The Tao of Inner Outer You Harmony
"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." - Buddha
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Summer is here and it's a great time to get physical! A few weekends ago my brother-in-law and I played a
game of baseball catch for 3 hours. I thought for sure my arm would be sore over the next few days being that I haven't thrown a ball around like that in a few years or more. I was surprised to wake up each morning and discover that arm felt great! Of course I do play volleyball every week and practice and teach martial arts a few times a week, so I'm sure that had something to do with how good I feel.
What have you been doing for fitness so far this year? And no, lifting a beer doesn't count as part of your fitness regime. There are thousands of excuses why you shouldn't exercise but there is only one why you should. Ready for it? If we as human beings weren't meant to exercise then we would only be brainstem. No
legs, arms or torso just a brain. However this is not the case so lets get physical! If you think you can't exercise because of an existing medical condition contact me and I will help you with a customized exercised plan just for you! I've already done it for so many people who thought they couldn't and were astonished to find out that even with their condition, they could
still exercise with specialized routine!
For your health and well-being,
Terry Hodgkinson your MindFit Coach |
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Healing Drum Circle by the Lake |
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When: Saturday, June 13th Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm Where: At the Lake bottom of 23rd street,
Lakeshore Boulevard, Etobicoke (behind Humber College and the water filtration plant) Rain: In case of rain we will meet at my office instead: Positive Changes - 4895B Dundas Street,
Etobicoke Cost: No fee but if you have a drum bring it along! Our drum circle leader, Owen
Durkin will bring 10 drums for people who don't have one.
Experience the Healing Power of a Drum Circle by the Lake (Toronto west end) Join Terry Hodgkinson, MindFit Coach and Wandering Ninja and Owen Durkin, International Musician & Music Educator who is here for a short time from Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Africa Indigenous cultures have been practicing community percussion for thousands of years; now it's your chance to
experience the power and harmony of a drum circle.
Why attend this event? Drumming releases negative feelings, blockages, and emotional trauma Drumming reduces stress, tension, and anxiety Drumming provides for natural pain control Drumming fights depression Drumming provides a medium for individual self-realization Drumming is a time-honoured method of healing and helping others. Drum
circles provide the opportunity for people of like mind to unite for the attainment of a shared objective. There is power in drumming alone, but that power recombines and multiplies on many simultaneous levels in a group of drummers. The drums draw individual energies together, unifying them into a consolidated, healing and centering force.
"When, at the beginning of summer, thunder—electrical energy—comes rushing forth from the earth again, and the first thunderstorm refreshes nature, a prolonged state of tension is resolved. Joy and relief make themselves felt. So too, music has power to ease tension within the heart and to loosen the grip of obscure emotions. The enthusiasm
of the heart expresses itself involuntarily in a burst of song, in dance and rhythmic movement of the body. From immemorial times the inspiring effect of the invisible sound that moves all hearts, and draws them together, has mystified mankind." #16 Enthusiasm, I – Ching
Reserve your spot for this day ASAP!
Email to sign up
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Discover Inner Harmony and how to Flow with the Tao on the Wudang Mountain Retreat in China |
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I'm excited to present to you my brand new endeavour called Tao Travel - Journeys that Enlighten the Soul! (Website to come) As many of you already know, I have traveled quite extensively and have learned a great deal regarding other countries, cultures, people but most importantly about myself! Often I would return home from my wanderings and tell people about the
various soul enriching experiences I was fortunate to have, only to look into their eyes and see they really only understood what I shared conceptually but not with their whole being! Of course this is natural as they weren't there and therefore could only appreciate what I shared in a limited manner.
The purpose of Tao
Travel is to bring my family, friends and anyone else who is of like mind and travel with me to experience what I do on these amazing retreats. I figured that if I couldn't bring these incredible soul enriching experiences home to you in full then I will bring you along so you can have them too, then we can reminisce, and enjoy them together for the rest of our lives! Read More
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Tao (pronounced as Dao) in Chinese philosophy means the absolute principle underlying
the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behaviour, that is in harmony with the natural order (nature). Tao is not a religion as much as it is an experience and the experience of Tao of course can be had
anywhere. However, Wudang has thousands of years of Taoist practice cultivation and the atmosphere is ripe for finding your own Tao! Located in central China's Hubei province, Wudang is a mountain range with 72 peaks, the main peak, Tianzhu, has an altitude of 1,612 meters. The monasteries and buildings on the summit are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Monasteries on the summit have long been known as an academic center for the research, teaching and practice of meditation, Chinese martial arts (Wudang Mountain is known as the birthplace of internal marital arts), traditional Chinese medicine, Taoist agriculture practices and Taoist music, following a centuries-old formula.
Over many centuries seekers from all over China have made their way to
Wudang to learn the Taoist Methods of Immortality. Wudang Mountain has rich plant resources. About 600 of the 1,800 medicinal herbs recorded in the Compendium of Materia Medica and can be found in the area. The mountain's rugged peaks are covered in old-growth forest, along with its ancient monasteries, some built to fit the contours of the cliffs. The complex was designed to fit the Taoist principle of harmony between man and nature. Magnificent buildings are cited as a museum of
ancient Chinese design and thought and are located all over the mountain. There are more than 2,000 Palaces and Temples, making this complex the world’s largest Taoist center.
Join Sifu Terry Hodgkinson and Dr. Patrick Porter from November 30th to December 12th and Discover your Tao at the Wudang Mountain Retreat.
Trip Basic Outline 2015:
Monday, November 30th participants arrive in Beijing. You will be picked up from the airport and taken to the hotel where we will all meet and sleep that
night.
Tuesday, December 1st - Tour the Forbidden City in Beijing in the morning. Later afternoon we fly two hours to Xiangyang close to where Wudang Mountain is located. We have a bus waiting to take us from the airport to Wudang Mountain, about an hour and a half trip, and then
get settled in to our hotel. Yes Wudang Mountain is rather remote but this is all part of the mystic and appeal for why we are going there.
Wednesday, December 2nd through 7th - Visit different areas on the mountain with periods of meditation and Qigong practice. Below is a list of activities and places we will visit on Wudang Mountain these 5
days.
* Tai Chi at the Purple Cloud Palace * Qigong at the South Cliff Temple * Meditation at the Golden Hall on Tianzhu Peak * Taoist Tea Ceremony * Chant with Taoist Monks * Visit Tai Chi Lake for a Kung Fu demonstration and some sight seeing * Taoist Forest
Walk * Surprise event
Tuesday, December 8th - Check into the Wudang Academy - School of Internal Martial Arts. For the next three days we will be learning from the Taoist Chinese Masters, Tai Chi, Qigong and Meditation.
Thursday, December 10th - Evening flight back to Beijing.
Friday, December 11th - Visit and walk on the Great Wall
of China
Saturday, December 12th - Flight back home.
Cost of the trip:
You pay for your return flight to China ( Fly into and out of Beijing)
The fee for the entire ground package while in China is $2197.00 This fee includes 3 meals a day, accommodations, air and ground transportation, tuitions, event and attraction fees.
Pictures of Wudang Mountain and Area |
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What People said about the Heal, Energize and Flourish Full Day Workshop |
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“The Heal, Energize and Flourish Workshop led by Terry Hodgkinson was very beneficial to me! I learned some new meditation techniques and got a better understanding/insight into some that I was already familiar with. Also had a chance to gauge how strong my inner critic still may be, and also how far I have come along in not resisting it.” - Hina Mahindru
“Very valuable workshop! I learned to be mindful and pay attention to my body sensations, feelings and thoughts as well as how to improve my concentration. I witnessed my inner child and developed more compassion for myself. The last meditation also helped me to realize we are all connected we are whole. The ripple effect is very powerful. Meditation is installed, thank you Terry Hodgkinson” – Sunny Li
“I received great benefit from this meditation workshop. It was nice to spend an entire day focusing on self/health improvement etc. I was introduced to many
different types of meditation. I'm still "zenning"! Thank you for a great insightful day!” – Carmelle Riendeau
“On this day, I was introduced to a variety of meditation options/techniques. This was a day for me to still the monkey mind. Thank you Terry!” – David Baker
Terry I totally loved your workshop today. You bring an awesome perspective into it with the wisdom that you have gained from your martial arts background and the knowledge that you have acquired from your incredible mystical journeys all over the world. By teaching a variety of different meditations you allow, the body and mind to fully relax.
It also appeals to different personality gifts and learning styles.” – Jacinta Whelan
“I feel calm, more centered and loved the active meditations, i.e. Sufi whirling and Kundalini shaking. Vipassana meditation at the start helped me to focus and prepared me for the other 8 meditations to follow.” – Heather
Gaffield.
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How you know when you really need to go on a retreat... So my friends that's it for this newsletter. I hope you will help me out and pass it around to your friends and social media sites below. Other social media sites that you can connect with Terry:
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Sponsor Terry Hodgkinson for an Event in your City |
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Terry Hodgkinson can lead an event for your group, company or organization in your city. It's a pleasure for him to introduce people to his work and he enjoys leading groups as well as working with people individually. In the past Terry has been sponsored for his skills as confidential coach and
hypnotherapist as well as a teacher in meditation, NLP, martial arts, Chi Kung/Tai Chi and Zen awareness exercises. Please contact Terry for more information. Email Terry Hodgkinson
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