3.1.2013

well, I fell of the boat on my bible reading this week which is truly unfortunate. I've been getting used to a new work schedule with hours all over the place and my sleep schedule even more erratic, so it's been hard for me to take control of my free time. This isn't really an excuse, just some insight into my life. I need to get back to reading.

Strength Bit: Movement (Ido Portal)

Ido Portal is an internet guru of sorts whose specializes in movement. He has a background in capoeira but admittedly dabbles in gymnastics, weightlifting and other forms of martials arts. I'm going to tell it to you straight - this guy is a mad scientist and moves with grace, precision, and clarity. Here is some highlights from an interview he did recently:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLogFAbTlDI

The vid is short and well worth the watch. Over the course of his interview he lays down some seriously profound wisdom. I mean, the first snippet is him saying he practices movement and not fitness, which quickly guides us towards his perspective. 

His essential philosophy is that we move for the sake of movement, that our human brains are meant to process and develop complex movement patterns. This suggestion is truly beautiful. Often we see individuals working out, practicing yoga, performing martial arts, and dancing with other people. time and time again, especially with exercise, people ask why perform this movement? why push your body to various limits? what's the goal? what's the purpose? How fantastic an idea is it that we move for the sake of movement itself; movement is what we are meant to do and it's a form of expression. Movement gives insight about a person and shows their inner spirit. 

This relates to a movie I watched the other day called Man On Wire. The movie is about a french tight rope walker who traversed the gap between the twin towers in New York on a tight rope and his fantastic journey towards that feat. After he performed the stunt, he was prodded to answer one simple question: why? His answer baffled the world. he did it because he could - walking that tight rope was an expression of himself and that walk between the towers was the ultimate form of his self expression. How awesome is that. It's so pure, so elegant. I implore anyone who has not seen this movie to check it out. 

I guess the point of this post is my recommendation that you move for the sake of movement. Realize that when you move, you are extending yourself into the world, expressing yourself in a very primal way. recognize your own self expression and let whatever movement you prefer to do develop you and grow you as a person.