Awareness Through Movement #359

Tanden with bending the knees - DEVELOPING AWARENESS

“During this lesson, during the entire lesson the attention to the Tanden is more important than the movement.
We do the movements only to test ourselves to notice if we are sleeping or are awake. Recognise whether you are able to pay attention,
to do what we want,
or if something inside of us, by itself,
does what it wants.
We are wanting to stop being machines,
rather to become something closer to being a human that has awareness,
knows what they are doing,
and does what they want,
and not that it is done by itself and is what “it” wants.
In other words,

“it” is not “me..”

Tonight we have a powerful lesson for training the awareness - on the Tanden/DanTian.

When I asked Grok how it would assist humans learn more about their/ourselves, it came back with:

This lesson appears to be structured around principles of mindful awareness, body scanning, and the integration of breath with physical movement. Here's how it might help humans learn more about themselves:

1. Body Awareness and Sensory-Motor Integration:

   • Physical Movement and Sensations: The lesson involves specific movements (like bringing elbow to knee) which are done with an emphasis on noticing how these movements are performed. This encourages participants to develop a deeper awareness of their body mechanics, coordination, and the subtle sensations involved in movement.

   • Breath Awareness: By focusing on the movement of breath at the "tanden" or just below the navel, participants learn to connect physical movements with breathing, a practice that can enhance mindfulness, reduce stress, and improve proprioception (awareness of body position).

2. Mind-Body Connection:

   • Integration of Thought and Action: The practice of imagining movements before physically executing them (steps like 8a) highlights the connection between thought, intention, and physical action. This can teach individuals about the power of visualization in enhancing performance and understanding the role of mental imagery in physical activities.

   • Awareness of Distraction: By intentionally creating distractions or secondary tasks while maintaining focus on the "tanden," the lesson helps in understanding how easily one's focus can shift and how to return it to a primary point of focus, which can be metaphorically applied to life's distractions.

3. Neuroplasticity and Learning:

   • Learning Through Repetition and Variation: The lesson employs repetitive movements with slight variations to explore different sensory and motor pathways. This can foster neuroplasticity, where the brain learns to form new connections, potentially leading to improved motor skills or ease in movements.

   • Error Recognition and Correction: By comparing imagined movements with actual movements, participants can learn to identify discrepancies between intention and action, which is crucial for motor learning and self-correction in daily activities.

4. Self-Reflection and Mindfulness:

   • Awareness of the Present Moment: The entire exercise is an exercise in being present, noticing details about one's body and breath, which are foundational principles of mindfulness. This can lead to greater self-awareness and a deeper understanding of one's physical and mental states.

   • Differentiation of Sides: The lesson asks participants to notice differences between the right and left sides of the body after performing movements, which can enhance one's understanding of body asymmetry and how actions affect different parts of the body differently.

5. Emotional and Psychological Insights:

   • Connection Between Physicality and Emotion: Movements, especially when connected with breath and awareness, can influence emotional states. This lesson might help participants understand how physical postures or movements can reflect or even alter emotional experiences.

6. Philosophical and Metaphorical Learning:

   • Human vs. Machine: The lesson metaphorically addresses the difference between automatic, habitual responses (machine-like) and conscious, intentional actions (human-like), promoting a deeper philosophical inquiry into self-awareness and autonomy.

By engaging in these practices, individuals can gain insights into their physical capabilities, mental states, and the interconnectedness of body, breath, and mind, fostering a holistic understanding of self.

When I asked it to provide an image, this arrived:

Here’s the recording, enjoy learning more about your Self as you practice developing your awareness tonight: