The Lotus Flower
blossoms from the mud

Awakening The Warrior Within

From Worrier To Warrior: You are your own biggest enemy. If you can conquer yourself, you can conquer anything.

The Taoist approach of evoking the Spirit and actively using the mind as a healing mechanism, while developing the strength and flexibility of the body, and expanding the lung capacity for optimal oxygen intake, is more ‘aggressive’ than many other healing techniques. This attitude is the seed of the concept of ‘Awakening the Warrior Within’. The warrior stays relaxed and focused in stressful situations by controlling his or her mind, body, & spirit.

While staying in the desired Alpha and Theta brainwave range, which is a deeply relaxed state, a practitioner can maintain a quiet, yet “aggressive” healing mind. This Warrior mentality could be the key to achieving the task of activating the healing abilities within us. The West has already documented cases where patients¹ health improves due to a mental visualization of treatment, known as the "placebo effect".

What is it to be truly relaxed? The first level of relaxation may be when we look relaxed, from the outside. We may pass by a friend who says, ‘You look so relaxed’, while inside we are actually a mess of nerves. There is a second level of relaxation. Most people think that they are “totally” relaxed lying on the beach, however, often on the beach we are completely physically collapsed. This physical collapse puts stress and tension on the spine and internal organs, which causes stagnation of Qi energy and blood circulation. On the beach, our mind may be wandering, excited, asleep, or in a state other than deep, focused relaxation.

To achieve a true, deep level of relaxation one needs to engage both mind and body. When physical strain is alleviated, we reach physical transparency. When the physical and the mental work together, the highest levels of “real” relaxation are achieved.

Optimal relaxation comes when our brainwaves are in a semi-sleeping Theta state, and our body maintains enough muscular tension, in the proper alignment.

This condition is not easily maintained, however. Before the benefits of these soothing, meditative brainwaves are gained, one may often fall asleep. The Eastern arts have developed methods to help us remain in this state longer than is normally possible. One does not fall asleep while standing, moving slowly, or even sitting with a straight spine and a raised Spirit. When we are in the specified postures, we have a better chance to achieve the desired brainwave and remain there long enough to make a difference.