Ok.....How many of you have been watching the Olympics? I was able to watch the opening ceremony (loved the Queen gig--the Brits have such a sense of humor) but have not been able to get NBC reception since. Oh well. When I was a child, I remember watching the different events. My two favorites have always been Gymnastics and Figure Skating (one for the winter and one for the summer games.) I particularly remember watching figure skating--and immediately putting on my skates
and heading to the frozen pond down the hill...somehow thinking that by
watching I could certainly do what I had seen. (This is no doubt related to being a visual learner!) Monkey see--monkey do! :) But could there be more to it? Well...a few days ago, I came across a possible answer a' la bodywork:
In Job's Body: A Handbook for Bodywork (1987) by Deane Juhan, we read:
Observing highly trained athletes allows us all to develop a rich vicarious sense of effort, giving us a chance to experience in some measure muscular feats of which we would otherwise be ignorant. Fans intent on an event usually squirm visibly along with the action. Electromyographic studies confirm that very often this squirming consists of subdued imitations of the motions of the athletes--the bobbing of the boxer's fists, the lunge out of the starting blocks, the recoil from a hard tackle, and the like. The fans are watching with their bodies as much as with their eyes; they are participating, not just watching. This kind of vicarious muscular experience gives us concrete examples of strength and skill beyond our own, and greatly enhances our notions of human capabilities...." p. 254-255.
So by watching, we become actual participants--especially in skills we may only dream about having. Maybe the next question is...what is your favorite event...and what might that say about your developing person? Whatever it is...Enjoy the Olympic Experience!!!
