You are how you move
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You are how you move
Ged Sumner’s "You Are How You Move" presents a compelling argument for the body as the primary locus of consciousness, a perspective often overlooked in esoteric discourse. Sumner's strength lies in his direct, almost unadorned prose, which avoids the usual mystical flourish to articulate complex somatic ideas. The section detailing the 'kinetic posture' as a fundamental determinant of reality is particularly striking, offering a concrete mechanism for how our physical habits construct our worldview. However, the book’s ambition sometimes outstrips its accessibility. While the concepts are profound, the lack of explicit exercises or guided practices may leave some readers yearning for more immediate application. The text feels more like a philosophical treatise on embodiment than a practical manual, which could be a limitation for those seeking direct somatic guidance. Despite this, the work offers a vital reorientation for anyone approaching esoteric studies.
📝 Description
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Published in 2009, Ged Sumner's You Are How You Move connects physical motion to consciousness.
This book examines the deep connection between how we move and our state of awareness. Ged Sumner moves past simple kinesiology to show how our physical habits shape our view of the world and our spiritual path. The work presents the body as an active force in creating our experience, not just a container. It is for people involved in embodied practices, somatic therapy, dance, and martial arts, or anyone wanting a better grasp of the mind-body link. Readers who find standard views of consciousness lacking and want to investigate the physical roots of spiritual experiences will find it valuable. Students of philosophy and psychology open to non-dual perspectives will also benefit.
Sumner's main point is that our regular movement patterns are crucial to our mental and spiritual makeup. He argues that by changing how we move with intention, we can change our being and how we perceive things. This involves a close look at somatic habits, the body's energy, and the direct experience of existence as a kinetic event. The book challenges the separation of mind and body, suggesting a single field of embodied awareness.
Published in 2009, the book appeared during a time of growing interest in embodied cognition and mindfulness. While not strictly New Age, it gave a more solid philosophical base to intuitive movement practices found in some somatic fields. It offered an alternative to explanations of existence that focused only on the mind or the spirit, placing awareness squarely within the physical body. This approach aligns with traditions that see the body not as separate from spirit, but as its primary vehicle for experience and realization.
💡 Why Read This Book?
• You will learn how specific somatic habits, such as the 'kinetic posture' described by Sumner, actively shape your perception of reality, offering a concrete alternative to purely mental models of consciousness. • You will gain an understanding of the body as a dynamic field of awareness, moving beyond dualistic thinking to explore how 'being' itself is a kinetic phenomenon, as detailed in the book's core arguments. • You will feel empowered to recognize how your habitual ways of moving can be consciously altered to shift your states of consciousness, a practical application directly drawn from Sumner's exploration of embodied patterns.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central premise of Ged Sumner's 'You Are How You Move'?
The book's central premise is that our physical movements and habitual postures are not separate from our consciousness but are fundamental to its formation and expression. Sumner posits that how we move directly shapes our perception of reality and our inner states.
When was 'You Are How You Move' originally published?
'You Are How You Move' by Ged Sumner was first published in 2009, placing it within a contemporary wave of interest in embodied cognition and somatic philosophy.
What kind of reader would benefit most from 'You Are How You Move'?
This book is ideal for practitioners of somatic therapies, dancers, martial artists, and anyone interested in the philosophical underpinnings of consciousness and embodiment. It appeals to those seeking to understand the body's role in shaping subjective experience.
Does the book offer practical exercises for changing how one moves?
While the book provides a profound conceptual framework for understanding the impact of movement on consciousness, it is primarily a philosophical exploration rather than a step-by-step practical guide. Readers are encouraged to apply the concepts to their own embodied experience.
How does 'You Are How You Move' relate to traditional esoteric thought?
It offers a unique, embodied perspective that can complement traditional esoteric thought by grounding spiritual or psychological concepts in direct physical experience, challenging the mind-body dualism often present in some lineages.
What is the 'kinetic posture' concept in the book?
The 'kinetic posture' refers to the habitual, often unconscious, patterns of physical tension and alignment that profoundly influence an individual's perception, emotional state, and interaction with the world, as explored in Sumner's work.
🔮 Key Themes & Symbolism
Embodiment as Consciousness
The core of Sumner's work asserts that consciousness is not an emergent property of the brain alone, but is fundamentally an embodied phenomenon. Our physical form, particularly our habitual patterns of movement and posture, actively constructs our reality and our sense of self. This challenges traditional dualistic views that separate mind from body, proposing instead a unified field where 'being' is experienced as a kinetic state. The book encourages a radical re-evaluation of how physical sensations and movements inform our subjective experience.
Kinetic Posture and Perception
Sumner introduces the concept of the 'kinetic posture' as a key mechanism through which our physical habits dictate our perception. This isn't just about physical alignment but about the energetic and habitual patterns that create a specific 'way of being' in the world. Our kinetic posture influences how we interpret events, our emotional responses, and even our conceptual frameworks. Altering these ingrained patterns, Sumner suggests, can lead to profound shifts in awareness and understanding.
The Body as a Field of Awareness
Rather than viewing the body as a mere instrument or container for consciousness, this work presents it as a dynamic, sentient field. The exploration focuses on the direct experience of the body's aliveness and its capacity for generating awareness. By paying attention to the subtle energetic currents and habitual tensions within the body, readers are invited to discover a direct pathway to understanding consciousness itself, free from abstract theorizing. This perspective aligns with certain esoteric traditions that emphasize direct experiential knowledge.
Movement as Transformative Practice
The book implicitly frames physical movement not just as an activity, but as a potent tool for personal and spiritual transformation. By consciously engaging with and modifying our habitual movements, we can unlock new ways of perceiving and interacting with the world. This transformative potential lies in the direct correlation between our physical state and our mental-ethical disposition. The work suggests that a shift in how we move can catalyze fundamental changes in our being.
💬 Memorable Quotes
Direct passages from the work, attributed to the author.
“The way we are is how we move, and the way we move is how we are.”
— This core statement expresses the book's thesis: there is no separation between our physical carriage and our fundamental nature. Our habitual movements are not just expressions of our being but actively participate in its creation and perpetuation.
“Our kinetic posture is not merely a physical stance, but a fundamental determinant of our reality.”
— This emphasizes the lasting impact of our ingrained physical habits. It suggests that the way we hold ourselves and move through space actively shapes our perception and the very reality we experience, going beyond simple physical mechanics.
“To change how we perceive, we must first change how we inhabit our bodies.”
— This is a practical implication of Sumner's work, pointing towards somatic practice as a primary route to altered states of consciousness or perception. It suggests that internal shifts are often best accessed through direct physical engagement.
“The body is not a machine to be operated, but a field of awareness to be experienced.”
— This highlights the book's rejection of a purely mechanistic view of the body. It advocates for a more holistic, experiential approach, where the body is seen as inherently conscious and alive, a source of direct knowledge.
“Habitual movement patterns create habitual states of being.”
— This concisely links the physical and psychological realms. It suggests that the automatic, often unnoticed, ways we move are directly responsible for our consistent emotional and mental patterns.
🌙 Esoteric Significance
Tradition
While not explicitly tied to a single esoteric lineage like Hermeticism or Kabbalah, 'You Are How You Move' speaks to traditions emphasizing direct experience and the unity of being, such as certain schools of Tantra, Vajrayana Buddhism, and Gnosticism's focus on embodied awareness. It offers a modern, philosophical articulation of the principle that the microcosm (the body) directly reflects and shapes the macrocosm (reality). It departs from dogmatic structures by grounding its explorations in direct somatic observation rather than inherited doctrine.
Symbolism
The primary 'symbol' in the book is the body itself, viewed not as a static object but as a dynamic, energetic field. Specific motifs include the concept of 'posture' (representing ingrained patterns and fundamental orientations to existence), and 'movement' (symbolizing the flow of consciousness, change, and the active creation of reality). The book implicitly uses the body's structure and function as a symbolic language for understanding the nature of awareness and its relationship to the material world.
Modern Relevance
Sumner's work remains highly relevant for contemporary somatic practitioners, embodied cognition researchers, and those exploring non-dualistic philosophies. Thinkers and practitioners in fields like Authentic Movement, Contact Improvisation, and even certain branches of consciousness studies draw upon its foundational ideas. Its emphasis on the body as the primary locus of experience offers a potent counterpoint to the increasingly digital and disembodied nature of modern life, providing a grounded approach to well-being and self-understanding.
👥 Who Should Read This Book
• Somatic practitioners and therapists seeking a deeper philosophical framework for their work, particularly those interested in how habitual physical patterns influence psychological states and perception. • Dancers, martial artists, and movement educators looking to understand the profound connection between physical form, energy cultivation, and consciousness itself. • Philosophers and students of consciousness interested in non-dualistic perspectives and embodied cognition who wish to explore the body as the primary source of subjective experience.
📜 Historical Context
First published in 2009, Ged Sumner's 'You Are How You Move' emerged during a period of burgeoning interest in embodied cognition and somatic psychology, yet it offered a distinct philosophical edge. While fields like mindfulness meditation and certain therapeutic modalities (e.g., Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique) were gaining traction, Sumner's work provided a more abstract, almost existential, framework for understanding the body's role in consciousness. It diverged from purely medical or therapeutic approaches by positing movement as a primary shaper of perceived reality itself. Contemporary thinkers like Francisco Varela and Evan Thompson were exploring similar embodied cognition themes, but Sumner's focus was less on cognitive science and more on the direct, almost esoteric, implications of somatic experience. The book found its audience among practitioners and theorists seeking to bridge the gap between physical practice and philosophical understanding, offering an alternative to the more prevalent purely spiritual or purely materialist explanations of human experience.
📔 Journal Prompts
The kinetic posture as a determinant of reality: identify one habitual posture and its perceived consequence.
Body as a field of awareness: explore a subtle sensation in your body without judgment.
Reflect on how a specific movement pattern influences your emotional state.
The relationship between your way of moving and your fundamental 'way of being'.
How altering a simple movement could shift your perception of a familiar environment.
🗂️ Glossary
Kinetic Posture
The habitual, often unconscious, patterns of physical alignment, tension, and energetic distribution that define an individual's way of inhabiting and moving through space. It is presented as a fundamental shaper of perception and reality.
Embodied Awareness
A state of consciousness where the body is not merely a physical object but is experienced as a living, sentient field. Awareness arises directly from somatic sensations, movement, and energetic flows.
Somatic Habits
Recurring, often automatic, patterns of physical movement, tension, and posture that an individual develops over time. These habits are seen as deeply influential on psychological states and perception.
Determinant of Reality
In the context of the book, this refers to how fundamental aspects of our being, such as our kinetic posture, actively shape and construct the reality we perceive and experience, rather than merely reacting to an objective external world.
Field of Awareness
A concept describing the body not as a discrete entity but as an interconnected, dynamic field of sensation and energy that is inherently conscious and capable of generating awareness.
Movement as Being
The idea that the fundamental nature of existence, or 'being', is not static but is intrinsically tied to the process of movement and kinetic expression. How one moves is inseparable from who one is.
Dualism
A philosophical concept that posits a fundamental separation between two distinct kinds of reality, most commonly mind and matter, or spirit and body. Sumner's work challenges this separation.
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