All holistic health care practices require an individual to take responsibility and conscious action for the creation of one’s mental and physical health and happiness. When our physical body is misaligned, it is often due to our lives being out of balance. Our body then has to continually compensate and utilize our vital energy, causing us to feel more stressed and exhausted, and our physical and emotional symptoms and conditions often go unchanged. True alignment takes place when physical, emotional and spiritual levels are aligned simultaneously; when we are aligned with self, our soul’s journey, others and nature.
Shiatsu Shin Tai is a form of bodywork therapy that precisely and effectively addresses postural and structural misalignments. Shin Tai includes techniques such as specific muscle & joint releases, activating and relaxing the central nervous system, fascial releases and activation and release of energy (Chi) in the energy pathways of the body. By creating balance, restoring motion and releasing stress patterns in the body enables us to adapt to stress and emotional imbalances very differently, and effectively allows us to fully engage in the flow of our day-to-day lives and happiness.
Once we take action by aligning and refining our individual inner health through Shiatsu Shin Tai therapy and lifestyle, we become more available and creative for ourselves, our families, relationships, communities and the planet; we discover and create our divine nature.
]]>The essence of all meditation is the same – we choose a single meditation object, and focus upon that object. All meditation begins with choosing an object. The object is like our goal. It is what helps us know when we are on target and when we are off. It gives us perspective so we can see our thoughts and not be caught in them. It helps us to see the larger picture.
All major religions and wisdom traditions speak about being detached. What does this mean? Does it mean we must empty our entire lives so that we can be detached from all things? Not so, this teaching points to learning not to depend upon that which is constantly changing for happiness. That this is the cause of all our problems. If we forget this then we suffer.
How does meditation help us? It helps us to focus our minds steadily upon a single focus, and learn how we get distracted from achieving our goals. Ultimately the highest purpose of this is to focus upon God or the deepest Truth within us, and be able to penetrate all the way to the source without being distracted in all the moving colors, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations and mental imaginings. To see what remains unchanging & true among all these transitory things. To see how deeply in this Inner Truth we can live our life without getting swept along in the continuous flow of the world.
Traditions speak of how Greed is the root of our suffering. Greed is also the cause of the idea that there is an I. It is the creator of all movement of I want, I move either away or towards an idea that I’ve created. This is Greed, Hatred, and Delusion.
There is a continuous flow of change, in the world of the 6 senses, and the process of the mind. These things happen, they are natural in the conditioned material world. It is our greed that keeps us from seeing the Truth – our bundle of programmed reaction called the personality. You see, everything is just happening, its nature taking its course… EVERYTHING! The creation and destruction are all part of Nature. The greed / personality is what says things should be different, it says I like this and dont like that. And its OKAY for the personality to do that, this is its nature. But when we associate with any part of this our experience, we are caught in believing things should be different, and this ongoing eternal cycle of becoming.
Our attention has shifted from Realizing Truth, to another Purpose or desire. So that purpose becomes our new quest, that we will do BEFORE we reach PEACE… You see the Truth is uncreated, it is eternal, and it is immediate. Therefore we seek Truth in anything created it immediately masks it. The Truth is to be realized inside ourselves as the source of our being. Through our own efforts we focus upon realizing this, and step by step find this peace is more and more of our experience.
Its not necessarily through eliminating thought, disease, distraction or any sort of pleasure or pain that we realize Peace. These things will always be part of existence. A Master Teacher who realized this Truth for himself called the Buddha explained that the cause of this distraction and lack of contentment is Greed. So simply become see how this greed is causing all sorts of problems in our lives. Greed isn’t the best word to translate. But its essence is bundled up in – not seeing how this process works, continuing to chase or run away from something – therefore we are blindly moving here or there, never stop to see.
By practicing meditation we are walking the path of enlightenment, the path to the deepest truth & source of our being. All benefits that come from meditation are ultimately qualities of progress towards purpose. A healthy, happy life, is a natural outcome of deep wisdom.
3 Major Purposes:
Understanding
*We see the nature of the mind, jumping around from one thing to the next
*We understand how the mind is a natural process, and by paying attention we learn how nature works
*We see how we have been trained ourselves, and what our thought patterns are, how we interact with situations – more self aware
*We see how it is not the content but the reaction that creates pain
Focus
*We collect our minds to be focused upon a single object
*We train our minds to be content resting with a single object
*We feel more present, our energy is focused upon whatever we choose
Inner Peace
*We stop looking for happiness in unstable objects
*We find contentment in stillness
*We find the power in stillness
*When we use our minds it is direct and single pointed
*It can stay on a single object and be content
Other Benefits – qualities of Truth begin to shine through your very being
*Clear thinking
*Self Mastery
*Inner Power, Strength, & confidence
*Creativity
*Happiness
*Deeper and deeper awareness
*Tranquility
*Balance
*Concentration
*Joy
*Energy
*Curiosity
*Life = Meditation
Different Types of Meditation & Their Benefits:
Types the Buddha Taught:
*Breath – breathing meditation is good for relaxation, attuning to the body, calming thoughts, one pointed focus.
*Loving Kindness – good to cultivate loving feelings and open heart. Opens and softens cold frozen emotions. Generates an attitude of friendliness and happiness.
*One pointed focus in a relaxed way. Accepting and softening
*Dot – one pointed focus, eyes open, very strong focus, consciousness
*Vipassana – deepening awareness of the many levels of phenomena occuring all the time. Awareness, presence.
Others:
*Visualization – imagination, creativity, focus, artistic
*Open Awareness – awareness / consciousness, release control, arrive at who you are gradually and naturally – its harder if you aren’t in very clean environment and have meditation experience,
*Mantra – 5th chakra, energy of the vibration lifts us. Focus and energizing
*Yantra – raises vibration, attunes mind to higher patterns
*Dynamic – engages our body, mind, and emotions, releases blocks and strengthens each area
Joshua is a student & teacher in traditions of human excellence and mastery. He leads empowerment workshops & classes ~ and offers personal one on one counsel, healing, & transformation work.
His Study and Background
Intensive study living in Peru with a Shaman and his family
3 Years Training in Meditation Centers & Buddhist Monasteries
Over a year’s time in Silent Retreat
Living as an Ordained Novice Buddhist Monk
Study with Native American Wisdom Tradition Holder
Training in Russia with Siberian Shaman
Intensive study & travel with Aharaj Yoga Master
Current student of a Master of Raja Yoga
Joshua has received initiation in an ancient form of tibetan healing & has blessing to teach the way of Health, Harmony, and Happiness.
Visit his website: Http://wayofperfection.com
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This dynamic practice has been called a fusion between Yoga and Martial Arts. It is the art & discipline of mastering your inner state, preserving, protecting, and directing your personal power to achieve your highest purposes.
This integral system of empowerment unifies all energies – physical, emotional, and mental- through concrete forms & movements. With regular practice you develop an inner state of stability, the ability to call upon powerful resources within you at any moment, and strength to direct this energy consciously towards your goals.
Topics of Aharaj Yoga:
Principals of Energetic Contact – how we are affected by outside situations
Awakening Inner Fire – awaken tremendous energy for action and success
Strengthening Psycho-Emotional Protection – protect & preserve your consciousness, freedom and personal power
Powerful Empowerment Practices – through explosive forms and katas we clean and liberate energy – breaking patterns & bringing in new energy
Dynamic Meditation- movement-oriented meditations used to enter into specific high states of healing and empowerment
Benefits of Aharaj Yoga:
Free yourself of unconscious behaviors and addictions
Liberate tremendous amounts of energy and feel more awake, vital, and vibrant!
Release emotional blocks and negativities
Create emotional fitness…be less affected by external stresses and negativity
Perseverance in the face of obstacles, steadiness in the face of chaos
Guide your life with the qualities of Leadership and Charisma
Feel naturally active and outgoing
Overcome distraction, mind chatter and mental dullness, awakening concentration, creativity and clarity
Feel more aligned, and powerfully imbued with your purpose!
What others are saying:
” Aharaj Yoga teaches us how to empower and protect ourselves energetically. Having the tools to move negative emotions and energy out, and positive energy in is awesome!” ~Kim
“It is a very unique experience. Experience it!!! No words to describe it…” ~Vidya
“ An ancient empowerment practice that leaves me feeling vibrant, focused and ready to kick ass. Aharaj Yoga helps clear blocked stagnant energies, and destroys limiting beliefs that keep us from experiencing our highest potential.” -Kasia
“These are practices that can be incorporated everyday for increased energy, strength and emotional stamina. Who couldn’t use that? They compliment yoga, meditation, dance and sports activities. Personally, they are a way to add movement, exercise to my life so I don’t have to work out otherwise and I am strengthening my body while also strengthening my emotional and mental ideas towards my life goals. ” ~Lyn
Watch this youtube:
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The Art of Spiritual Balance Part 1 = What is Balance
When we talk about balance we often think of a see-saw or scale… This is looking from the perspective of duality, and good & bad, up and down. If we truly want to understand balance lets look at a Tree.
A tree has deep roots which offer the foundation and stability for the entire tree to grow. From the roots grows the trunk, upright and strong, then there are branches upon that, and leaves, and fruit. The image is that of upright stability, based upon balanced growth, and bearing fruit from a healthy life to share the sweet joys and create potential for more to grow!
We as human beings are like this tree. As a child we begin our lives like a seed of infinite potential. And throughout our childhood and years of adolescence, we develop the different parts of ourselves to grow like this tree.
However using this example of the tree, sometimes our lives do not provide the right circumstances for growth, not enough sun, not enough rain, the soil isn’t rich, maybe an animal has come and eaten us away before we could become a strong healthy tree.
This is the path of healing – the path of balance.
Balance is an art as well as science. To talk practically about balance lets use the perspective of the 7 Chakra System as a way of understanding.
Each Chakra corresponds to a different aspect of our life, and also a different period of development as children.
When we begin to develop in any area we may find that our lives seem to accelerate in one way and in other ways remain the same, and this may even cause difficulty. In reality it will eventually cause difficulty because we are growing in a lopsided way. We will topple over!
1st Chakra – Physical Body
2nd Chakra – Relationships
3rd Chakra – Business
4th Chakra – Emotions / Inner Freedom
5th Chakra – Creativity
6th Chakra – Focus & Will
7th Chakra – Divine Guidance
To truly achieve balance we must consider all areas, and unite them in a holistic healthy lifestyle.
Too much focus upon one area will create unbalance and result often in backsliding or the ricochet effect – like a rubber-band being stretched and then snapping back. This is because one part of us is moving forward and others are staying the same.
The secret to successful balanced development is actually expanding outwards in all directions at once! Instead of growing, we are expanding! In this way there is nothing that remains the same, there is always expansion and growth, and new better and brighter things!
How do we achieve this? By consciously incorporating activity for each of the different Chakra realms of experience into our lives.
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