Developing Coordination for a united body

It is important to understand that the coordination we are interested in is the one of a total union for a global movement. To do this, we will dissociate all the parts of the body to be able to unite them later. In this dissection of the movements and possibilities of the body, we will split our work in five steps:

- Dissociation of the joints joints
- Isolation of the muscle work
- Identification of the muscular chains
- Strengthening of the core muscles
-  Proprioception work

Strength work, coordination work or complex movements have no meaning without a general relaxation of the structure. For this coherent ensemble to be relaxed it must be "rooted". We will look primarily for a postural alignment to find this structure. The alignment of this structure will settle us down on earth and enable us to find our center. In this condition we can go in a more specific search. Without this structure, it will be difficult to do anything.

Upper limbs have several joints that each have their own functions. If each segment is used for its function, everything will go just fine. But often, for a given action, we use too much force because of tension and the lack of understanding of our structure. It may also happen that due to an imbalance or weakness, we compensate with muscles that should remain resting at this moment. This is the magic of the adaptability of our body but also a source of physical and emotional tension. To understand through the feeling and experience "who does what" in our body, we will separate each part to recognize the important work done by each segment. This is a fun step, although sometimes depressing, where we discover the limits of our sensations and the stiffness and weakness of our body.

For the limbs it happens without too many problems but everything changes when we go to the discovery of our spine which is actually mobile ... Yes, your back has an incredible mobility that can do many more things that you can imagine. I will cite for example, the ability to move each vertebral segment and the ability to emit a "wave" of the sacrum upward.

These exercises enable a relaxation by a more intimate relationship with your body.

When we have experimented the different moving parts of our body, it is time to see what muscles are doing a traction or expansion and contraction work for our daily movements. Again, a force we often misuse fatigue us without reason. Through identification exercises by muscle movements in common movements, we identify what should be used and what is useless. Through this direct personal experience we understand the body, under the direction of a teacher. The feeling of having more energy that then manifests itself is not that of a strength gain. In fact, at this stage, we spend less energy in wasted effort, so we're less tired.

For a given movement, we know at this stage what segment is used and what muscles are involved. If we move on to more complex gestures, moving in space, we see something very important: all movements can be improved in an overall synergy. Every movement, well understood and in an attentive relaxation, can be improved by the union of all the segments that can help this action. These muscle chains in given directions will transform a local action in a united action. In Chinese medicine, we know these lines, we call them the "muscle tendon meridians" . These lines of force are linked to unite the whole body. There are lines of force for all the movements of the six directions of space and their use greatly potentiates our actions. This is a first step in the union of the body in movement.

When the body acts, less "obvious" muscles are at work. These are the muscles that can not be controlled without deep listening to our body mechanics. Their study and conscious implementation is more complex. Often among the most powerful in the body, these muscles are buried at the heart of our structure and are a source of great power. Specific exercises will awaken the potential for a deeper union of the whole gesture.

The union of the body will have a feasibility only if it can exist in a stable movement. For this movement, we must know where we are and where we are going, it is necessary to identify one's center. Proprioception enables us to  locate ourselves in space by the kinesthetic sensation. If it is possible to know where we are through sensation, learning to situate ourselves at every moment, freedom of movement is possible. The body will exponentially amplify its effectiveness in a united movement with gesture. If the move is tense, unstable or opposite to the gesture, no union is possible.

Coordination for a united movement necessitates a specific practices but can take various forms. Any approach is correct if it leads to this union and if it does not require athletic accomplishment that limit the result to a fleeting youth.

Pissing into the wind

Teaching is a bit like wasting one's breath or giving a public lecture, therefore the possibility that someone perceives you are slim.

It is not out of malice or lack of interest that the student does not listen, since in general it is his own will which leads him to the teacher, and he hears him. However, it is necessary to pass through some filters:

- The acceptance of one's ego
- The limits of one's prejudices
- One's ability to understand,
- The quality of one's attention.

These four "Horsemen of the Apocalypse" will pose some problems with the fluidity of the flow of information.

If the information directly jeopardizes the omnipotence of one's ego, going against the basic values ​​of the person, the information is transformed or ignored.

If the teaching goes against what one had fantasized about practice, then the information does not pass or not much, one will transform what is heard.

The information that we receive penetrate through the filter of one's intellect. If it is limited or it is occupied by too much mental activity, the teaching can not penetrate.

With a mind constantly stimulated by the modern world, attention is often quite low. The "zapping" of information, the horizontal knowledge and the constant boredom can not develop an openness to the world.

The ability to really "get" the teaching is like flashing an object with a light beam, a flashlight:

It is necessary that the lamp operates (the intellect is available), it must be pointed in the right direction (teacher, professor), it is necessary that the lamp illuminates the same place long enough (focused attention) and the item that we study must not be concealed by an obstacle (wall of the ego).

If these elements are met, then getting the information is easy.

Teaching is often stealthily pointing an oil lamp to a wall that conceals an object buried in the maze of prejudices.

But if we stay the course, if we persevere, little by little, the same information becomes clear.

That is the joy of teaching: seeing the student gradually get what is obvious to you. It is to find one another in a common knowledge, observing that everyone joins in a real unity.

This communion is not of the realm of the intellect, but more generally of the human conscious experience.

We must accept that the understanding of a teaching is only a small part of the process. It is illusory to believe that what is known is understood. If it is not "digested" by experience, felt, visceral, knowledge is a only a collection of concepts without practical application ... as useful as a stamp collection.

Whoever, to better understand a subject, disperses himself in several Ways, this one will not go very far ... however it has a nice collection of stamps.

We should also be honest: some are happy to "know", but are not in the practice. This is honorable, but different from the practice. You just need to remember that only the practice transforms, not the knowledge of the practice.

This is not the acquisition of the diet pill that makes you lose weight, even if you know the diet, it is the effort associated with it.

Teaching is a wonderful way that requires not to be in a hurry.

The return of sunny days enables us to benefit from a high energy to enjoy to train ourselves to be more present in an alive and real daily practice.

To effectively manage one's practice, it is advisable not to forget the early lessons,  not to underestimate one's ability to transform and find some availability in the imbroglio of one's prejudices.

Good practice to all!