Kung Fu movie and Yoga

Have you ever seen a kung fu (martial arts as it is also known) movie? If not, switch on any English movie channel, at least once a day they will show at least one martial arts movie. Married to a man, who has a keen interest in such training based action movies, I have now learned the art of watching such movies once in a while rather than ignoring them or fighting against them. 

All the martial arts movies are quiet similar in terms of story- mostly values and traditions based revenge stories. One thing will be common in all- one true disciple and a teacher who would train him/her  for specific reasons. Ok, the revenge part is not so great. But the part of the training is worth paying attention. 

Many a times I see some similarities between Chinese Martial Arts and Indian Yoga. Both probably work on body and mind together. In both the practices flexibility and balance of body and probably mind also is given importance. Discipline along with regularity forms the base for both. 

In the martial arts movies,mostly the teacher teaches the disciples different actions using different techniques. Just like the way we were taught yoga. I think every asana has some technique, if you know that, it becomes easier. 

In the movie, The Karate Kid, starring Jaden Smith (as Dre Parker) and Jackie Chan, the later is a teacher who tecahes the former kung fu for some competition. Jackie Chan takes Dre to something called a kung fu temple. While climbing up for the temple, Dre sees a woman standing on one leg at the edge of the mountain and doing some sort of martial art poses in front of a snake. The snake also moves along with the woman. The shot is very beautiful and the lesson too deep to make an impact. Dre feels that the lady is imitating the snake. But Jackie Chan tells him to observe carefully- it’s the snake that is imitating the lady. It is possible only when you are empty and still in your mind and heart. The teacher again and again asks Dre to “empty the mind” and “focus”.

That’s what even we try in yoga too. Shirshasana- the head stand can be practiced only when you are empty in your head. If your mind is preoccupied with some non-sense (or for that matter even some sense) head stand is a near impossiblity. 

Pause. Suddenly my mind stops.

Words were flowing in my mind as the movie progressed. And now it stopped. Relax, only till the next weekend....