Remembering Ourselves

The winter season should be one of reflecting on our lives and remembering what makes us happy, healthy and peaceful. The holidays are often spoken of as a time of giving however, giving should not be something done only in the holiday spirit. Everything we are fortunate to have is a blessing and sharing those gifts with others is the way we give thanks for the miracle of this life we are living. The more we give away, the more we encourage the flow to bring things back to us. You never lose anything. This is the wonder of life.
Reflecting on the wonder of life should be a regular practice especially during the holiday season yet, more often than not, the holidays can stir up quite a lot of issues that lie just below the surface. When we combine this with a general sense of unease that seems to pervade the world at the moment, it breeds difficulty and uncertainty into our daily life. The result is a generous helping of stress and worry which we often don’t have an answer for. There is a tendency to simply try and hold on tight, hoping to make it through unscathed.
Fortunately, just as it feels as if things are unraveling, there is also seems to be something quite amazing taking place in the world. Many people are starting to sense a shift in consciousness as a transformational change begins to take place. No longer are the old patterns working for us and many people are starting to look for answers deeper within themselves. The distractions of the media would have us believe that things are at the brink of collapse, but if you take a moment to center yourself, you quickly realize collapse is relative. Talk a walk in nature and you can observe the life force energy flowing along. The sun rises, the rains fall, the wind blows and the snow accumulates. The hardships we face teach us valuable lessons. They temper our being and prepare us for change.
Embracing change can be a real challenge. Our ability to do it depends a lot on where we live and the holistic practices we engage in. Bringing ourselves into alignment is a long process, but it is one we cannot neglect.

The process has a number of steps:

1. Nourish the Body. We need to learn to breathe effectively to bring in more oxygen and energy. We also must engage in movement practices in order to circulate the energy through the muscles and joints. In addition we should be clearing out the toxins and poisons from our diet.
2. Calm the Mind. We need to bring clarity of thought to our thinking process so that we are able to react and adapt to the challenges we face. A drastic reduction in the distracting noise from the television should be a priority.
3. Open the Heart. We need to begin to use the heart as an organ of perception. By getting in touch with our feelings and the energy fields that surround all living beings, we can start to project a more loving and caring energy out into the world.
4. Honor the Soul. We need to take the journey inwards and confront the dark parts of ourselves and shine a pure light of truth onto them. Only then will we be able to release that which no longer serves us.
5. Embrace the Spirit. We need to embrace the spiritual part of us that is connected to the whole spirit of existence. By engaging in ceremony to honor the sun, moon, wind, trees, animals and elements we can more fully remember our place in the universe.

It would serve all of us this holiday season to try to be a little more forgiving and humble in our thoughts and actions. We always have a choice as to how we react in any given situation. We have all felt the energy change when an angry person walks into a room. Everyone gets a little on edge. Remember…this dynamic works both ways. If we can find a calm center within ourselves, then we give others a reference point to find calmness within their own selves. Let the holiday season be about cultivating peace and harmony in the world. Finding faults in others or laying blame for things elsewhere simply creates friction and unease.
When you drop a pebble into a pool of water the ripples spread out. You determine the ripples you send out to the people around you. Let your pebble be positive and loving. We are only going to find the way forward by turning inwards and getting our own self in order.

Please share any comments you may have.

I wish you much happiness, joy and peace this season.

Mind-Body Connection

The more we train our body the stronger and healthier it becomes. In the same manner, the more we train our mind the calmer and clearer it becomes. This practice is like sharpening the blade of a sword. The healthier the body and the calmer the mind the better we are able to focus more completely on the task at hand.

Training the body is a physical challenge. Whether it is zen yoga, tai chi, marital arts, tennis, golf swimming or whatever...it is about moving the body and flowing with energy. However training the mind is a much greater challenge. There are many distractions. The practice of meditation needs to be an integral part of life even when we feel that it is not doing anything for us. The subtle changes that occur over time through the regular study of meditation are invaluable. While we may understand the concept of meditation intellectually, putting aside time to practice is often difficult. Nevertheless, the clarity of thought that meditation provides is something vital to our training that we should not be without. It brings us to a moment of zen, being fully alive in the present moment.

When we exist fully in the present moment we embody our true self. Like moving in stereo, the body and mind become a single flowing entity. By following the same rhythm, each compliments the other. We are able to react without thought or hesitation. Our reactions are perfectly appropriate depending on the situation, neither too strong nor too weak.

This is the true meaning of body and mind connection.

Chasing Happiness

We seem to be chasing happiness. Modern life tends to be barely controlled hysteria as everyone is hurrying towards the future. We believe that if we acquire the newest fashion or buy the latest CD it will give us the happiness we are seeking. It is like a new, modern disease “I’ll be happy when…” We take holidays in search of happiness only to find ourselves worrying about all the stuff we left behind. Happiness always seems just around the corner, if we can just get there.
The truth is that this is an illusion. There is no happiness but in the present moment. Seeking happiness is like a dog chasing its own tail. Around and around we go, never quite reaching our goal. Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. It is the experience of living every moment with full awareness and awe at the beauty and grace of life. Happiness is not next week.
It is now.

Creating Reality

A wave is not separate from the ocean. Every wave on the ocean is the whole ocean. Yet as an individual wave it displays its own uniqueness. In the same manner each of us is an individual, yet we are a part of something much greater. We are part of the whole of creation. Most of us feel our individuality strongly. The idea of a web of life turns that feeling inside out. It is a feeling in which we, as individuals, are connected and a part of everything else there is.

In other words, the fundamental reality of the self is not only something inside the skin but it is everything outside the skin as well. We are simply part of the whole of existence as, in the same way, is the ocean wave. At this moment, in this present reality, we are a playing a particular role but that personality is superficial because the real self is actually all that there is. When we realize that our individuality is superficial, then there is nothing to oppose us in seeking self-realization within the framework of all existence. When there is no opposition, there is nothing to fight against and we can begin to make progress.

It is important to believe that we create our own reality. For good or for bad, the thoughts that you have influence the events that take place in your life. How often do you hear people say “just my luck” or something equally negative when unfortunate circumstances arise? Whether you believe you can do something or whether you believe you can’t, you are absolutely correct. It all begins with your belief. When you begin to believe in positive things, positive things start to happen. The thoughts that you generate in your mind have a tangible effect on the world around you. When you are sure that your thoughts can change your life, then your life begins to change. You can live in a garden of beautiful flowers or you can live in a garbage dump.

The choice is yours and begins with your attitude towards yourself. Happiness creates happiness in the world, just as misery creates more misery. If you make a conscious effort to tap into the energy of the universe and send it in positive directions, you open yourself to positive change and the energy of the universe will be able to flow in that direction. If you cultivate the negative aspects of life, that negative energy will grow in intensity around you.

in peace,

Aaron

Slow Down

Many of us living modern society live life at a frenetic pace. The measured lifestyle and close contact with nature that characterizes more traditional societies is being lost. People today gobble up experiences, swallow them whole, and then stuff more in. As these undigested experiences accumulate, existence becomes more superficial. Watching television has become a substitute for real experience and even that rarely holds our attention for long –we click to the next channel. Vicariously living through the stimulus overload of television has dulled the senses to the magic of real life. The rapid pace of technological advances creates a sense of urgency while the high-speed transfer of data through the internet and telephone systems brings an immediacy to everything. When we finally do go out and do something, we often feel driven by an urge to get through it as fast as possible. There is a compulsion for instant satisfaction, a pervasive “been there, done that” attitude. Completion has become the goal. Actually experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells has become secondary to the result. All of this leaves people with little time for themselves, or more exactly, for discovering the self.

Things such as fast food, newsbreaks, email and text messaging all contribute to this to a sense of urgency. We cannot escape it. We only slow down to pay attention when something we think extraordinary appears, and even then it rarely holds our attention for very long. Eventually we hurry on to something we think is more important. But when we get there we rush through that as well, since we feel compelled to get to the next experience and the next after that. Our attention span has been narrowed drastically, laying a deadly trap, because we begin to sacrifice the present to the future – which never comes. Unless we are able to fully experience the present, the future is merely an illusion. Without fully living in the present, we will never know just who we are. We will only continue to chase things into the future in the vain hope something will finally satisfy us.

This trap was set long ago by our parents and our schooling and our culture. The striving toward an undefined goal – success – always lies in the future and calls for planning. Thus, when we actually do reach some sort of success, it turns out not to be as satisfying as we thought it would be and we get caught up in planning for the next success. For vast numbers of people the future never arrives while, at the same time, they take little notice or enjoyment in what they have accomplished in the present. In the end, however, it is in the present, not the future, that life is deeply experienced and where one discovers one’s true self.

Of course there are things we all need to do to secure our future, but if we sacrifice the present for some obscure future success, chances are that when we get there we will still be no closer to what we are searching for. If we can slow the pace at which we live and enjoy what we are doing in the present, then no matter what the future brings we will be prepared to experience it fully. We need to bring a sense of peace to daily life by becoming aware of time, of the need to slow down.

By slowing the pace of life and quieting the noise of the world, we can let a little more peace and serenity into our lives.

Earth Changes

There has been a lot of speculation as to what is going to occur during the winter solstice of 2012. The ancient Mayans determined it was the end of their long count calendar. The Vedic texts tell of the end of the Kali Yuga, or great age. Experts in cosmology say the Earth will come into alignment with the galactic center. Some assume it is the end of the world. Others believe it is the beginning of a new one. It could be just about anything from the next step in evolution to the extinction of the human race.

Everyone has heard a lot of talk about climate change. Most people can understand the basic concept of overpopulation. It is quite easy to realize the consequences of the diminishing natural resources of the planet. Some people even have heard of the gyre, a giant whirlpool of plastic in the Northern Pacific ocean the size of Texas. In the past few years these things have all come into sharper focus for a lot of people. At the very least there is an awareness of the rising cost of food and gasoline that seems to be heading towards heights we cannot begin to comprehend.

A result of this growing understanding is a sense of increasing stress and worry in daily life over events that we have no control over. We react to it in a number of different ways. Many people choose to remain oblivious to the changes by concentrating on all of the stuff we have created in our society to distract us from what is important.

The truth is that we are living in a precarious interconnected society that has the potential to collapse at any time. The longer we continue to distract our attention from these issues the quicker we travel headlong over the cliff. The time has come to pay attention. In order to carry on our existence we need to prepare ourselves for change; dramatic, society-encompassing, life-altering change.

Surviving whatever happens is going to be a challenge no matter who you are or where you live. However, there area number of things that each of us can do to be in a better position to deal with the coming Earth Changes more effectively. This primarily involves working on the self.

It stands to reason that given the continuing headlong rush towards destruction there is going to come a time when situations develop during which we will need to make quick decisions and then act on those decisions. If we are able to react and execute appropriately, we stand a better chance of making it through whatever challenges we are faced with.

The question here is – How are people to deal with the coming changes with bodies that are overweight and out of shape and minds that are stressed, distracted and medicated?

The short answer is that they can’t.

Instead we need to change the question – How can people get their bodies fit and healthy and their minds relaxed, focused and clear so that they can deal with the coming changes effectively?

It has to start with simple and practical ideas that can be put to use immediately. Learning to breathe properly and remembering to practice it as much as possible is usually a good place to begin. Next, moving the body in order to get the blood and energy circulating is very helpful. Taking time out to sit quietly and allow the hectic thoughts to settle is vital to keeping the stress of the world in check. These basic practices are available to anyone regardless of age, fitness level or health status. We just need to allocate the time for them. In the end, a body that is working properly combined with a mind that is calm and clear will provide us with the best opportunity to deal with the coming changes.

A place to start...
www.artofzenyoga.com/bs2.htm

Zen Yoga Vermont Retreat

Breathe - Move - Relax

Meditate by a waterfall in the peaceful mountains of Vermont

May 30th - June 1st, 2008

PROGRAM:

Deep Journey - Shanti Yoga: Tuning into the rhythms of the body and stretching deeper and more fully. Opening the hips, shoulders and back.

Moving Meditation - Tai Chi: Introduction to the basics of Tai Chi movement. Flowing energy movement and mindful awareness.

Dynamic Energy - Zen Crane Qigong: Introduction to the basic Zen Crane breathing & moving forms. Raising energy levels in the body and circulation.

Touching Nature- Meditation: Exploration of various methods of meditation in a variety of special settings

Shamanic Drumming Circle & Traditional Releasing Ceremony: (with Michael Denmeade Shaman of Lakota & Yama Bushi Traditions)

Prepare to feel wonderful!

more information: www.artofzenyoga.com/retreat.htm

Chinese New Year 2008

On February 7th 2008 we enter the Chinese Year of the Rat.

The Rat is the most opportunistic of all animals in the Chinese philosophical tradition. It is the first sign of the 12 animal cycle and signifies a time of new beginnings. It is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. It is an opportunity for new ideas, directions and ways of doing things. However, things that are begun during this year are likely to have long term consequences, so it is advisable for us to choose our actions wisely and focus on things that enrich the world instead of destroying it.

This Rat year is modified by the Earth element. The past two years have been Fire years (Boar & Dog) which have stirred things up a bit. The Earth element tends to bring a calming stability to things this year, just at a point when we need it. Unfortunately, the Rat has an affinity for the Water element which maintains a destructive relationship with the Earth element. All of this means that some dangers may lie ahead.

The problem with the Rat is that there is a selfish tendency to its nature that can undermine good intentions. The Rat can symbolize an aggressive, yet calculating, motivation towards money and status. In addition, this year will be a time of nervous energy and stress and we need to take responsibility to be aware of this. It will be easy to blame others for our own problems.
Another factor is that Earth is a sedentary element. We need to realize that inactivity can lead to problems. Be sure to get enough exercise and be on the alert for unwanted weight gains. Remember to Breathe!

The good news is that, being the beginning of a new cycle, this year offers a chance to begin walking a different path. Performing work that is spiritual in nature can have far reaching effect. We are getting close to a time when self-awareness is imperative for the evolution of our species. If you have been waiting for the moment to make some fundamental changes in your life, now is the time.

I wish you blessings of happiness and health along your journey…

Happy New Year!

Aaron Hoopes – February 2008

Author of Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation
www.artofzenyoga.com


You are welcome to reprint this or pass it on.

Australia & Japan

I'm leaving for Australia on Wednesday Feb 6th. It is about a 19 hour trip and I will be arriving in Brisbane on Feb 8th (australia time). Then I'm off on a 5-day walkabout in the tropical rainforest with an old friend. No phone, no computer......!

February 22-25th I'll be in Japan and will be holding a Zen Yoga workshop at Sun & Moon Yoga in Tokyo on Saturday Feb 23 8:00-10:00am. http://www.sunandmoon.jp/current-workshops

I will also be giving a talk and book signing at
Good Day Books http://www.gooddaybooks.com/contents/Booknotes?language=english
in Tokyo on Sunday Feb 24 6:00-8:00pm.

In addition I'm going to be interviewed by Reuters at the Tokyo Press Club while I'm there.

I haven't been back in either Australia or Japan for about 4 years and I'm quite excited about it.
Lot's of friends to catch up with.

I'll try and post some of my adventures here when I get a chance.

In peace....
Aaron

http://www.artofzenyoga.com/

Gathering Energy

In the middle of the winter it is often the case that our energy reserves can get quite depleted. The ending of the holiday season can sometimes leave a vague feeling of emptiness, while 2008 brings with it some uncertainty in just what sort of changes we might be facing as we move forward.

Keeping our energy levels up is always a good idea, and now it is even more important. The simplest way to do this is to become more aware of our breathing habits. Just taking a deeper breath whenever we can remember brings more oxygen into the body. This oxygen becomes energy as is enters the blood stream. Deeper breathing gathers energy reserves in the body and helps us deal with difficulties when they arise.

Returning to the breath whenever we are dealing with the challenges of life allows us to center ourselves and focus our attention within.

in Peace,
Aaron Hoopes

I Asked for Strength

I asked for strength, I was given difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom, I was given problems to solve.

I asked for courage, I was given obstacles to overcome.

I asked for favors, I was given opportunities.

I asked for love, I was given people who need love.

I received nothing I thought I wanted and everything I needed.

Live each moment without fear.

Confront the difficulties, problems and obstacles before you and you will overcome them.

Recognize opportunities and you shall learn to learn from everything.

Love yourself, and others will love you.

And always…remember to breathe.

---Aaron Hoopes

The Zen Yoga tour continues...

It was great to meet everyone at the Zen Yoga workshop at the headquarters of the World Traditional Karate Organization (WTKO) in New York City. Chief Instructor Richard Amos has really put together a great space for training.

After the workshop we moved on to the East West Bookstore in Manhattan for a lecture and book signing. Thanks to all who attended.

Next up is Odyssey Books in South Hadley, MA on November 29th and then Barrington Books in Barrington, RI on December 1st.

All details are on the website - www.artofzenyoga.com

Breathing Energy

The human body's natural state is one of health. If you have the ability able to give your body what it requires to remains healthy…it remains healthy. At the most basic level, your body requires water, food, and oxygen. These three provide the energy the body needs to be alive. This energy is called chi in Chinese healing traditions. Chi is the prime moving force both within the human body and in the universe as a whole. Chi is in the essence of the water and food we consume. It is also the power that makes it possible for us to breathe. Chi is not simply "energy," it is what gives energy the power to be energy. Chi is the power behind movement and thought. It is everywhere. It is in the oxygen we breathe and the blood that flows through us.
The ancient Chinese believed chi flowed through the body along sacred channels called "meridians," just as blood flows through arteries and veins. Traditional Chinese medicine considers blockage of chi, or even the incorrect movement of chi through the body, as the cause of both mental and physical disease. People with strong chi have a healthy and youthful appearance, a strong immune system, and are full of energy, while people with weak chi appear frail and haggard, tire quickly, and fall ill often.
When we breathe we take in oxygen but we also take in chi energy. The more energy within the body, the better it feels. The smoother the energy flows around inside the body, the less difficulty the body encounters. If we can learn to breathe the way the body was designed to breathe then we are able to provide the body with all the chi it needs to be healthy. The better we are breathing, the better we feel. Deep breathing brings chi and oxygen into the body, increasing blood flow, and thus chi flow, within the body.
Breathing energy is a Zen Yoga technique, but it is not new. In Chinese it is known as Qigong (chi kung). In India it is called Pranayama. And while the techniques may differ, the process is the same…it is the practice of breathing with the whole body, of circulating energy within and trading old energy for new.
To breathe energy the breathing is done through the nose. The mouth is closed and the tongue is at the top palate. There are many other methods of breathing. However, with energy breathing we are concerned with retaining the energy and circulating it through the body. Breathing in through the nose takes the energy directly down to the dan tien (just below the navel). The energy flows down, around and up the spine to the crown of the head. By keeping the tongue connected to the roof of the mouth when you exhale the energy is circulated back down to the dan tien as the carbon dioxide is released. If you open your mouth to breathe out the connection is broken and the energy dissipates back to the universe. The next inhalation brings more energy in and you can gradually build up your reserves.
Energy breathing brings awareness to your breathing. When you are aware of your breathing your body processed the energy much more effectively. Most of the time our physical behavior is unconscious, we walk around all day, everyday rarely noticing how our body feels unless there is some obvious pain. Seldom do we consciously think of the body as feeling good. Feeling good shouldn't be just an absence of pain. It should be an invigorated, energetic state where you are comfortable and happy in your body.
Energy breathing is a way to reach that feeling. With practice, your breathing skills with become much better and you will be able to extend that feeling.

Want to learn more?
*new book - Zen Yoga: A Path to Enlightenment through Breathing, Movement and Meditation is now available - www.artofzenyoga.com

peace always…