Allowing negativing to get the best of you is like standing in quicksand and not putting up a fight. In the end, you are overwhelmed and you feel like all the hope in your life vanished.
I know that’s a dark way to start off with but there is a flip side. On the other hand, part of being Kū is the acceptance of bearing the weight of others in order to help them stand Kū because you are strong and can withstand the challenge and responsibility.
Lole Kauō Kaumaha can be simply translated as Reverse Weighted Drag, in this case with a sandbag. In the Hawaiian culture, with everything, there is kaona, or hidden meaning.
You see, if I see no purpose or meaning behind something, I don’t waste my time with it. My time is precious. Physically, this exercise works on shoulder and core stabilization, coordination and spacial awareness, as well as grit because it’s a tough exercise when you have to cover a sizable distance.
The kaona?
Lole – to strip away, reverse
Kauō – to drag
Kaumaha – heaviness, burden, grief
During this movement over a sizable distance, I begin to have the conversation we need to have with ourselves more often. Why am I here? What am I doing? Should I stop short of the line, no one is watching? They told me I wouldn’t go far in life. You’re dumb.
Or maybe it’s just me.
Part of being Ku, is knowing the battles you face and smashing the negativity on a daily basis. Some days are better than others.
When doing this exercise it reminds me of watching warriors giving an offering to the high chief or teacher by staying low to the ground in respect and honor. Dragging a heavy load back signifies, to me, the heaviness of being Kū and accepting the weight of what it takes to be Kū. Crawling signifies the capability of not being afraid to get dirty and do things that others fear doing.
