The Principle of Thirds: How to Exercise Moderation (Part 1 of 2)
By Paul Cavel
The Rule of Thirds is so fundamental to all Water Method training that it is one of the Five Primary Principles. However, it’s also by far the most elusive of all the principles to target because your intent, your aim, is always moving, absolutely requiring you to cultivate a good relationship between your body and qi, and remain present to them continuously during practice.
The real value of the Principle of Thirds extends far beyond training results and can be practically applied to living a more fulfilling and rewarding life.
What Is the Principle of Thirds?
The Principle of Thirds states that healthy people would use two-thirds of their effort and energy to leave one-third in reserve, which is applied to:
The length of time they practice or engage in any activity.
The intensity of their practice or to which they engage in any activity.
The depth of their practice.
So, for example, if stretching, you would not reach out beyond two-thirds of your maximum flexibility; if running, you would not run further than two-thirds of the distance your stamina would permit and you would not push your body past its comfortable level of intensity.
When Ill, Injured, Stressed or Compromised in Some Way
If compromised or the person doesn’t feel they’re operating at normal capacity for any reason, they flip the equation and use only one-third of their effort and energy while leaving two-thirds in reserve, which is applied to:
The length of time they practice or engage in any activity.
The intensity of their practice or to which they engage in any activity.
The depth of their practice.
If we again take our example of stretching, you would not reach out beyond one-third of your maximum flexibility; if running, you would not run further than one-third of the distance your stamina would permit … no, no, no! You wouldn’t run at all: the point is to slow down and stay far behind your maximum effort to avoid strain and any level of pain. Just remember that there is a difference between pain and discomfort.
SUMMARY
The Rule of Thirds is one of the primary principles of the Water Method that promotes the conservation of energy by utilizing two-thirds of your body’s energy and effort in all activities. When ill or compromised is some way, flip it to using one one-third of your energy and effort until healed or recovered. This conservation method allows the body to progressively and systematic heal.
In our next post, The Principle of Thirds: How to Exercise Moderation (2 of 2), we will address the why and how it supports personal growth.