Utilise the GrowthGuide: I Ching Wisdom app to make ancient wisdom accessible, empowering you to harness its influence for self-improvement and personal development in the modern world. The I Ching isn’t just an ancient text—it’s a companion in your personal growth journey.
Embrace the I Ching for Self-Improvement
The I Ching offers a plethora of benefits. Its wisdom, deeply rooted and spanning millennia, acts as a robust guide to personal growth and development.
Key Benefits:
Insights into Self and Life Patterns: The I Ching delivers profound insights into personal habits, life situations, and the patterns that govern our lives. It allows you to identify deeply entrenched habits, discern recurring themes in your life, and understand their implications on your personal growth journey.
Guidance in Decision Making: The I Ching serves as a trusted advisor during pivotal decision-making instances. It presents perspectives you may not have considered, broadening your understanding of your choices and promoting confident and informed decisions that align with your personal growth objectives.
Encourages Mindfulness and Presence: The I Ching fosters mindfulness and presence. Engaging with its wisdom creates a reflective space for contemplation, helping you stay present, grounded, and connected to your personal journey, amidst life’s challenges.
Gains Perspective and Understanding: The I Ching’s holistic view of life’s complexities cultivates a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. This broader perspective helps you see challenges not as isolated events but parts of a larger whole, encouraging a more resilient mindset and fostering a growth mindset.
Ethical and Moral Compass: The I Ching, rooted in virtue, promotes integrity and kindness. It underscores the significance of ethical conduct and empathetic interactions, essential qualities for meaningful personal growth.
Promotes Lifelong Learning: The wisdom of the I Ching is vast and timeless, allowing for continuous learning and growth. Each consultation can reveal new insights and perspectives, supporting your ongoing development and self-improvement journey.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/the-i-ching-and-self-growth-unlock-your-potential.jpg10241024jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2023-06-13 16:12:322023-06-13 16:13:02The I Ching and Self-Growth: Unlock Your Potential
One sunny morning, as he played by a tree, Little Panda thought, “What could the secret be? This Tao they all mention, so simple and wise, I’ll seek out its teachings, and open my eyes.”
So Little Panda set out on a quest, To learn from the Tao, and be at his best. He’d wander the forests, the rivers, and hills, To uncover the knowledge that nature instills.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Little-Panda-and-the-Flowing-River-pg2.jpg900900jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2023-05-05 10:43:382023-05-16 10:52:30Little Panda and the Flowing River Page 2
In a land far away, where nature blooms each day, There’s a path known as Tao, where wisdom and peace lay. A way of living, gentle and kind, A treasure of balance for hearts and minds.
Now meet Little Panda, so curious and small, With wide, eager eyes, he’d wander and crawl. He yearned to learn secrets the world held tight, And uncover the beauty of day and night.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/st1_pg1.png20482048jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2023-05-04 10:38:322023-05-16 10:52:40Little Panda and the Flowing River: page 1
Head over to the the RichRoll website and check out the podcast with Wim Hof Meet Wim Hof, aka The Iceman. – Why Breath Is Life, Cold Is God & Feeling Is Understanding A Dutch-born world record holder, adventurer, daredevil and human guinea pig, _The Iceman _is best known for his preternatural ability to withstand extreme cold.
Perhaps more significant and compelling is his experimentation and experience with specific and teachable breathing techniques. Rooted in the ancient yogic tradition of pranayama and canonized for a modern audience as _The Wim Hof Method, _Wim asserts that he can “turn his own thermostat up” and consciously activate his sympathetic nervous system by using his mind through yoga. This may sound far-fetched. But get a grip on some of the crazy things this holder of more than 20 world records has accomplished:
shirtless adorned in nothing but shorts, Wim scaled above death zone altitude (22,000 ft) on Mount Everest;
barefoot, shirtless and again in nothing but shorts, Wim completed a full marathon above the polar circle in Finland;
he summited Kilimanjaro in less than 2 days, again in nothing but shorts;
above the polar circle, he swam a world record 66 meters under a meter of ice;
he can sit in an ice bath for almost 2 hours; and
in 2011, he ran a full marathon in the Namib Desert without water
But there’s more.
Under doctor supervision, In 2011 Wim voluntarily allowed himself to be injected with a poisonous E. coli endotoxin certain to make any human being very ill. The idea was to demonstrate that by using his meditation and breathing techniques he could effectively control his autonomic immune system response and nullify any deleterious health implications.
Wim did not get sick.
Beyond his countless feats of incredulity, he’s a long-time vegetarian who — for the last 30+ years — has refrained from eating any food before 6pm. All of this is seemingly insane.
But Wim is hardly a carnival sideshow act — the physical stunts merely a means of attracting scientific community attention for purposes of study and documentation. Ask Wim and he will tell you that he is nothing special.
He declares his feats replicable and his methods teachable — a curriculum that holds the potential to unlock a battery of human superpowers that extend well beyond extreme temperature tolerance to include control over a wide array of sympathetic nervous system and metabolic ‘reptilian brain’ functions previously thought to be beyond conscious manipulation. Case in point? After a mere 4 days of instruction, Wim led a group of brave, volunteering students through his endotoxin exposure experiment (again, under doctor supervision and scientific observation). Not one of them got sick. And he now routinely takes groups of students – most of which you would characterize as non-athletes — up Kilamanjaro.
In nothing but shorts of course. An absolutely fascinating guy with charm and charisma for miles, my conversation with Wim is less about human biology than it is about about belief systems. It’s an exploration of dormant biological and mental potential. It’s about yoga, grief, depression, change and the nature of consciousness. And it’s about the ever expanding event horizon of human potential that should push and challenge and nudge you out of your comfort zone to call into question the unnecessary limits we self-impose upon ourselves daily. Specific topics explored include:
how to awaken inner dormant ability
how to control metabolic pathways
the science behind the Wim Hof Method
surviving grief — catalyst for change & exploration
delving deeper into consciousness
furthering the message with 26 world records
being of service and in tune with nature
voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system
breathing & extreme cold
pH levels: acidosis vs. alkalosis
voluntary E. coli endotoxin injection
Mount Kilimanjaro ascent
pain management & inflammation studies
reversing chronic conditions
combatting depression, grief & addiction
intermittent hypoxic training
spiritual, environmental, ethical, and health crises
the primal path
typical day with Wim Hof
I was fortunate enough to have started Tai Chi a moving meditation at a very early age. Practising Tai Chi for over 25 years has allowed me to build a solid foundation to support the most important aspect of EQ development, which is attention training.
If you are interested in supporting yourself or helping the teams you manage, the links below can help you learn more about EQ training.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/wim-hof-on-the-richroll-podcast.jpg341840jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2020-01-10 14:27:192023-05-16 10:57:35The iceman wim hof on why breath is life, cold is god & feeling is understanding
It started with colleagues joining me for Tai Chi practice. This lead
me to explore the benefits of meditation which is exactly what you are
doing as you calmly move through your Tai Chi routine. Colleagues
reported feeling and noticing significant changes in their behaviour
while practicing.
How powerful was a meditation practice?
This lead me to dive deeper into the health and meditation benefits
of Tai Chi. On my journey I came across the work done at Google on their
‘Search Inside Yourself’ course. I
found their research fascinating especially with regards to the six
competencies that distinguish star performers from average performers in
the tech sector. Turns out that four are emotional intelligence with
the top two being EQ. What was mind-blowing was that emotional
intelligence was trainable through a mindfulness meditation practice.
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is your ability to recognise and
understand emotions in yourself and others. The ability to use this
awareness to manage your behaviour and relationships more effectively.
Decades of research now points to emotional intelligence as the critical factor that sets star performers
apart from the rest of the pack. It’s a powerful way to focus your
energy in one direction with a tremendous result. Emotional intelligence
has a direct link to your earning potential. Every point increase in EQ
adds $1300 to an annual salary. This is true in all industries, at all
levels all over the world. Besides supporting your career emotional
intelligence training can support your life as well. Emotional
intelligence influences health related outcomes. It reduces the
perception of stress in response to trying situations. EQ strengthens
the brains ability to cope with emotional stress. It helps you from
having your amygdala highjack your brain. This resilience boost your
immunity which protects you from getting sick.
Emotional intelligence training is essential because you gain value in many areas of your life. I have experienced the benefits thanks to my years of Tai Chi and blessed to have been trained by an amazing teacher, Grandmaster Dr Lin Feng-Chao. Who was a student of Cheng Man-ch’ing. I’ve also been witness to the effects a mindfulness meditation practice has had on colleagues and students. This is the main reason I developed a 6 week emotional intelligence training course at JUMO.
Corporations’ Newest Productivity Hack: Meditation.
Businesses are experiencing the benefits of improving emotional
intelligence in the workplace. We have a number of Mindfulness
Meditation courses that can bring a productivity boost to staff,
enhances focus, creativity and over all well-being. See an outline of
what is covered in the emotional intelligence training course.
Begin a journey of self discovery. Take a introductory class to learn the benefits of mindfulness meditation.
We will teach you basic techniques so you can begin experiencing the
advantages of a meditation practice. Studies show that emotional
competencies are twice as important as pure intellect and expertise.
Learn how meditation builds emotional intelligence which is a key factor
in success at work and life.
Meditation is also a powerful tool in dealing with stress. The key to
emotional intelligence is keen attention. Learn methods and techniques
to gain this valuable ability. Mindfulness does not require having to
sit cross-legged on a cushion. We show you how to practice mindfulness
in all areas of your life. Additional Benefits of Learning to Meditate
Emotional stability improves
Creativity increases
Happiness increases
Intuition develops
Gain clarity and peace of mind
Problems become smaller
Meditation sharpens and focuses the mind
A sharper mind reduces tension, anger and frustration
Learn more about the science behind meditation. Science is making some amazing discoveries to a skill that has been around for thousands of years. Our post on the 7 Qualities of People with High Emotional Intelligence.
Take an introductory 2hr class to begin your attention training NOW!
For a full course take a look at the company 6 week option below.
What we cover in the course.
1. Attention Training Attention is the basis of all
higher cognitive and emotional abilities. Thus the key to emotional
intelligence training is ATTENTION. The idea is to create a quality of
mind that is clear and calm at the same time. We use mindfulness
meditation techniques to build attention. We explore ways besides the
traditional sitting meditation to enable us to be mindful whenever
possible. Allow the student to experiment and explore their own unique
experiences to tailor mindfulness into their day to day activities.
2. Self-Knowledge and Self-Mastery Use your trained
attention to better perceive ones own cognitive and emotive processes.
Begin to observe ones thought stream and the process of emotion with
clarity. Learn to observe from a third-person perspective. Once you can
do that, you create the type of deep self-knowledge that eventually
leads to self-mastery.
3. Creating Useful Social and Mental Habits “I wish
for this person to be happy”, becomes your habitual instinctive first
thought. Having such habits can change everything at work. This sincere
goodwill is picked up unconsciously by others creating strong trust.
This leads to highly productive collaborations. Such habits can be
volitionally trained.
There are 6 Modules
The course consist of 6 main areas than run for an hour a week for
six weeks. Ideally have a gap between modules so students can practice
the mindfulness meditation practices.
Module 1: Talks about the importance of emotional
intelligence training. The science and research that highlight the
effects and benefits of a mindfulness meditation practice and how it
supports the improvement and optimisation of EQ.
Module 2: The theory and practice of mindfulness meditation. Get into the nitty gritty.
Module 3: Mindfulness meditation is not just about
sitting. We explore ways you can bring mindfulness to other parts of
your life. A good example is walking meditation which appeals to more
physical people. Why I enjoy Tai Chi so much, meditation in movement.
Module 4: Self-Confidence, this section is about looking within ourselves. A single word encapsulates this section ’clarity’.
Module 5: Self-Mastery, in the sections we make use of self-awareness to gain mastery over our emotions.
Module 6: Empathy & Compassion. Develop empathy through understanding and connecting to others. These are the keys for developing trust which are essential for effective and collaborative relationships.
3 Course Options
1 Day Emotional Intelligence Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
We cover modules 1,2 & 3 which build the core skill of attention training which is the foundation you need to build and improve EQ. A follow up day in the future once a student has developed a good meditation practice enables them to leverage modules 4, 5 & 6 more effectively.
2 Day Emotional Intelligence Mindfulness Meditation Workshop
We cover all the modules. Day 1 we cover modules 1,2 & 3 which build the core skill of attention training which is the foundation you need to build and improve EQ.
Day 2 we do modules 4, 5 & 6. Ideally one should give the students time to improve and refine their attention training. Best is to run the second day sometime in the future.
Introduction and Emotional Intelligence Kick Starter
We offer a 1 hour talk to introduce the benefits of mindfulness
meditation. Show how it support emotional intelligence and give staff a
kick starter to begin a meditation practice. Get a view into why EQ is
so important in both work and personal lives. Learn techniques of
mindfulness that do not require sitting cross-legged on a cushion.
7 Qualities of Emotionally Intelligence People
They are adaptable. People with a strong EQ are not afraid of change. The understand it’s a necessary part of life.
Strong Self-Awareness. People strong in self-awareness know what they are good at and what they still need to master. Understand what weaknesses they need to work on. Know what environments are optimal for their work style.
Empathy. This is the strongest gift. Having an innate ability to truly understand people builds trust and authenticity. The foundation of any relationship work or personal.
Not Perfectionists. Life is always changing it’s never static. People strong in EQ understand that perfection is impossible. They learn to roll with the punches and learn from mistakes.
They’re Balanced. How someone is balancing their work and personal lives is extremely important. They eat well, get plenty of sleep and have interests outside work.
Curiosity. People strong in EQ don’t judge, they explore the possibilities. An inborn sense of wonder makes them delightful to be around.
They set an example for others to follow. Highly emotionally intelligent people don’t get flustered when things don’t go according to plan. Have a knack for getting along with others. An ability to rise above daily irritations earns people with high emotional intelligence the respect from those above them as well as from their colleagues.
If you are interested in supporting yourself or helping the teams you
manage, the links below can help you learn more about EQ training.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/emotional-intelligence-mindfulness-meditation-courses.jpg341840jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2020-01-07 21:31:382023-05-16 11:04:29Emotional Intelligence Training
At Just Being we have a course that can bring Mindfulness to your employee wellness program. Plus employees get to boost their emotional intelligence.
You have probably heard the term “mindfulness” come up in the workplace
recently. It’s one of the easiest—and cheapest—ways to help your
employees become healthier and happier. Why is mindfulness so popular?
Every single person at your office has experienced stress or anxiety at
some point in their lives, but not everyone knows how to deal with or
cope with stress effectively. Mindfulness can be used as a preventive
measure for stress, anxiety and difficulties with concentration. It also
works to maintain and boost emotional wellness and awareness.
Mindfulness Explained
By dictionary definition, mindfulness is a mental state achieved by
focusing one’s awareness on the present moment while calmly
acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily
sensations—used as a therapeutic technique. Mindfulness does not involve
any evaluation, interpretation or judgment. In other words, mindfulness
is awareness of perception that focuses on “being” rather than “doing.”
Mindfulness allows us to block automatic and compulsory thoughts that
can cause worry, stress or distraction. By focusing on the task at hand
or present state of mind, these negative or distracting thoughts can be
cleared away. When mastered, mindfulness creates a sense of control over
conscious thoughts, behaviors and attitudes. We become mindful of what
we are feeling and how we are acting. Any activity at any time or place
can be done with mindfulness. Examples of activities that can
incorporate mindfulness are unlimited—for example, exercising, creating
art, playing an instrument, working or cleaning. Once mindfulness is
learned and executed, it can truly be used in any situation to help
boost concentration and identify emotional needs or feelings.
Benefits Of Practicing Mindfulness
With the increase in popularity, mindfulness finally has numbers to
back its effectiveness. Although mindfulness is certainly not a new
concept, studies have only recently demonstrated the benefits to
employees’ well-being. Aetna took the lead with implementing
mindfulness-based wellness programs, and their recent success was
published in The Atlantic. Since implementing mindfulness-based wellness
programs, Aetna has estimated a savings of about $2,000 in health care
costs and has gained about $3,000 per employee in productivity.
Mindfulness should be cultivated for not only the purpose of saving
money in health care costs and productivity but to help reduce or
prevent an unhealthy mentality in employees. A 2016 study found that
employees who received a weekly two-hour training course on mindfulness
over an eight-week period showed improvement in several different areas,
including satisfaction of life and hope, along with reduced anxiety.
Findings from this study also showed that these employees displayed
higher levels of concentration on work, as well as improved
interpersonal relationships.
Try Mindfulness For Yourself
Whether it’s at home, on vacation or during the workday, mindfulness
can be implemented in several different ways. Here are a few simple ways
to make sure you achieve mindfulness to increase your positive
thoughts, actions and behaviors:
Meditation. Mindfulness is essentially the main framework behind any
form of meditation, and there are many to choose from. Some include
clearing your thoughts completely, while others involve being mindful of
any thoughts or feelings that are present. If you are new to
meditation, do some research to find which types of meditation you would
feel most comfortable trying or starting out with. Meditation can be
done alone, with an instructor or in a group setting. There are also
some great apps that can help you relax.
Tai Chi is how I discovered mindfulness. Tai Chi is a moving meditation and besides is meditation benefits, there is many science studies showing the health benefits as well.
Yoga. In addition to being an effective way to build physical
strength, yoga is a good way to build mental strength. Similar to
meditation, yoga is an enjoyable way to practice mindfulness. If you
have already been practicing yoga, you may not be aware that you have
also been practicing mindfulness, especially if you have ever focused on
breath awareness. If you have never done yoga before, don’t be afraid
to give it a try. Yoga is great for anyone, regardless of age or
physical ability.
Breathing exercises.
This is a simple technique that can be done anywhere, including your
desk! Breathing exercises take just a few minutes and can reduce stress
and sharpen concentration. There are many resources available online if
you need help getting started on simple breathing techniques.
Wake up on the “right” side of the bed. Starting your day off by
practicing mindfulness will help you tremendously. There’s no doubt that
a bad morning will ultimately lead to a bad day. Mindful recently
published great tips on mindful things to do to start your day. Keep
yourself as stress-free as possible when starting your day so that
nothing negative spreads to your office, colleagues or interpersonal
relationships.
Looking To Implement Mindfulness At Your Company?
If you are an employer looking to incorporate some mindfulness
practices into your employees’ workday, good for you! However, it can be
tricky to figure out where to start if you don’t have much experience.
Here are a few tips on how to implement mindfulness at your workplace:
Educate.
Although mindfulness is a trendy topic at the moment, it still remains a
foreign subject to a lot of people. Make sure to educate your staff on
what mindfulness is and what it means to practice it. Introduce
mindfulness in a meeting and share facts and research on its benefits.
Show that you practice mindfulness yourself and include ideas for simple
ways to try mindfulness. Encourage employees to share positive
experiences about any mindful behaviors.
Offer classes.
Since mindfulness is a relatively new concept for many, try offering
beginner sessions in or outside of your company for employees. Although
mindfulness is not necessarily difficult to achieve or practice, it can
be hard for beginners to know where to start. Company-sponsored classes
on mindfulness, meditation or yoga can be an excellent jumping off
point.
Practice in the office. Mindfulness can be practiced anywhere,
including cubicles, desks and meetings. Try out some mindfulness
activities at a meeting or staff outing to get employees engaged.
Incorporate simple breathing techniques or beginner yoga poses and have
employees try these at the end or beginning of a meeting.
Mindfulness is a step in the right direction when it comes to
bringing a more holistic approach to your employee wellness program.
Emotional and mental wellness have a huge impact on the well-being of
your team. With a healthy mindset, it is easier to perform and
concentrate during the workday. Try out mindfulness for yourself and
challenge your wellness team to think of ways to bring mindfulness to
all your employees.
I was fortunate enough to have started Tai Chi a moving meditation at a very early age. Practising Tai Chi for over 25 years has allowed me to build a solid foundation to support the most important aspect of EQ development, which is attention training.
If you are interested in supporting yourself or helping the teams you
manage, the links below can help you learn more about EQ training.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/how-to-bring-mindfulness-into-your-employee-wellness-program.jpg341840jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2020-01-06 14:29:012023-05-16 11:04:33How to bring mindfulness into your employee wellness program
Organisational Wellness program – 36% reduction in stress,62 minute increase in production each week,7% lower healthcare costs and $3,000 saved per year, gained productivity.
I came across this article via the ‘Search Inside Yourself’
website. It highlights some interesting stats regarding wellness
programs in orginisations. A 36% reduction in stress, 62 minute increase
in production each week, 7% lower healthcare costs and $3,000 saved per
year based on gained productivity.
Mindfulness can create better organisational wellness
Recent research reveals that these benefits add up to make an impact
on organisational culture and effectiveness. Most compelling of these
comes from insurance giant Aetna, which developed an internal mindfulness training programs with much support from their CEO Mark Bertolini.
Below is the article.
Personal wellness is a journey, one that can last a lifetime. My
journey has led to a yoga routine where I perform asana, pranayama,
meditation, and Vedic chanting before work. A skiing accident in 2004
resulted in a spinal cord injury and constant pain from neuropathy. This
daily practice helps alleviate my discomfort without the use of
medication. It also helps me to be more centered and fully present in
the moment.
My personal wellness journey has also influenced Aetna’s
organisational wellness. Based on my personal experience, I fully
supported the development of yoga and mindfulness-based programs at
Aetna. I know that some of my colleagues were rolling their eyes when
they heard about it. Just because our CEO practices mindfulness and does
yoga, does that mean that we have to learn? Can this really help?
The results since launching these programs in 2011 show that they do
actually help. Employees participating in our initial mind-body stress
reduction pilot programs (mindfulness and Viniyoga) showed significant
improvements in perceived stress with 36 and 33 percent decreases in stress levels respectively.
Helping employees build resilience and reduce stress isn’t just the
right thing to do – it can also help the bottom line. Stress is a
universal issue that has a direct impact on people’s health and
increases health care costs. Highly stressed individuals are at greater
risk for many different health conditions, such as coronary heart
disease, some cancers, diabetes, depression and anxiety, and obesity.
The International Labour Organisation estimated that 30 percent of all
work-related illness is due to stress, accounting for $6.6 billion of
losses in the U.S. alone. Our research supported these facts, as the
participants reporting the highest stress level in Aetna’s pilot
programs had medical costs nearly $2,000 higher for the preceding year
than those reporting the lowest stress levels.
In addition to improving health, these programs can improve employee
productivity and decision-making. With the success of the pilot, the
program was expanded to all Aetna employees. More than 13,000 employees
have participated in one of these programs over the past three years.
Participants are regaining 62 minutes per week of productivity with an
approximate dollar return, in terms of productivity alone, of more than
$3,000.
As a result of the success with the programs at Aetna, we have
started incorporating mindfulness-based approaches into the wide range
of wellness programs we offer to our employees and our customers. While
these programs are all different – some focus on coaching a healthier
lifestyle, while others focus on a specific health issue like weight
loss – they share some common characteristics. The wellness programs
that are most effective are simple, engaging, based on people’s personal
values, goal-oriented and fit into people’s daily lives.
Our innovative approaches to wellness can help our employees and
customers improve their health and save money. More broadly, these
programs are a core element of our strategy to build healthier
communities, a healthier nation and a healthier world.
I was fortunate enough to have started Tai Chi a moving meditation at a very early age. Practising Tai Chi for
over 25 years has allowed me to build a solid foundation to support the
most important aspect of EQ development, which is attention training.
If you are interested in supporting yourself or helping the teams you
manage, the links below can help you learn more about EQ training.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/the-journey-of-personal-and-organisational-wellness.jpg341840jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2019-11-08 12:59:002022-05-02 15:50:49The journey of personal and organisational wellness
Yoga is a phenomenal form of physical exercise, mental discipline, and spiritual healing. You know it’s awesome when you get all these benefits of yoga. See the 11 benefits of yoga.
I’ve been doing Tai Chi for over 23 years and I’ve benefited greatly
from all aspects of it. But I would also highly recommend the benefits
of Yoga as it is an absolutely phenomenal form of physical exercise,
mental discipline, and spiritual healing. You know something is awesome
when it can do all of those things at once. Anyway, there is a long list
of benefits that you can and should take advantage of that all come
with the simple thing that is Yoga. You may think that Yoga is only for
women, but that is not so,
especially seeing as more and more men are taking it up every day. No
matter if you are a man or woman, Yoga has many different advantages for
the mind and body, all of which you absolutely need to start taking advantage of as soon as possible!
What Is Yoga?
Yoga is originally a Hindu form of exercise, stretching, and mental
training. In fact, it is also seen as a spiritual and ascetic discipline
as well as a physical one. Yoga is widely practiced around the world
and is revered for its mental and physical benefits. It involves a lot
of mental focus, breathing control, meditation, and simple poses which
are meant to strengthen both your body and mind. There are many
different variations of Yoga, with a popular one being hot Yoga, a type which is practiced in a very hot room.
Benefit #1: Muscle Strengthening
One big benefit that you get from doing some regular Yoga is the strengthening of your muscles.
Yoga involves a lot of positions and movements that force you to hold
up your body weight in one way or another, and in some pretty odd
looking positions too. The obvious result of this is that your muscles will become stronger over time.
A big part of this involves your back muscles and your core, as many
Yoga poses are oriented towards challenging those muscles. This is
however also true for virtually every other muscle in your body too.
Everything from your forearms and shoulders to your glutes and calves
will become stronger thanks to some Yoga classes. Of course, we all want
strong muscles, and that is not only because they look sexy. Strong
muscles help to increase our physical performance, they make sports
easier, they make us run faster and jump higher, and they help to make a plethora of daily tasks much easier, not to mention that it doesn’t hurt our self-esteem either.
Benefit #2: Cartilage & Joint Protection
Yet another benefit that you can reap from doing Yoga is that it is
fantastic for the health of your cartilage and for your joints. This is
in part due to your increased flexibility thanks to Yoga, especially
when it comes to the health of your joints, but there is even more to it
than that. You see, the problem is that as you age, especially if you
are not physically active, your joints, or to be exact, the cartilage
that helps your joints move smoothly, starts to break down and
deteriorate. This can cause some seriously painful problems such as
arthritis in your old age, plus having no cartilage between your joints
will be painful either way, not to mention cause a limited range of
motion. Yoga is a great way to mitigate the effects of disability and prevent things like arthritis
because of the nourishing effect it has on the cartilage in your
joints. You see, the cartilage in your joints requires nutrients just
like every other part of your body. The difference is that your
cartilage really only gets necessary nutrients when it is in motion,
such as during Yoga. Yoga has the effect of squeezing your cartilage,
which is very beneficial because your sponge-like cartilage needs to be
squeezed to get nutrients.
Benefit #3: Flexibility
One of the biggest benefits that you will be able to reap thanks to some regular Yoga is increasing your flexibility.
You may not be all that flexible yet and touching your toes might seem
akin to flying under your own power when it comes to your first Yoga
class. However, as you go back to your Yoga class day after day, you
will notice your muscles, joints, and ligaments getting looser and
looser. Before you know it, you will be bending over backward and
wrapping yourself up like a pretzel without any issue at all. Many, if
not all of the poses that you do in Yoga will stretch out your body
in one way or another, thus making you more flexible as time goes on.
Being more flexible is great for many different things including
preventing pulled muscles and other injuries, plus it can be pretty
useful when it comes to your love life as well. Being more flexible is
also useful in terms of relieving certain aches and pains. For instance,
having tight hips can cause knee pain, a tight upper back can cause
back pain, and tight hamstrings can lead to severe lower back pain, all problems that can be solved with some simple Yoga.
20 Minute Yoga for Flexibility | Level 1
Benefit #4: Strengthening The Immune System & Regulating The Adrenal System
Yoga can also be very beneficial for your immune system
because it helps to drain your lymphatic system. When you do Yoga, you
stretch out your muscles and compress them at the same time, plus you
move your organs around too. This has the effect of draining a viscous
fluid known as lymph out of the various lymph nodes in your body. This
fluid is something that your body will produce on its own, but the new
fluid that is created after the old fluid is drained out, is much more
effective at disposing of toxic chemicals and waste, killing cancer
cells, and fighting off infection in general. Another reason why Yoga
helps you improve the function of your immune system has to do with the
levels of cortisol in your body. Regular Yoga can help lower cortisol
levels and that is generally a good thing. Yes, increased levels of
cortisol can temporarily increase immune function and it can help with
memory too, but that is not the case for prolonged periods where
cortisol levels are high. Prolonged periods of high cortisol levels can
damage your immune system, decrease your long and short term memory,
can cause depression, and even osteoporosis too. Therefore, Yoga can
help prevent all of those conditions by regulating your adrenal glands
and your overall cortisol levels.
Benefit #5: Heart Health & Increasing Blood Flow
Now to be clear, most of the things you do in Yoga are not technically considered to be aerobic exercises,
which is the kind of exercise needed to increase the health of your
heart, but that is not always true because Yoga can actually improve your heart health.
You can actually perform Yoga at a fast pace or engage in certain types
of Yoga which incorporate aspects of aerobic fitness. In essence, this
means that you get your heart pumping at an aerobic level, which means
that it is pumping much faster than normal. Your heart beating much
faster than normal is akin to lifting weights for your muscles, or in
other words, it makes it stronger and more efficient. Having a healthier
heart has many different benefits
including the lowering of your resting heart rate, the increased
efficiency of your heart, a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes, a
reduction in heart and arterial disease, and increased endurance too.
One of the biggest benefits that you get from Yoga and aerobic exercise
in general is that it will help lower your blood pressure, plus of course, provide you with a longer and healthier life
in general. Moreover, many Yoga exercises and poses also help to
increase circulation, and not only because your heart works more
efficiently. This is because poses such as those where you twist parts
of your body help to wring blood out of your organs, send it back to
your lungs and heart for oxygenation, and ultimately help to bring more
fresh blood to your organs, something which benefits them in multiple
ways. Certain poses such as handstands
can also help blood flow more readily from the legs and pelvis back to
your heart, something that can help you if you suffer from swollen
ankles, swollen legs, and kidney problems too. Finally, Yoga can also
help create more hemoglobin in your blood, which are the things that
carry oxygen throughout your body, thus giving your body a better supply
of oxygen, something which it needs for many different things including
physical activity. On a side note, the aerobic effects of certain Yoga
poses and types of Yoga also help to increase the efficiency at which
your lungs absorb and process oxygen, which is also known as VO2, thus
allowing your body to use more oxygen.
The combination of better circulation, a more efficient heart, more
oxygen carrying hemoglobin, and stronger lungs all lead to one main
benefit, that being increased muscular endurance and a better ability to
perform physical activity for a prolonged period of time.
Benefit #6: Maintaining A Healthy Digestive System
The next benefit that you get from doing Yoga is that it can prevent
and control digestion issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, and can
help you digest food better even if you do have a healthy digestive
system. This is because Yoga involves a lot of twisting poses
that cause your bowels and intestines to contract and loosen. The long
term effect of this is that Yoga stimulates your body to pass food and
waste through itself more quickly, thus aiding in proper digestion,
good nutrient absorption, and regularity in the bathroom. Instead of
pounding back glasses full of that disgusting Metamucil, you can always
try doing some Yoga instead.
Benefit #7: Bettering Your Posture – Your Back
Another benefit that you can get from doing even minimal Yoga is an improvement in your overall posture.
Since Yoga does a lot to make your more flexible and limber, and also
helps to strengthen your core and back muscles, the result will be
better posture. Having good posture, which means having a straight back
with your head directly above it, requires a strong core,
back, shoulders, and good neck muscles too. Yoga is something that
through various poses will help strengthen all of the necessary muscles
needed for good posture. Having good posture is not only good for
looking more confident and taller, but also for your physical health.
When you have bad posture, you will most likely be slouched over with
your head leaning forward, something that can cause fatigue in your neck
and back. When you have good posture with a straight back and your head
perfectly above your back, it takes a lot less effort for your muscles
to keep you balanced and upright, therefore decreasing muscle fatigue.
Moreover, having good posture is also a great way to relieve daily
pains. This is because bad posture often leads to neck, back, and leg
pain, all things which some regular Yoga exercises can help get rid of.
On a side note, Yoga is also good for your back,
especially your spinal disks because they can get damaged and compress
nerves. Some simple Yoga moves can go a long way in decompressing your
spine and the nerves in it, plus it helps deliver much-needed nutrients
to your spinal cord too.
Benefit #8: Increased Cognitive Abilities
Something else that Yoga is shown to help you with is with a long list of cognitive abilities.
First of all, Yoga requires a whole lot of focus and concentration,
both things which can be improved through training. Without
concentration and focus, you can’t really do Yoga. Exercise like Yoga is
also known to cause an increase in the production of neurotransmitters
in your brain as well as the rate at which those transmitters function.
This has the effect of increasing your long and short term memory, your
focus and concentration, your problem solving skills, and your overall cognitive abilities.
Yoga is also a type of exercise that concentrates on being in touch
with your mind and improving mental skills, something which everybody
can definitely benefit from.
Benefit #9: Better Bone Health
The next benefit you need to take advantage of through Yoga are the serious bone building benefits
that it brings to the table. Many Yoga positions are known as weight
bearing exercises. Weight bearing exercises are any kind of exercises
which force a certain part of your body to hold up your own body weight
and put a larger than normal amount of strain and pressure on your
bones. This has the effect of increasing the strength, size, and density
of your bones. There are many Yoga poses which have you on your legs,
or just one leg, and many which have you supporting your weight with your arms.
Well, when you do any of those things, the weight you put on your bones
causes the cells in your bones known as osteoblasts to generate more
bone mass, thus resulting in thicker, denser, and stronger bones. This
is a very useful benefit, especially as you get older because old age
can cause bone diseases such as osteoporosis, something which can be
prevented or mitigated through bone building exercises such as Yoga.
Moreover, having stronger bones also means that you have a lower chance
of suffering a fracture or broken bone.
Benefit #10: It Helps Make You Happier
Yoga is also good for your mind, not just for your body. Yoga is good
because it helps to provide your mind with more beneficial
neurochemicals. Yoga is shown to increase the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and certain endocannabinoids, all of which are shown to make you feel happier, decrease anxiety, and help get rid of the effects of depression
too. These neurochemicals are all very important for your mental
wellbeing and for regulating mood. This phenomenon of exercise producing
neurochemicals which make you feel happier, elated, and joyful, is also
known as the runner’s high. Also, Yoga is shown to decrease the amount
of monoamine oxidase in your brain. This is a substance that breaks down
neurotransmitters, something which negatively affects your mood and
cognitive abilities. The bottom line is that Yoga can provide for a happier you
and that is a big bonus. On a side note, Yoga is also shown to relieve
stress and relieve you of negative feelings such as anger and rage.
Benefit #11: Improving Your Balance
Yet another big benefit that you can reap from doing Yoga is an increased ability to balance.
Yoga involves a whole lot of odd positions that force you to balance,
something that is otherwise known as proprioception. Your balance is
actually regulated by things called proprioceptors. Well, just like with
your bones, muscles, memory, and more, the more you do balance training,
the better your proprioceptors become at accommodating for positional
shifts and imbalances in order to help your body stay upright. Having better balance is a great thing to have, especially if you like sports that require a lot of it, sports such as skating or hockey, or even gymnastics too.
Conclusion
The fact of the matter is that the benefits of Yoga definitely
outweigh any preconceived notions that you may have about it. Your
strength, balance, flexibility, digestion, mental abilities, happiness,
and more will all benefit from this awesome discipline so you should definitely give it a try
as soon as you can! If you have any questions or comments about Yoga,
please feel free to shoot us a message and we will get back to you at
the first available opportunity.
I was fortunate enough to have started Tai Chi a moving meditation at a very early age. Practising Tai Chi for over 25 years has allowed me to build a solid foundation to support the most important aspect of EQ development, which is attention training.
If you are interested in supporting yourself or helping the teams you
manage, the links below can help you learn more about EQ training.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/11-benefits-of-yoga.jpg341840jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2019-06-12 14:15:002022-05-02 15:51:1111 benefits of yoga that will have you wondering why you never tried it before
Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. To know yourself is to master self awareness. Self-awareness is positively correlated with higher levels of overall happiness.
The first step for practicing self-awareness is gaining a greater
awareness of your emotions. The second step is making a habit of
tracking your feelings. Begin to track your most positive feelings and
your most negative feelings. This is where Fettle can assist.
Fettle: state or condition of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or
form – often used in the phrase, “In Fine Fettle”. What is your fettle
state?
Every Evening Score Your Day. Rate it between -2, -1, 0, +1 & +2.
Write a brief paragraph of the days highlights. Write down your most
positive feelings and your most negative feelings.
learn to see what makes your life a low 🙁 of -2 OR a HIGH 🙂 of +2.
Overtime you will build a picture and drill down to see what in your
life sparks a +2 🙂 and what provokes a -2 🙁
You will begin to notice patterns and trends. Begin to see what makes you truly happy!
To learn more the app is also available as a web app at fettle.life
I was fortunate enough to have started Tai Chi a moving meditation at a very early age. Practicing Tai Chi for over 25 years has allowed me to build a solid foundation to support the most important aspect of EQ development, which is attention training.
If you are interested in supporting yourself or helping the teams you
manage, the links below can help you learn more about EQ training.
Travel is the new meditation. I think a shift in scenery does bring a newness to the present moment. Definitely makes me want to travel more 🙂
This definitely makes me want to travel more. Or just get out of
the city and head somewhere local. A shift in scenery does bring a
newness to the present moment. Thought this was a great post.
After eight years of being a wandering gypsy, I’ve made a discovery…
Travel is the new meditation. Travel breeds mindfulness, anchoring us in
the ‘present moment’. Travel is good for the mind and soul, and this
might just be why it feels so darn fantastic.
As hundreds of articles and zillions of Yoga classes are already
teaching us, ‘the present moment’ is what it’s all about. Buddhists have
spent centuries learning how to remain there, as have rishis and yogis,
and now westerners have joined the party.
We are slowly becoming aware of how powerful this whole ‘being in the
moment’ really is: the place of whole awareness, devoid of unnecessary
thought. The present moment is the divine space where we become
connected with what is right in front of us, and right within us,
without any worries concerning the past, and without any future
imaginings.
Personally, remaining present links directly to a clear and calm
mind. In those rare, fleeting moments when I can actually find complete
presence, without past worries or future anxieties, I am empowered by
feelings of oneness, gratitude, boosted intuition, acceptance, peace,
and best of all, I feel that I am actually in control of that crazy
monkey mind, which often becomes a little too crazy and starts to take
control of me.
The benefits are clear. But how does this link to travel? I began
questioning why I felt so much more fulfilled, more energetic, more
myself when I was travelling, yet not so much at home when working the
daily grind. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a big sad sack when I’m on my
home turf. There’s beauty and gratitude and happiness scattered
everywhere. However, despite those moments of happiness at home, for me
there always seemed to be an overwhelming need to count down to the next
trip.
Could this be because when I’m travelling I am more present? Do I
feel more myself because this increased sense of presence connects me
more to who I am? I vote yes. Here’s why travel captures our presence,
thus can be classed as our new form of meditation:
1. WE MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY MOMENT.
When we are travelling there is the sense that there is always an
expiration date to what we are experiencing. This motivates us to take
in every moment with a deeper sense of gratitude and mindfulness. We
make the effort to see every sunrise or sunset. We taste our food,
because alas, this may be the last mango we eat for months. Making the
most of each moment, means that we are in the moment. Being in the
moment makes it a meditation.
2. WE ARE GUIDED INTO THE PRESENT BY OUR SENSES.
When we first visit a new place, we are often so amazed by everything
that we see, that it’s difficult not to be in the present moment. Unlike
home, where we do the same commute that leads our head so far out of
the present that we can arrive home and we don’t even remember driving.
When we are travelling, we are lured into noticing. The views, the
sounds, the smells, they take our breath away and entice that curiosity
within us. Curiosity in the people that we are meeting, the history that
we are learning, or the new music or languages that we are hearing
allow us to savour every moment, capturing our presence.
3. THERE’S LESS PLUG IN TIME.
Although Internet connections are now accessible pretty much anywhere, I
still find that travel leads you away from ‘plug in time’ a little
more. Less TV, less phone calls, less accessible Internet connection 24⁄7.
If meditation aims to connect us to ourselves, then our connection to
technology is doing the opposite. Less plug in time, more ‘connect with
self’ time.
4. THERE’S NO TIME FOR DWELLING ON THE PAST.
If you are feeling sad, you’re living in the past. If you’re feeling
anxious, you’re living in the future. This is one of the oldest
explanations as to why mindfulness and meditating on the present is good
for us. Luckily for us, travel kind of eradicates past and future
because as we’ve mentioned, the present is just so amazing it’s hard to
take our mind off it. Yes, there may be the odd long bus journey or
transit time, but even these moments are sprinkled with that lovely
feeling of excitement. The life of a traveller is an adventurous one,
packed with activities, new people, new life lessons, glorious sites,
and experiences that fill us with awe. Where in the busy life of a
traveller do we have time to feel sad or regretful about anything that
may have happened in our past? Present moment time = meditation time.
5. WE CONNECT TO NATURE.
What is travel without sightseeing? And what is sightseeing without
viewing natural phenomena? Travel connects us to nature and the world
around us. As we wander around drinking in sights of rolling hills, of
animals frolicking in the grass, of the sunrays catching the flower
buds, or the perfect jungle pathway to break out our yoga pose, we are
connecting, noticing, meditating. Yes, these meditations can be done at
home, but how often do we break the daily grind to do them? Travel
ignites a light in us that inspires us to truly see, and to truly
connect.
So what are you waiting for? Make your next trip your meditation.
Retreats are a great way to travel and to experience something out of
the ordinary. You know, just in case you needed another excuse to go
ahead and book that ticket. Do it. Your mind and soul will thank you.
I was fortunate enough to have started Tai Chi a moving meditation at a very early age. Practising Tai Chi for over 25 years has allowed me to build a solid foundation to support the most important aspect of EQ development, which is attention training.
If you are interested in supporting yourself or helping the teams you
manage, the links below can help you learn more about EQ training.
https://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/5-reasons-why-travel-is-the-new-meditation.jpg341840jamiehttps://dantian.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/learn_tai_chi_james_godwin-1.pngjamie2017-03-19 15:09:282022-05-02 15:51:275 reasons why travel is the new meditation