3 Brand New "Great Lesson" Promo Videos

Simple Tips For Getting Centered

Do you ever feel disconnected from your body? Think about all of the hours we spend at the office and at home, hunched over a computer. Sure, we exercise the mind, but what about the rest of us?

When we neglect the body, we pay a steep price in our physical and mental health and wellbeing.

In the upcoming movie The Great Lesson, we learn that one of the most powerful ways to connect with the body is by getting centered. Centering is an integral part of mind ~ body practices like yoga, martial arts, tai chi, dance as well as most sports. The center goes by many names: Dantian in Chinese, Hara in Japanese, and the Lower Chakra in Sanskrit. In America, we call it the gut or the belly.

So where is the center? The center is a point in the middle of the body, about two inches below the navel. It is a source of balance and stability. According to Richard Strozzi-Heckler, when you are centered, you are completely relaxed. In this way, you are making an ally with gravity instead of fighting against it.

Think about a time when you felt deeply relaxed and grounded in your body even though things around you were chaotic. Perhaps you even experienced a sense of time slowing down. This is the magic of your center - the place where mind and body come together.

But the center is a moving center. It goes wherever you direct your awareness. If you are deep in thought, the center might be in your head. If you are feeling heavy emotions, it might be in your chest.

However, when you are centered in the mid point of your body, the mind becomes quiet and still. Instead of dwelling on the past or thinking ahead to the future, you get rooted in the present. You accept who you are and where you are unconditionally without trying to change things. According to Chuang-Tzu, “Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free: stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing.”

Here are some simple tips for getting centered right now:

1. Take a few deep, slow breaths.
2. Align the body by sitting or standing up straight.
3. Release any tension and allow the body to relax completely from head to toe.
4. Direct your attention toward the point two inches below your navel.

Some might say that this sounds great in theory, but who has the time to do this? According to Tom Crum, any moment can be an opportunity to find your center.

For instance, when you are taking a walk, you can become more aware of your center with each step. Try pressing your index finger on the point about two inches below the navel from time to time as well. Think of yourself as pushing a button to power up your center.

Another great centering moment is when you are stuck in traffic. Instead of getting frustrated, Crum uses the seat belt as a centering belt. The click of the seat belt can be a reminder to connect with your center. If you are not in a car, use a belt buckle as your centering belt. Adjust the buckle so that it rests on your center.

Unfortunately, most of us spend most of our day OFF center. Becoming irritable and stressed are sure signs that we have lost our center.

To regain the center, choose moments throughout the day to take centering breaks. Give it a try and see what happens! If you think about it, any spare time during the day can be an amazing opportunity to recapture the magic of your center!

Finding Your Inner Traveler

Do you see yourself as a traveler or a tourist in life? G.K. Chesterton once wrote that “The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.”

In Zen, you could say that the traveler embodies the idea of Beginner’s Mind. A beginner’s mind is like an empty cup. It has no expectation for the future or baggage from the past. It is alive only in the Now.

Just like a child at play, the traveler sees limitless opportunities for adventure at every turn. According to Suzuki Roshi, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”

On the other hand, tourists have lots of baggage. They alternate between the past and the future, rarely if ever setting foot in the present.

Tourists never deviate from a pre-planned routine. They avoid stepping outside their comfort zone at all costs. They think everything looks the same so they tend to grow bored quickly.

Tourists can change the scenery, but they can’t change the eyes through which they see and experience it. Most people live like tourists every day – at home or on vacation!

So how do you find the traveler within? It starts by emptying your cup or unpacking your bags. When you let go of the past as well as your expectations for the future, you begin to lighten your load. You allow yourself to open up to new experiences. You see the world with new eyes. You realize that the traveler is not out there, but is available right here, right now, wherever you are.

A daily mind ~ body fitness practice like Yoga, Martial Arts, Tai Chi and Meditation is a powerful way to help you find your inner traveler. These practices are designed to emphasize process over results. They encourage mindfulness over mindlessness. They also help slow you down!

Imagine going through your daily routine as if you were a traveler in a foreign land. Think about walking down a street in your neighborhood - a street you've walked hundreds of times - and seeing it as though for the first time!

Choose to be a traveler not a tourist in life and you will see everything in a completely new light!

Following Your Flow

“Your body needs to do more thinking, and your mind needs to dance more.” - Chungliang Al Huang

Have you ever done any thinking with your body? How about dancing with your mind? These questions might seem silly at first – straight out of Alice in Wonderland - but they are actually very significant.

One of the most powerful lessons from the new film The Great Lesson is the importance of having a daily fitness practice that incorporates both mind and body.

What is a Mind ~ Body fitness practice?

A Mind ~ Body fitness practice is the best of both worlds. Whether we choose yoga, martial arts, dance, tai chi or running, the common thread is that mind and body are working together in harmony. We learn that they are not separate entities, but they are deeply connected and part of the same whole. The mind moves the body and vice versa.

Think about a time when you performed an activity at your absolute best. Some call this following your flow or being in the zone. You probably noticed that every action was completely focused yet totally effortless.

When you enter this flowing space or zone state, mind and body are one. They are no longer fighting against each other. That’s why the activity is so effortless and so easy. It’s as though you were a child playing in the sandbox again.

What are the benefits of Mind ~ Body fitness?

1. Quieting The Mind
Think about how many thoughts run through the mind every second. How do we slow this avalanche of thoughts, particularly when they are negative and counter productive to our health and happiness? The quickest way to still the mind is to move the body. A daily fitness practice helps to restore the balance between mind and body. Instead of being so centered in our heads and worrying about the past or future, we become more rooted and grounded in the here and now.

2. Self Discipline
When you’re involved in a daily fitness practice, there are no days off, and there are no excuses. If you’re sick or your kids are acting out, it doesn’t matter – you make the time because it’s that important. When you commit to your practice, you build up this self-discipline muscle a little every day.

3. The Inner Game
While the physical side of fitness gets most of the attention, it should be remembered that the postures, techniques and body movements are a mirror of the inner work being done. Sure it’s cool to stand on your head in yoga. Or bound through the air in dance. Or even smash a wooden board in karate. That outer stuff certainly has its place, but most important are the inner rewards that you reap from your practice. You will see the proof in how you grow and develop as a whole person, and others will see it in you as well.

4. Process Over Results
Many people become obsessed with the tangible results of their fitness practice. What was my time, how many points did I get, what was the score etc. When we do this, we get caught up in judging ourselves. But in a true Mind ~ Body fitness practice, it’s more important that we focus on process. Process is all about flow! We allow ourselves to engage fully in the activity without judging it or worrying about results. Paradoxically, when we let go of the need for measurable results, we usually perform at our best!

So take the advice from the amazing speakers in The Great Lesson movie and give yourself one of the greatest gifts possible – a daily Mind and Body fitness practice. And then enjoy the fruits of your flow: a healthier, happier and more whole You!