Eight forces sustain creation: movement and stillness, solidification and fluidity,extension and contraction, unification and division. Ueshiba
Tapping into the FLOW OF CHI
(Connecting to Your Own Vital Force for Health and Healing) October, 2012
"When the body's center of gravity is established in the region just below the navel, the entire body functions with greater stability." Philip Kapleau, The Three Pillars of Zen The quality of our life is often based on our ability for adaptation.
A healthy body/mind is one that is able to adapt quickly and successfully. The internal power to adapt and “flow” with changes is called Chi in Chinese and Ki in Japanese tradition but it has been recognized in traditions around the world as Prana, divine spark, élan vital, life force, psyche or spirit. In Japan, the vital centre of the human body located in the abdomen is called Hara.All Asian therapists and martial arts practitioners use it, but Hara is not a widely recognized term in Western tradition. The main purpose of being connected to Hara (Centre) is to be able to be relaxed and observant at all times so you can respond to stimuli only when necessary.
The focus of our teachings is on building awareness of the flow of vital energy (Chi) throughout the body and on increasing the strength of one’s Hara (Centre).
Drawing on the elements of Zen Shiatsu, Huna (the Hawaiian Shamanic Art of Healing) and Yoga, particularly Yoga Nidra (literally, "sleep of the yogis," used as a mental and physical preparation prior to seeking deeper levels of consciousness and awareness), we created a program that will be able to help you understand, gather and increase your own vital power. The Yoga and the Flow of Chi Retreat is designed for absolute beginners and professionals alike. It could also be used in combination with the week of Hot Yoga and Stone Therapy which follows, as an introduction or to broaden understanding of the concept of Chi. It is designed for anyone interested in an increase of personal vitality and in the fine art of balancing the demands and interruptions of our daily life.
Daily Yoga classes (morning and afternoon Hatha, Nidra and Pranayama), and exchanges of bodywork among participants (basic Shiatsu) are an important part of the program and open to those who want to participate. If you are a professional massage therapist, this week’s course also qualifies for 10 certified educational units (category A., Movement of Chi for Western Therapists). Click here to find about your typical day, daily excursions and accommodation on the island of Iz.
"At first, it seems ridiculously simple: All you have to do is put your attention on the center of your abdomen (Hara in Japanese), at a point one inch or two below the navel, and things will be better in many ways. This is true and it is rather simple and you get immediate results. But the matter of centering has ramifications that could take a lifetime to play out. There is centering in stillness and centering in rapid motion. There is centering under pressure and centering while in pain. There is regaining center after disorientation or defeat and remaining centered during moments of great triumph." George Leonard (The Way of Aikido)
Questions? Please feel free to email your inquiries.
