MIRROR, MIRROR...

 By Phillip Starr

We've all heard the expression, “Body and mind are inseparable.” But how often do we really consider the meanings of this common utterance? Probably never, right? Oh, you might say something like, “Sure, I do! It means that we have to unite the body and mind...yada, yada, yada.”

Actually, the phrase in question states clearly that body and mind ARE ALREADY united; they're inseparable. They can't “be united” unless they're first separated. And that is impossible...until the moment of physical death. As long as we live on this earth, body and mind are “inseparable.” So, exactly what does this mean and how does it impact your practice of martial arts and life? Well, listen up...

Body and mind are inseparable because they are essentially the same thing! The mind is formless; the body is the visible portion of the mind! They “mirror” each other!

Not only that, but they influence each other quite considerably. How a person stands, sits, moves...all REFLECT his/her (state of) mind. For instance, an obvious example a student who keeps his/her hands too close to his/her body during sparring is “withdrawing.” They are afraid. Their fear is (physically) expressed by withdrawing their guard, as well as numerous other small (and often very subtle) bodily signs.

That's pretty easy to understand. But what may be surprising to you is that:

(A). The positioning (of the body or parts of it) FOSTERS and REINFORCES the “negative” mental condition, and...

(B). Changing the positioning of the body (or parts of it) CAN REMOVE THE “NEGATIVE” MENTAL CONDITION. By “changing the “positioning of the body”, you are simultaneously “changing the positioning of the mind!”

For instance, when you are happy, your face beams as you smile and your steps are light. When you are angry, your face is dark and your countenance is fearful. Your body tightens up and your steps are heavy. When you are depressed, you may resemble a whipped puppy; you slouch and shuffle your feet as you walk with your head bowed and your shoulders slumped. A person who is always unhappy looks and moves like it!

Certainly, these are rather extreme examples but they serve to show how the body reflects the condition of the mind. There are numerous other mental conditions that produce slightly more subtle changes in posture and movement. Consider how your friends or family members look and move when they are fatigued, stressed, bored, worried, frightened, irritated, or angry.

Once your posture and the ways in which you move (such as walking, standing, running, and sitting) are ingrained, your mind becomes a reflection of your body. And your body reinforces the condition of your mind. The sagging posture, the drooped shoulders, the shuffling steps of someone who is depressed actually fosters the emotion of depression and assists in maintaining that mental condition, even after the cause of the emotion has been removed!

And if the “new position” of the body is maintained until it becomes a habit, so does the mental “change” of position. So for instance, if you make the student EXTEND his/her hands a bit in sparring and don't permit him/her to withdraw them, you'll notice that he/she becomes more self-confident, perhaps a bit more aggressive...but of course, there will likely be other, more subtle (incorrect or negative) bodily positionings OR ways of moving that must also be dealt with.

The old ways of standing, sitting down, kneeling down, rising up, walking, and so forth are the only ways that I have found that lend themselves to correcting bad mental habits, such as the development of a negative self-image, depression, and so on. These ways of moving must be learned from someone who knows them. Understanding how they (and their opposites, the negative forms of moving and holding oneself) impact one's mental bearing must likewise be learned from someone who has been trained in this subject. My book, MARTIAL ARTS AND THE MIRROR IMAGE covers this subject in detail and shows various training methods that will be of great help to you!