Reflections of a beginning student on the 'mind in movement'.

I was trained in dance movement technique from an early age, 5 yrs
old and continue to dance today. The difference between now and then
is that then I had to learn intentional movement or technique in
order to dance well, and now I dance often with what I call 'no
mind'.

I think of technique as a matter of learning intent and putting your
mind into the movement. It is intentional movement. I agree with
Mike that movement develops naturally in all people, but that
training teaches us to use our body with intent. Our movement
develops from birth as a result of interactions with the
environment. Human movement is often an interaction with the
constructed human environment, rather than with a 'natural'
environment.

In my Gung Fu training, I am very aware that my mind is in my
movement almost all the time. Learning technique requires a focused
mind and LOTS of repeat, repeat, repeat... until it seems to flow
automatically.

In improvisational dance, I have a developed body vocabulary and
patterns that are learned and available without having to think
about them. Action - reaction and 'no mind'.

I have to admit that I love movement that flows from me freely. It
is difficult to be doing technique when I just want to feel that
freedom that comes having already done years of technique work. I
enjoy moments a lot when 'no mind' creeps in. Do I make any sense on
this???

Skills I learned in dance that have helped me with Gung Fu include
knowing how to achieve flow and snap.
Other skill similarities I experience:
balance
sinking
relaxed movement
different types of extension
trace forms such as circular movement
stance
sense of kinesphere and directional movement in that space
strong, light, sudden, direct movement 'feelings'
inward movement vs. outward movement (hard to describe, but it's
were your focus is: like looking at someone, looking beyond someone,
and/or being in yourself with no obvious outward intent but you
still interact with what is around you)

Thanks for providing the space to share thoughts. Hope to see
everyone soon.

Lorene