A Zen poem from the Tang dynasty has been translated as " Thirty years before I studied Zen, mountains were just mountains and water was just water. After studying Zen with an authentic teacher I suddenly realised mountains were no longer mountains and water was no longer water. Now thirty years since I began my study I realise mountains really are just mountains and water really is just water."
Bruce Lee famously changed it to punches and kicks, and there have been hosts of other descriptions of it. I would like to apply this to the concept of 'proper alignment' today (although I will probably use it again for a host of other 'fitness myths' in the future).
For the sake of a small article we can comment on if we wish to make longer I will keep things brief.
Proper alignment can be many things to you at different times. If you feel that you cannot make a pose, discuss it with your trainer/therapist. If you feel an exercise is about the best you will ever get it and you're not hurting yourself, who really cares if you can balance a broomstick on your back?
If you work your muscles properly you will achieve correct alignment, I agree that we all need some reminder of where we put things and our minds can be scattered and we forget where our bodies are.
There is no Holy Grail of best ever exercises, just the best one's for you. Train yourself to be the best YOU can be and don't worry about trying to be the most 'properly aligned' person in the world.
Comments