Have you heard of Kinam? It is a millennial practice of ancient Mexico, which is defined as «an art to harmonize the body and spirit.» It consists of a set of techniques and exercises of Mesoamerican origin, whose purpose is to prepare ourselves in body and mind, with the aim of expressing the fullness of our energetic potential.
Its main feature is that seeks to connect, balance and strengthen both the physical body and the mind and energy that make up the human being, which is why it is considered a psychophysical practice.
The term Kinam is an abbreviation of the Nahuatl verb Kinatia, which refers to applying a force to achieve equilibrium. root drift kin, which means power and in the Mayan language gives its name to the Sun. The term Kinam gives rise to concepts such as Kinamik, which is the power to harmonize; and Kiname, which refers to a balanced person and is used to name Kinam practitioners.
Kinam is not a religion, but a proposal for action, in which it is necessary to learn to breathe correctly, pay attention to physical posture, control thoughts and educate perception; thus, the practitioner can become a better person, no matter what his beliefs are.
Kinam’s practice is closely related to the philosophy, way of life and way of conceiving the universe that characterizes the ancient cultures of Anahuac – as what we now know as Mesoamerica was called in pre-Hispanic times.
In the legacy of pre-Hispanic cultures there is a vast wealth of knowledge and wisdom, which is necessary to understand and apply for personal growth and well-being, as well as to have a connection with oneself, with the Earth and nature, as well as with the greatness of our identity, our roots and the value of that ancestral wisdom. Part of that legacy that has been rescued today is the practice of Kinam.
Physical, mental and emotional benefits of practicing Kinam
With the rescue of this ancient practice, not only is a reconnection with the roots of the pre-Hispanic ancestors that inhabited ancient Mexico obtained, but it also provides benefits in terms of physical, emotional, mental and energetic well-being, as well as a spiritual connection with inside each person.
Through movement and power poses, Kinam helps to connect with the body and emotions and to find balance at all levels, by finding strength from its own center. And it is that, although it implies the movement and the strength and elasticity of the body, Kinam is also a practice that works from the inside.
When performing the poses, practitioners can feel how their body is activated, they can achieve a greater connection with it and a better understanding of it; at the same time, there is a connection with nature and the elements, which helps people feel rooted and strong, like trees.
The power of Kinam consists in the fact that it recovers many of the physical practices carried out by both the warriors and all the inhabitants of Anahuac in general.. The postures are oriented to the four directions and each one has a meaning and relationship with the four elements of nature, therefore, when performing them, a ritual of gratitude towards Mother Earth and her elements is also practiced.
Kinam is also a practice with a meditative essence, since it allows us to connect with the inner being, by opening a channel of perception and feeling how the body’s energy is mobilized to generate changes in the mind, emotions, thoughts and feelings.
This way, Kinam helps those who practice it to feel better physically, by improving muscle tone and strength, as well as stability, balance and elasticity; but also practice It is a moment of meditation and introspection, which calms the mind and gives a better channel to thoughts and emotions, through the movement of the body and the awareness of breathing..
In addition, it is something that helps to set an intention for each day, to disconnect from stress and worries, to clear the mind to better think about how to solve problems, to calm down and release emotions, and to have more energy, both internally and externally.
But beyond everything we can tell you about the practice of Kinam, there is nothing like experiencing it for yourself, so we invite you to visit institutions and schools such as Instituto Kinam and AgoraLucis, where you can find both face-to-face classes such as online sessions, so that you can experience the practice of Kinam and discover the benefits that it can bring you at all levels.