What Is “In Aligned Movement?”
“What’s in a name?”
Quite a bit actually. As I’ve continued to study, and as my practices and teaching have evolved, the name for what I called my teaching, Yoga, didn’t seem to fit anymore. And calling myself a yoga teacher, although I can make a philosophical case for it, seemed misleading to those looking for what is typically thought of as stretching and flowing through poses for a full body workout. I study and teach movement which may veer away from strict poses, Natural Human Movement which is the study of the physical skills for which humans developed, and alignment which is the study of the relationship of all our parts for optimal functioning. How should I define what I aspire to do and do I need to focus the name to fit one category: fitness, health, alignment correctives, yoga, Thai bodywork, lifestyle, spirituality? No name seemed to fit and everything I came up with either seemed too grandiose or constrictive or too kitschy.
One day it occurred to me that the simplest name was also the most whole and profound: In Aligned Movement or I AM for short. I felt a resonance with each of these words: in, aligned, movement. At the same time they are very simple and yet contain the essence of what I think is becoming my guiding philosophy. “In” to me implies being in process - it suggests that what I am aiming for is not necessarily an end goal but a way of being, practicing and living. “Aligned” - has many meanings: it has a physical connotation of the relationship between the parts of the body, it also means to be in agreement with something, which I feel is important to suss out regarding all aspects of your life: are you in alignment with the people around you, what is the relationship between your ideals and your current life? What is the relationship between your body and your mind? Are you aligned toward health or dysfunction? “Movement” is the means of playing, achieving better health, finding alignment in all respects, effecting change in the world. Finally the acronym says it all: I AM. It is a declaration of being, of saying you are here. It implies a spiritual aspect. After all, it is those words in religious texts that are given in response to “who are you?”. It is the simplest mantra from the yogic tradition “So Hum” which contains so much power. And it is synonymous with a sense of peace, stillness, being, and knowing. All are aspects for self realization.
I am in process of finding my own alignment between my self and the world. I do not claim to be a fully realized guru by any means. This website will certainly change and grow along with me. I plan to write these blogs with a bit more frequency leading up to the new year. My intention is to use these writings to offer a window into what I do, to explore the meanings of words such as alignment, and to hone my own understanding of the guiding principles in my life and work.
I hope you’ll join me in the process.