On the Transcendence of a Bodily Movement Practice

A holistic bodily movement practice, when learned and executed well, could potentially strengthen the body, and nurture a mental headspace wherein a practitioner might momentarily experience some peace, and an accompanying acuity or clarity.

Philosophical inquiry facilitates the intrinsic accompaniment of even the most mundane, and banal, of human activities (wherein, some would arguably include human inactivity). Since any quantification and qualification regarding any particular activity requires, amongst other components, objective active inquiry (e.g. exploration and assessment of potential methods of approach), and discernment (e.g. ascertainment of accuracy, interpretation of observed/collected results), it is not implausible that there exist movement modalities that emphasize, to varying degrees, the philosophical, and the metaphysical. Some such modalities birth a peculiarly strong, possibly quasi-religious, symbiosis between bodily movement, and philosophies of life or belief systems; and the resultant progeny’s composition often implies, if not explicitly expounds, transcendence beyond the bodily or physical.

This transcendence beyond an individual’s physicality is wrought through their will, as translated into the parlance of physical effort, bodily skill, or endurance. The practitioner’s experience of this transcendence entails a commitment to the somatic, to the physical work of unearthing whatever profundity lies within, or beyond. Such movement modalities idealistically seek to strengthen the physical body, and discipline the mind; which enables the practitioner to momentarily transcend their bodily mundanities. This momentary transcendence is sometimes extrapolated, toward a general transcendence of the mundanities that characterize the physical, societal, and cultural worlds that the individual inhabits; as well as a transcendence of that individual’s lived experiences.

The visual of skillful movement provides a convenient and concrete metaphor for mastery; which can be speciously expounded upon, and fashioned into a misleading equivocation of actual transcendence. This circumvention, that is begotten through masterful control of the body in space and in time, and, that resides in the body’s ability for muscular effort (collectively, or fractionally, engaged to oppose, and/or to surrender to, the various vectors formed by environmental forces (e.g. gravity) acting upon the body) nurtures a seeming suspension of the physical laws of nature, which is presented as an allegory akin to effortlessly hurdling over the sufferings entailed in living a life.

But, a masterfully controlled body moving in space, and in time, can momentarily overcome, not circumvent, the physical laws of the world. And, since the physical laws of the world are not, in any actuality, transcended, the visual of a masterfully controlled body moving in space and in time, qua metaphor for actual transcendence, is illusory. Furthermore, such a visual still requires the circumscription of space and time. The concepts of space and time are the very components that allow any observation at all, and, thus, any observable change in the body; nothing (and, consequently, nothing) can be observed without space and time. As such, the concepts (or laws) of gravity, time, and space, because they are potentially being transcended, seem (at least to a certain extent) to be required for observation of such transcendence.

Thus, observable transcendence is not brought forth within the practitioner.

The practitioner leaves neither gravity, nor space, nor time, behind; but merely enters the microcosm of their physical movement practice. They do not transcend these laws, because, if they do, we, qua un-transcendent observers, would not be able to observe the transcendental fruit of their practice. Without the concept of quantifiable space, there would be no space for the practitioner’s embodiment (or avatar), no space within which we could (actually or conceptually) observe the practitioner; without the concept of time, there would be no time within which change in the body could be quantified, no time within which we could observe and differentiate the practitioner’s movements; without the force we call “gravity”, and our knowledge and experience of gravity, there would be no marvel at a masterfully controlled body in space and in time (though admittedly, there might be marvel at the particular environment wherein the movement of that particular body transpires). That particular body would merely be a body moving in space and time, not a testament to that practitioner’s effortful and commendable defiance of gravity; and, therefore, not a representation of any kind of transcendence, momentary or otherwise. Movement, while it may provide a feeling of transcendence from habitual movement patterns (which may have become) definitive of an individual’s daily life, merely provides an opportunity for neuromuscular exertion, and, ideally, biomechanically sound neuromuscular re-patterning.

Even though from a macroscopic perspective, the metaphysical and the physical are intertwined, we should recognize that our perception of the metaphysical component of any physical thing is often influenced by factors such as our current maturity, mood, bodily condition, or experience; as well as the passage of time.

A holistic bodily movement practice, when learned and executed well, could potentially strengthen the body, and nurture a mental headspace wherein a practitioner might momentarily experience some peace, and an accompanying acuity or clarity.

This, assumedly, will enable that practitioner more reasonable decision-making processes; which, possibly, translates into realistically healthy self-esteem; and, hopefully, positively impacts that practitioner’s interactions within the world, and with other individuals. This might allow for less effortful hurdling over the sufferings entailed in living a life.

Justin is a Sculpt, Barre, and Yoga teacher based in New York City. Various nerve injuries, debilitating chronic pains, and postural problems, led him to yoga and pilates; which profoundly impacted his body and mind. Cognizant of the relation between the physical, psychological, and emotional, Justin has a deep love for creative yet sound movement patterns that nurture proprioception and mobility, cultivate strength and balance, and instill fluidity and adaptability.