I recently returned from a weekend movement workshop in Miami where I met the founder of movement culture, Ido Portal.

He was the real deal. A man of intensity, passion, skill, wisdom, and humor. Alongside him stood Odelia, a lifelong student unmatched in her dedication to the study of movement.

I felt blessed to meet and learn from them. Ido in particular demands attentive presence, weaves masterful stories, and shares his insights willingly. I wish it lasted a few more days. I’m sure we will meet again.

It was a workshop for anybody but not for everybody. Two participants left early, backpacks slung around their shoulders, pushed the glass door open, never to return. I got the impression they were turned off by his teachings, especially when one man claimed publicly to have mastered the fundamentals. He received push-back for his claims and I suspect he wasn’t a fan of Ido’s response.

“Remain humble,” Ido replied. “You have not mastered the fundamentals. Even I haven’t done such a thing.” Ido proceeded to question the very nature of a concept so complex as the fundamentals of movement.

The whole experience reminded me much of my experiences with Vipassana meditation retreats. These intensive retreats act as a kind of pressure cooker. The heated difficulty of the sessions can be tough to manage at times, but those who stick around find themselves strengthened by fires. I would highly recommend it to those interested.

It’s said that there are two paths of insight: the sudden and the gradual. These intensive retreats allow us to more easily glimpse sudden insights and awakenings—moments when everything comes together and the truth seems so clear. But ultimately, by end of these intensive experiences, we return back to our everyday lives, routines, and conditioning.

This is where we allow the gradual path to unfold. While there’s a natural unfolding taking place, the unfolding of the gradual path is also heavily dictated by our practice. We integrate the sudden insight into our lives gradually through practice. Otherwise the insights go to waste. If wasted, one could argue there was nothing ever learned to begin with. It was all merely intellectual games, the seeking of experiences, and attachment to what is pleasant.

While retreats and intensive workshops continue to benefit my life, it’s clear that conscious change occurs through the dedicated pursuit of a consistent practice. Otherwise, the change that occurs in life is mostly unconscious and beyond our control. If control exists, then adopting a practice (whatever that might be for you), allows for our gradual awakening to unfold. It is here where we show up for ourselves, learn how to face resistance, and cultivate our true freedom.

I hope you are continuing to love your practice.

Love,

David

PS – how are you doing? I would enjoy hearing from you.

PPS – If you are in Dallas and want to practice movement to learn more deeply about your body and mind, feel free to contact me.