The Unadorned Beauty of the Everyday

When I’m not creating shapes in the classroom - or busy penning shapes + shape sequences for future classes - I watch programs on design. It’s a fun hobby I was recently revisiting ‘The Genius of Design’ TV series. The first episode tells the story of the birth of industrial design. As I watched the episode, two worlds become one, as I noticed a nice parallel between the Japanese approach to design + my approach to teaching movement. Here is an excerpt: 

“The Japanese concept of beauty is not the kind of beauty that you can find in artworks or decorative objects. The Japanese see beauty in the functionality of an item, like tools + other everyday items. We place great emphasis on harmony + being at one with world. This is engraved deeply in the Japanese mentality. On the other hand, in the world of design, achievements have been measured by how sensational + different a product is. Those designers are seeking to stimulate the soul, but we think differently. We want products to melt into the environment + become one with it. The goal for us is creating harmony.”

This really speaks to me, as I reflect on the (often) flashy feeds of the ‘gram, in which movement teachers snap near-contortionist shapes, perfectly posed + carefully collated in a never-ending show of ‘look-at-me’. Yes, I understand that if you teach movement, you want to demonstrate to others what it is that you do. People want to know what you’re about + what to expect in your class before they pluck up the courage to join in. Yet... somewhere along the line this simple adverting has morphed into something else... How extreme can you make shapes? How pretty + perfect can you make them (+ yourself)?

At best I find this imagery flashy + at worst unsafe, as the general population try to emulate what they see in a highlight reel. No doubt people are smart + understand that the ‘gram isn’t reality but... the temptation is still there! See these images enough + your perception of what you ‘should’ be doing starts to warp. It’s put out there as ‘inspiration,’ yet all it seems to do is ‘inspire’ comparison + negative self-talk. This is the exact opposite of what I’m trying to do in my classes.

But, back to the Japanese design aesthetic... the quest for harmony + the celebration of beauty in the everyday. That’s where it’s at (in my opinion.) As we move together in the classroom, we’re learning tools that will help us in our daily lives.

I couldn’t care less about chiseled abs or extreme ranges of motion, I’m interested in how you feel when you move. I want you to have positive movement experiences + I do my absolute best to create a welcoming + safe classroom environment in which you can play, explore + ‘do the work.’

We move together to lengthen + strengthen, to enhance balance + coordination, to cultivate  body awareness + confidence. We move together to build strong + supple spines that support us inside + outside of the classroom. 

Nothing flashy, nothing ‘Insta worthy’ - just you in your everyday life, feeling good, strong, balanced + capable. Just you, rocking this thing called life in your own unique way.