Wholistic Fitness

Steve,

Here are Student Michael Thompson’s reflections on his Intensive. My own reflections would be pale to his insights..it was his Intensive after all, not mine. That being said it brings tears to my eyes this morning as ponder it all. The bond of student and teacher…

I trust you will share this with the whole tribe on DL

I dedicate this week to the Eagle of the Canyons…

– Haku



�”I Realized how Life is a series of these magical Moments, strung together like beads.”

WF Online Student Michael Thompson. Began Online Study: October, 2002 under Teacher Haku.

there is nothing like a WF Private Intensive; there is nothing like a WF Transmission.

enjoy a contemporary Fitness Warrior’s words fresh from his first face to face intensive with his Teacher:

�

Dear Coach Haku,

Following are some thoughts regarding the Blessings of the Intensive…

November 13, 2004

Reflections on my first intensive with Joseph Sheader ‘ Teacher Haku ‘

in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Some concerns before heading out regarding how I might “measure up”.

Was this going to be some kind of test to see if I was worthy of continuing

in the program? �These feelings, however, began to dissipate as the start

of the intensive approached, and dissolved completely with first meeting

Joseph at his home. �Teacher Sheader (she-der, not shay-der-why did it take

2 years to find that out?) made me feel welcome in his home with his wife,

Linda, son Kerry, and daughter, Lorien. �

Off to the martial arts dojo for a yoga session with a couple of local

yogis. �The session was welcome relief after sitting in planes all day. �And

the subtle advice regarding how to enter into poses was much more insightful

than trying to glean the wisdom from a book. �Why have I waited so long to

do this?

Meditation the next morning with Haku and Linda was profound, resulting in

a deeper understanding of mula banda lock and ujjayi breathing. �Ujjayi

feels like a current of energy in the body; up from the pelvis and through

the heart, and then down the spine, releasing tension and blocks to the flow

of energy. �Mula banda lock holds a reservoir of energy that is drawn up

again with the next breath. �During this meditation, events in my life came

back to me as crystalline moments. �I was able to view the moment from all

physical angles and accept each as a Treasure. �They weren’t Good or Bad,

they simply Existed and I saw them without attachment. �In some ways it

was like the movie, The Matrix, where the hero sees the bullets hurtling

toward him in slow motion, and then stop. �I Realized how Life is a series of

these magical Moments, strung together like beads.

Going to the gym it was enlightening to see Coach Sheader working

out, light, balanced, and strong. �This was true Teaching, allowing me to see the

goal of being truly physically fit and knowing that Haku will help me reach

it. �He will not give up unless I give up. �And the energy center was

strong and Mindful, no self-consciousness when approaching the weights in a

meditative state. �I learned some subtleties of certain movements and

wondered again, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” �My hope, too, is that seeing

my physical form and reading my energy will help Coach Sheader as he

devises future workout cycles.

After the gym and a bit of a rest, we were outdoors for some hill running.

Coming from sea level and the flat terrain of Maine, however, I felt the

thin air and was hitting Zone 3 just jogging up the hill. �No ego, though,

despite being with a world-class runner. �It was all go(o)d on that day,

just as Coaches Ilg and Sheader said when I started out over two years ago.

“come as you are” workout without posing or ego. �There is no hiding

from the eyes of a Warrior, after all.

Meditation the next morning was again profound and insightful. �Of all the

disciplines, the depth of the meditation during the intensive is what

surprised me most. �Once again, meditation was followed by a wonderful

breakfast gleaned from a WF cookbook and prepared with Love by Linda. �These meals

were simple in their ingredients, but profound in their teachings.

After breakfast, a trip through the hills and canyons to reacquaint myself

with the western landscape. �Every turn presents a new place for

meditation. �Deep textures at a landscape level, but also within a few square meters

of lichen-covered rock. �Ai Imawa practiced on the side of the canyon

walls, understanding how WF is rooted in this desert landscape.

Then off for mountain-biking near the Colorado River. �I’ve never

mountain-biked before, spending my biking time on a trusty road machine.

Philosophically, I’ve always felt uncomfortable with how these machines can tear

up a landscape. �These trails are no different, eroded soil, branches

broken off of sage plants, and the pace seems too quick for the ancient

landscape. �Nonetheless, ego drops off and I enter the flow of the trail, soft,

yet quick, eyes are necessary. �Yin energy and fluidity are rewarded. Too

much yang and you are off the pedals and holding your banged up shins. A

reminder to flow with the River and not fight it. �An eagle greeted us at

the Colorado River and I am uneasy as I pedal off. �I am reminded that

whenever I return to the Wilderness, I am often greeted by Eagle. �I pedal back

to the river and Eagle flares immediately over my head and leads me down

the river. I follow and he wheels overhead again and then glides down the

stream. �On a different day, I would follow him for hours, but the message is

not lost and I feel at ease in the landscape.

Intensive is too strong a word for what these Teachings are all about.

Perhaps a new word is needed: “In-depth-ives”, for that is what happens,

you go deep and spend time being silent there with your Teacher.

The trip closes with an invitation to share with Haku’s celebration of

his daughter’s birthday, reminding us that our Teachers are human too.

Normal human beings who have chosen to wring all that they can out of this

life. �And as Haku said as we contemplated multi-pitch rock climbing, “If I

fall, at least I go out as a Zen Master.” �That, perhaps, is the core of

WF. �Living life to the fullest, finding the Edge, and preparing to exit

the Stage as a Zen Master.

November 15, 2004

Now, days after the intensive, I find myself still contemplating Ai Imawa

at the edge of a canyon, the Teachings will go on, it seems, until I

finally grasp them. �I Feel, as well, that you can’t understand WF until you

go through an Intensive. Sign up as soon as you can.

Namaste to the Entire Tribe!

Michael