNNECESSARY FIXATION.
OUTER BREATH EXPANSION

LISTEN, SEE OR FEEL ANOTHER PERSON’S BREATH. NOTE HOW THEY TALK BETWEEN BREATHS, MOVE WITH OR WITHOUT BREATH AND SEE HOW YOU SYNC YOUR BREATH WITH THEM OR NOT.
  BE IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE

PLACE YOUR ATTENTION IN TWO PLACES IN ANOTHER PERSON. SEE HOW THEY MOVE AS ONE UNIT OR NOT. NOTE WHAT AFFECTS THEIR MOVEMENT.
  TENSION PLAY

WATCH A PERSON TO SEE OR FEEL HOW TENSE THEY ARE. DO THEIR SHOULDERS TENSE WHEN THEY PUSH A CHAIR? DO THEIR LEGS TRANSFER TENSION FROM THE GROUND TO THEIR BODIES AS THEY WALK?
  SPEED

MOVE WITH ANOTHER PERSON AND PLAY WITH THE SPEED OF YOUR BODY AND LIMBS AS YOU INTERACT. NOTE HOW THIS AFFECTS THE INTERACTION.
  GRACE

WALK IN A PUBLIC PLACE WITHOUT BUMPING OR FORCING ANYONE TO ADJUST COURSE. SEE A NEED IN SOMEONE AND FULFILL IT WITHOUT THEM HAVING TO ASK FOR IT.
 

 

 

 “DON’T TRY TO BE A GREAT MAN, JUST BE A MAN”

JAMES TIBERIUS KIRK

drawing a curve with a striaght line

People discuss the merits of a curved blade compared to a straight. People discuss the proper use of tools and cloud their eyes from seeing the purpose past the tool.

It is a common saying that when holding a hammer you will seek and see nails everywhere but look past that to the task at hand and past even that to the continuous purpose of living a full free life.

The Japanese carpenter used to use a marking tool called a sumitsubo. It is a ink blot with a silk draw line attached to it. In the beginning, the carpenter only sees the possibility to draw a straight line using a simple tension method. The carpenter who is more attune to his craft will be able to cast a curve by twanging the silk and using the right amount of tension.

I ask you to treat tools as they were meant to be. Tools to be used to the task and to help you grasp your own essence more fully.

Drill 1:

Take a stick and a partner to work with. Push the partner with the stick and each time you touch the partner with the stick, relax your feet so your body aligns with the pressure you are using with the stick.

Watch the arc of the stick in motion as you do the drill and add to this natural movement so your sink into the contact even more. You will see with your partner what moves them more and what feels deeper as you practice.

Drill 2:

Take a rope or a belt and hold it with enough pressure to create a straight line. Have your partner press this line in various directions and you will work to perform these tasks:

  1. Keep your breath continuous and avoid trying to sync with your partner. Move as one.
  2. Keep the rope line a line. Move around the tension and find how you can move pressure and tension dynamically in your body.
  3. Smile. Relax your face and eyes to avoid being a slave to a horizon that exists only within you.