Meditation, yoga, tai-chi-chuan, pilates, Indian dance… A few years ago, these activities became fashionable and, contrary to what many people predicted, they are here to stay. Modern man is characterized by a life full of intense tasks, which prevents him from taking time for himself. Added to this are diseases and disorders that may arise as a consequence of this hectic lifestyle, such as intense stress, panic disorder, migraines, asthma, depression, among others. In this sense, the promise of a type of physical activity that worked both the body and the mind proved to be perfect for this man to be able to practice physical activity while taking care of his body and his head.
Alternative body practices have different origins, especially the Near and Far East: India, China and Japan are some of the countries that developed these techniques that we use today. All alternative body practices have one thing in common: breath control. It is understood that it is through respiratory control that man is able to reach meditative states of consciousness. Anyone who has tried pilates, yoga or any type of meditation knows that the key to a complete practice is to unite body movements with slow and orderly breathing rhythms. This is such a fundamental element that the anthropologist Marcel Mauss, in his article “The techniques of the body” assumes the possibility that these bodily practices, from other cultures, would allow man to alter his state of consciousness, which he calls “ get in touch with God. In his words:
“In my understanding, at the bottom of all our mystical states there are techniques of the body that we have not studied, and which have been perfectly studied by China and India since very remote times. I think there are necessarily biological means of entering into ‘communication with God’. And although the technique of breathing is the main point in India and China, I think it is much more widespread in general.”
Don’t stop now… There’s more after the publicity 😉
Although with very ancient roots, these techniques have gained the modern lifestyle of Western society. By the way, famous people not only adhered to these practices, but also helped to promote them. An expressive example is the singer Madonna who declared more than once her adherence to pilates and yoga.
As already mentioned, these practices are here to stay. So much so that some university Physical Education courses have included alternative bodily practices in their curriculum, as is the case at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. With regard to primary and secondary education, these practices should also be worked on in Physical Education classes, according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Culture, through the National Curriculum Parameters.
The problem that arises in relation to this type of corporal practice is the lack of preparation of professionals. Now, if on the one hand universities have been adhering to this type of activity, on the other hand, the inclusion of these disciplines in the university curriculum is still too recent for the supply of qualified professionals to respond significantly to the demand that exists in society today. Therefore, the teachers who are working in schools today either prepared themselves for this content individually – looking for private courses – or they are not prepared. For this reason, although these practices are excellent content for school Physical Education, they are rarely worked on. Who knows, this could still change one day.
By Paula Rondinelli
Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University «Júlio de Mesquita Filho» – UNESP
PhD student in Latin American Integration at the University of São Paulo – USP