The Shaolin Guide To Believing In Yourself

John Wooden, an American basketball player and coach said,

" Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can"

I see this in the students who come and do personal trainingwith me. They focus on what they can't or perceive they can't do. I train them hard so that there mind can no longer keep up with their body, it's then that all thinking stops and they surprise themselves by doing something their mind had told them was impossible.

It's the same with people who train with my DVDs. I've created a graded path starting from beginner level and working up so that all you need is yourself and a DVD player. You don't need any equipment and you need very little space. The teachings are exactly the same as what is taught at the Shaolin Temple in China. Exercises designed to help you let go of your thinking mind and get a direct experience of Zen.

Through making these DVDs I've removed the can't. If you really want to train then you can. You don't need to go to China. You don't need to go to a gym or a dojo. So stop making excuses. Start where you are. Now is the only place. Now is the perfect place. The way you approach your training gives you an insight into the way you approach your life. 

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4 Small Steps To Wellness

1) One small step

"When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur... Don't look for the big, quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time." John Wooden - successful basketball coach

Taking one small step makes our training manageable. If you can keep your skill over the winter months and not lose your stamina or technique this means you are improving. If you've stopped training, then take two movements from The Eight Treasures Qigong form and practice them for a few minutes every morning. It will make you feel better and give you the motivation to keep going.

2) Integrate the training into your life

Everything we do can be an expression of our Shaolin training. When we stand in a queue we can spend that time to go over in our mind the form we are practicing. When we walk to the supermarket we can walk quickly to help our fitness. If you have kids, go to the park and play football or tag. Teach your kids how to do the Five Fundamental Stances and have fun with it.

3) Get outside

The more you stay inside the more you start to feel lazy so try to go outside at least once a week and do your training in a park or an outside space. It may be a little cold but the autumn air is cool and refreshing. Training outside can help to ground and connect us with the greater Qi.  

4) Stay in the present moment

 "The moon's reflection on the surface of the water moves incessantly. Yet the moon shines and goes nowhere; it stays but it moves"

Now never returns. Every breath we breathe can never come back. The breath that comes after is never the one that came before. Yesterday was yesterday and today is different. If we can concentrate on the here and now then we can keep our practice fresh and new.

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One Small Step To Transform Your Training

 For this blog post you will need a pen and paper.

 What small step can you take to improve your health and fitness? 

Or, if you're a martial artist or fighter, what small step can you take to make your skill better?

Write it down  - writing something down increases the likelihood that you will do it.  

Don't make it ambitious - The Tao Te Ching says: "With expectation, One will always perceive the boundary" 

Make sure it's simple and doable.

If it isn't then think again.

Schedule this small step into your diary for the whole month.

Make a note of where you are now so that you will be able to see the improvement you've made.

Keep acting on this small step. (This one step is something you're going to build on later on and I'll explain how in next month's blog post. )

The famous basketball coach, John Wooden says, "When you improve a little every day, eventually big things occur. Don't look for the big quick improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time... and eventually a big gain is made."

The Tao Te Ching says, "A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Starts With A Single Step."

Trust in their wisdom. Trust in this small step. Don't doubt it. Just Do It. 

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