The Power Of Mind

Visualization is an incredible method for developing your movement capabilities which I use whenever it is applicable. There is scientific evidence to prove when we visualize an action, the same part of the brain is activated as when we perform the action itself.  This tool can help us in areas other than movement and athletic development, we can use visualization for developing yourself in any context. If you can visualize yourself performing certain moves, it will truly cause you to have a better chance completing it in real life. One of the most powerful effects of good visualization is that it programs the subconscious brain. You want to think of the subconscious brain as a self-guiding missile. When a self-guiding missile is fired, it starts moving towards its programmed target. As it moves towards its target it assesses its coordinates in relation to the target, and makes mini adjustments to correct its path. Our subconscious brain works in the same way. It identifie...

Kinesthetic awareness Kinesthetic awareness (K.a) is a skill referring to our body’s ability to locate itself in space. Kinesthetic receptors (aka motor neurons) are located all throughout the body. When these neurons are activated, they send information to the brain ranging from where your limbs are in relation to each other to how heavy an object is and registers sense inputs like heat and cold. In return, the brain sends “motor programs” to your muscles to tell them exactly what to do. This system also controls muscle memory, the ability for your muscles to learn patterns. This is a difficult concept to imagine for people who have never attempted to conceptualize K.a for themselves. For a visual perspective, imagine being able to see a map of your body in your mind’s eye. Now imagine being able to consult with this map in every situation you find yourself. While walking you would never trip, while dancing you would never stumble and embarrass yourself, and you could always ha...

Because we can learn lessons through our body, we should. Think about what balance is at its core. Balance is the multitude of micro adjustments that are necessary for an object to stay upright. When riding a bike you shift left and right until you stay upright. In Balinese culture, they place a heavy emphasis on balance between left and right energy because without this balance one energy would take over and destroy all existence! When balance is achieved, it facilitates an environment conducive to health and growth. In order to balance, we have to orient our center of balance in alignment with gravity in a way characterized by demanding as the least amount of energy to stay balanced. Our center of gravity (also known as CG) is located roughly between the iliac crest (pelvis) for women or near the navle for men, and down the center line of our bodies. Center of gravity shifts are based upon posture, movement, and body arrangement in space. A fun thought and movement experiment fo...

If you do not exercise for the love of movement, then exercise for the love of your body and health. If you do not exercise for your physique and health, exercise for the magnificent effects movement has on your brain. If this is not enough motivation, exercise because it will literally make you a smarter and more highly functioning human being . There are numerous studies in neuroscience which prove that working in the body changes your brain composition, leading to improved cognition. A study conducted on mice proved that mice who exercise had nearly twice the amount of nerve cells in the hippocampus (area of the brain associated with learning). On top of new cells in the hippocampus, you increase the amount of blood flow to the brain. Hours of strenuous exercise are not required to reap the rewards of physical training, light to moderate levels of exercise will have an effect as well. Although all forms of exercise have their merits, cardio seems to be the most effective in hel...

The art of inner body awareness is the epicenter for my spiritual and movement progress. Inner body awareness is, in its simplest terms, focusing your awareness/focus on the body. It is the process of getting out of our own heads and learning to inhabit our bodies leading to more intense experiences of joy and bliss. There is immense intelligence in our bodies which so many of us have lost touch with; this is where our intuition resides. The first time I stumbled upon this idea was in Echkart Tolle’s “The Power of Now,” a truly powerful and transformational book. The body is the portal into the unmanifested realm, in other words a direct link to the source of bliss itself. Brief inner body awareness meditation: sit or lay down comfortably with your eyes closed take intentional breaths in order to settle into the present moment a helpful step is to be grateful for your body, thanking it for the simple fact that this complex creation works at all. say the name of an org...

Aristotle said the unplanned life is not worth examining and Plato said the unexamined life is not worth living. I think of examination as an equivalent to observing your body, becoming aware of your patterns, imbalances, and strengths. I think of planning as the techniques you learn to use to maximize your body’s efficiency. Both steps are necessary to create a fully functioning body. If there is examination without planning, you will be aware of yourself, but only to a certain extent. This extent completely depends on what you are exposed to. Without placing your body in different positions, stretching your muscles, and challenging yourself, your awareness will stay stagnant. I would liken the average person’s dialogue with their body which walks from place to place, sits the majority of the day, as nothing more than small talk. You learn some cursory information like “how’s the weather?” and “how are you feeling?”In other words you barely know the first thing about your body’s re...

It is important to know that a practice of mindfulness and meditation are essential for becoming the strongest version of yourself. Meditation is an amazing prerequisite for any pursuit. A helpful way to view meditation is to picture our mind as a wild horse, our breath as the yolk (for attaching horse to carriage), and you as the carriage. Our breath is the tool which we use to train and harness the power of the horses. Without some measure of control over these horses, we are as effective as a square wheel and potentially as volatile as a bomb. This skill is just like any other, practice makes perfect but if you don’t use it, you lose it. Prambanan temple Java, Indonesia This is the basic outline of the meditation I practice. Sit in stillness, any position that allows your body to be comfortable Give your mind a one pointed focus, train concentration Breath, concepts, mantras, etc. When your mind strays away from this focus, take a mindful breath, and retur...

Laughter and playouts should be the result of movement. When moving our bodies, it should not be thought of as work. Rather, think of this movement as a pursuit who's expanses are as vast as exploring the entire world. One can never master movement because there will always be a new modality or technique from thousands of different disciplines. Movement ranges from walking to flipping, climbing to fighting. Playing gives a source which your curiosity will never be able to exhaust. Dissolution of the ego is the happy accident. Large egos are what cause us great suffering. They cause us to cling to what we think is right, regardless of how helpful they are to our actual lives. Pride will get in the way of healthy relationships, pettiness will get in the way of long term happiness. How exactly does movement dissolve the ego? By Instilling humility through the body. When you practice movement, there will always be a motion or pattern that will cause you confusion and frustration. ...