-∞- Microcosmic Orbit -∞-
Microcosmic Orbit
The Microcosmic Orbit is the path of energy that travels from the tantien, up the spine to the crown and down the front channel of the body back to the navel.
From the moment of conception until the early years of life the Microcosmic Orbit runs automatically. However it stops moving at an early age and we need to reactivate it manually.
When open, the Microcosmic Orbit distributes energy to the body promoting good health.
This coming Wednesday, March 9th from 7:00-10:00pm I will conduct a review of last month’s Microcosmic Orbit Workshop.
The workshop will be held at the New Paradigm Center. Please check their website for more details.
The cost of the workshop will be ¥3675.
In this workshop we will focus on opening up the Microcosmic Orbit.
At first we will start with the Inner Smile meditation to relax the body and control the emotions so that we have the concentration power to start moving the energy.
Then we will do the Six Directions meditation practice to feel and connect with the energy around us.
Next we will practice the Iron Shirt Chi Kung with specific breathing techniques to help move the energy from the tantien up into the base the spine from where we can start to circulate the energy in the Microcosmic Orbit.
We will spend some time trying unblock any areas where energy does not flow smoothly.
Finally we will practice some exercises to help move the Microcosmic Orbit more freely.
This workshop can be attended by a beginner however if you have attended some Universal Healing Tao classes already you will find this workshop very beneficial.
-∞- March Schedule -∞-
Be in touch with the source
March is shaping up to be a busy month with lots of Universal Healing Tao classes, a few workshops and also a new course.
Firstly regular UHT classes will take place at the YogaTree in Hiroo every Thursday from 1:00-2:30pm as usual.
The cost is only ¥1500 as it is a community class.
Please check the YogaTree’s website for further details.
Furthermore regular UHT classes will be held at the New Paradigm Center in Yoyogi Uehara on most Wednesday and Friday evenings from 7:30-9:00pm.
The dates of these classes are as follows:
March 2, 4, 9 (Microcosmic Orbit workshop), 16, 18, 24, 26 (workshop) & 29.
The cost of these classes (except for the 9th & 26th) is ¥2625 and reservations can be made through the New Paradigm Center’s website.
After the success of the Microcosmic Orbit workshop last month I will repeat the workshop on the 9th at the New Paradigm Center with a few variations. This time we will spend more time working on clearing energy blockages along the orbit. I will post a review of the previous Microcosmic Orbit workshop on this website.
The workshop will run from 7:00-10:00pm. For reservations please visit the New Paradigm Center’s website.
On Monday March 21st from 5:00-7:00pm I will conduct an Iron Shirt Chi Kung 2 workshop at YuriYoga studio in Nishi Azabu. Following the success of the Iron Shirt Chi Kung workshop in January I will be reviewing the Iron Shirt practice in more detail. Since the Iron Shirt requires consistent practice to master this will be a good opportunity to review the basics and develop some new techniques to help your practice. Beginners are also welcome to attend.
Please check YuriYoga’s website for details and to make a reservation.
Finally, beginning at the end of March on the 28th, I will be teaching a Universal Healing Tao Basic Course: Be in touch with the Source in collaboration with fellow Universal Healing Tao instructor Shizuka Tsuchiya.
This will be a 5 week course introducing the basic practices of the Universal Healing Tao system.
The course will take place every Monday from March 28th to April 25th from 7:00-9:00pm.
UHT Basic Course: Be in touch with the Source
This course will contain the following Universal Healing Tao practices:
- Warm-up routine to open the joints, stretch the tendons and open the energy channels
- Six Directions energy meditation
- Inner Smile meditation
- Tan-den energizer breathing
- Iron Shirt Chi Kung
- Six Healing Sounds
Week 1 (March 28) – Introduction session
We will provide information about the Universal Healing Tao system and the Basic Course with practice of some of the elements that will be taught in the course.
The cost of the Introduction session will be just ¥1000.
Week 2-6 (April 4, 11, 18 & 25)
Over these 4 weeks we will practice the above elements of the Universal Healing Tao in detail.
The cost of each week will be ¥3000.
Advanced payment of all 4 weeks will be ¥10000 (¥2000 discount).
The location of the course will be the Shimo Meguro Community Center which is only 8 minutes walk from JR Meguro Station. Each session will be held in the Japanese tatami room (和室) on the 2nd floor.
Click here for a map of the venue’s location.
Completion of the course will give you a solid foundation in the Universal Healing Tao system with useful practices that you can take home and implement into your daily routine that will dramatically improve your physical and mental condition.
Following the Basic Course you will be able to take part in the Intermediate Course which will focus on the Microcosmic Orbit, Healing Love and Tao Yin Yoga. More details about the Intermediate Course will be coming soon.
The course will be conducted in both English and Japanese.
Please check Shizuka’s website for more details about her Tao practice.
Details in Japanese:
ヒーリングタオのクラス
ユニバーサルヒーリングタオのインストラクター
BenとShizukaによるタオ入門コースです。
ユニバーサルヒーリングタオの教えの核は
—–“Be in touch with the Source”—–
—–大いなる根源の力と繋がる—–ことです。
タオの様々なメソッドを使って身体の感覚を磨き
ハートをオープンにしてその根源と繋がる時
生命エネルギーは自然と身体の中を流れ
ブロックは取り外されて、身体も気持ちも
楽になっていくのが感じられていくでしょう。
日時：3/28 4/4 4/11 4/18 4/25（月曜日）全５回
時間：19:00~21:00
場所：下目黒住区センター２F和室 地図
料金：１回目3/28のイントロダクションナイト￥1000
2回目以降／１回￥3000
2~6回のコースまとめてのお支払は￥10,000
言語：クラスに英語を話す方がいる際、英語も入ります
３／２８：イントロダクションナイト
ユニバーサルヒーリングタオの教えについて
ウォームアップエクササイズ：関節/背骨/腱のストレッチ、呼吸法
６ダイレクション：気を感じるための六方向への気功
インナースマイル瞑想
４／４ ＊ウォームアップエクササイズ
６ダイレクション
インナースマイル瞑想
４／11 ＊ウォームアップエクササイズ
呼吸と打法による内臓のデトックス
６ダイレクション
ヒーリングサウンズ瞑想
４／18 ＊ウォームアップエクササイズ
呼吸と打法による内臓のデトックス
鉄布衫功：基本姿勢
ヒーリングサウンズ瞑想
４／25 ＊ウォームアップエクササイズ
鉄布衫功：基本以外の型
ヒーリングサウンズ瞑想
この５回のコースの後に、小周天、ヒーリングラブ、タオインが続きます。
January Workshops
Happy New Year!!
2011 is going to be a great year and I am looking forward to exciting things happening this year.
First of all I am going to Bali for 10 days vacation. I will be leaving for Narita airport in just over an hour and will return on the morning of January 28th.
Since it is my first time to go to Bali I am really excited.
After I return on the 28th I will be doing 2 workshops to finish off the month.
Here are the details:
Universal Healing Tao Workshop: Iron Shirt Chi Kung
January 29th
Title: Ground yourself through Iron Shirt Chi Kung
Time: 7:00-10:00pm
Location: New Paradigm Center, Yoyogi Uehara
Cost: ¥4200
Based on the Universal Healing Tao System, Iron Shirt Chi Kung is the practice of cultivating internal strength, detoxifying the internal organs and developing a solid grounding and connection to the Earth. The purpose of Iron Shirt Chi Kung is to unify Physical, Mental and Spiritual health.
In today’s “yang” society we are surrounded by so much information and the fast pace of life makes it too easy to loose our grounding and connection to the Earth. Many people become too centered in their minds, scattered and loose the ability to focus clearly.
This workshop will focus on practicing the various forms of Iron Shirt Chi Kung in order to help us to reconnect with the Earth’s “yin” energy and be more centered in our Tan Den which enables us to focus very clearly and make better decisions in life.
The first step will be to understand the importance of being deeply grounding and connected with the Earth. To do this we need to smile internally and down to the Earth to release all of our stress.
We will practice the basic Iron Shirt postures in order to feel how strong we become when we sink our center to the Earth and place our awareness in the Tan Den. After practicing individually we will test each other’s structure in order to help each other develop stronger grounding and more confidence.
By practicing the various postures of Iron Shirt Chi Kung we will also develop strength in the tendons, bones and muscles.
The second step will be to use tan den breathing techniques to detox and cleanse the internal organs and glands. These breathing techniques are very powerful and can be used to increase the flow of hormones in the body and strengthen the immune system.
The third step will be to meditate with our awareness in the Tan Den in order to attract more Chi into the lower Tan Den, prevent Chi from leaking out of the body and learn how to circulate the Chi in the Microcosmic Orbit.
Finally we will finish with the Six Healing Sounds to further detox the internal organs and relax the body.
Further details can be found at the New Paradigm Center website.
January 30th
Title: Ground yourself through Iron Shirt Chi Kung
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location: Yuriyoga studio, Nishi Azabu
Cost: ¥3500
The content will be fairly similar to the previous day’s workshop however since this is a 2 hour workshop it will be a shorter version with less practice time.
Further details can be found at the Yuriyoga’s website.
Back from Thailand
After 3 months of intensive study in Chiang Mai, Thailand, I have just arrived back in Tokyo to cold and rainy weather.
My time in Thailand was very valuable and full of life-changing experiences. The first course I undertook was my Reiki Master degree followed by my Reiki Teacher qualification. I studied with Cory Croymans at the Asian Healing Arts Centre in ChiangMai. I studied there for almost 3 weeks and the classes were interspersed with voluntary Reiki sessions at some of the hospitals and institutions around Chiang Mai. It was a great experience and the energy was very strong. I was able to practice giving attunements to various Reiki practitioners living in and around ChiangMai.
Following the Reiki course I headed down south to Wat Suan Mokkh, near Surat Thani, to take part in their monthly 10 day silent meditation retreat which started on January 1st 2010. It was my second retreat at Wat Suan Mokkh, the first being in July 2008. It was probably the first time I have ever spent a New Year’s Eve in bed and asleep by 10pm. With a full moon party happening on nearby Koh Phangan I was very tempted to be dancing the night away on the beach under the stars however spending a New Year in silent meditation was much more rewarding. The retreat was amazing but the meditation was difficult at times. I realised that it pays to have a consistent daily meditation practice, even if only 10 minutes a day.
Following the retreat at Suan Mokkh I headed straight back to Chiang Mai to check-in at the Tao Garden. Set-up by Master Mantak Chia around 15 years ago, the Tao Garden is a complete health resort spa in a beautiful natural surrounding. I was registered for the Universal Healing Tao Winter Retreat and had been looking forward to it for about 6 months. The 4 week retreat began with the Instructor training course, followed by the basic retreat and then 2 weeks of more advanced training. I also stayed for one week of the Darkness Retreat which involved 6 days in complete darkness. I received my Universal Healing Tao Instructor certification and will soon be offering workshops in and around Tokyo. I am now certified to instruct: Inner Smile meditation, Healing Sounds, Microcosmic Orbit, Iron Shirt Chi Gong and Tao Yin Yoga.
Finally, after leaving the Tao Garden, I spent my last 2 weeks back in Chiang Mai upgrading my massage skills. I started studying with a healer in Chiang Mai, Sharam, who has an amazing gift of healing through massage. Based on traditional Thai massage his style goes deeper and is individualised for each client based on analysis of the client’s physical condition and energy balance. 2 weeks was not enough time to study and practice all of the techniques but I will be implementing what I learnt into my therapy and plan on returning to Chiang Mai for more study sometime this year.
Following are a few of the photos I took in Thailand, mostly at the Tao Garden. More images can also be seen at my photography web-site.
