Entrain with your Partner by Moving as One

Synchrony 

I became fascinated with a doubles tennis match at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, SC last year. I was studying the smallest player of the foursome because I’m small and I wanted to discern how she competed against the larger, stronger players. (Long arms, long legs and broad shoulders tend to intimidate me). What were her tricks? How did she respond to players with bigger serves, more power and longer wingspan? I soon realized that I couldn’t observe her as a single entity – no way! For, she and her partner were exquisitely entrained – like birds in flight responding to wind currents in synchronized swoops, ascents and descents. Unlike their opponents who might as well have been playing singles, she and her partner moved around the court surface as one – not only during play – which is what we learn in coaching: to move as though attached with a string. Rather, this wise twosome practiced that string-theory – not only during play but within every single aspect of the match. Between points and games, they walked toward one another, touched hands or racquets and communicated quietly and calmly. During changeovers, they walked in-step toward the net, hydrated together and walked in-step to the other side of the court – only separating when they assumed their doubles positions. Imagine identical twins at some times or mirror twins at others. It was like watching synchronized swimmers – or, more succinctly, yogis as they stretch, contract and breathe together throughout their routine – sometimes as though in a dream.

Stay with these thoughts until my next post where I'll provide examples of how a yoga practice can help you to entrain with your partner.

But if you simply can't wait to read on, you can upload the Dharma of Tennis to your Kindle by clicking on http://www.amazon.com/The-Dharma-Tennis-Judi-Beck-ebook/dp/B00E0QFLA4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394995170&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Dharma+of+Tennis

Voila! Enjoy.