These days there are a lot of buzz words being thrown around. While I'm all for promotion and getting the word out, there are times when meaning is lost.
I want to talk a little bit about the word "movement" and what it means to me based on my experiences.
First off, let me just say that I am happy with the direction things are going in the fitness world. Slowly but surely, we are getting back into the trend of using and building a connection with our own bodies, as opposed to being concerned with how many calories we can burn in a workout.
However, what people are calling "movement" these days does not always please me.
Movement is intricacy, precision, and obsession. Movement is skill, performed for thousands of repetitions over many years until there exists a shred of consistency.
Movement is researching and learning. Rather than harvesting bits and pieces from different physical arts, learn to appreciate the art itself.
Movement is humbling; it is realizing you understand less after learning more.
Some of my experiences with movement:
Consistently being made to tap out within seconds after believing I wasn't bad at grappling.
After having practiced capoeira for the better part of 10 years, finding that I still don't really understand certain movements I learned on day 1.
Despite having all my splits and being able to kick above head height, my hips are still too tight to hold a decent 5th position in ballet class.
Taking several years to acquire my tumbling skills, then taking the same amount of time to try to fix bad habits developed from ignorance.
Training hand balancing for years before meeting someone who was actually better than me. Then getting the opportunity to train with some of the best in the world for a truly humbling view of where my own skill level is.
Learning the difference between doing tricks and "performing" them.
Taking up dance class and realizing how stiff I really am.
Learning to not break form during transitions.
Obsessing over single details, and literally watching every video on the internet(on the subject matter) at the time to be able to better assess and analyze the technique.
The idea is not to discourage anyone, but to help people understand the meaning behind the word and the community. Movement has to have a purpose, but above all it's a way of life. It's someone you are 24/7.
Understand that the world you think you are part of is bigger than you know. Learn to appreciate the work and dedication it takes takes to not be terrible at something.
Above all, enjoy the process.