Gaylyn Aitken“True mastery transcends any particular art. It stems from mastery of one’s self – the ability, developed through self-discipline, to be calm, fully aware and completely in tune with one’s self and the surroundings. Then and only then can a person know them self” – Bruce Lee. I like this. It articulates the feeling I have for my body as an instrument of my spirit.
I turned 65 this year and I’ve been reflecting on where I’m at in my timeline, a bit of looking back to see where I’ve come from, but mostly about what my next step will be.
I don’t feel inclined to acquire more things. I’ve been going through boxes of hoardings; some are treasures I’m not ready to get rid of just yet and some are to go.
It feels good, making space for the ‘next’, it’s exciting like I’m moving to somewhere I’ve never been before.
My biggest challenge is changing the way I’ve been supporting myself over the past thirty years as a massage bodyworker and movement guide. It’s the letting go of the familiar that I can relate to, changing old familiar movement patterns.
My body moves and performs my thoughts, beliefs and concepts. I think a lot about this currently in my life. The situation of my body, how fluid it is, how resilient and vital, shows me where my concepts and beliefs conflict or flow harmoniously with my body’s needs.
I’ve learnt from myself and from observation of others that letting go of holding one’s body is challenging. It’s like I’m lifting my body up out of the ground instead of letting it drop and rebound. The primal fear of falling underlays this resistance.
The process of letting go with awareness and being open to experimenting with different ways to perform familiar and new tasks is how we get to know our self. Letting go of old patterns that no longer serve us well makes space for the next and it’s never ending. There’s always refinements. It’s not a burden, it’s light and exciting to learn a new movement, it keeps my body and mind fresh and vital.
Kahuna Abraham Kawai’i said ‘Your body is your business. Your job is to take inventory of yourself – constantly’.
So as my life moves along and I look back and ask, “what was it all about?” There’s the answer…the only thing I must do is to be with me and adapt to change. That’s life.
Jacq Koloski
Gerard Bini
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