What if you could learn from your pick of ONE THOUSAND of the world’s top teachers, therapists, coaches, and thought leaders? Would you seize the opportunity? Well, this month is your chance! You can learn directly from some of the most inspiring men and women form the world of embodiment… and it is totally free. This is your chance to get a front-row ticket for The Embodiment Conference.
In the Buddhist tradition, a meditation teacher is called a “kalyana-mitta”, which means a “noble friend”, or a “spiritual companion.” They are men or women who have already walked the path and can in turn accompany you along your own journey. But are the qualities that make someone a meditation teacher or spiritual guide? I recently explored this question in a Community Call on the essential qualities of a meditation teacher, and how they relate to you.
I was recently interviewed by Layman Pascal from the “Integral Podcasters.” I don’t often go into full “Integral Geekiness” on this blog but in my conversation with fellow integralist Layman, I allowed myself to be out loud and proud in our wide-ranging discussion. Our dialogue returned again and again to a core integral communication skill for meeting others where they are, but not leaving them there.
The term “Awase” in Japanese means “to blend”, “to join, or “to harmonize with.” It’s a core principle in our art and its value cannot be understated, simply because it applies to all aspects of your life, both on and off the mat. But when it comes to our training, perhaps the one Aikido practice that develops “awase” the most, is the weapons. In the below Aikido Bokken video tutorial, I will teach you the 4 points of “awase.”
Nothing makes life more meaningful than committing to something greater than yourself. Making such a commitment will lead you to discover your greater potential, and what is more meaningful than that? These days my most immediate commitments are to family and career. But for decades now I have been engaged in 2 longterm practice commitments that brought profound meaning to my life. These are none other than Aikido & The Spiritual Path.
The author Sam Harris says that “the evolution of human civilization has been nothing less than a series of successful conversations.” But what exactly does it take to have a successful conversation? This is the question I recently explored with the authors of the new book “Compassionate Conversations – How To Speak And Listen From The Heart.”
On July 12th, 2020 the Integral Dojo held a Community Call with Ginny Whitelaw. Ginny is a Zen Roshi, Aikido Sensei, a former NASA Biophysicist, and an author. In this post, I’m publishing the replay of this community call where Ginny Roshi lead a mini-workshop on the title of her soon to be released book “Resonate – Zen And The Way Of Making A Difference .”
Aikido is not the “Way Of Harmony.” Harmony is the result of Aikido when done well – a “positive-sum” process that leads to the resolution of conflict and the restoration of wholeness. But the “way” of this “Aikido process” inevitably takes you squarely through conflict. This is reflected in the recent events and story of Janice Taitel Sensei who last year organized a petition for gender equity within the United States Aikido Federation. She followed her Aikido intuitions and ended up in the middle of a considerable amount of conflict… within her own Aikido organization! Nevertheless, she persisted.
Is Bokken training a part of your Aikido practice? If yes, then do you feel that the Bokken is synchronized and integrated into your Bokken forms? Do you feel that your Bokken forms are synchronized and integrated into your empty-handed Aikido? In this latest video in my Aikido Bokken tutorial series, I go into the details of the Aikido Bokken striking dynamics important for creating integration in your Aikido. Check out my latest tutorial on Aikido Bokken Lifting & Striking.
On May 22nd, 2020 Mark Walsh invited me back to the Embodiment Podcast to join a panel discussion in a series he is appropriately calling “Return Of The Plague Dialogues.” I joined Mark on the panel with Philip Shepherd, author and embodiment teacher, and Rafe Kelley, of “Evolve, Move, Play.” Listen below to our free-flowing discussion of how we coped with the pandemic lockdown, how our embodiment practices supported us, and how we assess things going forward.