Movement Kata
Development of one’s own personal discipline
The postures we take from yoga are centred around the study of the 5 vayus, of the patterns of the flow of prana in the body as well as the consequence of extending our Prana (Ki) into the environment. We also use animal mobility exercises and forms from martial disciplines like Aikido in a fusion unique to ourselves.These movements and the vinyasas and kriyas that arise are used with focus through Hara (lower Dantien) in the lower belly, then later through the heart and then in an embodied way , through the mind…always following the path of the natural pleasure of movement.KataOut of the main themes of Tanaiki we each create an individual kata (or form), designed to expand the body/mind which is the essence of growth, of maturation and is the essence of initiation. This is unique to and designed by each person.These explore the elemental archetypes of the Masculine and the Feminine, and the 3 primary archetypes of the Creator, Destroyer and Preserver in the forms of Lover, Warrior and Healer. Each kata has, in addition, at least one posture from each of the 5 vayus.We use surrender (F) and control (M) breaths; we may pandiculate into some movements, or flow through a tremour into single-pointed focus.The purpose of Tanaiki kata (movement pattern) is to move from one state to another with grace….
In Tanaiki kata we flow through the emotion to the other side and continue. So there are flashes of sadness, joy, laughter, anger, irritability and so on which are all part of the kata. The kata has a form and structure which is completed while passing through whatever is hidden in the body/mind, giving it expression.The main attitude is a sense of wonder, or what the Japanese Zen folk call Shoshin. We also study different mind moves such as zanshin, the awareness of all the elements in the relationship of experience with a soft drishti or intentional gaze.People may go into tremouring or pass through a period of Katsugen Undo (involuntary movement through internal motivation within right posture)…they may use Masculine breathing techniques such as Ujjayi breath or kapalabhati or the firebreath of Kundalini yoga. They may use the Feminine surrender breath of conscious connected breathing which is used in rebirthing or loose a kiai (martial shout).Tanaiki kata is designed by each individualEach person takes the elements of Tanaiki into a personal practise which can change often or infrequently and we share what we learn with others, sometimes borrowing ideas that work for us.
The kata continues into a free-form Tanaiki where the purpose is to ride the edge of surrender and control, the mind fully focused on the movement of Ki, then completes with finishing movementsIn this way we find our way beneath the think/emote/think/emote ego cycle to the deep feeling field that is the state of being of the person…