In my July 2017
blog, I discussed the fact that there are many ways to improve your skills in the dojang outside the
dojang through exploring the practice of mind-body-breath connection principles
in any physical activity you perform. I
also mentioned that one of the activities I practice, and bring the principles
I learn in the dojang to that practice and vice versa is yoga.
Some people may
think it strange or in conflict to practice both yoga and an energy-based
martial art.
I have been
studying and practicing martial arts for 23 years and, in the last 5 years, I
have added yoga to my practice. It may
seem a strange mix. One can be viewed as
violent, the other as peaceful.
For me the two
have more in common than not.
Both are meant to
be more than just a physical practice.
And while many people get into both of them for the physical aspects,
the reality is there is much more depth to both and, in the end, both are meant
to support a way of life balancing mind, body and spirit (breath).
When practicing
the physical aspect, both can improve balance, strength, endurance, and
coordination. For both, physical
alignment is critical to stay safe and be effective in performing the poses
(yoga) or executing the techniques (martial arts) and it is an important part
of the physical practice. In both
studies the transition is as important as the actual pose or technique itself.
Focus is
important. Maintaining focus through the
pose or technique is a large part of the practice.
With instructors who
are trained well, both will focus on having students practice grounding and
extending energy to improve their physical practice and to improve the
mind-body-breath connection.
Both are a
practice and meant to be studied to learn all you can from them to improve your
way of life. Both are meant to be a
journey of discovery about yourself.
Both are meant to help you stay centered and focused on improving
yourself, not competing with others, and leaving the ego at the door. This also means honoring your body and
knowing when you have pushed yourself to the edge. It also means being in tune with your body to
know what the edge is because it can change from day to day, week to week
depending on how well you slept, what you ate, if you had been injured or sick,
etc.
Both are also a
breath practice. Both are meant to
improve your consciousness of your breathing, improve your experience of breathing,
and learn to breathe smoothly and evenly.
Both
at the end of the day are about improving yourself.
Regards,
Kelly
"A man who has
attained mastery of an art reveals it in every action" ~ Samurai Maxim
