Dhoom3 Divine Dance

This is the second in the series of blogs on exercises. I am taking a reference from the movie Dhoom3 using “kamili’, an introduction song of Katrina Kaif to do an analysis of the exercise components and other inspirational aspects that are relevant to our life.

Exercise components:

The five major components one needs to consider while exercising are strength, endurance level, flexibility, balance and control. We can deal with these components at three different levels. At the basic level, endurance level increases as one optimizes the cardiovascular respiratory system. This is an energy generation component and the basic fuel for the human system. Second level has the strength and flexibility components. Flexibility determines better movement of the joints and the muscles. This in turn indirectly signifies better blood circulation to every cell of our body. So, flexibility is an energy distribution component. Strength determines the stability, bone density & muscle mass of the human body. Third level has balance and control elements. We are vertically symmetrical and it is important to balance the left and right side of the body. Balancing exercises program the brain (cerebellum) in certain ways such that we get better control of our body movement. This is one reason why a drunken person loses his balance once the blood mixed with alcohol reaches his brain. According to me, balance is an anti aging indicator. Another component is the control i.e. taking control of the body which is one such factor that determines the progress of our exercise as well as our confident level in dealing with body mechanics.

In this dance sequence, her dance was extremely powerful and dynamic even though there were certain elements of cinema mixed to it. All the five exercise components were elegantly exhibited at their best levels. This is the desired level which all of us strive to achieve and hence this dance is such a great motivation. Remember that our subconscious mind understands better when the information is fed in picture format. Due to the dramatic picturisation of this song, it is quite easy to get into the deeper level of our subconscious mind.

If you become curious to watch the song then I suggest you to watch four rounds paying particular attention to particular aspect in each round. In the first round, just pay attention only to her legs to understand the flexibility of what the human body can have. In the second, pay attention to the postures starting from the plank, arm balance, bridge, chair posture, table top, three leg down dog, chatrungasana, inversion hand stand posture to see the strength, balance & control elements. Third, pay attention to all those moves like running on slope, jumping across the beam, lunges and squats to see the endurance level. Finally, pay attention to the spinning actions in the standing, sitting and supine positions and with the hanging rope.

Psychology of curiosity element:

This dance sequence has been choreographed to exploit the curiosity element of the human. The sequence opened with her in a jump suit and with the progress of the sequence, she was undressing stage by stage to reach a final stage where she was in shorts. In exhibiting a result, when the developments are shown in progressing steps, it will have a greater impact than showing the end result straightaway. If she had come at the beginning with the dress which she was wearing at the end of the sequence then it would have a very different level of impact. Whatever be the work we are involved in, it is great technique for us to make use of the curiosity element for others to develop interest in our work.

Energy development: 

If you have learned Tibetan yoga then you must be aware of the first exercise based on “whirling Dervish”. This is a rotation exercise on your own axis i.e. the axis of spine, the main channel of central nervous system.  Rotation is always an energy generation mechanism. Do you know why we are not as energetic as the children? This is because we don’t do as much rotational movements as the children. Children do this playfully all the time. We were doing this quite often as children but we stopped doing this as we grew up into adults and hence there is a decline in our energy levels. We are not as energetic as children. In fact, all the planets in the solar system rotate with their own axis and revolve around the sun. Rotation and revolution are energy generation mechanisms and some of us as adult seldom do these movements.

Why do we revolve around the temple? And in certain culture, they even rotate on their own axis in the temple. Yes, these are energy generation techniques. In this dance sequence, she did rotations in the sitting, standing and supine positions. Also, there was a great exhibition of revolution and rotation with a hanging rope similar to the planetary movement.

Another interesting fact is that all the planets rotate in the counter clockwise direction. Do you think, it is just a coincidence? Please write your remarks in the comment section of this blog.

Involuntary control:

The law says that either you control your body or your body controls you. Voluntary control of the body is a way to check the progress of our daily exercise routines. If we have better control then it means we have made progress with the exercises. Eventually, there is another level of control mechanism possible which some of the extraordinary people have exhibited in the events like kumba mela or Guinness world record show. It is just not the body control but the control of our involuntary mechanisms like heart beat, blood pressure, body temperature etc. Many yogis have demonstrated these extraordinary controls of involuntary system such as the ability to walk on the water, floating against the gravity, etc.

Exercise is an act of playing with the gravity. In this dance sequence, she flipped her body with and without the support of the wall and did some somersault actions. Definitely, the cast crew would have used some graphics to picturise these dramatic sequence but it was a treat to understand the level of control one could target. Unfortunately in today’s condition, majority of the adults have difficulty in touching their own feet in a forward bend posture. If you want to test your body for flexibility now, do so but with the caution of not bending your knees as you bend forward and see where your hands reach.

Driving force:

This actress is not just glamorous but packed with talents. We can derive inspiration from her provided if we get to know at first what has inspired her. I feel her inspiration is not the fame, money and the pressure to exceed her own capability but the internal drive within her which has driven her in the desired path. In fact, it is an inside out move.

For a moment, if we consider the flip side and if we have a system with a body that does not move freely,  without stamina & strength and on top of these without great energy levels & without a driving force in life then it is important for us to set our goals and start to work from the inside out. Unfortunately, if any one of us are in this space then ask the following question. When the entire planetary systems generate energy, when the children have energy why should we have to be different?  This is not our place. Let us go back to the origin where we belong. That is the only space where we get our true source of energy.

So, set the goal and drive from inside out & then we are already set in this path to reach to our ideal self.