The Basic Life Skills that I’ve Learnt in the “Basic Life Skills” Series of Workshops

Chen Yanbing (Shenzhen)
March 22, 2012

I had just realized that I had started learning kinesiology for over four years. At the beginning, I was filled with surprise and curiosity; then, it was ambiguity and doubts; then, inquisitive explorations; and now, it is condensing clarity and mounting joy. Revisiting this whole process of ups and downs as well as bumps and falls, I felt kinesiology was like a magic spell, wonderful and fascinating; and I was like a curious and adventurous kid, increasingly attracted by and enjoying more of the process. In particular, this “Basic Life Skills” series of workshops was like riding a roller coaster, interesting and stimulating. I had gone through an authentic adventure of self-exploration.

I remembered vividly how after the first balancing session, I was “mocked” as a “defective product”. Really, I was not convinced. How come I was “defective”? My look was OK. My temperament was elegant. My abilities were not top but at least I could fend for myself. I could not be counted as “poor” nor “bad” on whatever aspect! On what ground I was judged to be “defective”?

However, as the workshop series progressed and realizations accumulated, I was able to face myself and openly admit that I did have lots of space for further development. Like the act of segmental rolling, it seemed so simple as I observed workshop facilitator Conrad Ho casually did it effortlessly. But when I was on the floor, I knew I could not do it. My spine felt so stiff and immobile. The efforts of the legs and waist had to be recruited to compensate. I instantly learnt from my body why I was so easily tired from simple daily life activities. In the balance of bodily balance, I similarly learnt why I felt dizzy on a moving car and why I was easily disoriented and lost my way. I discovered that my balancing mechanism had lots of space for development.

Facing such actual experiences and “cruel” discoveries, I was forced to admit I was defective. After all these years of learning in this field of personal growth, I should be really good already. But the facts spoke themselves. It was difficult for me to accept. It felt really depressing.

It shocked me when Conrad jumped in at this point and said, “perfect!”. No matter how high or low your current level was, just went back to your actual level. Only from there you could go grounded into your next step forward. If someone was not acting from his actual level, he was like building a hanging garden, destined to crumble into pieces eventually. So, Conrad continued to say that sensing the actual conditions was the beginning of change. A bell rang when I heard such comments. I did do and learn a lot before, with huge ups and downs, because I was not grounded on my actual level. Without the foundation, much endeavour was wasted. And building a firm foundation was exactly the core message of the “Basic Life Skills” Workshops. I saw why Conrad had named his workshop series this way.

Again and again, during the balancing process, I did not entangle myself any more in the idea that I had to be able to do it, but to acknowledge and accept my current status, savouring in fine details my actual level. As I did this, I received messages from within. Inspirations flowed. I was clearer and clearer on my next step forward. My nerves seemingly were connected better and better. I vividly felt my self awakening, becoming ever softer and more flexible. My self-awareness was keener and keener; and my acts, more and more efficient.

In the first half of March 2012, I taught for several days in the desert city of Yinchuan in the Ningxia Province in northern China. The whole process told me what “Basic Life Skills” workshops had done for me. Before, I would, without exaggeration, be reduced into a heap of fragments after a day of teaching in such arid environment. Discomfort would be all over me. But this time, after four days of teaching, I felt total relaxation in me, without any trace of exhaustion. All along, I kept my self-awareness, noticing happenings in me while I was speaking in class.

After the second day of teaching, my left eye hurt. I knew there was a message. Focusing my attention on the left eye, I patiently waited. Eventually, a piece of memory surfaced. That day, a student stood up in class to deliver a challenge. My initial reaction was trying to convince her. I realized that this confrontation had left me out of balance. So, I did a balance on it. Swiftly, the pain in my left eye were gone. The rest of the class went smoothly, too! Student evaluations showed that they were satisfied customers.

Yes! I have learnt some basic life skills in the “Basic Life Skills” workshops; and I am phasing out of being a “defective product” into being a “quality product”.