Very Well Said!

Thanks Mark...


"I think I came to learn more after reflecting on the seminar during the following days. I was impressed by the amount of inner freedom we have (the exercises for finding the flexibility of our ribs and chest were very useful for this). I also enjoyed the drills that showed that we could direct the breath pressure inside of ourselves, with implications for taking strikes and improving body awareness.

I think the best thing I learned from the seminar was seeing the space inside the chest cavity for breathing, and the flexibility of our ribs and diaphragm to accommodate it. It showed me, in a very experiential and direct way (as opposed to just conceptually imagining it), that our movements can start from within; from the breath. Just the inch of expansion and contraction of the chest gives us room to escape, generate a wave, or support us from the inside against a strike. The space makes the freedom to move possible. So the power to move and to respond literally comes from our breathing; it restarts us after tension and fear has locked us.

Also, to breathe properly, it seems we need a certain awareness. Just as movement can come from breathing (as you said Manny, "Breathing IS a movement"), breathing can come from a balanced psyche. As such, when we are breathing poorly, it serves as a reliable indicator of how we are feeling and thinking on the inside.

There seem to be so many levels to it. I don't think breathing is complicated, but at the same time, I don't think I understand its true power or potential. I'm looking forward to seeing more classes and/or seminars on it in the future!

Thanks again for the seminar!"

Mark Fan