Adopt the Posture.

Obsessing over the idea of ‘postures’ recently…

• The eager medical student furiously taking notes as they watch the lead surgeon perform a complex task.
• The devoted monk in a deep reverential bow to his teacher.
• The abusive drunk, asleep on the couch, empty beer bottle dangerously close to falling out of his hand as the TV glows in the background.
• The yogi on their rubber runner mat, saluting the sun and the dawning of the light of day in a deep downward dog, the first red rays of sunlight glimmering off toned muscle.

These conjure a clear image in your mind.

These are postures. Complete mind-body orientations.

They are an attitude; a relationship to life. A mindset carved in flesh. An existential mode made manifest. 

• Do you want to be a leader?
• Do you want to be happy?
• Do you want to be a loving partner?
• Do you want to be an apprentice under masters?

ADOPT THE POSTURE.

Step into the total mind-body orientation—the asana—the posture of that role, that identity, that expectation, that living relationship.

What is the posture of a disciple of Zen? A successful AI tech entrepreneur? A wild and untamed writer? A passionate lover? A good person?

Conjure the image. The attitude expressed through action over time. Notice where it differs from your current reality. Then…

ADOPT THE POSTURE.

Take total ownership and step into the existential orientation that is written in embodied language. 

In yoga philosophy and practice, these postures are called asanas. The definition of an asana is a comfortable, steady position.

Yes, at the beginning, the posture is uncomfortable. You have to work out bio-psycho-spiritual knots in the body-mind complex before you settle comfortably into them. 

Often, you have to increase both your flexibility and your strength to unlock a new asana. Deep lesson in there for those paying attention.

Eventually, you learn to access the posture, it becomes comfortable, and easy to hold over time. The once-foreign posture is now a natural expression of who you are.

You say you want to be a student—‘always in beginner's mind’—but how teachable are you? Do you listen when someone gives you feedback? Do you pay close attention when someone is demonstrating a technique to you? Do you lean in to the lessons? Do you revel in mistakes as part of the mastery process?

You say you want to be a leader—but are you someone worthy of being followed? Do you take proactive steps to carve order out of chaos? Are you a living example of ‘do what I say not what I do’ and somehow expect respect to just show up in front of you? 

ADOPT. THE. POSTURE.

This is the subtle yet profound wisdom found within the internal martial arts—chi gong, tai chi, kung fu, yoga. 

They are postures and forms. The 8 Brocades of the Shaolin. Warrior pose in yoga. You can learn more about the warrior spirit from holding warrior pose for 5 minutes straight than you can from most books. 

Discipline, courage, self-mastery, integrity, balance, purpose, devotion. It’s all there, written in the ancient embodied teaching of Warrior pose.

Want to become more powerful? To move force in the world? This is not a theory; this is a practice. Train the Shaolin elementary forms, and learn how to generate power in your body-mind.

What do you want?

Who do you want to become?

How do you want to show up in the world?

Adopt the posture. Train the form. Embody the archetype. Ingrain it into your nervous system so deeply it becomes a natural Way of Being.

Don’t talk about it, be about it.
EB.