Spirituality of Staff Spinning - Power of Imperfect Action Podcast | Episode 4

[@michelle-c-smith]

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[@8088I]

👍 The Power of Spinning (/Churning):

[@AlitaAvenger]

Great, thanks very much and best regards 🙏

[@jamesjordan6561]

It is my thought that you explained this process rather well. Thank you. I'm in.

[@andreasbeckmusic]

Thank you so much for touching our hearts

[@JediContrast]

Self mastery requires not the approval of others. This is the way!

[@8088I]

👍 The Power of Spinning (/Churning):

[@Diabolical-Divinity]

Technically demanding physical activity, where you can get into a flow state gets very Zen and very addictive. It's great!

[@g-man21]

I used to find my peace through art. very calming . After a session of spinning, I feel in another level of calm. It's helping me with many aspects of life, but now my daughter thinks I kick ass.😅

[@dianaunger6782]

I totally get your armor analogy, I am wearing mine in my avatar. And yes I also get what you said about marketable skills, I lucked out because I teach. Flow is unconscious competence, the skill is practiced to the point of just doing. I also teach tai chi which is a moving meditation, one of the focuses is breathing. Move with the breath. We usually hold our breath, a break through is just breathing. Do you find that breath control helps in spinning. Also, I have to thank you. Watching your videos during lockdown kept me sane when I couldn't fence. And maybe I I broke a few ugly figurines as well, seriously a nice open space free of breakables is good.

[@ricky_lee_official]

So much truth in this video! Thank you! I have been spinning for a couple weeks after watching your free tutorials. I have seen so many improvements within myself. It has been so fun learning and experiencing "The Flow".

[@louispageau4387]

Imperfect and inspiring action. They both go together.

[@davidkaplan6013]

I love staff spinning , when you are in the flow like you said it is s place that you wish you could stay and live in that space because nothing matters at that moment and you feel like nothing can ever hurt you and it is totally relaxing and great for your mental and physical health , I'm so happy I started learing it

[@ericjean8028]

Thank you for sharing. You are so alive, intense and beautiful!!! I love your youtube videos and I practice by imitations and it's excellent training for golf and for life in general. Any practice that puts you in the flow becomes a meditation and yours is one of the best I've tried.

[@michelle-c-smith]

Thank you so much!

[@yougottateachyoself]

Figured out spinning calmed me anf focused me a long time ago by accident. Just now realizing flowstate was the form of meditation my Adhd self needed

[@Hellaframes]

Same. I even do it at work throughout the day 😂 I can just focus on one thought at a time when I’m spinning. Now my Obi-Ani’s are sick AF and all my coworkers acknowledge me as the true Sith I was born to be lol

[@mikeransom3654]

Michelle, this is amazing! I love your explanations.

[@michelle-c-smith]

Thank you so much!

[@madlycan]

I used to fidget with pens and pencils all the time back in my school days. in hindsight probably just to keep it together. great video. thanks for sharing some insight.^^

[@Dailydoseofpiety]

I just started to learn bo staff spinning by your video. So energetic and described very easily. 🥋

[@michelle-c-smith]

You can do it!

[@ayushmourya2831]

Spinning just turn to meditation wow Michelle Spirituality of staffs spinning 😄🤩

[@michelle-c-smith]

✨🪐💜

[@Doorito_]

I found that flow while trying to land stuff on a skateboard, you'd go through what felt like 1000 emotions in 10 minutes yet 3 hours had passed and you're mind is clear after regardless if you succeeded.

[@nelson0922]

New York is watching and we appreciate you sharing your inner truth. This is the essence of your work. Thank you

[@michelle-c-smith]

Thanks for listening

[@nordicson2835]

Thank you for this post , everytime my daughter drops her staff / lightsabre... it is like the world has come to an end. Despite all the positive things Saud, she just melts down.

[@FernandoLopez-by4ph]

You always inspire. And I am about to start my venue in Bo Staff. Cheers.

[@Woodstock271]

What an excellent description of the mental and physical benefits of this type of activity and how intertwined they are. From the age of 12 until I was 18, I spent 6 days a week in Tae Kwon Do. I wanted to be the best at it. The fastest. The flashiest. Part of getting there involved training my left side to be as good as my right. (I’m right handed) My right strikes were fast and powerful but my left was awkward and pathetic. Years of training forced me to make my left side as coordinated and proficient as my right, and that was mostly a brain exercise. Not a conscious one, but your brain adapts to your movements and eventually excepts your weaker side as an equal and helps you develop an ambidextrous ability through repetition. My sensei taught us this by having us train our weaker side harder and longer than our strong side. 300 kicks with my right leg, 600 with my left, etc. Eventually, I was balanced physically and mentally. I didn’t really have a dominant side anymore and could flip between the two sides at will. More to your point on this mental involvement in physical activity is, to earn our blackbelt, we had to master a weapon. Any weapon of our choice, a Bo, Tonfa, Sai, Nunchucks, whatever, and we had to be proficient again, with both hands. I chose nunchucks and because my brain was already accustomed to me being ambidextrous, I could spin them equally well in either hand. And I totally agree with the almost meditative state achieved while spinning a weapon. At first, you’re focused on technique and then you mind takes over and it becomes almost automatic and you’re not thinking about it at all. It’s just happening. Then the phone rings, and wham! I’d clock myself in the head. And yes, I dropped my nunchucks more often than not and at first I’d get angry. Then I’d keep dropping them, my inner calm was blown. And like you, I accepted that dropping them was just part of it and not necessarily a failure. I’d drop them and automatically pick them up and start again. That just became part of the routine. I’d be in that meditative state again, my nunchucks spinning mindlessly for minutes at a time and I’d think to myself, “Wow, I haven’t dropped these things in a while” and of course then I’d drop them. I blew the trance by focusing on it. Anyway, I’m 60 years old now and just found your channel yesterday. Subscribed. Been binge-watching your videos and you’re just a terrific teacher and person. I picked up a 7/8” by 5 foot wooden extension pole, cut the threaded end off, wrapped the center with friction tape and just about destroyed my apartment while spinning it. No real harm done and I’m picking it up fast since most of the moves are almost identical to nunchucks. Can’t wait to really have fun with it outdoors where I won’t break anything except maybe my skull a few times. Sorry for the long comment and thanks for getting me interested in spinning things again. It’s so fun.

[@shemarlosscott2656]

Cool Staff I Like it Very Impressive I Do Lots of Tricks is Awesome I've Been Doing Well With Myself Thank you for Uploading The Video it was Amazing Michelle Christa Smith You're Fantastic

[@benjaminhallen9344]

You should do a TED Talk about this

[@lachlanpr8463]

Hey, I've been following your staff tutorials for the past month and only just today did I manage to have this flow state moment. I totally get it now and look forward to learning heaps more from you. You're awesome!! I actually started watching your lightsaber tutorials and decided to just take the leap to a bo staff from a hardware store.

[@michelle-c-smith]

Great to hear! Hope you’re enjoying the tutorials!

[@lachlanpr8463]

@@michelle-c-smith OMG I can’t believe you replied this is so cool 😱😁 TYSM

[@WashburnJoseph]

I love what you do, Michelle. I've given some thought to a name for your podcast. How about the Courageously Imperfect podcast?

[@michelle-c-smith]

Love that name!

[@nnamdiuyalorjr2896]

@@michelle-c-smith 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@spaceangel6945]

Last night was movie night and we all watched Danielle C. Ryan and Kevin Sorbo in "Survivor" 2022. The salient part for me is the training session were the lesson of focus before speed is explained very well. I have always taught this and I might be very slow myself because for some 7 years I practiced Tai Chi with Master Song in Champaign, Illinois while going to school at UIUC. I am currently working on a fitness routine called "YOGA FUSION" since I am constantly finding ways to fuse yoga with so many other activities. I really want the staff spinning and light saber practice for inspiring my little ones to pick up techniques that will help them with physical, mental, emotion and even spiritual health. Being smart and strong is one thing, being able to aim that power is another. "Power of Imperfect Action Podcast" is a great name filled with good alliteration. You may quote me on this; "The perfection of our imperfection is that we will always have good work to do." Also, thanks for showing the hand work while giving your presentation.

[@Rickstar79599]

Now just watching the podcast and I am recognising a lot of what you are dealing with! I turned 45yrs in April, have always been quite what's considered "normal" always on the outside looking in... had the "bad attitude" ... 🎆ADHD 🎆 Our lives have taken very different journeys the roads seem to converge at similar destinations! I certainly don't hold a spark to the incredible talents you have but I have had to dig deep to be resilient, again and again. Repeatedly having to push pick myself up dust myself off, hide my pain. Not showing just how dark things are inside, how lost I've found myself... Also i always seem to have cats as pet's because when I move in somewhere and a cat will just turn up and, stay 🫤 I do hink a proper conversation could be somewhat mutually beneficial if you'd like? But have to go for now! Kind Regards, Rick. Ps, the 'wrapping Xmas presents with you' thing i just pictured the Morecombe & Wise, breakfast scene... look it up 😁

[@acromiss]

I only watched the intro there, I must say that the short hair looks fantastic on you! Really, great choice of style.

[@Rom7607]

Like for cat :)))))

[@sannangandhi309]

Mam...I am not jealous of richest people on this earth..I am jealous of you ❤❤..ur 🔥🔥

[@achimkaiser3418]

Thumb up

[@Atul07-v3f]

Bowing down to your skills mam ,accept me as your student mam ..........palms fold from India mam.

[@4EntertainmentOnly]

Thanks, Nice advice for everything else...I know i'm going to fail...but keep trying.

[@-AT-WALKER]

Next suggestion - The "My squishy little self Podcast" Come to the conclusion you have plenty title name ideas, both the ones I've suggested are things you've said/written already.

[@yougottateachyoself]

"Flowing is Meditating" title suggestion

[@TheRightDesition]

Love your new hair 😍

[@michelle-c-smith]

Thank you so much 😀

[@matthewellenberger1905]

The moves all have names: WINDMILL, OBI-ANI, et cetera... Dropping the stick should have a unified "move name". Naming a thing gives one a semblance of ownership, and as such, fosters acceptance. I refer to the act of dropping an item as the "Schmidt". Why? Because... "Schmidt happens". Keep being a badass!

[@thecrowrains]

Wonderfully presented knowledge on your philosophy of the art of staff spinning; particularly your early point in your vid about dropping it more times than not. As a martial artist and athlete for many years it reminds me of a famous quote: "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." ~ Bruce Lee

[@BrianBorges-ez3ls]

Hey Michelle & George! ❤ Love to see you merging your personal journey with the actual spinning. You seem completely at ease. Maybe spinning has become your stim as well as your job. By the way, I love how George sits there with the staff whizzing a few inches from his head and just goes, "Meh!" Vader needed a platoon of Georges to totally squash the Rebellion!😁 As for Ozzy's game, how about a name based on the Culture Club song,... "Meow'll Tumbler for You!" -- I am truly sorry. 🤮 Great talk! Love the Fibonacci angle! And the technique you have shared with us has been an absolute revelation! Thank you!!! 🥰 Looking forward to the next one!💕

[@michelle-c-smith]

Thank you!!

[@BrianBorges-ez3ls]

@@michelle-c-smith As always, you are so very welcome! I just miss spinning, but daily chores are giving me serious Myoloma pain in my wrist. This is one unhappy left-hander,...you make me happier! Thank you right back!💕

[@Marcus_Berger1701]

I sat one day at a bench in a shopping street and started spinning my vaporizer in my hand. It fell out my hands i had to replace the glas. But i never stopped spinning it. Now years later i don't even think about it, its just a relaxing thing to do. On the same time there is a pride that i can spin things with that skill. It also looks kind of cool if you don't overdue it, i have to admit. Now i catch myself spinning everything, like the straws at Mc Donalds or pens whilst reading something. When itake out my vaporizer i take it out of my pocket in the wrong direction so i can spin it into the correct position. Sounds awkward? Maybe it is but its also a moment of fun. ;) It really become something subconscious. Sometimes when im really stressed i am able to sit down somewhere spin things, let the thoughts go loose and refresh myself in a very short time. I really get energy back which i was missing 5 minutes ago. I can relate to what you said in this video. I love it, never thought about it as meditation. Thank you. (Btw. when i started i never thought i can master it. Somehow i never can imagine mastering a skill. I can't project my current progress into the future.)

[@torizavar6736]

Spiritual Spinning! You are so cute. Thanks for the topic.

[@christianchauhan23]

❤🤍💙 all your videos #MICHELLE 👍 & 🦯Staffmanship.

[@scifidikittycat9670]

I am just beginning to try to saber spin and eventually staff spin .. just for fun .. however I wondered if at some point you could just do a short video on the correct hand wrist position to spin the saber I have seen so many people open the hand on rotation but I don’t think that you do .. I’d love to see it slowed down .. also wondered how long should the staff saber blades be thanks

[@-EA]

♾

[@هشامجميل-س1ذ]

Hay Michelle lam from Arak ❤

[@normanquednau]

I got the idea to spin burning torches. Did you do that once in a while?

[@sannangandhi309]

Mam.. tutorial of ur introduction.. session..plzplz..

[@XanaxkvaMin]

I used to be a baton twirler, and I'm getting into flow arts. Are any specific staff types more similar to a baton? I purchased a contact staff from Etsy, but it is very heavy and not good for fast moves or spinning. I can't get used to it!

[@haveanice12]

I’m still try to get those fishtails down.

[@-AT-WALKER]

"It's a Hot Mess Podcast" Pretty much the title of your first podcast (ep2), thought it was a cool name then realised it wasn't the actual podcast name when the second one dropped.

[@D.Boni93]

I have a few questions: Are there any good training gloves for learning to wield a lightsaber? Can you still swing a lightsaber despite non-slip gloves? I unfortunately have the problem that the area between the thumb and index finger quickly becomes red and starts to hurt. Or is it simply because I am so untrained. Thanks and greetings

[@matthias6337]

Hi Michelle and Namaste from Bavaria :) could it be you have been a master shaolin monk in stafffight in previous life? have you checked already :) ? However I felt into love with you watching your first yt-short randomly in some compilation. I thought: "Amazing! Thats my woman! Marry me! :) Didnt know your Name. Today I just found you after I meditate in to find out who you are :)

[@Matt-on4of]

Its funny you the people commenting about how it's "not good in a real fight." So sick of that macho mindset that if you can't bench a certain weight or if you can't beat someone up on the streets, you're some how lesser. I've always found weight lifting super boring, and as a man, I was told that's how men work out, so I never worked out. Then I found things like rope flow and staff spinning, which lead into calisthenics and finding things like swinging kettlebells, which is more enjoyable than lifting a bar. So i agree, it's so much more important to do exercise you find fun as opposed to practical or optimal.

[@bluebomber81]

I might just go with Staff Spinning Sprituality. Lose the of, keep the alliteration. 🤷‍♂️ Not good at names either. Find myself needing this meditation and found it here by accident. Now I bring at least one saber and staff to work everyday. Today it was 3 sabers.. 😅 Also totally into the tech and everything about the toy, want to sell good ones for people into this but blah blah.. never done anything like that and nowhere near to goals, but not relevant to this. This doesnt keep me motivated to it. It just feels good while distracting a part of my brain with doing something productive instead of being annoying, lol. I dont know if what there is to be said about this that can be said in a way that makes sense until people find out. Im not a fitness type, actually the opposite. Now I do this every day, spinning around with it and stuff, making up things to do. I dont get it entirely, either. But it does pull all of my attention towards it, to a point. If i just got lost in it I'd be slapping a lot of people in the face. People are very willing to walk into this. But I kind of like that as a challenge. It makes a game of how i am usually paying all kinds of attention to my surroundings anyways. Yea, the cheapo staff is great, but did already break one. 7/8 but thankfully have a 1inch too. And at least the broken one isnt useless, just shorter, lol. Also way easier than the saber staffs. But has a but less of its own flow so takes a bit more concentration. Kind of making me fine tune what im doing. Im also not great with failure tho on this I kind of took it as a matter of fact. Or maybe i am good with it but not always and theres something to think on there? 🤷‍♂️ All of this makes sense to me tho. And no its not the ohm ohm meditation, tho while that is amazing, i am so far from being able to do that these days. Constant physical discomfort says no to that, but this spinning works. Also wasnt particularly strong coming into this but i could approach everything pretty comfortably. Its easy to adjust to how youre feeling on any given day. Anyways, that's a ramble and a half. These are interesting vids, i hope you go on with them. Fascinating that starting with this toy has bcome such a relevatory thing. It just kinda keeps going. 👍

[@justokcod8603]

I found the podcast but I don’t want to not see you spinning here and there.. also, what is that stick you have, can I get one?

[@MochammadYuliardhiPratam-qn8gj]

I am your highest leader.. btw michelle, why u dnt have pinterest??

[@캡틴후크-h2v]

What happen whit your hair?? So cute

[@fallen-il8ze]

6:30 glass + aussie = glaussie ... I know I know.... it sounds terrible... I never said that I am better in naming things ._.

[@michelle-c-smith]

It was a valid effort!

[@SilambamSeyonDhamo]

Don't say Bostaff it's Purely Silambam

[@lapizlazuli]

Estás más guapa con el pelo corto

[@lordoffaiyum9727]

All your hair is gone. What happened?

[@ВикторТрифонов-з9л]

Аааа, собственно о чём речь?