The art of play - why this teaching practice as called MotionalCORE

Integrating play into our approach to physical fitness, particularly through activities like Essentrics, is not just enjoyable, but also crucial for our overall well-being. As Peter Gray, a contemporary American psychologist, aptly stated, 'The drive to play freely is a basic, biological drive. Lack of free play may not kill the physical body, as would lack of air, food, or water, but it kills the spirit and stunts mental growth.' This quote powerfully underscores the importance of play in any physical activity, promoting a holistic approach to fitness and wellness.

Essentrics, with its element of imagination and play, provides a safe and controlled environment for physical activity. When we shift our focus of movement into imagining, we are making something more rigorous than just moving through the air. Our minds assist us and create tension (or resistance) in our bodies. (i.e., lifting a feather vs. lifting a brick vs. lifting and anvil) The beauty of it is that we are not lifting an anvil, so if something should trigger a sharp pain, we can release the tension and not become like the coyote in the Road Runner cartoons. We have ultimate control of our bodies and the amount of resistance we want to apply, ensuring a safe and confident fitness experience.

MotionalCORE is rooted in the concept of play, where we can shift our thoughts into the periphery of our bodies or deep into our core, fostering flexibility in body and mind. This concept for me started rooting with the inspired teachings of Alwin Nikolias (Nik) and Murry Louis. Nik used to refer to this as 'graining.' Imagine a sculptor with a piece of wood; they study the grain of the wood to understand how it runs, using it to influence their sculpture. Similarly, in MotionalCORE, we use the 'grain' of our bodies to influence our movements.

I must thank my friend and yoga instructor Constance Harcar for the inspiration to write today’s blog.