Zen-Kiaido Holistic System
Change comes from within you, Direction comes from us
Why Zen-Kiaido?
You want a change in your life, but the first thing that you are going to do is a typical search with google, the phonebook or yahoo. Then you are going to look for a mass produced fitness regimen that is a clone of every other system. Obviously, you must seek out something different in order to provide a new direction for you.
Fortunately you have found a unique pathway here.
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Fortunately you have found a unique pathway here.
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What is Ki-ai-do?
‘Ki’ is energy; it is everywhere. The air you breathe is just as important as exercise and what you eat. Remember that fire needs oxygen and so does your body. Learning to focus your energy increases your confidence as well as your health.
‘ai’ is harmony. You must balance your inner energy with outer external forces. Balance is sought with all aspects of your life including nature. You cannot ignore nature, since it is your only source of new oxygen.
‘do’ or (tao) is your way or your lifestyle. Consider how you incorporate every aspect of your life and keep everything balanced; this is your 'do'.
Zen-Kiaido is a way of balancing your lifestyle for greater harmony.
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‘ai’ is harmony. You must balance your inner energy with outer external forces. Balance is sought with all aspects of your life including nature. You cannot ignore nature, since it is your only source of new oxygen.
‘do’ or (tao) is your way or your lifestyle. Consider how you incorporate every aspect of your life and keep everything balanced; this is your 'do'.
Zen-Kiaido is a way of balancing your lifestyle for greater harmony.
.
Philosophy
We noticed that many people desire to enhance their life and seek balance, but they make only one change. Balance requires adding weights to both sides of the scale. We came to the conclusion that a modification of lifestyle is required for total balance. Extreme changes are overwhelming; therefore, small changes in multiple areas are more achievable and collectively more effective. The setting is small group instruction (ideally four practitioners), allowing for interaction and discussion. Concept and ideas are discussed to enhance the mind. Small diet changes are also discussed to improve the body. Martial art forms and techniques are utilized to gain confidence. Basic yoga exercises are included to focus on balance. Lifestyle changes include utilizing all your senses; smells and sounds enhance your mood, just as much as your physical and visual senses do.
This is a very comprehensive set of concepts that you perform everyday, all day, not just for a few hours a week. Attuning with nature must become an increased priority in an ever-growing urban world, but often neglected. Meditation clears our minds and teaches us to relax. Frequent meditation allows us to achieve a clear state of mind much quicker. So when an unexpected, stressful situation arises, you can breathe and overcome the obstacle, much easier. If you feel that other individual changes have not worked for you and that our concepts are in-line with your goals, then contact us for more details.
Thank You,
Zen-Kiaido Centre
This is a very comprehensive set of concepts that you perform everyday, all day, not just for a few hours a week. Attuning with nature must become an increased priority in an ever-growing urban world, but often neglected. Meditation clears our minds and teaches us to relax. Frequent meditation allows us to achieve a clear state of mind much quicker. So when an unexpected, stressful situation arises, you can breathe and overcome the obstacle, much easier. If you feel that other individual changes have not worked for you and that our concepts are in-line with your goals, then contact us for more details.
Thank You,
Zen-Kiaido Centre
Kiai
Some novices see a kiai as a shout performed to enhance technique, but it is not just a shout. Simply yelling does not increase your power. ‘Ai’ is harmony and ‘ki’ is energy; a kiai is an example of focus. All of your energy, technique and body are concentrated into a synchronized unit. Breathing must be aligned with your focus. Ensuring your feet are grounded provides a firm base for a hand technique. Tightening your stomach creates proper body alignment, protects your back, protects your stomach and enhances proper breathing. In order to use your hands to their maximum potential, your energy, feet, legs, core, head, breathing, focus, arms and hands must be in harmony. The kiai is the harmony between everything around you, and yourself; sometimes a shout accompanies this synchronized exertion. Meditation must also be performed with total harmony of our surroundings and ourselves. Consider meditation as a form of kiai without shouting.
Background
Fifteen hundred years ago, Bodhidharma travelled from India to China to spread his belief of Zen Buddhism. He began teaching upon his arrival, but quickly realized that a strong and healthy body was necessary in order to develop our mind. Bodhidharma introduced a martial system to build the body and prepare it for Zen; he introduced a lifestyle change. Abraham Maslow identified physical needs (including health) on the way towards actualization, in his hierarchy of needs. Bodhidharma provided the method for addressing those needs through meditation and training in the martial ways, developing both strength and confidence. Zen-Kiaido is a system that combines the past and present along with Eastern and Western philosophies to achieve a lifestyle change.
Laredo, Texas
