Walking the Kapila-Chi Way

 Walking the Kapila- Chi Way 

Dinesh K Kapila 

We have yoga, then we have the gyms and then Tai Chi. You keep flowing through  various movements while controlling your breathing and your weight reduces, life span improves, balance gets better, the tummy goes in and presumably your spouse looks at you with more affection !! Tai Chi is life in slow motion, connecting as they  say the body with the mind ! And you move like a white crane spreading its wings ! All while standing in one area. You can do it sitting too. Your waist does the moves.  Mind and body and what not, it’s all so exotic. 

Gymnasiums keep you inside climate controlled rooms. There it is just the body and the connection with the mind is rather overlooked. Just sweating it out. Maybe networking, many follow leading figures to their gyms. 

Hence and here I propose, why not try walking the Kapila-Chi way. You are simply not walking but absorbing. Thinking. Connecting. There is just do much to do. Watching, observing, gaining eye vitamins, noting who comes and goes and the varied patterns of families. And watch the graceful walk, the ungainly walk, the aggressive walk and the shuffling walk. More interesting, the two ladies gossiping walk and wondering what they keep gossiping about. 

Walking also has its styles, the Japanese style, Nordic style, brisk walking, power walking, interval walking, hill walking and what not. There is even a farmer style of  walking. Unless we label it, brand it, flaunt it, it ain’t worth it. All that the farmer style of walking is you carry heavy bags or weights in both your hands while walking. Or as a load. Tell me when did you last see a farmer carrying bundles in both hands and walking. Yes, ladies in some areas still do carry on their heads pots of water for miles and fodder, that would only turn up noses in our sophisticated charming genteel circles, imagine a lady dressed to the nines trying it. So it’s the farmer style of walking. As to the Japanese style of walking, I have given up on such words such as Ikigai, wabi Sabi, Shikata ga nai and Oubaitori. When we travelled through Japan, the way to attract smiles and amusement was to ask the Japanese about such concepts. One guy who spoke reasonably good English told me that his parents and grandparents and relations normally passed away in their eighties. As in other developed nations. Eating light and mindfully, I saw the quantum of food being consumed and the liquor, so we let it be. 

Instead, just walk. No major claims. .Leave that be. In walking the Kapila-Chi way we think, talk, remember and observe. Like yesterday I was remembering a colleague. He had a rather terrible story or an amusing story, depending on how you look at it. He was retiring, a silver plate was gifted to him. And a silk sari. Well, he was quite happy. Then a close relation retired, to impress him, he gifted him the silver plate. To his horror, a few weeks later, the relative returned it saying it was silver plated. Now there are two parts to it, my colleague was impressing his relation, the relation was cross checking him !  Family dynamics. As chance would have it, my recently retired colleague ran into his erstwhile junior at the airport and told him about the plate being silver played only. The junior colleague immediately said, courier it to me, we paid for a real silver plate. The plate was duly couriered and the replacement it seems is long awaited. However the silk sari is real. Brings out a smile, a big laugh. Now this you can do only while talking, walking, thinking, not in Tai Chi or at the gym. 

You also strategise and stay alert while walking the Kapila-Chi way, you watch the lady who will ask a hundred questions a hundred yards away and you strategically pivot onto another track or road. Keeps you alert and watchful and moving. Or you pivot from the road you like if you do want to meet somebody. Or watch something or someone interesting. You get to observe which youngster heads out at what time and to which corner to meet friends or to zoom off, instead of calling them to front of the house. Gossip, as we know, keeps the brain active and social networks busy. Where does Tai Chi or a gym come anywhere close to this. 

You forgot to pray, well walk and pray. Pray to the divinity and seek forgiveness and blessings. Or take a deep dive inside your self and discover your inner self and how the years have gone by and how you evolved. It’s a silent meditation. Think Nirvana, Karma and Samskara. And at the same time you can match your speed to the nice looking young lady who just strode past at a crazy pace and you have a sort of treadmill test on too. You do realise your cardiac fitness. So get moving those feet and legs, long comfortable strides, wear good comfortable shoes, any damn brand, you are just by yourself or a companion, nobody to impress, step out in the outdoors and indulge your body and your inner self. Try walking the Kapila-Chi way !