Dynamic Balance

Shaolin Monks Teach us How to Live in the Moment

2010-01-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

The art of kung fu did not start as a way to strengthen the body to become an incredible fighting machine. The shaolin monks developed exercises to strengthen the mind and body so they could sit for longer periods of time. Their aim was enlightenment through meditation, not to become an 11th degree black belt.

Yes, they did become great warriors but nobody would have ever known that if they didn’t attack the temple. Then those seemingly peaceful sitting monks showed the attackers what’s what. When the shoalin monks came to visit our school they did not do any aerial kicks, break through concrete, fend off multiple attackers… No they just sat there and answered questions through an interpreter.

Many people flocked from all over the city to come to see these monks, most were disappointed not to see any flashy martial arts. What I saw was three incredible gentle spirits connected to each and every moment.

Look at their eyes in the above picture.

What do you see in these shaolin monks? Self-acceptance? Self-esteem? I see benevolent spirits that accept every moment as a gift. They train rigorously for long hours simply to revel in each and ever moment they have on this planet; to bare witness to beauty inherent in nature.

When leaving the school a student said to me, "I thought the shaolin monks were going to do a demo, show us some of their kung fu."

I replied, "Well, you should have attacked one of them. They would have showed you something."

How many of us in this fast-paced society never slow down and allow those moments of Now to overpower our busy-ness? Our minds are always so preoccupied with school, work, relationships, money and we rarely stop to revel in this incredible wondrous world so full of fascination and beauty.

When things get tough in life like an insecure job, severing a relationship, or losing a loved one can we still find the beauty? Can we see past the prickly thorns in life and still enjoy the beauty of the roses? What if we treated each moment like it was our last? Even the not-so-good moments...

Over the Edge:

A Zen Story

One day while walking through the wilderness a man stumbled upon a vicious tiger. He ran but soon came to the edge of a high cliff. Desperate to save himself, he climbed down a vine and dangled over the fatal precipice. As he hung there, two mice appeared from a hole in the cliff and began gnawing on the vine. Suddenly, he noticed on the vine a plump wild strawberry. He plucked it and popped it in his mouth. It was incredibly delicious!

Visit Mark Joyner for more of his

personal development brain puzzle cartoons.

In life are you focused on the weeds or the flowers?

Message: The Healing Power of Human Touch

2010-01-27T11:34:00.000-08:00

The healing power of human touch is such a positive experience that many people enjoy the benefits for days, sometimes weeks, after the process. If you are a martial artist it is important to treat yourself to bodywork conducive to your unique needs. Martial artists who receive regular bodywork tend to be more focused, more relaxed and efficient in their movements. And, more importantly, suffer less injury. But the benefit of massage does not limit itself to the martial artist alone. Anybody in any occupation can benefit from the increased vitality and wellness a it can bring. Massage can:

1) Help improve circulation of the blood and lower blood pressure.

2) Act as a detoxification system by propelling toxic waste products through the lymphatic system.

3) Help to improve muscle tone and prevent muscular atrophy resulting from inactivity or illness.

4) Reduce emotional stress and promote a sense of well-being.

How can something as simple as this hands-on therapy have so many positive benefits? A tense or painful muscle is one which is often chronically contracted. In an acute situation such as recent injury, the muscle can be in actual spasm. This contraction or spasm decreases the flow of blood to the muscle, which leads to a decrease in the nutrient and oxygen supply to the cells of the muscle and related nerves. A chronically contracted muscle will build up lactic acid, a sign of fatigue. This oxygen shortage and lactic acid build up irritates the nerve cells, which perpetuates the contracted muscles. Massage can help remove the lactic acid and other metabolic waste products from the cells and reverse this process, interrupting the vicious cycle of pain-spasm-pain.

There are a multitude of styles which are beneficial, depending upon the individual's needs and preferences. They include:

Swedish: this is the basic "relaxation" style of bodywork, which uses long strokes, squeezing and kneading. The Swedish practitioner helps to improve circulation by working to loosen or relax the superficial layers of muscle. This type of massage is particularly useful for muscles which are already sore from stress or a tough workout, as it is often more gentle than other styles.

Sports: this form of massage works on a deeper level of musculature or connective tissue. This style fits more with the "no pain, no gain" philosophy. The therapist uses slow, hard strokes and deep, sustained finger pressure to work deeply into the contracted muscles, fascia and tendons. This technique increases flexibility, encourages muscles to work at their fullest capacity, and speeds up the healing process by reducing swelling following an injury. It is especially indicated for athletes and "week-end warriors" who suffer from tight or sore muscles.

Shiatsu and Acupressure: rather than being simply relaxing, this form of bodywork tends to be invigorating. Fingers, thumbs, fists and elbows are used to apply pressure to points along acupuncture meridians, which are believed to be the energy pathways of the body. The focus of this type of therapy is on relieving blocks in the pathways and rebalancing the flow of energy.

Reflexology and Zone Therapy: reflexology works on the assumption that parts of the feet (as well as parts of the ears and hands) correspond to other parts of the body's anatomy. In other words, stress or illness in a certain part of the body may show up as a painful or sensitive area on a specific area of the foot. Practitioners of Reflexology apply pressure to the side, top or bottom of the feet to help reduce dysfunction in other parts of the body.

Not all techniques work for everyone, so make sure to inquire about the philosophy and style of the massage therapist you call. If your massage isn't as satisfying as you had hoped, don't give up. Try another therapist! Massage therapy schools are a cost-effective way to test out different styles of massage; senior students generally work for lower fees while they complete their internship.

There are a few conditions in which massage would not be a good option, such as marked inflammation, fever, significant swelling or very severe pain. But for the garden variety aches and pains that most of us experience, as well as for the general stresses of life, massage is an outstanding way to treat ourselves to a positive, revitalizing experience.

Will Your Children be Swallowed by the Waves of Change in the 21st Century?

2007-12-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

Below: A Vital Blue Print to Ensure Your Children Can Stay on the Crest of Innovation and Change

We live in a time that demands a new agility and flexibility: kids and adults alike must embrace certain attributes to prepare for a future that is rushing at them faster than ever before.

High self-esteem, confidence, and focus are not only attributes of a successful life they are attributes of survival in this new era of rapid-change.

This is no secret.

Most parents and educators understand that children need high self-esteem to thrive in this filled-with-opportunities era we live in right now.

But, how do we make them understand?

Accelerated Learning Model

This Accelerated Learning article comes from information I interpreted from Introducing NLP by Joseph O’Connor & John Seymour. This is an excellent book that should be on every teacher’s book case.

Important Note: Dynamic Balance does not stand as an authority on any system or model. Nor do we believe that children fit nicely into categories.

In fact we believe that trying to fit children into psychological compartments is as counterproductive as jamming 30 students in a classroom and expecting them all to learn in the same way.

What we seek out are flexible tools that anybody can use. NLP is a practical tool for thinking and acting effectively. At Dynamic Balance we are learning, too; not by thinking, but by acting and safely experimenting with new ideas.

Our biggest challenge is how to deliver these ideas to you in a way they understand and can internalize. Two projects to date have been: The Human Touch and The Eye of the Storm

Often children look at education as a chore. And who can blame them? What they don’t realize is that they learned more before going to school than in the classroom.

Think about it.

Walking, talking, running, playing. They discovered amazing things like how a ball will roll, a cube will not; by crying out they could receive food, hugs and kisses, or a toy.

Now think about this. If your children had the language and negative belief to say, “I can’t!” when learning to walk, where would they be right now?

In fact every time they failed and fell on their cushioned diaper you probably clapped and cheered, “Way to go! You almost did it!”

Everything we do at Dynamic Balance is based around the fact that every child is different and, more importantly, already knows how to learn. We aim to help them remember what works best for them. It begins with attitude.

Accelerated Learning: Attitudes for Success

What do you remember most from school? I can safely say that it probably isn’t any particular material. Yes, you may remember reading Shakespeare for the first time in high school or another book that anchored within you during your K12 years. If so that only shows the power of stories, not education per se.

The fact is children are taught many subjects at school and forget most of them by the time they reach adulthood. The missing link in the public school system is that children are not taught how to learn; they do not understand how to achieve success. For the most part they are taught to memorize.

We believe that education should foster the healthy state of the whole student to emerge naturally, maximizing her innate potentiality for a highly creative life replete with personal and business successes. It should train the rational faculty to absorb, reason, and then facilitate the means to bring the student’s unique gifts into the world.

Enter NLP…

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) shows people how to learn by modeling success; it is the science and art of personal excellence. NLP studies how people excel in a certain field and then teaches those patterns to others.

What field is best suited for us?

Enter Howard Gardner...

In 1983 Howard Gardner, a Professor of Education at Harvard University, published a book on human intelligences called Frames of Mind. He postulated in his book that there are seven intelligences that we all have. More recently he’s updated that to eight-and-a-half intelligences. We use them to different degrees but are naturally more proficient, or drawn toward one or two.

By understanding our natural talents and abilities we can make better choices of what kind of career to pursue; we can help children find thier natural drives and ambitions. As Brian Tracy says, “The very best way to ride a horse is in the direction it is already going.”

I go into more depth in my book "The Engaged Mind" about Gardner's Intelligences.

The most important thing in achieving success is to have a proper attitude.

Success is Over 80% Attitude

In my mid-twenties I was a tradesman making decent money. But I was guided there by default, not pursuit. My poor marks in school limited my choices, or so I thought.

That’s when I discovered Accelerated Learning Techniques by Brian Tracy and Collin Rose. This tape-set is highly recommended for anybody that wants to help their children succeed.

That program introduced to me to Howard Gardner and my life changed, forever. I am now a published author, teacher in kung fu, and put on dynamic motivational seminars for children and adults. In short, I learned my own unique way of learning.

If somebody had told me that all this was possible for me coming out of high school I would have laughed at them. My attitude was that I was destined to live a life of mediocrity.

Where does attitude come from?

Belief

Belief has profound influences on our lives. Henry Ford coined the phrase, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t; you’re right!”

Through Accelerated Learning Techniques I understood that my past was not my potential. I took personal responsibility for my life and decided to go for it!

I picked the craziest dream I could think of and decided to become a published, best-selling author. Of course I needed to work on myself. I was 30 years old, which meant I had 30 years reprogramming my attitudes and beliefs.

My journey has brought many great things into my life. I am happily married, I travel to exotic places, I have great mentors, I have worked closely with some of the top people in the personal development industry today, and, most importantly I know I can achieve anything on which I direct my thoughts.

Today I am going to share with you a simple, elegant model for thinking about personal change and success that really helped me to get through some difficult times in this challenging career. Believe me 60,000 words into a 120,000 word novel a lot of old programming comes up: “Who am I to be writing this? I was lousy at school. This story sucks! Nobody is going to like this. I’m wasting my time!”

The following model was designed by Robert Dilts. I presented this a couple of years ago to a grade nine class. I know it was a great success because the students asked many questions after my presentation. Their curiosity piqued, their minds were engaged, and their visions widened.

Some students followed me out and asked in the hall (out of ear-shot of their teacher), “You mean I can be successful if I don’t do well in school?”

I replied, “Of course, but given the information I provided today, is there any reason why you can’t apply that model to your schoolwork?”

They did not answer but I could tell they were looking at school differently.

It was a great tool to get those kids believing in themselves and following their “crazy” dreams.

It is a great intellectual tool for teachers and parents to help kids find their way through difficult situations; especially learning situations.

Inspired, in part, from page 78 of Introducing NLP

1: Spiritual: This is the deepest level, where we consider and act out the great metaphysical questions. Why are we here? What is our purpose? Spirit guides and shapes our lives, and underpins our existence. When we see the world through the vision of our inner spirits our minds and bodies will naturally acquire the intelligence and strength to move us toward success, happiness, and fulfillment.

2: Identity: This is our basic sense of self, our core values and missions in life. Many of us carry around identities given to us by other people; including parents, teachers, cultures, society, friends…etc.

3: Belief: The various ideas we think are true, and use as a basis for daily action. Beliefs are feelings of certainty; they can be both permissions and limitations. That feeling of certainty comes from our interpretations of experience. NLP has great tools for reframing experience to serve your higher purpose.

4: Capability: These are the groups or sets of behaviours, general skills and strategies that we use in our life.

5: Behaviour: The specific actions we carry out, regardless of our capability.

6: Environment: What we react to, our surroundings, and the other people we meet.

Change on a lower level will not necessarily cause change on a higher level. Of course being in a hostile environment makes it difficult to change. Living in Ernest Hemingway’s house, on the other hand, would not enhance my capabilities as a writer. But if I’m renting an apartment, living pay check to pay check, and believe that I can learn to write, my behaviours will change.

I will invest in myself with programs like Accelerated Learning Techniques, I will stay home after work and write instead of hanging out with friends, and my capabilities with get stronger.

Belief: I can become a great writer

Behaivours: Study writing, take courses, write

Capabilities: I get better daily

Belief: Strenghtens; I knew I could do it all along...

You see, it is not enough to just believe. To be successful we must act. For example it was not enough for me to believe I could be a published author. I needed to become more capable. So I took numerous creative writing courses, I joined the martial arts, and I did the most important thing a writer can do to become successful: I wrote. …and, to be honest, it was horrible.

In NLP terms, I moved from unconscious incompetence to conscious incompetence. The red scribed all over my work was a clear indication of my writing level. In NLP terms I had moved up the Four Stages of Learning. I went from not knowing that I was a lousy writer to knowing for sure I was a lousy writer.

I may have quit there if I hadn’t known about the Four Levels of Learning

1: Unconscious Incompetence

2: Conscious Incompetence

3: Conscious Competence

4: Unconscious Competence

Now I am between 3 + 4 with writing. Sometimes the words flow like magic out of me, other times it is more of a conscious effort. Of course as knowledge increases and whole new dimensions of the unknown unfold before my eyes I find myself between 1+2. This truly is an exciting time in history.

But I learned the true meaning of words such as, Perseverance, Commitment, Focus, Action, Humility, Discipline, Clarity, Positive…etc. I learned that success is over 80% attitude.

Here’s an equation I learned from Tom Wood:

Desire + Action + Belief + Strategy = Success.

7 Steps to Help Your Children Do Better in School

2007-12-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

Parents and families that get involved in education, have children that do better in school and grow up to be more successful in life. The fact is, dropping your kids off at school and picking them up at the end of the day is not enough to give them a proper education.

Realize first that school is not only about classes for your child. It is a social institution where your child wants to feel she belongs. To you grades are paramount; to your child they may be third or even forth on the list. Don’t fight it. Work with it. Education is more than grades. At it’s best it shows children how to learn. Not only about academic subjects, but about their strengths and weaknesses, goals and dreams, how best to overcome difficulty and challenge.

The following are seven tips on helping your children do better in school.

1: Build Trust by Listening to Your Children:

Be receptive to what they are saying. Too often parents think they are listening but they’re really reframing what their children say through their own lens. They are offering a solution before really understanding the problem. You will find that if you remain quiet, receptive, the real problem does not come out until trust in the conversation is established.

For example: Your child says that he was offered drugs at school today. Don’t go into a tirade about how drugs are bad. Your child most likely knows that. Start by asking, “How did that make you feel?” Then stay quiet. You will discover the problem is deeper than drugs, maybe it’s a desire to be accepted, or worse, your child is being bullied into taking drugs.

Whatever the case is stay quiet until you fully understand the issue. Then ask your child if he would like your input. Yes, ask. This helps to build trust. By fully understanding the issue you can help your child find her or his own solutions.

2: Don’t Compare Your Child to Other Children:

Children learn at different rates. Your child is unique. If your child is moving at a slow rate, don’t blame or worry her or him about it. Your child has an untapped reserve of attributes and talents. Because he is not good at math, for example, does not mean he is stupid.

Let your children know that they are important and that you love them for what they are and that you will continue to love them no matter how they do in school.

Balance Challenge and Praise:

If your child is getting a 57% in math, challenge her to get 65% next time and move slowly. Every percentage point higher is a big win. Celebrate it with praise. Remember that even Einstein was considered slow at times and had many bumpy roads throughout school.

3: Encourage Reading Stories:

This, by far, is the greatest skill any child could have to help her succeed in life. The most powerful lessons we carry with us into adulthood do not come from math, Science, and English; they come from stories. Think about it. What do you remember better Algebra equations or the story “A Boy Who Cried Wolf”?

All cultures, planet wide, have used stories for thousands of years—written, pictorial, and acted out—as a means of transmitting important moral and cultural lessons between generations. Metaphorical prose promotes creative visualization and helps us all to see patterns and interrelationships between different areas of life. In short stories engage the mind.

4: Read With Your Children:

Children are delighted to have stories read to them. But don't now stop there. Ask your children leading questions after reading a section. Questions like, "What do you think will happen next? Why do you think so-and-so acted that way?" If your children ask questions during reading, wonderful! They are seeking to understand; they are engaged. Their comments show that they are making connections either within the story or with information they already know. This is the essence of learning.

5: Have Your Children Read to You:

This will show you how much your children know about phonetics. This is great practice for them to build confidence in a caring, nurturing environment. Helping them to pronounce words properly and create better flow of the prose will provide a greater understanding of the story or material. It will also help in all other subjects in school.

6: Support, Encourage, Be Positive:

Use positive reinforcing comments during the learning process. Words like: “Great job! Good Thinking! You should be proud of yourself. Incredible! Way to go! I can see you've put a lot of work into that. You really rose to that challenge. I really enjoy listening to you read. Just look at the progress you've made! It's fun to work with you. I love you.”

7: Be Patient:

Your children are going to make mistakes. Some things will come more quickly than others. It’s important that you don’t become angry or huffy. New learning often requires more than 15 repetitions before it is absorbed. Nothing hinders learning more than a tense atmosphere. If you find your self becoming impatient, take a break and do something fun together.

Yes, the above tips do take some time. But you will find that it is time well spent. Investing in your children this way will reward you with a closer relationship with your children and a life-time of fun memories.

A Powerful Combination for Parents and Teachers!

2007-12-14T05:29:00.001-08:00

Begin Your Child's Journey Toward Inner Calm, Knowledge, and Self-Confidence with...

THE HUMAN TOUCH: The Heartbeat of Education. (For Parents, Teachers, and Principals)

and for kids...

The Eye of the Storm

Parents, Teachers, and Principals Are Loving THE HUMAN TOUCH: and are Amazed at the Values Kids are Getting From The Eye of the Storm!

Interview with Brad Hutchinson

Remember the first day you dropped your child off at kindergarten? What questions went through your head? Will she get the education needed to survive and thrive throughout life?

Now picture your child on a playground having fun, minding his own business. Suddenly a bully approaches to inflict pain; emotionally and physically. Is your child prepared? Are you prepared for the fall out?

As a teacher in the martial arts I hear many concerns like the ones above from parents.

Ultimately it comes down to...

Will your children stumble timidly through a mediocre life always looking to someone else for direction and happiness? Or, will they embrace…

Self-Confidence
Passion
Curiosity
Resourcefulness
Accountability
Teamwork
Loyalty
Openness
Energy

Constant career change and rapid scientific advances will make tomorrow a great place for those that understand what is needed to thrive and survive.

It will be a scary place for those that don’t.

Before we go any further…

If you think that dropping your kids off at school and picking them up at the end of the day is enough to keep them safe and give them a proper education STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW!

Otherwise, take the time to read this through to the end. You will discover little-understood facts that can begin unveil the mysteries of your children’s (and your) potentials and free them from fear, anxiety, and underachievement.

By reading this right now you're one step closer to really helping your children succeed.

What you are about to discover is the single most beneficial skill your children could ever have. No matter what happens in their lives, once they have this skill they will always be able to wield its amazing power toward any goal or dream.

Yes, this engaging message can change your children’s lives forever. It is that powerful.

You will get a deeper sense of that truth as we move along.

The World of Change

There was more change in the last century than in all previous centuries, combined. The growth of information has changed from linear to exponential. It is estimated that we will see more change in the next 14 years than we did in the entire last century.

This accelerated and unstoppable pace of knowledge will have a profound influence on the shape our world takes from politics to warfare to medicine to health to education to the arts and beyond.

One thing for sure is that the future will look much different than anything we have seen in the past.

This new era requires new kinds of leaders; creative, cooperative individuals that are aligned in a quest for a better world. Yasuhiko Genku Kimura calls it Alignment Beyond Agreement.

That simply means that people can have different opinions but still be aligned toward a common goal or quest.

To see this principle in action go to any Sick Children’s Hospital. You will see men and women of different cultures, values, and opinions aligning themselves toward the healthy recovery of children. This is an effective model for any leader, especially leaders of the world.

This plurality and diversity of ideas creates synergy toward a common quest; a dynamic energy that pioneers pathways toward innovative solutions. As Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them.”

It is our job as parents and educators to show children that they have power inside to enter this era with a sense of cooperation, responsibility, and enthusiasm.

They should know that they have the ability and inner strength to respond to any situation in life; never as the victim but as the driving force of their successful futures.

We need to show them the bridge.

To do this we need new educational tools. Fast!

Enter two very important books: The Human Touch and The Eye of the Storm. These books are designed to work together to help you achieve incredible results as a teacher and parent.

It’s true many teachers are frustrated. They are trapped by standardized methods in a system with many channels and levels of control. They are on the front lines in the most important battle there ever was: Teaching the leaders of tomorrow.

Changing Methods in the Public School System is like Trying to Turn the Titanic on a Dime

“There is no comprehensive and full grounding study in empirical research to support this theory. For the moment there is not a properly worked-through set of tests to identify and measure the different intelligences.”

What that really means...

“By the time new ideas get passed through the lethargic bureaucratic system it will be your grandchildren (possibly great grandchildren) that benefit from discoveries available today, not your children."

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and NLP are important discoveries that bring us closer to understanding how the brain works and how to help students learn.

When I walk into a classroom I can tell immediately if the teacher knows about NLP and Gardner’s Theories.

Her classroom is brightly lit with many different splashes of colour; pictures of children succeeding; positive affirmations abound; mind maps teaching math, English, science; there may even be intelligence-boosting classical music playing in the background…etc.

She would have paid money out of her own pocket for such “frills”, however.

The Greatest Discovery Ever

DISCLAIMER: There is no comprehensive and full grounding study in empirical research for this discovery; there is not a fully worked-through set of tests to identify and measure this discovery.

Use at Risk of Success.

The Greatest Discovery Ever states: We Become That Which We Think About Most of the Time.

Success Begins and Ends in the Mind

NLP has been studying the effects of positive self-talk and how it affects our physiology and emotional state for decades. There is a common thread that runs through most successful personal development programs today; whether it be relationship, financial, or emotional wellness programs. It simply states: Thoughts lead to Feelings which lead to Actions which lead to Results."

Thoughts-->Feelings-->Actions-->Results

"Where Thoughts Go Energy Flows”

Is it any wonder that ADD/ADHD is on the rise? Some of the most creative kids I know have been drugged indolent because they don’t mould into a classroom of twenty to thirty other students. What do you think happens to self-esteem and confidence when we label children as being DEFICIENT or having a DISORDER?

Thoughts: I’m no good/stupid

Feelings: Inadequate feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, persistent saddness, pessimism...

Actions: Aggressive behaviour or silent retreat from the learning process; sometimes leading to depression.

Results: Continuous disciplinary actions and/or poor grades, hospitalization…or worse

…and the cycle of negative thoughts continues as insecure feelings follow them into adulthood. So language, instead of freeing the inner spirit to live its greater purpose, becomes a prison of repressed energy.

Eastern Philosophy says our bodies are channels of flowing energy. Chakras are the centers that function as pumps or valves, regulating proper flow of our energy systems. When energy is blocked by stress or repression it can create dis-ease in the body.

Believe me I know all about that. When I was fifteen years old I developed a five inch tumour in my neck and chest. [Hence my intimate understanding of how people of different cultures and values aligned them selves toward the quest of my recovery. …And a fine job they did :-)]

Reflecting back: I wasn’t good at school, my home life was kind of chaotic, but I had a strong sense of something very special inside; blocked creative energy with no avenue of expression. I internalized and BAM! Tumour.

For me it’s not hard to see why violent and anti-social behaviour is on the rise in our schools. We’re halting the natural energies of highly creative kids at the Thought level by telling them they have a DEFICIT or a DISORDER because they learn differently from others.

First was ADD. Then came the "H" for Hyperactive. How many more letters are we going to add before we realize labelling children with a disorder is counter productive?

Here’s an interesting statistic: Over 70% of people in prison were told at some point in their youth, “You’re going to end up in prison one day!”

Think there’s a connection?

Now, let’s move to the positive…

Positive Mind-Set-->Opens the Heart to-->Spread Wisdom/Love-->Resulting in a Fulfilled Life

Thoughts: I’m powerful; I can affect change; I can rise to any challenge.

Feelings: High self-esteem, compassionate, empathetic, desire to help

Actions Continually moving toward success while lifting others in their wake

Results: A person that adds value to society on many different levels; a person that loves life

Negative and positive self-talk is self-perpetuating. This simply means the more you use it the more you will use it by habit. When children start early practicing and using positive affirmations they will attract wonderful things into their lives.

We Cannot Give Children Self-Esteem

We can tell children that they are great, beautiful, smart, deserving of great things in life, and are worthy of the highest love. But if they don’t feel it in their own minds and hearts our words are empty.

Self-Esteem comes from within. It’s how we value ourselves and our achievements. It is not enough to tell your children how good they are; they must tell themselves.

This is where stories can help.

Stories: The Key to Elucidation

Stories help us to safely process life experiences and the feelings that surround them. The ability to create, understand, and respond to stories is a central characteristics of learning.

All cultures, planet wide, have used stories for thousands of years, written, pictorial, and acted out as a means of transmitting important moral and cultural lessons between generations. –The Engaged Mind

Why are Stories So Captivating?

The human brain naturally perceives and latches onto patterns, like the plot sequences of stories. The mind engages—switches on—when presented with an interesting pattern. As the pattern is being played out the long-term memory is storing information. The brain is remarkable at processing stories.

It is the subconscious mind that does the work. An engaging plot-line distracts the conscious mind while activating an unconscious search for meaning and resources.

But there’s a problem…

We are bombarded daily with negative stories, most notably news stories. You see the brain does not discern between positive or negative patterns; it picks them all up. For example, have you ever had a song stuck in your head that you didn’t like?

What about an advertisement that drives you crazy? Do you think those advertisers are crazy? They know by engaging your thoughts and feelings, even if it's in a negative way, they have better control over your actions. The result? Look around your home. Why do you buy the products you use on a daily bases?

Going back to our Thoughts-->Feelings-->Actions-->Results equation we can see how we can perpetuate negative results in our lives.

The Solution

It is impossible to eliminate all negative stories from our lives; in fact, negative stories also help us to learn important values. The key is balance. That way we have better control of our thoughts when presented with a negative story. We have mind-tools to think positively; to know that we can rise up in the face of challenge and adversity; to, "Never Say Die!" to our dreams…

Positive self-talk is the chisel that defines and shapes our self-image. It really is as simple as that. Remember we become that which we think of most of the time.

Here’s a powerful thought you can use every day: "Today I'm going to love my life." I learned that from Ted Nicholas. These seven words, used daily, can make a huge impact on your life.

We still have an unanswered problem. How do we get kids to use positive self-talk? How do we help raise their self-esteem?

One way is to study NLP and Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory with your children. Dynamic Balance is a growing body of knowledge that studies new ways of learning to help your children really understand their potentials; whether, at this point, they do well in school or not.

Learning together is a powerful tool to help your children build confidence and self-esteem. It is a meeting ground for your family and, as Brian Tracy recommends, provides daily “knee to knee” time with your children.

Another way is to enrol your children in the martial arts. And keep them there. I know parents that make the martial arts mandatory for their children until they are 16 years old.

Still another way is to present interesting patterns with positive messages strategically placed within. The evolution of children’s stories it at hand.

Rising to Success with Characters

When we follow characters in a story rising up through adversity and doubt to become successful we can see possibilities that we didn’t know were there. This is most important for children that feel helpless or confused.

Enter The Eye of the Storm, a fusion of visual art and literature that captivates children's imaginations and communicates positive messages in a powerful way.

“It’s smart how you write about stuff kids can relate to. Like how Johnny feels when Franklin is bullying him because everyone is bullied sometimes…The illustrations are great! I like how they give you a little clue of what is going to happen. The book is suspenseful as I have already said. I just can’t put it down!" –Megan, Grade Six Student

This story is a new tool that embraces Gardner's Intelligences and the essence of NLP. It deals with the strong emotions that children feel and can effectively model. It presents complex concepts—self-esteem, insecurity, bullying, responsibility, overcoming fear, environmental issues—in scenes children can understand.

"Some of the chapters remind me of a lot of things like in Helpless Johnny gets bullied[…]and sometimes I get bullied. Also some of the chapters actually gave me courage and bravery. Another message the book gave me is to never give up."--Shubdip, 11 Years Old

If You’re Looking for a Safe Way for Your Children to Explore Emotions and Behaviours that Lead to Better Grades and Higher Self-esteem thenThe Eye of the Storm and The Human Touch are For You

The Eye of the Storm is a synthesis of words and visual images. Brain research of the 1990’s tells us that images leave the most unforgettable impressions in our memories.

We personally tested this story on a group of public school students. The story was read to them while the chapters' pictures were propped up for them to see.

Five months later we visited their class. On seeing just the chapter's picture they could recite the exact events of that chapter. Metaphorical prose combined with visual images is a powerful tool reach children.

The kids were also very happy to know that because of their input we changed the bully's name from Franklin to Mitch. ...something about Franklin reminding them of a friendly turtle from "the toddler's show"...

(For some completely honest, and entertaining remarks about the story you can go to the Testimonials Page.)

What Grade Level is this Story For?

"Your book has made me realize how and when it’s the right time to take responsibility, not just apologizing but finishing homework chores and etc. Your book also gave me the strength to continue in my situation, to solve it until the end (never say “die”)." –Sanjot, Grade Six Student

This story did not teach or give Sanjot anything. At no point in the story did I write, “You must take responsibility, not only with apologizing but finishing homework and chores.” That was something Sanjot took from the action of the story, through the events and emotions of the characters.

You, me, and public schools cannot give your children confidence and high self-esteem. We can only help them to find it within.

This is where you come in:

The Human Touch was written to give you tools and ideas of how to model the types of behaviours you would like to see in your children and students. It is an invaluable and illuminating guide filled with brilliant insights into human relationships. The Human Touch is a tool that any teacher can use to bring about positive change in the classroom.

“A breath of fresh air! The Human Touch provides simple yet powerful reminder of the essence of teaching and leadership. When individuals feel valued, they become internally driven learners. This book can assist educators to become more consciously reflective in their practices; yielding positive results.”

--Peter Duncan, Elementary School Principal

“The Human Touch is a must read for all educators and leaders. The straight forward, engaging, easily readable style offers a refreshing message of good sense and practical wisdom which provide the frame work for success. The simple messages of the seven guiding principles will yield profound results forthe reader.”

–Christopher Letters, Vice Principal, Secondary School Panel

To find out more about The Human Touch and The Eye of the Storm go to:

www.communitycave.com

www.chapter-books-for-children.com

A Powerful Combination for Parents and Teachers!

2007-12-14T05:29:00.000-08:00

THE HUMAN TOUCH: The Heartbeat of Education. (For Teachers and Principals)

And for kids:

The Eye of the Storm!

Interview with Brad Hutchinson

Remember the first day you dropped your child off at kindergarten? What questions went through your head? Will she get the education needed to survive and thrive throughout life?

Now picture your child on a playground having fun, minding his own business. Suddenly a bully approaches to inflict pain; emotionally and physically. Is your child prepared? Are you prepared for the fall out?

As a teacher in the martial arts I hear many concerns like the ones above from parents.

Ultimately it comes down to...

Will your children stumble timidly through a mediocre life always looking to someone else for direction and happiness? Or, will they embrace…

Leadership Qualities

Self-Confidence

Passion

Curiosity

Resourcefulness

Accountability

Teamwork

Loyalty

Openness

Energy

Constant career change and rapid scientific advances will make tomorrow a great place for those that understand what is needed to thrive and survive.

It will be a scary place for those that don’t.

Before we go any further…

If you think that dropping your kids off at school and picking them up at the end of the day is enough to keep them safe and give them a proper education STOP READING THIS RIGHT NOW!

Otherwise, take the time to read this through to the end. You will discover little-understood facts that can begin unveil the mysteries of your children’s (and your) potentials and free them from fear, anxiety, and underachievement.

By reading this right now you're one step closer to really helping your children succeed.

What you are about to discover is the single most beneficial skill your children could ever have. No matter what happens in their lives, once they have this skill they will always be able to wield its amazing power toward any goal or dream.

Yes, this engaging message can change your children’s lives forever. It is that powerful.

You will get a deeper sense of that truth as we move along.

The World of Change

There was more change in the last century than in all previous centuries, combined. The growth of information has changed from linear to exponential. It is estimated that we will see more change in the next 14 years than we did in the entire last century.

This accelerated and unstoppable pace of knowledge will have a profound influence on the shape our world takes from politics to warfare to medicine to health to education to the arts and beyond.

One thing for sure is that the future will look much different than anything we have seen in the past.

This new era requires new kinds of leaders; creative, cooperative individuals that are aligned in a quest for a better world. Yasuhiko Genku Kimura calls it Alignment Beyond Agreement.

That simply means that people can have different opinions but still be aligned toward a common goal or quest.

To see this principle in action go to any Sick Children’s Hospital. You will see men and women of different cultures, values, and opinions aligning themselves toward the healthy recovery of children. This is an effective model for any leader, especially leaders of the world.

This plurality and diversity of ideas creates synergy toward a common quest; a dynamic energy that pioneers pathways toward innovative solutions. As Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them.”

Today, the world of politics, business, and culture is opinion centred. A mentality that says,

“You’re either with us or against us!”

"If you don't like the way things are run in this company, there's the door!"

"Our religion reigns supreme; no others offer any value!"

It is our job as parents and educators to show children that they have power inside to enter this era with a sense of cooperation, responsibility, and enthusiasm.

They should know that they have the ability and inner strength to respond to any situation in life; never as the victim but as the driving force of their successful futures.

We need to show them the bridge.

To do this we need new educational tools. Fast!

There are many great caring teachers that want to help your children excel. They are frustrated. They are trapped by standardized methods in a system with many channels and levels of control. They are on the front lines taking orders from the ivory tower.

Changing Methods in the Public School System is like Trying to Turn the Titanic on a Dime

Beneficial information on how human beings learn is cascading toward us at ever faster rates. And the education system really does seem to want to embrace some of these changes.

After twenty-five years, however, they’re still grappling with Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory, the study of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and other modern discoveries of how human beings learn.

First they need the expensive study, the report, the arguments, the politicking, further studies, more reports…only to conclude that these theories are “not accepted within academic psychology.”

The following is a standard argument against Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory:

“There is no comprehensive and full grounding study in empirical research to support this theory. For the moment there is not a properly worked-through set of tests to identify and measure the different intelligences.”

What that really means...

“By the time new ideas get passed through the lethargic bureaucratic system it will be your grandchildren (possibly great grandchildren) that benefit from discoveries available today, not your children."

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and NLP are important discoveries that bring us closer to understanding how the brain works and how to help students learn.

When I walk into a classroom I can tell immediately if the teacher knows about NLP and Gardner’s Theories.

Her classroom is brightly lit with many different splashes of colour; pictures of children succeeding; positive affirmations abound; mind maps teaching math, English, science; there may even be intelligence-boosting classical music playing in the background…etc.

She would have paid money out of her own pocket for such “frills”, however.

The Greatest Discovery Ever

Success Begins and Ends in the Mind

Thoughts®Feelings®Actions®Results

"Where Thoughts Go Energy Flows”

Is it any wonder that ADD/ADHD is on the rise? Some of the most creative kids I know have been drugged indolent because they don’t mould into a classroom of twenty to thirty other students. What do you think happens to self-esteem and confidence when we label children as being DEFICIENT or having a DISORDER?

Thoughts: I’m no good/stupid

Feelings: Inadequate feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, persistent saddness, pessimism...

Actions: Aggressive behaviour or silent retreat from the learning process; sometimes leading to depression.

Results: Continuous disciplinary actions and/or poor grades, hospitalization…or worse

…and the cycle of negative thoughts continues as insecure feelings follow them into adulthood. So language, instead of freeing the inner spirit to live its greater purpose, becomes a prison of repressed energy.

Eastern Philosophy says our bodies are channels of flowing energy. Chakras are the centers that function as pumps or valves, regulating proper flow of our energy systems. When energy is blocked by stress or repression it can create dis-ease in the body.

Believe me I know all about that. When I was fifteen years old I developed a five inch tumour in my neck and chest. [Hence my intimate understanding of how people of different cultures and values aligned them selves toward the quest of my recovery. …And a fine job they did :-)]

Reflecting back: I wasn’t good at school, my home life was kind of chaotic, but I had a strong sense of something very special inside; blocked creative energy with no avenue of expression. I internalized and BAM! Tumour.

For me it’s not hard to see why violent and anti-social behaviour is on the rise in our schools. We’re halting the natural energies of highly creative kids at the Thought level by telling them they have a DEFICIT or a DISORDER because they learn differently from others.

First was ADD. Then came the "H" for Hyperactive. How many more letters are we going to add before we realize labelling children with a disorder is counter productive?

Here’s an interesting statistic: Over 70% of people in prison were told at some point in their youth, “You’re going to end up in prison one day!”

Think there’s a connection?

Now, let’s move to the positive…

Positive Mind-Set®Opens the Heart to®Spread Wisdom/Love®Resulting in a Fulfilled Life

We Cannot Give Children Self-Esteem

Stories: The Key to Elucidation

Stories help us to safely process life experiences and the feelings that surround them. The ability to create, understand, and respond to stories is a central characteristics of learning.

All cultures, planet wide, have used stories for thousands of years, written, pictorial, and acted out as a means of transmitting important moral and cultural lessons between generations. –The Engaged Mind

Why are Stories So Captivating?

The human brain naturally perceives and latches onto patterns, like the plot sequences of stories. The mind engages—switches on—when presented with an interesting pattern. As the pattern is being played out the long-term memory is storing information. The brain is remarkable at processing stories.

It is the subconscious mind that does the work. An engaging plot-line distracts the conscious mind while activating an unconscious search for meaning and resources.

But there’s a problem…

We are bombarded daily with negative stories, most notably news stories. You see the brain does not discern between positive or negative patterns; it picks them all up. For example, have you ever had a song stuck in your head that you didn’t like?

What about an advertisement that drives you crazy? Do you think those advertisers are crazy? They know by engaging your thoughts and feelings, even if it's in a negative way, they have better control over your actions. The result? Look around your home. Why do you buy the products you use on a daily bases?

Going back to our Thoughts®Feelings®Actions®Results equation we can see how we can perpetuate negative results in our lives.

The Solution

It is impossible to eliminate all negative stories from our lives; in fact, negative stories also help us to learn important values. The key is balance. That way we have better control of our thoughts when presented with a negative story. We have mind-tools to think positively; to know that we can rise up in the face of challenge and adversity; to, "Never Say Die!" to our dreams…

Positive self-talk is the chisel that defines and shapes our self-image. It really is as simple as that. Remember we become that which we think of most of the time.

Here’s a powerful thought you can use every day: "Today I'm going to love my life." I learned that from Ted Nicholas. These seven words, used daily, can make a huge impact on your life.

We still have an unanswered problem. How do we get kids to use positive self-talk? How do we help raise their self-esteem?

One way is to study NLP and Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory with your children. Chapter-Books-for-Children is a growing website that studies new ways of learning like NLP and Gardner's multiple intelligences to help your children really understand their potentials; whether, at this point, they do well in school or not.

Learning together is a powerful tool to help your children build confidence and self-esteem. It is a meeting ground for your family and, as Brian Tracy recommends, provides daily “knee to knee” time with your children.

Another way is to enrol your children in the martial arts. And keep them there. I know parents that make the martial arts mandatory for their children until they are 16 years old.

Still another way is to present interesting patterns with positive messages strategically placed within. The evolution of children’s stories it at hand.

Rising to Success With Characters

“It’s smart how you write about stuff kids can relate to. Like how Johnny feels when Franklin is bullying him because everyone is bullied sometimes…The illustrations are great! I like how they give you a little clue of what is going to happen. The book is suspenseful as I have already said. I just can’t put it down!" –Megan, Grade Six Student

"Some of the chapters remind me of a lot of things like in Helpless Johnny gets bullied[…]and sometimes I get bullied. Also some of the chapters actually gave me courage and bravery. Another message the book gave me is to never give up."--Shubdip, 11 Years Old

If You’re Looking for a Safe Way for Your Children to Explore Emotions and Behaviours that Lead to Better Grades and Higher Self-esteem then The Eye of the Storm is For You

What Grade Level is this Story For?

Our research shows that Grade Six seems to be about the middle point to initiate this story into the classroom. Like any good metaphor, however, the concepts are ageless. For example, do your remember the story "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?

Imagine for a moment the power and control your children would have in life if they could rise to any challenge with enthusiasm, energy, and confidence.

Now, picture your child being approached by a bigger, stronger person that aims to inflict harm. You are not around. There is no teacher around. It is only your child and the bully.

Imagine your child finding the strength and power inside to say, “Back Off!” with the conviction of a Lion protecting her cubs.

Now watch as the bully backs off and walks away. Without incident!

Can The Eye of the Storm really do this for children?

The Eye of the Storm was written under a simple premise dating back to Galileo: You cannot teach a person anything; you can only help her to find it within herself.

You, me, and public schools cannot give your children confidence and high self-esteem. We can only help them to find it within.

That is why discoveries like NLP and Gardner's Intelligence Theory are important. They give us all tools to help others find their own sources of power and control.

The Eye of the Storm is a self-discovery tool for children. Take the following quote from a grade six student after reading The Eye of the Storm:

"Your book has made me realize how and when it’s the right time to take responsibility, not just apologizing but finishing homework chores and etc. Your book also gave me the strength to continue in my situation, to solve it until the end (never say “die”)." –Sanjot, Grade Six Student

This story did not teach or give Sanjot anything. At no point in the story did I write, “You must take responsibility, not only with apologizing but finishing homework and chores.” That was something Sanjot took from the action of the story, through the events and emotions of the characters.

In closing let me tell you about one of my newest teachers; of the greatest martial artists I’ve ever known. And I do not say that lightly.

He is so in tune with the higher wisdom of the martial arts that I am in awe of his connection.

Here’s the story…

We were testing students a Beyond Kung Fu Studios. After a two hour test this six year old came up to proudly receive his yellow sash. This slight youngster is short for his age, wears thick glasses, and is at a reading level far beyond his years. In my eyes this kid is cute beyond the word’s meaning; to his classmates, a geek.

While tying the sash around his waist, I listen to Mike Cann, the studio's head instructor, tell this story (relayed by his grandfather).

One day the boy comes home a little dishevelled with, scuffs on his clothes. His grandfather asked concernedly, “How was your day?”

The boy replies, “Great!”

His grandfather asked about the scuffs.

“Oh that,” the boy replied. “I got pushed down to the ground and called names by another kid at school.”

“Didn’t that bother you?” the grandfather asked.

“Yeah,” the boy sighed.

“Tell me why,” the grandfather encouraged.

“Well,” started the six-year-old boy, “I was sad because I thought he must be having a really bad day to be acting like that.”

Read that response again, and again. This is enlightenment in the highest form. At six years old he is my newest teacher. There is no victim mentality whatsoever in that boy.

This is a true story. What if we all had that attitude at work, home, and in the community? What if we held our leaders to those standards? What would the world look like?

Do any of these ideas presented within this message resonate as true within you?

Given the information above, doesn’t it make sense to have The Eye of the Storm as a learning tool for you and your children?

Here’s my advice.

Start by uploading the PDF for only $4. There are a few reasons for this.

First you get to critique this story for only $4. Of course if it’s not all that we say it is we will refund your money. No questions asked. You risk nothing.

Second, once you read the story you will think about all the kids that you know that might really like it. If you buy one hard copy for $8.99 you will be missing out on the discount volume rate. Believe me, as you read the story you will think of kids that should have this book. Guaranteed!

Third, if you do decide you want hard copies, you will have the PDF that you can print off and let your kids colour, draw, and make notes on the bigger sheet of paper. This makes the story interactive and ensures that your child will own the concepts in this story.

Parents of toddlers are downloading this PDF to introduce new words to their young ones while they color in the pictures. They understand the positive impact starting early with children makes to future academics.

Again, we will refund your money if you are not completely satisfied with this product.

Sincerely,

Brad Hutchinson

P.S. If you Act Now I will give you access my book The Engaged Mind.

Absolutely FREE!

The Engaged Mind explores...

Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligece Theory

Illuminates Five Principles of Mastery

Uses Stories to Communicate Lasting Impressions of Personal Growth

And much more...

P.P.S. Whether you purchase this story or not, I hope your children find the world a wondrous place filled with beauty, peace, and opening doors of opportunity.

All the Best!

If you would like more information go Here.

Why Shaolin Kung Fu?

2007-12-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

Why Shaolin Kung Fu? True, Shaolin Kung Fu is the oldest of the modern-day martial arts, arguably dating back to 527 A.D. when an Indian Buddhist Prince came to China to preach in the Shao Lin Temple. But in this day and age, in the Western world, why are the marital arts important at all?

Indeed, looking back at the bloody 20th century it’s hard to think of any reasons why one should learn more techniques of combat. Aren’t there better ways to learn focus, control, and build self-esteem than teaching students how to kill? And, really, is Shaolin Kung Fu effective for self-defense in a society overflowing with guns, knives, and other street weapons?

To understand “Why Shaolin Kung fu?” we must look beyond the flailing arms and legs and the seemingly violent undertones if we are to discover the core concept that brings happiness, success, and peace into our lives right now.

Are you ready to embrace the living stream of quiet, powerful energy that flows eternally through the ancient Shaolin Masters and into the 21st century? Are you willing to unlock that place within you that brings harmony, peace, and endless success in this filled-with-opportunities era we live in right now?

A Peaceful Vision

First, imagine a world where people deal fairly with each other, respect differences of opinion, and actively encourage those with limited resources to develop themselves and their communities in positive, life-affirming ways. This world cherishes its cultural diversity and uses it to elevate humanity to new and better ways of living. Of course this world, humbled by its awesome power harnesses clean, efficient energy that protects the planet and keeps its inhabitants vibrantly alive in all essential ways.

A Civilization of Enmity

Now, look toward the daily papers and evening news: Terrorism; the proliferation of aggressive, violent, and anti-social behavior in our schools; more and more teenagers discovering their efficacy at the end of a gun barrel … technology advancing mainly for the purpose of developing evermore sophisticated weapons of war; corruption in high levels of government and business...

Unfortunately, the Civilization of Enmity can pervade our consciousness and cloud our light with its gloomy omens. Contrary to popular belief, and the mainstream media, it does not have to be that way; many people on this planet have discovered their power and are living that Peaceful Vision. But how do we find and release in peaceful ways that awesome power dwelling within each-and-every-one-of-us? Shaolin Kung Fu?

Embrace Ambiguity

On its face, Shaolin Kung fu is aggression. The art teaches punches, kicks, self-defense, sparing, combat. …It teaches combat! Doesn’t that presuppose violence? Aren’t we placing ourselves decisively into A Civilization of Enmity when we learn how to wipe out any opponent(s) with a series of well-timed and calculated strikes? There is something intriguing, almost mystical about kung fu, though. All students sense that its power reaches far beyond the immediate physical benefits.

Used properly, Shaolin Kung Fu is the current that connects the mind-body-spirit to actualized goals, realized dreams, and fulfilled passions. Because of its depth and breadth, however, it can be difficult to grasp and utilize the incredible power offered.

What is it about Shaolin Kung Fu that can harmonize us with the deeper flow of reality; a reality closer to our own unique spirits? To unlock that secret we must take a journey back into history.

Universal Principles

Shaolin Kung Fu principles developed from the ideas presented in the ancient Chinese book I Ching, The Book of Changes. What does a book that arguably traces its roots back to the 8th century BC have to do with success in the 21st century? We must look to the root concept, the axiom that underlies the I Ching and Shaolin Kung Fu for the answer.

Most students do not even scratch the surface of the spirituality of Shaolin Kung Fu until much practice over many years. Why? People in this day and age are preoccupied with tomorrow. How often did we hear in school: “Do your homework and you will get good grades. Then you will be accepted to a good college or university. Get a good job, start a family, and then you will be happy…”

To the untrained mind, the process of Shaolin Kung Fu seems to follow the same pattern. Teachers encourage students to strive for their black belt. Every belt earned is getting them one step closer, like each grade in school is getting the student one step closer to some happiness somewhere out in the future. Now here’s the difference.

In Shaolin Kung Fu there is no future. And there is no past. Tomorrow and yesterday do not exist. In the true philosophy of Shaolin Kung Fu there are no levels. In fact the black belt was first used to designate rank just over a hundred years ago in Kodokan Judo. The colored belt hierarchy came about as a way to reward the student and encourage him or her to keep practicing. Now here’s the underlying dynamic supporting thousands of years of martial arts:

Shaolin Kung Fu’s Secret

We are human beings moving through the eternal moment of Now, not human beings moving through time. Time is a made-up human concept that has nothing to do with reality. True, time is an excellent mind tool that can help us organize and direct our lives. Too often, however, time is that elusive dynamic that we never have enough of. Shaolin Kung Fu, in every large and small movement, does not prepare us to live in some non-existent future; it thrusts us into this moment right here and now.

Any student at sparring level knows that if her mind disconnects from the present moment then she is likely to be wiped out by an opponent firmly anchored in the now.

The Power of Now

Meditation was initially the vehicle to enlightenment, i.e., being fully in the now. Bodhidharma has been credited with setting the groundwork for modern Shaolin Kung Fu as a tool of enlightenment. As the story goes, his mastery of meditation awed the residents of the Shaolin Temple. But when he arrived in China after his long trek from India in about 527 A.D he noticed that the monks lacked physical discipline. Also, while in their meditations he could not tell if they were focused on the moment, tangled in chaotic out-of-moment thoughts, or simply sleeping.

Bodhidharma trained the monks in exercises designed to strengthen the body for endurance and also as a guidepost for him to see if their minds were developing properly. Deviations in form meant the mind was not connected to the present moment; it could not conform to the task at hand. Like following the breath in a meditation, following movements in physical form was the tool to adjust the mind back to this moment Right Now.

Monks practiced simple moves for years until they went on to the next move. The practice was an end in itself, not a goal of becoming a great fighter or an 11th degree black belt (although the practitioners did become great fighters). There were no belts, no competitions, no awards, nothing but using the body as a vehicle to train the mind to live in this moment Right Now. Of course this practice became a very useful form of self-defense against those that sought to destroy the temple.

Flow

A heightened state of awareness is the goal of countless hours of training, sparring, and grinding out the physical movements; not toward Mastery, but toward in-the-moment flow. When in-the-moment there is no hesitation, just proper action in response to any given situation. In a self-defense scenario a trained artist responds without anger, without judgment, through fear and with only the necessary force to end the attack because she has a deep appreciation and compassion for all life; even the attacker’s life.

Concentration, focus, discipline, determination, respect, confidence are skills inherent in the practice of Shaolin Kung Fu. A practitioner can expect to build a stronger mind and body but the real benefit of kung fu springs from capturing the all too elusive moment of now; then cherishing it as a gift. It’s all we really have, yesterday is gone and tomorrow is an illusion.

How many of us in this fast-paced society never slow down and allow those moments of Now to overpower our busy-ness? Our minds are always so preoccupied with school, work, relationships, money and we rarely stop to revel in this incredible wondrous world so full of fascination, beauty, possibility.

We become cynical and, pointing to the Civilization of Enmity, rationalize our mediocrity. Intuitively we sense then dismiss that unexpressed greatness within. Many of us rush to and from work, where we work long hours to get that promotion so we can buy a bigger house and live “the life” only to be caught up in the same struggle when we get there. We put off until tomorrow chasing our truest dreams, deepest desires, and most creative passions as we future-pace our lives toward the grave.

Why Shaolin Kung Fu? Because your life is happening Right Now! Shaolin Kung Fu is the metaphorical wake-up call and the real-life slap in the face to the only moment you really have. It captures the moments of truth and beauty that continuously flow though and around us. Moments filled with wonderful people, places, and things that show us all how to live in that Peaceful Vision Right Now.

Five Higher Educational Principles

2007-12-11T07:05:00.000-08:00

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up”-Pablo Picasso

There are five key principles that can set you firmly on the path of any higher education goal you choose. These principles work regardless of your learning style, intelligence, age, or even what stage of the learning you’re at.

Whether you want to become a high level martial artist, writer, race car driver, chef, astronomer, or maybe you want to become a better parent, partner, manager, whatever! These Higher Educational Principles, utilized together, can put you at the top of your field.

Principle 1: Receptivity

Principle 2: Following

Principle 3: Conduct

Principle 4: Duration

Principle 5: Keeping Still

Principle One:
Receptivity

Receptivity is a high form of control over oneself. The receptive brain is in a state of relaxation but it is not passive; it is awake, alert, ready, but not tense. In any education setting, being receptive, without judgment, greatly accelerates the learning curve, facilitates easy placement of new data with existing knowledge, and deepens understanding.

A highly receptive person removes all filters and preconceptions when entering any higher educational environment; a clearer view of reality is its reward. In relationships the highly receptive person silently radiates energy, kindness, and joy. Capacity to receive increases the capacity to give.

Principle Two
Following

The wise Follower emulates healthy actions from a highly accomplished person in a chosen discipline and leaves behind all negative aspects of that person’s behaviour. Practicing over and over, never giving up until excellence is achieved in the smallest actions leads to the beautiful and unique outer expression of the inner spirit.

In Shaolin Kung Fu we follow the Tao, or the way; to be a hockey star we may follow the example of Wayne Gretzky; in Golf, Tiger Woods; Basketball, Michael Jordon… In sales, business, and personal applications we may follow Brian Tracy’s advice.

Thankfully, there are a growing number of people out there today, in all areas that you can imagine, that have achieved excellence in their discipline. Many have paved the way and have generously provided a road map on how to do what they had done. By taking those same steps we can elevate our lives to new heights.

Principle Three:
Conduct

Conduct naturally comes after following because it is a manner of directing your energy toward high achievement. It is a way of managing your time to fit in the things you need to do to make your dreams come true.

If you adhere to Good Conduct you behave decently toward others, respect space and property, and keep your promises.

These simple behaviours lead to a surplus of good relationships, business and personal, which naturally drive you in the direction of you goals. Life is made up of small increments either pushing you toward the high achievement of your goals or pulling you further away.

Small acts of kindness, generosity, and love make you a conduit of positive energy that the universe rewards with a fulfilled life of realized dreams.

Principle Four:
Duration

One of the greatest pieces of advice I garnered from my creative writing teacher is that when you start writing a story, whether short or long, finish it! She explained that the hard work of bringing an idea into completion takes discipline, and Persistence. This I can attest to.

A funny thing happens when putting a story together. You outline it, do the research, and start writing. Not long into it another great idea appears, better than the one you’re working on. How can you possibly work on this boring mundane idea when you have a grandiose one waiting in the wings?

You shove the one you’re working on in your drawer and get to work on the next. What do you think happens next? That’s right a new even more grandiose idea appears. This continues to happen until you have nothing to show for your efforts but half done manuscripts lining your drawers.

I cannot count how many students I’ve seen come and go from Beyond Kung Fu. I must say that it’s true that I felt like giving up many times. But my mentors kept me motivated to keep coming back. They told me that the key to high achievement is sticking it out through the tough times of learning.

Without this key educational principle nobody, in any field, could reach high achievement. Duration is the higher achievement principle that separates 98% of the population with the 2% that reach all their goals and dreams.

I remember one day telling an acquaintance about how great Beyond Kung Fu was. Excitedly he said, “I’ve always wanted to take Kung Fu!”

“Great!” I said. “I’ll sign you up for a few free classes to see if you like it.”

He smiled and said, “Sounds good, but will I have to do push-ups. I hate push-ups!”

I nodded yes it is likely that you will have to do some push-ups. He quickly declined my offer. The fact of the matter is we only push students a little bit further than they are used to going. For a first class it may mean doing only five push-ups.

Want to know a secret?

In any endeavour you choose, any great goal, there will be hurdles to cross. The universe is constantly testing our resolve. There are some exercises that I absolutely hate in my training, but I do them when asked. Why? Because they serve my greater goals. If obtaining a black belt were easy, many more people would have one...

Same is true with writing. There are some parts I love and some parts I’m not so crazy about. But if I let the parts I’m not crazy about “take me out”, as T Harv Ecker would say, than I would never experience those proud moments of seeing my completed books in print. …And let me tell you, those moments are magic.

Principle Five:
Keeping Still

In the business world this is one of the highest paid activities, or, more correctly, non-activities. “Keeping Still?” you might query thinking that the business world is moving faster than ever and demands the same of all its’ people. Behind closed doors, however, Keeping Still is the key to negotiating the big deals that keeps the company cost efficient and profitable.

Silence and stillness together is one of the most powerful tactics in the art of negotiations. But the skill of Stillness does not confine itself to the boardroom. Personal relationships prosper from this competence. To listen effectively/empathetically one must be still in mind in spite of its natural tendency to judge and jump in with the solution before really understanding the problem. That brings us back to our Higher Educational Principle 1: Receptivity.

Keeping Still through meditation allows all the information and higher learning of the day or week to settle deeply into your subconscious. It is the subconscious that fits the data together in your mind. It arranges, compares, and files information away for use when you need it. Wakeful meditation helps this process.

Specific Actions to Embrace the Five Principles of Higher Education for the Achievement of all Your Goals

Receptivity: In a sparring match in kung fu if an opponent hasn’t moved one part of his body for over three seconds I know that his mind is starting to wander. That is a sign that he is losing his awareness.

In a learning environment, sit straight (spine straight), feet flat on the ground, and breathe from your lower stomach. Make a conscious effort to relax your shoulders. Every couple of minutes shift your eyes from side to side, up, and down slowly without moving your head.

If possible move seating locations every twenty-minutes or so. When we switch seats our minds become active again and we receive the information from a different perspective. When we sit for hours in one location our minds become lethargic.

As a teacher or lecturer, you should pepper your information with questions. Questions awaken the listener’s mind. My teacher Satyen Raja is a very engaging teacher. He uses questions, fluctuation in tonality all back by passion and enthusiasm when he speaks. There is no drifting off to sleep when he is speaking.

While in conversation, listen twice as much as you speak (this is a real challenge for some people). Remember your capacity to receive increases your capacity to give. If you’re speaking, you’re not learning.

Following: Why reinvent the wheel? Take the same steps to success that others have proven to work.

Do not follow what an accomplished person is doing now. Look further into their past. Most people are more than forthcoming with how they started out. In fact think of this: You’ve learned the steps, did the work and became incredibly successful. Now somebody comes up to you and asks, “How did you do it?” There can be no greater compliment than somebody wanting to be like you.

Many people think that accomplished people are lucky, or they have a natural skill. For most this simply is not true. Look beyond the medals, trophies, and awards and you will find hours upon days upon years of practice.

To become a teacher at Beyond Kung Fu took me many hours of practice over the course of years to get the basics down. The key is to not give up! Showing up is 80% of success.

Conduct: In every activity ask your self, “Is this taking me closer to or further from my goals?”

In NLP there is a term called modeling. No, not the runway kind (unless that’s what your passionate about, then it works just the same). This means that you emulate moves exactly the same as an accomplished person. This will help you to find your own unique expression

If you want to become a writer, you copy, word for word, the work you love. Of course you do not pass this work off as your own, or any part thereof. But you get a feeling for the style of the writer, a sense of flow. I have copied pages upon pages of writers I love just for exercise. Then I simply select all on my word document and delete. This is actually a very good Zen practice on non-attachment. As kids learning to write in school we copied pages upon pages of material to learn how to spell, understand language, and write grammatically. We need to get back to the basics; all higher success in any field is determined by how well we know the basics.

Duration: Become a good finisher.

It is important to understand one key concept here. Don’t make your goals too grandiose. I have been to dozens of seminars and there is one thing I find they have in common.

After I’m done I feel like I could become a zillionaire. I have belief. So I get home and make a goal to become a zillionaire. And why not, I’m worth it. There is nobody quite like me on the planet! Not only am I good, but I’m great!

But before long, about when I’ve achieve hundredaire status, I start to lose steam. The high from the seminar is wearing off and I have a huge gap between where I am and where I want to be. Then those negative thoughts about how mediocre I am begin to surface.

Make your goals achievable and set higher ones when you’re there. For example if you decided you wanted to become a millionaire. Of course you can do it, anybody can. You employ Receptivity then find and learn from people, like T Harv Ecker, who have helped other people reach high achievement.

Follow what they tell you to do and Conduct your time accordingly and make you goals achievable. Maybe your first goal is to have one thousand dollars in the bank. Then you make a plan, with a date, on when you want to achieve thousandaire status.

Our next principle of Higher Achievement is the Turn Key to all the above.

Keeping Still: Let the energy resonate within you and allow new dreams and goals to surface through the vehicle of meditation.

Try right now to stay completely still for ten minutes. No fingers or toes moving, no stretching your back, no rolling your neck or shifting your head or eyes. Yes you may breathe and blink, but that’s it.

If you are not practiced at doing this your whole concept of time shifts; ten minutes seems like hours. This is a very powerful exercise. When your mind says, “This is stupid” and coaxes you to get up and “get busy chasing your dream!” Say, “Thank you for sharing” and continue with the exercise, knowing that this is bringing you closer to your dreams.

Watch all your thoughts, without judgment, as clouds drifting through the clear blue sky; then let them go. Those who can still the mind and focus solely on the task at hand can achieve any goal, small or large. Those who allow the flood of erratic and chaotic thoughts clutter the mind float around in a sea of unrealized dreams. Beyond the incessant clatter of your brain The Sage in Temple is quietly telling you who you are. Listen for it.

"All of man's troubles stem from his inability to sit alone it a quiet room."
–Blaise Pascal

Key to Your Successful Life

2007-12-11T06:55:00.000-08:00

The Key to Your Successful Life opens from within

Imagine Dynamic Balance as your unleashed spiritual dynamic that breaks you free from the chains of mediocrity. It sets you free toward a limitless life. …A life you are proud to call your own.

What does that look like for you? Does it mean having enough money to give up your day job? To follow your dreams? Maybe it means having a deeper, more intimate relationship with your partner.

There is one thing for sure: the height of your achievements and depth of your passions is limited only by your imagination.

The articles at Dynamic Balance illuminate arterial highways to the sometimes elusive, mysterious chamber of your infinite imagination.

By understanding and moving through fear we can pursue our dreams and discover the benevolent paradise that we, as children, imagined the world would be when we “grew up”.

Before starting to train I could not imagine all the benefits the martial arts would bring into my life. But through movements and structure I unleashed my creative imagination and set a course toward a deeply fulfilling life.

The fact is I have not had occasion to use the physical, self-defence aspects of all this training in real life (although there have been some close calls). And I hope not too! But I use kung fu principles daily to chase and achieve my goals; to make my life all that it can and should be.

I step out of my comfort zone regularly, through mind fear, and venture to live a great life in an exciting new world that waits for all of us. This boundless journey starts from within.

Detach and Expand

By unlocking your imagination you open the gates for continuous waves of creative ideas to flow freely, endlessly through your mind and then out and into the world. Imagine a future of open-ended successes in areas right for your unique spirit.

As children we all had unbound imaginations. Even still as adults we get waves of imaginative thoughts on a regular basis. But we are quick to dismiss them as absurd delusions. I know I did when I first though of becoming a writer.

We need to detach and let go of our habit of reproaching ourselves when these “crazy ideas” surface. That’s why Meditation is such a good practice. It allows us to separate and be the watcher of our thoughts instead of being bound by them.

Contrary to the recent decades of positive self-talk the key to enlightenment is not only telling yourself how good and capable you are. Positive reinforcement is not bad, but on its own misses a key element. It creates struggle between positive thoughts and negative thoughts.

The key is to let go of negative thoughts that are smothering your creative energy. And we can let go of them by acknowledging them with a quick, “Thank you for sharing,” and moving on with our dreams and goals.

Thoughts hold more power over us when we try to suppress or overpower them. In this day and age it is not possible to eliminate all negativity in our lives. We can stop reading the newspapers, sell our televisions, and only sign up to “raw-raw, I’m so good” websites. But at some point we are going to have to deal with other human beings who have televisions, read the newspapers…

The parallel here is alcoholism. Negative thoughts are also poisons and can have a devastating affect on our lives. They strip self-confidence, self-esteem and leave a person inebriated with weakness. Some people who have challenges with alcohol try to eliminate its presence lest they be tempted to indulge.

The strength lies in confronting the poison at every turn. Can you have alcohol in the house and not have a drink? Can you entertain negative thoughts and not fall for their impeding nature?

The Practice

Imagine a flare of inspiration, from deep within, is thrown into your consciousness. Maybe it presents itself in words and says, “I am best selling author that’s going to make million of dollars selling books that really help people.” This affects you so deeply that you pull out your Positive Self-Talk booklet and get to work.

Your mind is burning with enthusiasm:

I have a millionaire mind. My mind is constantly in tune with the positive. It is bright, cheerful, loving, honest, friendly and ready to go! I am in control of my destiny!

And you merrily start to write, whistling away. What do you think happens next? You got it. Your other voice creeps up seemingly out of nowhere and says, “YOU LOSER! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN WRITE?”

You pick up the positive self-talk book and try to overpower those negative thoughts with “I have a millionaire mind. My mind is constantly in tune with the positive…” until you set up the mother of all battles in your head. Even if the positive did win you would be so mentally exhausted that writing would not be possible anyway.

Detach and expand. That is, when your mind says, “You’re a loser!” Don’t try to overpower it with positive self-talk, say back, “Hey thanks for your input; I appreciate it.” And let it go. This opens up space for you spirit to throw other flares of inspiration.

And when your spirit is unleashed the universal principles of Dynamic Balance are ready to drive them into reality.

To get started, let’s look to two necessary key fundamentals for a highly creative life replete with business and personal successes.

Movement

The practice of kung fu breaks the physical inertia most people become trapped by. It forces the body to move. That’s a key. As long as we have a body our goals and dreams will be tied to its movement.

Fear is the paralyses dreams. Movement through Fear breaks the inertia of negative energy. But how do we move? We move through…

Structure

Shaolin Kung Fu demands that a student adhere to a stringent structure. We learn keys that turn into movements that develop into more complex forms.

We need to go through structure to release our creative imaginations. You must have a solid grasp and understanding of the rules, whatever they are for your field, if you want to break out of them.

Then you can bring your unique spirit to the arena and let it spread it wings and soar on the wind of and unbound imagination.

Dynamic Balance

2007-12-11T06:34:00.000-08:00

In the upcoming book Dynamic Balance we will be looking at the wider applications of human energy and how you can overcome any health issues, feel better on a daily basis, and make your life soar with success and high achievement.

As a long-time student and teacher of shaolin kung fu we will first look through the peaceful lens of that philosophy.

Meaning of Kung fu: Achievement through perseverance; a job well done.

Simple? Yes. Powerful? Yes. In kung fu less is more.

The origins of Kung Fu, like many ancient philosophies, has been kept alive through stories, myths, and folklore. Illustrative art on buildings, live theatre, and verbal stories were methods to preserve and transmit important cultural and moral lessons between generations.

Over the course of thousands of years this has lead to distortion, and sometimes complete obfuscation, of the original intent. But training in the fist art of Shaolin Kung Fu the practitioner can intuit the deeper, eternal energy that the Shaolin Monks tapped into thousands of years ago. Physical movements strengthened their bodies, increased their energy and freed their dynamic spirits…

Times have changed but that powerful, universal energy is still there waiting for anybody to tap into. Sitting for weeks on end in a cave meditating, and practicing arduously for years to perfect a horse stance are not practical exercises for most people in this exciting, fast-moving society we live in right now.

Dynamic Balance is a global tool that people can use whether or not they have thrown a horizontal strike, meditated in a low horse stance, or even heard of the Shaolin Monks and kung fu.

Realize that kung fu is simply a sharpening tool. It is the act of forever refining, honing, and becoming more competent. For the martial artist it is smaller efficient movements for bigger impact; for the illustrator a single image expands into thousands of words; for the writer a single word is worth a thousand pictures; in kung fu less is always more.

In any field, any trade, any discipline people are practicing kung fu when they work consistently to become better, more efficient, more enlightened.

Today we will look to the enlightened Helen Keller to learn how to…

U-N-L-E-A-S-H YOUR POWERFUL SPIRIT NOW!

Scarlet fever imprisoned Helen Keller’s spirit at nineteen months old by taking her sight and hearing. By age six her only form of communication was smashing dishes and lamps and terrorizing the household with her screaming. Her family was desperate ( I know some teachers can relate to this type of behaviour in schools from there kids).

They could have simply placed her in a mental institution as was normal in the late 1800’s for the blind and deaf. But they did not give up on Helen. Inspired by Charles Dickens’ book “American Notes” Helen’s mother, Kate, believed that Helen could be helped.

Her never-give-up attitude eventually brought “Miracle Worker” Anne Sullivan (who, incidentally, had lost the majority of her eyesight when she was five and orphaned by the time she was ten) into her house. Anne worked tirelessly for many long months seeking to break Helen’s spirit free from darkness and silence.

Water the giver of life was the giver of light in Helen Keller’s mind and facilitated the release of her incredible spirit.

One day as Anne pumped cool water over one hand and repeatedly traced the letters W-A-T-E-R into the other an intellectual spark illuminated and her mind engaged. One can only imagine coming into the light of understanding after years of dark and soundless frustration.

Helen had embarked upon a completely new life that would eventually change the world. She became a best-selling author, world-renowned speaker, an advocate and fund raiser for the American Foundation for the Blind, and was awarded the Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson.

W-A-T-E-R traced on her hand was the channel to free her dynamic spirit from a lonely world of confusion and gives us key insight to our own spirit. But without her mother’s belief and Anne Sullivan’s mentorship Helen’s spirit was destined to be trapped forever. These are important things to contemplate.

Any successful person had a Mastermind that without, success would not have been possible.

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” –Edith Wharton

Out of Silence and Darkness Helen Keller Sheds Light on Our Own Dynamic Spirits

Many of us in the world are flailing around in frustration, unable to find the vehicle to express our unique and dynamic spirit. Most of us function far beneath our potential. Dynamic Balance believes that this stems from unrecognized fear.

Unlike Helen we could see and hear through that highly formative stag in our development between the ages of 2 and 7. What our innocence saw scared us. The world was irrational and filled hate and violence. Our questions on this level remained unanswered. Approaching our mid to late teens we, like our parents and care givers before us, began to take a “That’s the way it is, what can I do about it?” attitude.

…Slowly, little by little we shrouded that greatness inside us with cynicism, acceptance, and distrust. …Followed by conformity and obedience.

By the time we were in our late twenties our power was all but gone. Our happiness then tended to find itself in food, drugs and alcohol, television, sex not tied to love, and getting a 2-5% raise every year.

But the spirit never lingers and we can still sense a weak, distant pull of another world. An inner world filled with romance, wealth, and happiness waiting to be unlocked.

Dynamic Balance will be continually editing, re-writing, and compressing its main ideas into a matrix of powerful techniques to easily bring out that natural part of yourself; a unified force to resurrect your inner spirit.

You can take any negative and turn it into a positive through kung fu. Helen Keller did not need eyes or ears to set free a vision that scribed her life onto the tablets of history. You too can hone and refine any skill you choose to unleash your powerful spirit; regardless of any limitations you may think you have.

Dynamic Balance, the book, will be available in the coming months. Now its authors, Arthur Lockhart and Brad Hutchinson, are practicing kung fu by sharpening, honing, and simplifying its ideas and techniques so you can unleash your dynamic spirit immediately. …No matter what vehicle you choose to make that happen.

Also, come back to these pages often as the material is updated daily. By reading then rereading the articles you will scribe, with a metaphorical finger, the ever-deepening letters of F-R-E-E-D-O-M across your spirit.

Take a deep breath right now and imagine your spirit coming into the light after years of dark and soundless frustration.

Protect Your Health

2007-12-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

In the Western world we have come so far in many ways but we still lack basic common sense skills that can help us protect our healthy life-styles. Our instant gratification society has created a reactive medical community that treats symptoms without giving much thought to the cause. And, unfortunately, our health is compromised by the quick-fix solutions.

Of course Western treatment of imminent emergencies is incredibly proficient and saves countless lives every day. I live in a city of nearly 700,000 people just outside of Toronto, Canada. I travel the busy highways daily and in just the last three weeks I have seen three accidents where our local Air Ambulance team had to fly the wounded away.

I don't know if these people lived but I do know that they had a better chance than being carted away in a road ambulance through the clogged arteries of the highways. And when they arrived at Sunnybrook Hospital they would be worked on with state-of-the-art equipment in the critical minutes after the trauma.

But the whole equation on health in the West seems to be overlooked. We have a headache we're given aspirin. If we are depressed we are given Antidepressant medications. If we suffer from panic attacks we're put on anxiety medication. All of these solutions create short-term relief but long term damage in other parts of the body. The treatment is considered the lesser of two evils.

Eastern medicine looks why you have a headache, depression, and/or panic attacks. It looks at diet, lack of exercise, stress at work or at home, blocked energy in the body and so on.

Fortunately Eastern philosophy on healthcare is making great strides in the West. According to Eastern philosophy, we are made up of three different elements:

· Qi - life force or vital energy

· The Mind

· The Physical Body

Five Starting points to Increased Energy and Better health

1: Learn to Breathe from your Abdomen

As children we all naturally breathed deeply. As adults many of us breathe from the top of our lungs as tension continues to constrict in our shoulders. An easy way to combat that is four or five times a day take two minutes and do the following:

Breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply. Imagine the breath as a clean white mist naturally expanding within you. Gently press your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Exhale slowly. Imagine the breath being darker as it escapes over you lips symbolizing any impurities in your body, including negative thoughts.

Ten minutes a day focusing on your breath leads to better health and vitality and clears the mind. It strengthens and circulates your life energy (Qi). Deep and long breathing relaxes the body, calms the mind, and focuses the spirit.

2: Become aware of your Thoughts Through Meditation.

Negative thoughts can have a detrimental affect on the body. Do not to try and rid your mind of negative thoughts. It cannot be done in this world-climate. There is simply too much negative energy in our daily lives, exploited by the NEWS, to eradicate you mind of negative thoughts. The key is to become "aware" of those negative thoughts.

As you notice negative thoughts surfacing in your mind say, "Thank you for sharing" and get on with your day. Negative thoughts and feelings find places within the body to live. They hinder the body's natural energy and create blockages that result in symptoms such as headaches, stress, and disease.

By acknowledging, thanking, and letting go of negative thoughts as they arise you take away their ability to recess in your body. You take away their power over you.

The health benefits of regular meditation surface as improved health. Your body begins to relax and function naturally without the blockage that stress and tension, caused by negative energy, bring. Meditation is simply the practice of existing in a quiet place and turning your attention inwards.

3: Stretch you body

This does not mean you have to be able to do the splits or become a contortionist. The very best way to learn how to stretch properly comes from yoga. You should take at least one beginners course. You can find very inexpensive yoga in most communities.

In Mississauga where I live there are many community programs that charge about $70 for 12 90 minute sessions. From what you learn there you can apply easy techniques that take only minutes a day. This exercise breaks energy blocks and keeps the natural Qi in your body flowing properly.

4: Conduct Yourself in a way Conducive to Increased Health

Eat properly, drink lots of water, and, most importantly, do at least one thing that benefits somebody else's life daily. It could be as simple as releasing a contagious smile or putting a quarter in a charity box. When we focus some of our energy on helping other people we set a natural chain of events into motion: You will feel better about yourself, the person you help will feel good, and your health will improve.

5: Get and Stay on an Exercise Regime

I know I know we are all busy, but exercising regularly is important to a healthy lifestyle. Find a mentor to help keep you on track. One of the greatest things about the martial arts is that, in a good school, the teacher keeps you motivated. It is very difficult to stay on a fitness schedule. But 80% of success in any area relies on one single factor: Showing Up!

It's no secret that membership for enrolment in fitness clubs sky-rockets in January and peters off around Superbowl Weekend (end of January). The fact is if everybody stayed on track with the contract they signed up in January, there would be no room in the gym in July.

We all need help keeping on track with our goals. A mentor is a good way to do that. Actually this is the day and age of mentorship.

In any field you can think of-financially, physically, mentally, spiritually-there are people clamouring to be your mentor and help you achieve your goals. The simple idea is: Get somebody to push you to Show Up!

Winds of Change

2007-12-10T11:56:00.000-08:00

I laughed to myself as we pulled away from the shore and thought, “If all you have is a hammer, everything tends to look like a nail.” As a long-time martial artist I tended to see things through the shaolin kung fu lens.

The sail was full and pulling. Waves rolled in softly from the horizon until changing to break dramatically against the rocky shoreline. Rosy-faced into the wind we glided; the day was brisk, sunny, and full of life.

I asked our captain if this was a good sailing day. He said, "Be nicer if the water wasn't quite as wavy, but at least we have wind." He paused for a moment then said profoundly, "You take what nature gives you."

As glittering sun sparkled off the water I reflected on how great life was, how fortunate I was. Seizing the view on that sunny autumn afternoon I leaned back and enjoyed the peace and beauty that surrounded us.

This was the ultimate goal of Shaolin philosophy, I thought: To be in the moment; awake, aware, free.

I glimpsed the serene Zen-like look of peace on the captain's face as he inched the large wheel left. He commented that the ever-so-slight turn from the wheel made a huge impact on the way the sailboat turned.

I grasped for the divine truth in that statement. But the water rushing beneath us, the crisp air across my face, and the deep connection between my spirit and nature shut-off my mind's tendency to analyze the situation.

I looked up to the deep blue sky streaked by white clouds and gave a silent thank you for this time. I turned to the captain and his wife and thanked them for inviting us onto their sailboat this afternoon.

I completely let go, lost in the reverie of sailing. The moment of now flowed over me in waves of tranquil energy. I felt truly alive...

Suddenly the wind changed, the sail ripped and the captain and his wife flew into action. He tried to adjust the sail but a rope was caught. Immediately his wife darted up onto the gunwale and toward the deck. Adroitly manoeuvring around the boom she untangled the knot so the mast could be adjusted to compensate for the change in wind.

The captain maintained the wheel with one hand, then attached the winch handle and cranked the furler with the other. The rope tightened and the sail shifted. There was no thought process in this response to the change in wind. They were both deeply connected in the moment. The sailboat seemed to be an extension, a mere tool to align their spirits with the external world.

Conversation resumed like it had not been broken as the boat sailed steadily and confidently across the rolling water. The captain's eyes, adjusting to the natural rhythm and flow of sailing, filled with that peaceful confidence of earlier.

The Shaolin-Sailing Connection

When the winds-of-change thrust their unpredictability upon our peaceful lives we tend to panic, freeze up with fear. If we are slighted in some way we often play the victim and cry, "Why me! I'm a good person... He had no right!"

Some of us push against life, meeting it head on until we become tired and cynical. Or worse, we plunge head-long into destructive habits that weaken and sometimes break our spirits.

But in sailing the captain does not say, "Why did the wind change? We were sailing along just fine and now this!" No she shifts into action, manifests a course, adjusts to the wind and waits for the next change.

In Shaolin philosophy we manifest physical movements to guide us through life, adjust to challenges along the way, and change to meet the circumstances of the moment. Our bodies, like the sail boat for our friends, are extensions of our spirits, connecting us to the external world.

If the winds-of-change bring along an unexpected attack we, at our finest, do not take it personally. We move into action, diffusing the situation the best we can.

The captain adjusted the wheel ever-so-slightly to maintain its course. I looked up to sky and my mind sprang to life. The divine truth, with such clarity and simplicity, had awakened within me.

Sometimes, in our lives, a little adjustment in one area often makes a huge impact in another. I leaned back, held onto that thought for a moment then let it go into the beauty of the day.

The Ultimate High

2007-12-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

The Ultimate High comes not from drugs, alcohol, or other toxins we put into our bodies. The ultimate high comes from synergizing the mind-body-spirit connection through exercise.

Yoga, Thai Chi, and the martial arts are excellent ways to improve your coordination, physical strength, and produce natural highs that gracefully flow into happiness, enlightened self-interest, and connect you to the natural, magical process of nature surrounding all of us.

Those Eastern practices that are now widely accepted in the West start with the premise that the physical world is a manifestation of our inner worlds. When we look within through meditation we can begin to take control over our outer worlds.

The Ultimate High comes from being in control of your life, living free of fear, living fully in the present and controlling your own destiny. That clarity and control of self, life, and its direction produces physical and emotional highs.

Through short periods of daily meditation and exercise of the body we can produce synergetic waves of pleasure and happiness that naturally reverberate to those around us. We actually become a contagious force of peace, happiness, and optimism.

The synergetic practice of our inner and outer worlds connect us to our higher creative force, promotes self-esteem, and self-awareness. Only through developing an integrated relationship with your body, mind, and spirit can you fully experience the prosperity, pleasures, and happiness available to you right now.

Natural highs involve the release of physical and emotional tensions through the mind, body, and spirit. The sensation is that of "letting go" as tensions release and the emotional pleasures run naturally through our bodies. This is a very healing process.

Natural highs through meditation and physical exercise release chronic muscular tensions that tend to manifest in taut necks, shallow breathing, pulled up shoulders, tense lower back pain, and irritability. These are all symptoms of locked-in or blocked energy; physically, mentally, and/or spiritually.

Releasing such tensions will improve your physical grace and coordination. You were born with a natural gracefulness; a body of bones, muscles, and flesh working together in a fluid, integrated manner. The realignment of your natural energy releases chronic tensions and deeper focused breathing permits clearer, more effective thinking. The fact is (strange as this statement may seem) most people do not know how to breathe properly.

Come back often for exercises and events that are effective in releasing chronic muscle tensions, improving breathing, sharpening your mind, and strengthening your body.

Why Diets Fail

2007-12-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

The Weight Loss Secret You Haven’t Been Told and Why You Should Never Diet Again

Statistically, 90-95% of people who lose weight by dieting gain most of the weight back, or more, within 3-5 years. Dieting is such a large industry because of repeat customers.

Let’s have a look at some popular diets and popular reasons for why diets fail.

4 Popular Reasons for Failure

1: Reduced Calorie Intake Diet: This is a diet that restricts your caloric intake. Seems to make sense, less calories less fat. Logically, the more we restrict our caloric intake the faster we will lose weight. The problem? People gain weight over the course of years and want to lose it in months.

Dieting irresponsibly in this manner can slow your metabolism and create a starvation effect on your body. Then the body will store, not burn, the few calories it gets; out of self-preservation. Drastically reducing calories can slow your metabolism and hinder the weight loss process. But this is not the primary problem of why diets fail.

2: Diets Are Too Expensive: Yes and no. Yes the food can be more expensive than your local fast-food joint down the road, but you can substitute expense with time. It is not that much more expensive, in fact it can be cheaper, if you buy raw vegetables and create you own delicious meals. But that is subject for another article. It may be a good excuse but it is not a primary reason why diets fail.

3: Diets Are Temporary: Yes, they tend to be. We set a goal and when we achieve that goal we often go back to old habits and quickly gain back the weight. …An excuse and not the reason diets fail.

4: Diets Require too Much Change in Eating Habits to Work: Maybe, but that is only another excuse of why to give up. Still, not the reason diets fail.

The Primary Reason Diets Fail

Diets fail because we approach them from the negative. What ever we focus on, good or bad, has a strange way of manifesting in our lives.

Realize first that thoughts have a way of becoming reality. We can have whatever we think we can have. The reason for our lives and its benefits, or hardships, is the result of our thoughts. That can be a tough pill to swallow. Sometimes it can be difficult look at out lives and realize that it is not as good as it should be. And take responsibility…

Again, unwanted fat on our bodies does not accumulate over night. It was a slow process that took years. The fact that many people want to lose it overnight is unrealistic and unhealthy. The goal of losing weight and maintaining a healthy body does not start and end with dieting. It starts and stays with creating a healthy self-image.

Unfortunately, our desire to lose weight quickly is preyed upon by “lose-weight-fast” schemes that often do more to put undue pressure on your heart and internal organs than help you become “healthy, slim, and sexy”. Without proper nutrition we can become more susceptible to viruses and prone to depression.

The real problem stems from our self images that have been shaped by the media. Yes we can blame GQ type magazines that decorate young girls who have not fully developed into 30 year old looking goddesses of 90 to 110 pounds. …Or men that spend 10 hours a day at the gym pumping iron. Not many of us have time for that.

Most of our bodies will never look like theirs. Not for lack of effort, or beauty, but because we may have different body types and different goals.

More to the core of the problem is that our internal dialogue can be negative, sometimes downright reproachful, “I’m fat. I’m ugly. I need clothes that cover my fat body, what a loser I am, who could ever love a fat slob like me…?”

This is the chicken and egg scenario. Our negative self-talk may come before the extra, unwanted pounds; that is, our self-image starts off negative. Or the self-reproach can come after we realize we have gained weight. Regardless, this is where the work begins when wanting to lose weight.

Our internal dialogue goes on at over 500 words per minute and becomes the impetus to losing weight. Finally, we are going to do something about this fat! But where thought goes energy flows. If our thoughts are on fat we will manifest more fat in our lives.

The primary reason diets fail is we don’t change the internal dialogue. Even when we lose weight the negative self-images can persist. We then gain the weight back and are quick to jump on the next diet fad all the while criticising ourselves. We will never, ever, keep weight off by negative reinforcement.

Start with the Internal Dialogue

When we come from a position of abundance we can be far more successful in our mission to gain a healthy body and look great. We need to be thankful for our position in life if we expect it to get better.

Things to be thankful for:

1: There is a growing database of free information on the internet; valuable tools, to help you become healthier, live longer, and feel great.

2: Healthier food is more readily available in most grocery stores. Competition is driving prices down. And with your new found energy, lively spirit, and confident demeanour you will command more pay in the marketplace which will offset the slight margin of expense to eat healthy.

As a side note: Let’s look at the price argument. Gas for your car is a good case in point. Take a moment and watch people lining up at a gas station where the price is a few cents cheaper than the one across the street. In a large vehicle, say an SUV, those people can hope to save maximum of five to seven dollars over the full tank.

Smaller more fuel efficient cars can hope to save only a couple of dollars. But these people are willing to line up for thirty minutes or more. What is your time worth? This goes to point. If your work time is more valuable than your off time, you would benefits from changing your thoughts. It is a supply and demand issue. Most of us complain about not having enough free time. Between work, family, and household responsibilities we often find ourselves at the end of the day having not "smelled the roses", as it were.

Many people complain that they are underpaid but when it comes to personal time they are willing to undervalue themselves. Spending time shopping for healthy foods and preparing dinner is better spent than lining up for gas. Lining up for gas creates stress, preparing healthy food is fun and releases stress.

Putting more expensive, healthier foods into your body is not a waist of money. It is a good step toward valuing and respecting your body, which naturally brings about a stronger sense of self-esteem, which naturally brings about positive self-talk, which naturally brings about better health, and upward we spiral to a better, happier life.

3: Exercise programs to suit your unique physique are also readily available. Again fierce competition in this market is having a lowering effect on price. But, again, don’t undervalue yourself here. Pay somebody to teach you how to exercise properly. Dieting is not your problem if you don’t value yourself enough to shell out a few bucks for an exercise regime. Research and find somebody that suits you.

4: The Shear Enjoyment of Cooking: It can be fun to make new meals. It brings out creativity and can be a great way to spend family time, enjoy an intimate evening with that special someone, and it draws your attention away the stress of the day. There is nothing more rewarding than a tasty, healthy meal that you made yourself.

In Closing:

Proper eating habits and exercise are required for sustained weight loss. But first a positive outlook is important to that end. Seeing yourself as fat will not help you lose weight and keep it off. Seeing yourself as a masterpiece in the making is better. It is healthy to want to look better. It is not healthy to think of yourself as fat, ugly, unlovable; regardless of your weight.

Imagine each trip to the gym or walk along the boardwalk as the sculpture’s chisel toning and removing the unnecessary material around your most perfect form. And note: We are all different, thankfully, and have different body types. Likely you will never look like that person on the cover of a magazine. Admire them for their uniqueness, their beauty; admire yourself for the same reason.

Through regular exercise, positive self-talk or meditation, and proper eating habits allow your natural beauty to surface. Physically, mentally, and spiritually you will become an attractive vibrant person that never has to diet again.

A Risk Free Investment

2007-12-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

What if a trusted friend were to tell you about a risk free investment where you could not possibly go wrong...what would be your reaction? And what if there was a virtual mountain of credible information that supported the investment claims...wouldn't you be inclined to take advantage of the opportunity and not miss out on the rewards?

Although the answer to these questions seems apparent, when it comes to investing in our health and quality of life we often choose to ignore what obviously works. Like exercise...

The Risk Free Investment

Physical fitness may be the ultimate investment opportunity. Think of it this way. If you are willing to make the commitment (investment), you will feel and look healthier, have an abundance of energy, be more self-confident, more productive and discover a more joyous and fulfilling life.

These are rewards that money cannot buy and the substance of high quality living. And, the ultimate investment of exercise becomes even more attractive when you consider that there is absolutely no down-side risk.

You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. How much better can it get? How many times can you remember ever having a better offer? The honest answer is probably never, and yet many of us fail to act on this extraordinary opportunity. Why?

We simply choose to procrastinate or ignore the proven benefits of exercise! We join the gym in January because this is one year our resolution is going to stick! Then we stop going in February.

Here are a few reasons that sometimes inhibit our willingness to "step out" and take advantage of the ultimate investment:

- Sometimes our vision gets clouded. We lose tract of what is really important. We don’t consider exercise to be the ultimate investment. Forget about the less important activities that tend to clutter our daily routine and focus on exactly what needs to be accomplished to reach your goal.

- Looking at the "big" picture can seem overwhelming. And the bigger the task, the more overwhelming it can seem. Break the task apart into smaller pieces.

If you want to lose 50 pounds try losing 10 pounds and repeat the process five times! Let’s face it, gaining weight does not happen overnight. Stay patient and use the Shaolin principle of duration to achieve the results you want.

Need to start an exercise program?

Try the martial arts. Many people don’t join out of fear of the physical contact. But what most people don’t realize is that the first few months in good schools, minimum, is learning the keys.

The classes, after an aerobic-type warm-up, consist of building strength, coordination, and powerful techniques to ready your body for the next levels of self-defence.

- Have you ever not wanted to start something for fear of failure? Take the first step, acknowledge the fear, and the next step will come easier. Once fears are acknowledged, they usually quiet down.

- Sometimes we start to think that a task is unpleasant or boring. Just like any other activity, this can also be true for exercise. There are days when we just plain lack the enthusiasm and motivation to continue. It's part of human nature.

On days like these focus on 'why' you are doing it. Think about all the people you care about and who may need and rely on you. What would happen if you became ill or disabled and were unable to work for a period of time, or worse, if you were out of the picture completely. How would things change?

If something happened tomorrow, how would your family or business manage without you? What do you want your life to be like in the future? There are many tasks or chores we do, that we may not like, but are necessary to live a happen and productive life. Focus on the bigger picture and exercise as the ultimate investment becomes clear.

- Indecision can be defeating, but doing "anything" is better than doing nothing. There are no wrong choices and very few choices that can't be undone or done again.

- When you lack the confidence to start something new, take a deep breath and try to figure out why. Are you hesitating because you really lack the skill or is it just imagined?

If it's real, try to find out where to gain the skills you need or find someone with the right skills who can help. A good martial arts teacher can keep you motivated to continue on.

- Life just seems too busy to find time for some activities. Large, uninterrupted chunks of time are very hard to come by. And if we're honest, when they do come, we'd rather do something totally pleasurable!

Exercise has to become part of your routine. It can't be an option. It must be considered the ultimate investment. Make it a high priority just the same as your career, and other areas of interest. You will be surprised at how easy exercise becomes when approached this way!

- Have you ever subconsciously (or otherwise) invited distractions so that you have a "good" reason not to get something done? Sometimes it's the simple things like answering the phone or sitting down to watch that "one" TV program, that distract us. When you find yourself doing this, take control of the situation and make a conscious decision to do what you are avoiding.

To reap the benefits of exercise, or any other health related endeavor, you must agree to become a willing participant. This will require due diligence on your part. And remember, as you embark on your mission you are investing in something near and dear to your own heart...your life and a future of healthy living.

The ultimate investment is exercise. Without a healthy body all the money in the world won’t mean a thing.

The Ultimate Investment
Unleash your full capacity for success and happiness!

Core Body Power for Martial Artists

2007-12-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

As a martial artist you rely on your body to protect you in case of attack. But in the deeper realm your body is a conduit that houses your vibrantly creative spirit. Increased flexibility, strength, and endurance all help to manifest the brilliant colors of your true nature.

There is no secret in the martial arts that to increase power in a kick or a punch we must increase our core body power.

What, How and Why?

Inherent in the martial artist is the compulsion to push just a little bit further in each training session, to do that extra push up, increase the power in that horizontal strike, kick just a little bit higher. This, of course, is how we get better.

CORE BODY POWER

While our limbs provide mobility, reach and strength it is our body core that provides the basis of each movement.

Even if you workout or participate in sports you may not be working the body core muscles you rely on to perform.

WHAT IS MY BODY CORE?

Your body core is the midsection of your body, from your groin to your shoulders. The core includes the pelvis, abs, back and chest muscles. It is this core that offers stability, balance and flexibility. Every movement you make originates in the core - whether you are reaching for your toothbrush or running a marathon or defending yourself against an attack. If the core is not properly conditioned it will limit your physical abilities.

CORE BODY POWER AND THE MARTIAL ARTIST

Working the muscles in your body core will improve the effectiveness of movements in your limbs. That means you can kick higher, punch harder and faster all while staying centered, in control. Also working body core helps to increase the single most important aspect of being a marital artist: The ability to be firmly grounded, anchored in a position with the ability to move in and out of that position in a split second.

If you’ve even seen a Bruce Lee movie you know how fast he could move in a horse stance. Every time he stopped his whole body language showed that he was strong, grounded. The very next second he was on the other side of the room, locked in another horse stance. His incredible core body strength helped him to move quickly and stay grounded.

Most exercise routines focus on building muscle. By creating a stable, strong base for those muscles you can optimize the strength and flexibility of each limb.

HOW DO I STRENGTHEN MY BODY CORE?

There are many exercise routines and products that work the muscles of the body core. Professional trainers create customized routines to enhance an athlete's abilities by developing the proper core muscles. However, there are also many programs developed for individuals who wish to incorporate it into their fitness routine or to begin one.

The exercises and products developed to strengthen your body core do so by creating resistance or instability so that the core muscles must respond to maintain balance. The exercises are gentle on the body but are intense and beginners will quickly 'feel' the muscles being used. Proper alignment is key so having a trainer to check your position will help identify the safest and most effective way to perform an exercise.

Body core exercises often imitate moves that we employ in daily life or sports and thus train the body to rely on the core and reduce the strain we put on our limbs. Two popular forms of exercise that develop core body strength are Pilates and the Swiss ball.

Pilates uses the body as its own form of resistance. Learning to breath properly and perform slow, controlled movements allows a person to isolate and strengthen core muscles.

The Swiss ball (also known as a Fitness ball) is an easy and fun way to strengthen the body core. While there are many exercises that can be performed with the Swiss ball, simply sitting on it will create the instability needed to engage the core muscles to maintain balance.

Why Strengthen My Core Body

Good core strength is important at every age and fitness level. Whatever your goals, find a way to incorporate body core conditioning into your routine to reduce fatigue, avoid muscle strain and improve your strength and mobility

But if you appreciate what your body does for you, you will provide it with nutritious food, hydrate with water and be sure to rest properly. It is also important to understand where our core power comes from and how it provides stability and flexibility to the rest of our bodies.

Shaolin Kung Fu was a Method to Help Monks Sit Longer

Sedentary lives can cause our body core muscles to weaken and become subject to strain or injury. In Why Shaolin Kung Fu? we talked about Bodhidharma coming from India to learn from and teach the Shaolin Monks meditation techniques. When he got there he noticed that the Shaolin monks lacked physical discipline. As students of enlightenment they spent their days sitting, meditating.

Of course there was a problem. Sitting for hours on end takes stamina and discipline. Sitting takes stamina? Sound unbelievable? Try to sit on a hard floor for 30 minutes without moving any part of your body. No looking around, no neck stretches, no knuckle cracking, nothing except for breathing. After that imagine that these monks sat for days on end!

Bodhidharma taught them what is known today as Shaolin Kung Fu to strengthen the body to sit for long periods of time. The moves became a meditation in motion. The exercises strengthened the core body power, the conduit housing the effervescent enlightenment of the spirit. While here, grounded on planet earth.

What does that mean? In the 21^st century many of us sit for long hours at work, in front of a computer. Without a strong core we can develop many disorders associated with the core, including heart, liver, digestion…etc. Not to mention lack of focus and attention given to the work at hand. If you are not involved in the martial arts, at least look into yoga, Pilates, and get a Swiss ball

Dynamic Balance

Shaolin Monks Teach us How to Live in the Moment

Message: The Healing Power of Human Touch

Will Your Children be Swallowed by the Waves of Change in the 21st Century?

Below: A Vital Blue Print to Ensure Your Children Can Stay on the Crest of Innovation and Change

Accelerated Learning Model

Accelerated Learning: Attitudes for Success

Success is Over 80% Attitude

Belief

7 Steps to Help Your Children Do Better in School

1: Build Trust by Listening to Your Children:

2: Don’t Compare Your Child to Other Children:

3: Encourage Reading Stories:

4: Read With Your Children:

5: Have Your Children Read to You:

6: Support, Encourage, Be Positive:

7: Be Patient:

A Powerful Combination for Parents and Teachers!

Begin Your Child's Journey Toward Inner Calm, Knowledge, and Self-Confidence with...

THE HUMAN TOUCH: The Heartbeat of Education. (For Parents, Teachers, and Principals)and for kids...

The Eye of the Storm

Parents, Teachers, and Principals Are Loving THE HUMAN TOUCH: and are Amazed at the Values Kids are Getting From The Eye of the Storm!

The World of Change

Changing Methods in the Public School System is like Trying to Turn the Titanic on a Dime

The Greatest Discovery Ever

Success Begins and Ends in the Mind

Thoughts-->Feelings-->Actions-->Results

Positive Mind-Set-->Opens the Heart to-->Spread Wisdom/Love-->Resulting in a Fulfilled Life

We Cannot Give Children Self-Esteem

Stories: The Key to Elucidation

Why are Stories So Captivating?

The Solution

Rising to Success with Characters

"Some of the chapters remind me of a lot of things like in Helpless Johnny gets bullied[…]and sometimes I get bullied. Also some of the chapters actually gave me courage and bravery. Another message the book gave me is to never give up."--Shubdip, 11 Years Old

If You’re Looking for a Safe Way for Your Children to Explore Emotions and Behaviours that Lead to Better Grades and Higher Self-esteem thenThe Eye of the Storm and The Human Touch are For You

What Grade Level is this Story For?

"Your book has made me realize how and when it’s the right time to take responsibility, not just apologizing but finishing homework chores and etc. Your book also gave me the strength to continue in my situation, to solve it until the end (never say “die”)." –Sanjot, Grade Six Student

This story did not teach or give Sanjot anything. At no point in the story did I write, “You must take responsibility, not only with apologizing but finishing homework and chores.” That was something Sanjot took from the action of the story, through the events and emotions of the characters.

A Powerful Combination for Parents and Teachers!

THE HUMAN TOUCH: The Heartbeat of Education. (For Teachers and Principals)

The World of Change

Changing Methods in the Public School System is like Trying to Turn the Titanic on a Dime

The Greatest Discovery Ever

Success Begins and Ends in the Mind

Thoughts®Feelings®Actions®Results

Positive Mind-Set®Opens the Heart to®Spread Wisdom/Love®Resulting in a Fulfilled Life

We Cannot Give Children Self-Esteem

Stories: The Key to Elucidation

Why are Stories So Captivating?

The Solution

Rising to Success With Characters

"Some of the chapters remind me of a lot of things like in Helpless Johnny gets bullied[…]and sometimes I get bullied. Also some of the chapters actually gave me courage and bravery. Another message the book gave me is to never give up."--Shubdip, 11 Years Old

If You’re Looking for a Safe Way for Your Children to Explore Emotions and Behaviours that Lead to Better Grades and Higher Self-esteem then The Eye of the Storm is For You

What Grade Level is this Story For?

"Your book has made me realize how and when it’s the right time to take responsibility, not just apologizing but finishing homework chores and etc. Your book also gave me the strength to continue in my situation, to solve it until the end (never say “die”)." –Sanjot, Grade Six Student

Absolutely FREE!

Why Shaolin Kung Fu?

Five Higher Educational Principles

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up”-Pablo Picasso

"All of man's troubles stem from his inability to sit alone it a quiet room."

Key to Your Successful Life

The Key to Your Successful Life opens from within

The Practice

Dynamic Balance

Protect Your Health

Winds of Change

The Ultimate High

Why Diets Fail

A Risk Free Investment

Core Body Power for Martial Artists

THE HUMAN TOUCH: The Heartbeat of Education. (For Parents, Teachers, and Principals)

and for kids...