June Newsletter Topics: Events |
New Classes
| Informational Workshops
& Training | |
TAI CHI TIPS
By Peter Robinson
A STORY
There’s a story I once heard that I particularly like. It’s about a farmer in ancient China who hears about a great wise man in a neighboring province, a man who is called “The Buddha.” This farmer decides to go and seek this great man’s advice. So he kisses his wife, and hugs his children, and then sets off, walking on foot.
It takes him two weeks, sweating one day under grueling heat, freezing the next in heavy thunderstorms, and all the while suffering blisters, hunger, and the stinging bites of insects. When he finally arrives, he finds a huge encampment with people as far as the eye can see, all of whom have traveled from all across the land to see this great man. He has to wait for an entire month to get in.
When he finally approaches the Buddha, he prostrates himself, and it seems that all the trials and tribulations of his life come pouring out of his mouth. He says…
“I’m a farmer, and I’ve had a pretty good life, but sometimes it gets difficult. Sometimes there’s drought, and the crops, they shrivel in the fields and we go hungry, and other times the rains come, and hail pelts the ground, smashing the stalks, and again, it’s very difficult. I worry often…”
And he goes on…
“And I’m married, to a good woman, but sometimes, when I tell her my problems, she can’t hear them. And sometimes she grows angry with me. And I don’t always feel like she understands me…”
And he goes on…
“And I have two kids. Good kids, for the most part. But they can be young, and irrational. And I try to teach them what I know, but they think they already know everything. And I get tired, trying to make them understand…”
And he goes on... and on... and on. For two hours he pours out his heart to this kindly, smiling man, who simply listens. And when he’s finished, he waits. And after a long moment, the Buddha says to him:
“I don’t really know what to tell you. We’ve all got problems. Even me. And in fact, we’ve all got 72 problems, and just as soon as you get rid of one problem, another arrives to take its place.”
The Farmer sits, flabbergasted, and says “You mean, that’s it? That’s all you can tell me? I’ve traveled for two weeks to get here, through heat, and rain, and snow. I’ve blisters on my feet. Welts on my body from the stinging insects. And when I arrived here I had to wait for a whole month before I could see you, and this is all you can tell me – that we all have problems? Why in the world does anyone come to see you?”
And the Buddha smiles and says “Because. I can teach you to be okay with the fact that you’ve got problems.”
And that’s the answer. We do our work not because it will take us away from our problems, but because it teaches us the tools to live happily even when the world does not always send happiness in our direction.
We do all have problems, some of them quite serious. And often, it is during these trials of life that we are most tempted to let our practice slip. But this is when our practice is more important than ever.
Do your practice. Embrace the discomforts of life. Open yourself to the divine. You can not always control what life will bring you, but you can choose to greet it with love.
Much love and blessings,
Peter
June 8th, Fri. 8:00 pm
Donation basis
Dermot and Maria are Sister and Brother from Ireland, currently living the dream in L.A. Evening includes Laughter, jokes, poetry and lots of Chanting.
Shakti’s Friends and Family Day
June 24th, Sun. 11:00am
In the spirit of community, bring a friend or family member for free to our 11:00 am open Tai Chi class and stay after for a Shakti Potluck. Celebrate the beginning of summer with our Tai Chi family and introduce us to yours!
NEW
CLASSESTues./Thurs. 12-1pm
Sat. 4:30-6pm (starting June 9th)
Shakti’s is now offering Pilates classes! Kristen has come straight from the Kane School of Core Integration in New York City to help strengthen your core and create lean, flexible, strong balanced muscles. With a focus on the basic core principles, this class is perfect for anyone whether you are a beginner or a seasoned student. Included in the Tai chi membership package, Pilates is a great addition to your practice and life!
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Bagua with Steven Bosco
Mondays 5-6pm
Bagua, a sister of Tai Chi, is based on an eight direction circle walking system. Also known as Chinese, or Taoist yoga, it has all benefits of a Tai Chi with eight meditative postures. Whether you are looking to expand your Tai chi practice or are looking for a new movement experience this basic Bagua class is included in the Tai chi membership package and is a wonderful way to start your week.
Stickboxing with Steven Bosco
Saturdays 3:30-4:30
Trained in Phillipino, Thai, and Chinese Stickboxing, Steven is now offering this class to introduce you to a basic Stickboxing system. This form of self development and self defense strengthens and creates flexibility in the hands, wrists, arms, and shoulders and also strengthens the legs. Come try this unique system and experience the benefits inside and out!
June 10th, Sun. 12:30-12:45pm
(informational meeting)
Shakti’s Elements is excited to announce our first Yoga Naga Training Program. Many of you have been taking our yoga Naga classes and have experienced the strength, focus, fluidity, and flexibility that this form of yoga provides. Taught by Master Zi, this six week intensive of 50 hours is your opportunity to study the postures and the flow to gain a deeper understanding of the practice. With the ability to remove stagnation from your body, help blood circulation and promote weight loss, the Yoga Naga training will improve your personal practice, change your body, and open your mind. This is a unique experience you will only find here at Shakti’s.We will be holding an informational meeting on Sunday June 10th at 12:30 to discuss the details of the program and to answer any questions you may have.
Anatomy
Class
with Master Zi
(Spotlight on the Sacral Plexus)
June 17th, Sun. 12:30-1:45
Cost: $20
Come take advantage of this great opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of your pelvis and spine. Our incredibly knowledgeable Master Zi will be demystifying how the spine and pelvis function to bring awareness to your practice. He will discuss the neuromuscular flow patterns, body props that aid in the health of the back and spine, deep stretches and practices to help strengthen, and common injuries that occur. Don’t miss this enlightening event!
June Self-Healing Tips —Traditional Chinese Medicine
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written by: Julie Festa, L.Ac.
I have noticed in the people around me lately the fragility of the human body. We so often forget that are not indestructible, and we are not super-human. Rather, we are spiritual beings in human form, and we have a duty to honor and care for our physical bodies as vehicles through which we can continually transform.
Think about what you do in any given week. Ponder on your work load,
your workout regime, your diet. Do you sit in traffic for hours every
day? Do you push yourself to do things that don’t feel good?
Do you work 14-hour days and force yourself to go to the gym or a
class afterward? Do you deny yourself proper sleep and food because
you think every one does it and because you know you can survive on
less food, less sleep, less downtime. This far into human evolution
we are no longer here for mere survival; we are really becoming and
about so much more.
Our culture fosters a mind-driven attitude of invulnerability. We
are taught, told, bought and sold on always doing and being more.
What this does to the body over time is that it hardens our bones,
muscles, even our arterial walls. It hardens the diaphragm and we
breathe more shallow breaths. It tightens the muscles and we lose
fluidity and flexibility. It dries out the fluids, and we become agitated
and anxious. What we all need is more softness, and more Yin. This
spring we are celebrating the gentler aspect of the Wood energy –
the receptive, the nourishing, the Yin.
Softening the body comes through softening the mind and its relationship to the body. The Liver is the General of the body. If the General lives on the front lines all the time, eventually it will become less and less able to carry out its true purpose. Therefore, the Liver Qi needs to be liberated in order to flow. Liver 3 is called Tai Chong, or Great Surging. It is located on top of the foot. To find it, trace a line towards the ankle from the webbing in between your big toe and the one next to it. Running up the valley between the bones, Liver 3 is just before the bones connect in the foot, in that depression.
This point is excellent to treat stress, headaches, spasms, cramps, itchy eyes, menstrual pain, insomnia, depression, dizziness, and hypochondriac fullness. Rise early in the morning and massage this point on both feet for 5 minutes before you begin your day. Do this again sometime mid-day to restore a healthy balance and flow.
Young coconuts are everywhere these days. Have you seen them at Whole Foods smiling up at you from the lower shelves of the cut fruit area? The juice inside of the young coconut is wonderful for moving Liver Qi while replenishing fluids and Yin. It is one of the best ways to replenish electrolytes and has tons of potassium and other minerals. Also called coconut water, this amazing liquid taken internally also cleanses the liver. It helps ease joint pain, clear up skin blemishes and discolorations, improves vision and eases menstrual difficulties.
The easiest way to get yourself some coconut juice is to buy a young
coconut that has the green outside removed already. These are abundant
at whole foods, and appear white and multifaceted. From here it is
pretty easy to make a hole in the base by poking it with an apple
corer or a carrot peeler. Then pour out the liquid and simply enjoy!