Where there is Division, there is Confusion.
Where there is Confusion, there is Division.
J. Krishnamurti
The Real cultural problem that we face, is that we dont have the mature capacity to know or check that what we are is whole, seamless and undivided. And that when we know this, we dont lose the ability to see the detail.
Instead we start with the detail and hope to become whole!
Einstein alluded to this, when he pointed out that the functioning is simple in the way things work, because the systems basis is Intelligent. Another name for this Intelligence is Unity. His direct quote was that;
Things should be a simple as possible, but not simpler.
This in-born intelligence does not reside in concepts, although concepts can be used as a pointer and to refine clarity. The Pedagogical steps required are to teach the essence or essential nature, which is none other than allowing the Intelligence to express through the task.
From a movement-stability perspective, the simple essence of all movement is;
- Lengthen through spine (axial extension)
- Horizontalise Diaphragm
- Activate stabilising function (intra-abdominal pressure)
- Be aware of support to control weight-shifts (support-stepping function)
- Integration of stabilising inputs (Body, Balance, Vision)
- Understand the Global nature of the context, task,and skill
I will now contrast two seemingly distinct disciplines which are functioning today, and are largely non-communicative. They are in fact just different modes of practice on the continuum of full functioning and optimal living. If we are to make the jump from a Disease Model (Current Medical/Pharmaceutical/Education Model) to a Living Health Model (Autonomous Understanding and Trusted Network of Professionals), we need to educate ourselves and take responsibility for living this way.
The treatment discipline functions using observation of structure and sometimes function and asks for a report on difficulty turning up as pain and injury. From this exchange, the skilful therapist looks to change the perception of the body via the treatment. This is because it is necessary to change how the body is ‘appearing’ in the cortical map of the brain.
When hypertonic or ‘contracted’ tissue has been released using manual therapy and this aspect of the body has been re-integrated into the global body using neuro-physiological methods such as contract-relax therapy, the client begins to feel whole again.
The missing factor I notice in this discipline is the supervision of exercise required to take this beyond these ‘treatment sessions’ so that the changes are owned and functional ideal is clear in experience.
The training discipline uses demonstration, followed by observation of movement and exercise happening. In a conventional sense this has meant performing a certain amount of work or metabolic training. This training perspective has conventionally looked for a ‘pay-off’ some time in the future when the image basis will be transformed, or when the ‘machine’ has done enough work to be competent.
The Living Understanding happens as we learn to pay attention in the moment. This means we are no longer motivated by image, and the image-basis loses its hold. Concurrently we realise that the future ‘pay-off’ can never equal satisfaction in the moment.
The change, therefore that occurs in the training environment is;
- That I know the goal of the task or set,
- I have an attentional way to check it,
- I know that I can share how it feels,
- I can complete this feedback by asking a skilful coach, what they observed.
I can now add another component, that probably had its genesis with FM Alexander. This has significantly changed the way I practice, where the coaching involves using one’s hands to guide and enable ‘ideal’ to be experienced during 100% of the performance of the task. This works particularly well in skill learning, and using postures from Yoga and Developmental Kinesiology.
The above, therefore is an emergent way of working arising out of somatic disciplines, which is interested in the quality of the movement being performed. Instead of pushing the client to do more, the ‘functional ideal’ approach coaches the activity to the moment that ideal can no longer be performed. After an appropriate rest, the challenge is brought to this point again, and looked to be extended because the neural perspective has been enhanced by the experience of ‘ideal.’ If we perform ‘work’ from this perspective, we expand our capability, at the same time as we train ‘ideal.’
The unitive aspect of conventional training into post-conventional perspective is to train in different modes including regeneration so that quality is never compromised.
This global view integrates;
- respiration,
- posture-stability,
- stabilising function,
- feedback,
- body-balance-vision inputs,
- movement quality,
- load and
- attention to the happening.
Experience and the deepening of one’s Understanding basis is the key to balancing the training loads, because one is interested in looking honestly and authentically at the Totality of Inputs. Sleep Quality and Functional Breathing are the two key aspects that need to be optimised.
Other Key areas include Authentic Dialogue by the Network, Nutrition that honours Evolutionary Understanding, Active Recovery, Cold Thermogenesis, Sauna and Meditation.
A life-time goal of mine is being realised because the above model is coming to life in a new Video Coaching website called;
www.coaching-unlimited.com
This site will include contribution from Professionals who are living this model and will come from Treatment, Training, and Coaching backgrounds, plugged into Experiments with Optimal Living and Sports Performance.
Stay tuned….