Move playfully.
PROMPT: Every Day
Reply
Tag Archives: movement
A Feather in Flow [Free Verse]
How do I roll like a
feather in flow?
The one that can't be
pulled from the pool.
It slips around the
lifted hand,
Retreating back into
the water that it never
really left.
It's like sleight of hand
one plays upon oneself:
at once magician & mark.
The faster one snatches at it,
the greater the miss.
The slower one moves,
the more frustratingly
one sees one's failure.
How to roll like a feather in flow?
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
Dancing Shadows[Haiku]
a barren tree
paints dancing shadows
on the sandy canyon.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
Fluid Stillness [Haiku]
the flower bobs
on its long, stiff stem.
the sage is unmoved.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
PROMPT: Fun
List five things you do for fun.
1.) Read; 2.) Move; 3.) Juggle; 4.) Hike; 5.) Breathe
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
PROMPT: Playtime
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
All the time. Free movement & free writing.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
PROMPT: Physical Activity
I don’t have a favorite, but there are several that I could not maintain health and sanity without, including: hiking, yoga, calisthenics, taiji / qigong, free movement, and at least one cardio (I currently swim and run.) I’m currently struggling with juggling.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
BOOKS: The Shaolin Workout by Shi Yan Ming
The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior’s Way by Yan MingMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Amazon.in Page
This book presents an exercise regimen based on Shaolin Kung fu as taught by a prominent New York City martial arts teacher. The book moves from gentle joint articulations suitable for anyone through to movements that require some degree of flexibility and athleticism. The sequence is presented in such a way as to build on itself, adding a bit more each time until one is doing the entire sequence.
Interspersed with the descriptions of the physical exercises are meditations, mostly of a contemplative nature. The illustrations are color pictures and provide the sequences of movement, though the textual descriptions will be necessary in many cases to clarify the transitional movements. There are a number of full-page color plates that are very well shot, though mostly for aesthetic (versus educational) purposes.
The book is probably the most pep-talk laden book I’ve ever read. That said, there’s not much discussion of modifications or capacity building for individuals who are incapable of doing the full expression of the techniques.
The practices often reminded me more of yoga than of martial arts. There are many deep stretches and low positions, e.g. similar to Warrior I (Virabhadra I.) It’s true that there are punch and kick movements, but they are done in more of a range-of-motion building way than as one would in combative arts.
It is an interesting set of movements, and I’d recommend it for those who like to work with unconventional workouts and movement systems.
View all my reviews
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
Rhythm Counter [Haiku]
autumn grasses sway to a different rhythm than in summer's youth.
Share on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc.
Butterfly Dogfight [Haiku]
butterflies in spastic jinky orbit: play or bloom combat?
