45 Years Ago Today....

On this historic day, please take a moment to revisit the dream that Martin Luther King shared with us 45 years ago:

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

More Thought Provoking Quotes

The September issue of Shambhala Sun caught my eye on a magazine rack. So many good thoughts jumped off the pages, I thought I would create a few quotes from the issue.

The Tibetan word for obstacle, parche, means "what cuts our progress." Obstacles can be messages, signals that we need to wake up and look at what is going on. Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

The natural principle that all beings long for happiness and freedom from suffering serves as the basis for generating compassion. The longing that we share with other beings makes empathy possible - it allows us to identify with their pain and their joy. Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

Community is the unit of change. The only way we get through difficult times is together. Margaret Wheatley

Mindfulness is being purposefully aware. It is noticing what we are experiencing and our response to those experiences. It isn't simply knowing we are eating an apple. It is paying precise yet relaxed attention to the sweet smell and to the crunch between our teeth; it is paying attention to the glossy red skin and the bruise near the stem. Andrea Miller

Every day of your life, every morning of your life, you could ask yourself, "As I go into this day, what is the most important thing? What is the best use of this day?" Pema Chodron

For more quotes, check out past blog, Thought Provoking Quotes.

Judy Warner

The Cherry Days Practice

In mid-May I took on a new spiritual practice, a practice called “Cherry Days”. It was challenging, steady and quite rewarding. I may do it again next year. The practice was in the form of coordinating Paonia’s Cherry Days Festival. This was the 62nd annual, and it’s quite the deal in this Western Colorado town of 1600 people. Thousands of people come into town for it, and it’s three days of reunions, music, arts and crafts, carnival, a Fourth of July parade and fireworks, lots of regional events. I stepped into the job kind of late in the game—the Paonia Chamber of Commerce (I’m on the board) has produced it for the last few years, but it’s a big job that tends to burn out the few volunteers who put it on. So this year we realized we needed to hire someone to oversee the whole thing, and since I’d put in many volunteer hours on it last year and had a good picture of what was needed, and I tend to be fairly obsessive about details, I was asked to take it on.

I thought about it a lot before I accepted. I’ve been on a roll with music of late, and I didn’t want to derail the progress I was making with my career. So I asked myself about my values, and how this would fit into it. Was it on purpose with my goals? Some of my deepest values revolve around finding common ground and harmony, nurturing community and inclusiveness. Our town has been deeply divided of late over several issues, and there’s always the old-timer/newcomer tension. So I saw this as a way to hold an intention of creating common ground, and to work with that intention. It turned out well—due to the efforts of many people, I think some healing took place, and some understanding and appreciation of differences.

But for me the most exciting and satisfying thing was the personal practice that I took on. I’ve been a meditator for many years, and know that it’s an important part of my ability to be peaceful and fairly sane. I tend to be a bit of an introvert, and like to have my time be my own. I knew that I was going to need to be out in public and social in ways that I’m not always comfortable with. My challenge was to be the same inside and outside, to carry the centeredness I get from meditating into the public arena, and maintain it for a couple of months. So every morning I created a strong picture and feeling of the kind of person I wanted to be as I moved through this project—compassionate, effective, clear, patient, open, available. When I would start to lose my centeredness, I could come back to that strong sense of who I wanted to be, and usually I’d get back on track. I’ve known other people who’ve gotten so stressed out when working on events like this that people were afraid to talk with them—I knew I didn’t want to be that, so it became a moment by moment process, choosing to handle my stress in a way that didn’t injure anyone, myself included. The times I didn’t do my morning practice, it showed—grace and ease were nowhere to be found. But most of the time I’d get lined up before stepping onto the mat, and whether it was a solo technique or a rondori, it was a lot like dancing--Aikido in daily life, indeed. And much fun was had along the way.

This experience strengthened my knowing that everything we do can help us grow, that everything is a practice and the real thing. I found I can be bigger than I thought—I had some fears about failing the “test”, but they melted away in the step by step, moment by moment practice. And there’s so much more to work on, to improve…
And after a nice rest, I’m ready for the next practice.

Tribute to a Friend

I never met Leroy Sievers. You may remember my mention of him from some of my past blogs, Opportunity Knocks, and My Cancer..... Leroy has shared his experience of cancer with the world through a blog for several years. He created an amazing community of support for those who affected by the disease.

This morning, as usual on Monday morning, I went to his blog to see how he was doing. The news has not been good these past weeks. And, there was the notice that we all knew was inevitable. Leory passed away Friday night.

It is strange to grieve for someone whom you considered a friend though you never met. Leroy transformed a devastating diagnosis into a means to help thousands. At last count this morning, more than 1000 people had posted notes as they learned the news.

We shared so much in these past few years. I remember checking the blog more than once a day when Leroy was hospitalized as I waited for word on his surgeries, and the tears of joy when he was pronounced free of cancer (that anyone could find) and got to go to Hawaii and enjoy that brief time of 'life without the beast'. There is a little hole in my heart this morning. But, gratefulness that he no longer needs to be in pain.

Thank you Leroy for giving so much. Please do rest in peace now.

Judy

Connectedness in Leadership

A recent Harvard Business Publishing blog discussed the idea of connectedness. In aikido, connectedness is an essential element in executing a throw. Without a heightened awareness of your partner, it is difficult to throw effortlessly. This serves as an excellent metaphor for successful leadership in the corporate world. After all, what aikido students are exploring is how to lead their partners, with minimum effort and maximum effectiveness.

The Harvard Business discussion suggests that the picture of a lonely CEO is also one of a leader who is disconnected from his employees, perhaps too shielded by his staff from the realities of his company. And, this operating structure is outmoded. What is needed in this day and age is a connected CEO.

“ In the modern business world, where matrix-based structures are replacing hierarchies and partnership models are replacing competition, communication and networking are emerging as the key skills for leaders. Social acumen and engagement are critical for leaders if they are to engage, inspire and retain their people. It is no longer acceptable or reasonable for leaders to complain it is lonely at the top. If leaders are lonely, they are not doing their job properly.”

To develop connectedness in the business world, one skill that is suggested is that of ‘social acumen’. Introduced in the book Leaders at all Levels by Ram Charan, social acumen allows leaders to build networks and avoid becoming isolated at the top. Someone with a high social acumen knows how to build strong, powerful networks within a company and extending beyond the company to include customers, suppliers, regulators, politicians, and various interest groups. The relationships in these networks are enduring because they are built on trust, and that trust allows information to flow both ways, exposing the leader to new ideas and different ways to see things.

And, how to cultivate social acumen and connectedness in the business world? If we apply what we know from aikido, the mind/body skill of centering is central. An aikido practitioner increases their awareness of their relationship with their partner by deepening their ability to center. To the extent then that a CEO or manager can cultivate centeredness, it follows that they will be in a better place to develop the networks of connectedness necessary for leadership in this modern world.

Judy Warner

those songs out there...or in here...

As a songwriter, I go through lots of phases—dry spells, creative floods (on rare occasions), delicious times of discipline to write every day, regardless of inspiration. Recently, after a wildly busy time and not writing anything for ages, I decided to give myself one of those little challenges (5 songs in 5 days) that I use to jump start me back into the creative spirit…at least it gets me playing my guitar everyday.

It’s always seemed to me that some of the best songs come fully formed, as if they are floating around out there somewhere, and if I make myself available, I get to write it down…they are gifts. On the second morning of my recent songwriting challenge, I woke up with a lovely melody in my head. I got up and meditated, and then picked up a pencil and out came this song—exactly what I wanted to say, what I wish for and work for and have in my life—short, sweet and to the point. I’d like to share the words with you, and hope to get to sing it for you, and with you, someday soon.

PRAYER

Give me strength to do my best
Give me courage for the rest
Give me patience for the world
And times that I’m unsure

Let me see beyond the words
And find the heart wanting to be heard
Let my hands be soft and true
And let your healing through

Let me stand with open heart
Let my life become my art
Let me give, let me receive
And live my days with grace and ease

Thank you for the tears that cleanse
Thank you for the heart that mends
With gratitude that fills my soul
I am blessed and I am whole


words and music © 2008 by Ellen Stapenhorst

Holistic Exercise

A British friend of mine, Mark Walsh, has another mind/body blog, and recently included this article on Holistic Exercise that I thought might be of interest. (A version of the article was also published by YMCA Fit Graduate magazine.)

What is Holistic Exercise?

I came to work in gyms through an unusual route, having taught outdoor education, obtained a psychology degree, studied the martial arts worldwide and even lived with a circus in Ethiopia before my first studio class. Through these experiences I’ve developed an understanding of exercise that is quite different to conventional practice. I was taught in school that the body is basically a machine that we ride about in, that needs regular exercising to work properly. I’ve since added an appreciation of how body and mind are intimately linked, and how our bodies affect and express who we are as living feeling conscious people. I’d like to share this with other people interested in fitness so that they can benefit.

The studio class I developed as a result of my training is called Holistics. I describe it as exercise for the whole person as it’s a balanced workout that takes a broad view of fitness and the body. For some the word holistic conjures up images of dread-locked, tie-died crystal healers at Glastonbury, for me it just means taking everything into account - being aware of all the aspects of a person and how they’re united.

We often hear the phrase “mind, body and spirit” as a definition of a holistic approach, so how would this apply to exercise? Well, in a way all exercise is holistic - many people go to the gym to relax psychologically and emotionally as well as to workout physically and these things happen together. People may like the sense of confidence and empowerment they feel from a Bodycombat class or work out aggression lifting weights. I begin and end my classes by asking what mood clients are in – as emotions live in the body there is always a change over the class. Mind and body relax together either through exhaustion (muscularly or aerobically) or consciously and systematically (as in many yoga classes). Other mental aspects I work with are awareness and imagery. Again these aspects are not “just” mental in that awareness of the body affects how one uses the body and visualisations will create measurable outcomes. Next time you stretch imagine the relevant muscles are made of sticky, gooey, melting chocolate and see what happens. Alternatively notice what happens physically when remembering a stressful life situation, or conversely how few negative thoughts you have when physically relaxed. Thus the link works both ways with our bodies influencing our minds and vice versa. They are so linked that a single concept - bodymind - is a more accurate description than the divide entrenched in English and often blamed on Descartes.

The emphasis in my classes is on exercising consciously, with clients feeling and exercising with their bodies rather than doing something to their bodies. When attention is paid to the body it becomes a source of pleasure and wisdom, rather than a piece of meat to be battered into submission. This approach is also safer as the body’s warning signs are noted. Awareness can be considered the bridge between mind and spirit and many forms of meditation consist simply of bringing awareness to the body (particularly the movement of breath). If the mind and body were split in Western culture for many years, then body and spirit were even more so, with the body being considered sinful and subsequently repressed and punished. Exercise that continues in this Medieval/ Victorian tradition of denying and stifling the joy and spirituality of the body is not holistic. To me the body is a spiritual domain and while I appreciate this is a personal matter and definitions can be problematic, I’ve met many regular people who’ve had what psychologists call peak experiences and found deep satisfaction in exercise at some time or another. This, along with the many wisdom traditions from around the world that celebrate the body and movement, leads me to say that exercise does indeed have a spiritual dimension, and it’s only how conscious of it we are that’s up for debate.

Holistic Fitness

People often exercise because they want to improve how they look and feel. I take an “inside-out” approach to both aesthetic and emotional development, building confidence, grace and poise, and working directly with mood and the experience of being a bodymind. This is a deeper level of working then trying to make clients bodies match whatever fashion the media are currently pushing, and in my view more ethical sound as such artificial images are not always healthy. Chronically contracted abdominal muscles for example, embody a tight, fearful and aggressive emotional state that I wouldn’t like to encourage with my clients.

I would define holistic fitness in terms of being healthy in various ways, the variety of things a person can do and their subjective feelings. For example, someone who can lift 500kg, but is at risk of a heart attack, cannot dance and who feels terrible is not holistically fit. Many readers will be familiar with the various aspects of physical fitness and I’m thankful that a broad view of fitness is now no longer “alternative”. Note also that to find balance classes traditionally considered “holistic” such as yoga and Pilates are not in and of themselves complete, though may bring flexibility, balance and alignment to balance aerobic and strength training. A single class need not tick all the boxes and while isolating components of exercise can get better results physically, I’ve found that the more aspects that are being exercised at once the deeper the personal change and overall benefits. There is a particular attractiveness that this approach brings that comes as much from a sparkle in the eye as from the physique.

Aside from the older physical categories a holistic approach might also consider such aspects as posture, grace and the ability to “centre” – keeping a calm, balanced body-mind, even under pressure. One aspect of being human that is sometimes forgotten in gyms is creativity and play, so I ask clients to invent their own movements and as long as it’s safe, do exercises in their own way. Another powerful thought is that we’re social beings. Clients interact with each other during Holistics classes making the experience more enjoyable, bringing up personal patterns to work with and creating a unique experience each time. The social aspects of gyms are crucial to many people and the power of the group to bring out a person’s best is the reason many people find studio classes much easier than exercising alone.

Embodiment and Conclusion

Who we are is embodied. Think of someone you really like, grounded, honest and open and someone you don’t like at all – perhaps untrustworthy and spineless. Our bodies not only express how we are right now (body language) but who we are as people and what we’re capable of. By this I don’t mean that all thin people are one way and all tall people another, but that the way we inhabit our bodies in terms of awareness, life and posture determines how we function. Try tensing your muscles, clenching your fists and sticking out your jaw while saying “I love you.” If you can do it at all it will feel very strange as the embodied state and the emotion don’t go together.

We can be strong, flexible, healthy people in every way and not just in the external sense. I lead embodied corporate trainings working with characteristics which might traditionally be considered well outside what is relevant to the body - trust, sincerity and integrity for example. While these things may not be aspects that people wish to work on at in a gym, they are still present whenever we work out, whatever the form of exercise.

An overview of all the aspects of exercise that can be considered would include objective, subjective and social factors - i.e. what’s happening, what people think and feel about it and the interpersonal dynamics. An appreciation of how’s these factors interact and merge together could be considered a truly holistic or integral approach to exercise. Because it encompasses more than conventional models I’m confident that those using it will get results and enjoy doing so.

Mark Walsh leads Holistics exercise classes (http://holisticexercise.co.uk) and corporate training (http://integrationtraining.co.uk) in the Brighton and Hove area. Those interested in the bodymind approach may also enjoy his blog: http://integrationtraining.blogspot.com