Wholistic Fitness

ZEN SWEEPING/BUDDHA BOULDERING;
Finding and Fertilizing The Yin/Yang Garden of Consciousness

Upon His Enlightenment, the Buddha identified Eight Levels of Consciousness,
intricately interwoven and endlessly dancing are these Eight Levels of Subtle Awareness.
Their find-ment and eventual re-fine-ment requires a life dedicated to their discovery and
development through progressive and guided meditations.

In Wholistic Fitness, we use engage Active Meditations such as pranayama, early morning cleaning rituals, zazen, etc.,
to open the gateways toward living a more conscious day. Very important to begin your day unhurried.
The Soul energy and Pranic uptake is at maximal ripeness and etheral elasticity in the early morning hours. WF Students
are trained to use this time wisely, not abusively. In my book(s) i outline several early morning Practices that function
as a Consciousness Developer to begin the Day.

“The body is a mere reflection of the mind,” taught Swami Rama. Yet, how does this sweeping statement help our
daily life? I have found it beneficial to start developing a Daily Dance between Wide Awareness (yin) and Focused Awareness (yang). As we chain our lower mind (manas) to become tethered to this Complementary Dance of yin and yang awareness,
we are actually tilling the mental ground for more advanced spiritual work.

Let me give you an example from bouldering last night across the street at Mt. Elden:

Here, i set as much weight as possible on my feet to relieve the intense strength endurance demands from my finger
contact on the tiny holds of this difficult boulder problem. Note the straight spine to preserve optimal neuromuscular/logical flow. My Awareness is on yin mode; i am scanning the delicately featured granite for my next move.

An instant later, i have to zap into Yang Awareness – also known as Ekagrata in yoga – to really concentrate my mental energies to visualize and engage action. This detailed focus of the mind, particularly if your body is at risk, really ramps up
the spiritual athlete’s capacities to control the mind. Thus, Swami Rama’s sagacity becomes readily apparent and forms my entire basis of Wholistic Fitness training; In this Path, we know that the body follows your mind.

Your body looks precisely the way you have chosen to shape it via your mind.
Your life activities are nothing but training effects from what you choose to feed your mind.
Your contribution to the UniVerse is your Gift of Mind.

Some other aspects of Yin/Yang Awareness might help your understanding and willingness to start courting Yin/Yang Awareness into your workouts and life:

Wide Awareness (Yin):
female, expansive, eagle medicine (soaring high), helicopter perspective, softness, disengage, slow twitch, smiling

Focused Awareness (Yang):
male, contraction, mouse medicine (scrutiny), laser perspective, hardness, engagement, fast twitch, laughing

May this help your Practice today,
may it help you wake up earlier tomorrow morning,
may your inner work benefit your merit
and all beings everywhere,

coach ilg
(photos of coach zen sweeping and bouldering, by Ananda)