What's In the Name

Moving into the moment. This name came immediately after I decided to write a blog. It is more of words to live by than a philosophy. Each word has special significance on its own and together they offer endless possibilities.

Moving is, of course, the process of movement. Movement is important to this blog because of its value for self improvement. Moshe Feldenkrais believed movement to be the most simple and direct method of enriching ourselves. His reasons were:

1. The nervous system is occupied mainly with movement- Movement occupies the nervous system more than anything else because we cannot sense, feel, or think without a many-sided and elaborate series of actions to maintain [our self against the pull of gravity]
2. It is easier to distinguish the quality of movement- We know more clearly and certainly about the organization of the body against the pull of gravity than we do about the other components [feelings, thoughts and sensations].
3. We have a richer experience of movement- We all have more experience with movement and more capacity for it, than of feelings and thoughts.
4. The ability to move is important to self-value- A person’s physical build and his ability to move are probably more important to his self-image than anything else.
5. All muscular activity is movement- Every action [seeing, talking hearing] originates in muscular activity.
6. Movements reflect the state of the nervous system- The muscles contract as a result of an unending series of impulses from the nervous system; for this reason the muscular pattern of the upright position, facial expression and voice reflect the condition of the nervous system.
7. Movement is the basis of awareness- We know what is happening with us as soon as the muscles of our face, heart or breathing apparatus organize themselves into patterns, known to us as fear, anxiety, laughter, or any other feeling.
8. Breathing is movement- Our breathing reflects every emotional or physical effort and every disturbance.
9. Hinges of habit- [When] habit has lost its chief support, that of the muscles; [it] becomes more amenable to change.”
Edited from Moshe Feldenkrais book, Awareness Through Movement pages 33-39

Movement is integrated into everything we do. As it says on my business cards, "Improve movement, improve life".

My use of "into" is important. Into implies awareness where in does not. I could move in this moment and have no idea what am doing (particularly if I am asleep). Therefore, into is being aware of one's actions in the moment. A Zen Master knows this as "being present" and athletes refer to it as "being in the zone".

According to the Soto Zen Buddhism tradition, there are 6,400,099,180 moments in a day. I don't know how they came up with the number, but it does give you a lot of time to get things done. I prefer to think of a moment as the here and now. Our power is in the moment; it is the only time in which we can act.

Moving into the moment is the process of being aware of how you live in each instant or more simply, "what's up". It is how we improve. It is where we find joy and happiness.