For some people, it is too theoretical when I talk about patterns. For anyone doing the practices that I do (with me), or doing any other Taoist or Buddhist bodymind practice seriously, the work with patterns is actually a very practical, and essential issue.

The combination of theory and practice in a Taoist or Buddhist bodymind practice on the other hand also clearly has a theoretical flair to it. This is because the theory that one explores and tries to understand and experience in a movement practice at an ever deeper level (embodied theory), actually forms the basis for a more mature application in one’s daily life. However, from a deeper pattern experience in movement—which in itself is not a small task—it is still a long way to the ability to profoundly apply these patterns constructively in all kinds of situations in daily life.

The discrepancy between one’s theoretical movement knowledge and the practical application in one’s every daily action is a tell about how theoretical one’s practice is.