Believing in the competence and authority of the experts is a firm part of the structure of any society. All fields and professions are dominated by the great representatives of science, medicine, economics, psychology, education etc and it's the experts or those for whom they speak who get the final say on whatever direction has to be taken.

This is obviously very important. Nobody would like to board an airplane with an unprofessional pilot at the controls. This goes for any profession that demands specialised knowledge and experience. That's why the captain is responsible, on a plane or a ship. Staff and passengers do not have the same training and experience and their opinions are therefore mostly irrelevant to the decision making process.

The public needs to have confidence in society's structure and organisation. A loss of confidence could lead to social unrest and the breakup of structures and authority.

It's immediately clear that our highly developed technological societies need a great deal of experienced professionals in almost every walk of life.

However even within science we find many divers and often conflicting scientific theories and interpretations of facts. Main stream media, politicians and vested interest groups want us to believe only in the experts they allow a voice, trying to make sure only they are heard and the public is often unaware of any other, often much better expert opinions.

This may lead to the stubborn upholding of antiquated and discredited paradigms or to the embracing of new but fundamentally flawed and sinister concepts and ideas.

A simple child's confidence in the opinion of the experts can have terrible consequences. It infantilises people; taking away their capacity to make choices based on the availability of information and letting other people make decisions for them, thereby suspending their free will to make educated choices for themselves.

A doctor's diagnosis of cancer may be sufficient to destroy a person. Doctors are held in such high esteem that such a negative pronouncement is interpreted as scientific fact with no hope of escape. None of the alternative methods of diagnosis and treatment are known to modern allopathic medicine and there's no understanding of the link between body and soul.

All holistic approaches to health and disease, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Anthroposophy, Shiatsu etc, emphasise good nutrition, herbal and natural medicine, exercise and deep breathing, detox and various other methods to improve and boost the immune system. This includes looking at life style choices and stress, physical as well as psychological.

For patients, the lack of knowledge, information and confidence usually leads them to go with the established medical system, supported as it is by big business, governments and the media.

For some years now quantum scientists have been emphasising the fact that mind influences matter but this is not applied by the scientific medical establishment. The fact that our ideas, emotions, lifestyle and nutrition shape our physical bodies is still largely unknown or ignored by doctors and hospital food is mostly detrimental to the healing process.

The fact that doctors, that is the experts, are mostly totally unaware of any of this means they are badly trained and educated and don't serve the public interest. They serve vested interests. One of the greatest contributory factors of disease is the slow poisoning by medication. Malpractice is officially regarded as the third most common reason for death in the US, after heart disease and cancer. However if you look at the reasons for heart or kidney failure you find out that these people have a long history of being treated with toxic medication which always lowers the immune system and eventually leads to more illness and disease.

Doctors wilfully get patients hooked on drugs, slowly destroying their body’s capacity to heal itself, pretending that disease is a question of bad luck or statistics which has nothing to do with the individual. The patient is placed in a hierarchical system where he's simply told what to do and not made aware of his own responsibility and free will in the healing process. Other expert opinions are simply ignored. On the contrary they are told that holistic medicine doesn't work, that it's wishful thinking or to do with the placebo effect. The causes of disease are mere mechanical malfunctioning, old age or being part of a statistical calculation. If none of this fits it’s the virus.

Western medicine loves the idea that we can get infected by a virus because then they can sell a vaccine which in turn lowers immunity even more ! nothing like an invisible enemy to frighten the life out of people and then conveniently come up with the solution.

Many diseases are caused by vaccinations. This is not about health but about business. It has been well documented that many modern vaccines are toxic. In the USA, Gulf War Syndrome was officially recognised as a disease suffered by US soldiers in the middle east in the 90s. Needless to say they had all had the jab. A fellow journalist who reported from there was very ill for a few weeks after receiving this vaccine which was a cocktail of sorts. Whether it contributed to his later heart problems I cannot say but this is not a healthy way to boost immunity. It’s toxic !!

Vaccines are presented as humanitarian objectives and have been often applied with devastating effects in Africa and India.

The so-called AIDS virus was combatted with the most toxic drugs in the US and elsewhere. Medication so bad that it was banned as an anti-cancer drug. It was then legalised and used on AIDS patients with devastating effect. By telling people they had a virus and there was nothing they could do the establishment could unleash this “treatment” on an ignorant populace. Behind the compulsion to take the drug was the fear that if you didn’t you would die anyway. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Toxic drugs are imposed on an ignorant populace with the connivance of industry, governments, lawyers and the control of the media. The only too real consequences are suppressed.

Real healing must involve strengthening the body’s defensive capacity and exercising free will to liberate the spirit. Freeing it from negative emotions and thoughts and energise the vital body. It must involve the patient so he can understand for himself how his lifestyle and habits, levels of toxicity, immune capacity, stress responses, emotional well being and soul life are at the root of his problems and that disease is but the expression of this. Holistic medicine is far better suited in dealing with any infection, chronic illness and degenerative disease than modern allopathic medicine.

The so-called experts are usually drawn from the lowest common denominator, yes-men who owe their position and power precisely to the fact that there's nothing original about them. Many great institutions are stacked with these functionaries who play the game to rise to prominence, feathering their own nests and are at best good administrators of what has been established before.

If governments truly had their nation’s health in mind they would never take any advice from these so-called experts and legalise so many toxic drugs.

The latest global epidemic is a case in point. Its a fear based epidemic. The testing and all figures released are unreliable. Here in Spain the government has forbidden people to go outside doing any exercise, children have been stuck at home for months and the beaches and swimming is banned. Any normal government would help boost their citizens immune systems by making sure they breathe lots of healthy fresh air, take lots of exercise, eat more healthily and dispense vitamin and mineral compounds and pro-biotics. Boosting morale and helping people deal positively with any health issues is a must as this also boosts immunity.

Fear and immobility lower the immune system considerably. Interestingly even churches are closed making sure that many people are severed from their spiritual practice which could do so much to raise vibrations and give people solace and comfort. This crisis has been terribly mismanaged, relying once again on the so-called experts to push an agenda hidden from view.

Belief in the authority of the experts has led even fairly critical and intelligent people astray. This sorry state of affairs is to be expected in countries known for corruption, despotism and religious intolerance but we need to realise that propaganda and fake news are important weapons used by all governments.

My studies of history and politics, Chinese Medicine and Yoga, Anatomy and Physiology together with my experience as a journalist, therapist and teacher, have given me ample evidence of how information is manipulated or invented. Why is obvious. There's something to be gained and the lie has to be sustained until it's accepted and held up as gospel truth.

These lies and propaganda are not limited to modern medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.

Most wars start with lies, ie that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. It is only when we start digging for more information that we can start to unravel the real events and causes behind the media smoke screens with their “expert” talking heads. We have a duty to remain sceptical and inform ourselves as much as possible so that we can make our own decisions free of fear and other people’s agenda for us.

So how do we distinguish between true experts and the charlatans who just wear the robes and have the official position and perks attached. Handing over our own faculty to think is dangerous both to the individual and to society and therefore the evolution of civilisation at large.

But belief in authority is underpinned at every level of society and starts at school if not before. We are all lulled into believing what we want to believe or because we have grown up with and are loyal to the belief systems of our own group and its cultural references. Realising that our treasured notions do not correspond to the facts can be very painful as well as putting us at odds with family and friends.

How long did it take Americans to realise that the Vietnam war was unjust and cruel. How long to realise that the Iraq war was just a scam. Realising that you've been had is never a pleasant experience once you've bought into something. All countries use indoctrination and propaganda as weapons of cohesion to sway the masses or “educate” the people, while those in power make their decisions behind closed doors following secret agendas.

The only way out is to move into a personal realm of freedom and empowerment. Understanding the motives behind the ideas. Understanding why we buy into certain notions and why we become so emotionally involved, defending our ideas to the point of fanaticism instead of keeping an open mind.

It is “keeping an open mind” which keeps us fundamentally healthy as it speaks of an ability to allow new information to be assimilated. This builds trust and confidence in one’s own capacities through experience which in turn leads to greater understanding and empowerment. Taking our health into our own hands is the first step to freedom and transformation.

In order to find truth we must be sure to keep our critical faculties as well as staying open minded. It is important to realise that by simply trusting expert opinion we are disempowered, giving up our own freedom to think and to act. It is only by applying our critical faculties and developing discernment that we can free ourselves from the web of emotional responses, manipulation and false ideas that percolate in society due to false and fake information peddled by main stream media, politicians, school books and universities as methods of control.

When saint Francis of Assisi embraced the lepers everybody was stunned. Where did this man find the courage they asked to be so bold. There was only love and no fear and everyone felt ashamed because deep down they knew they were beholden to fear and superstition while this man was only full of love and compassion. Needless to say he didn’t contract leprosy. And by seeing one man’s example many others were empowered and emboldened to live from the heart and cast off their superstitions.

Copyright: Gerry Rixen 2020

In the 70s and 80s we held the word ZEN in awe. Some good books had been written and its direct approach to living and experiencing the teachings of Buddha made it the preferred option of spiritual practice for many.

The Zen taught in London at the time was mostly of Japanese origin and my first introduction came through the Martial Arts. Then there was Zen Macrobiotics and of course Zen Shiatsu which I studied with Nigel Dawes and Veronica Howard who had recently returned to the UK after an extended period in Japan.

Nowadays Zen has become commonplace and it seems that a lot of people who study and even teach Zen Shiatsu have absolutely no idea what it means. In fact I find far more people ignorant nowadays than before because it’s become a popular adjective almost unrelated to its original meaning. So everybody has heard of it but nobody knows what it means.

Zen is of course Zen Buddhism, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism developed by Bhodidharma (Dharuma in Japanese) an Indian monk and renowned master who travelled to China in the 7th century CE. After numerous adventures defeating bandits and brigands, he was an expert in the martial arts, as well as insulting dukes and royals, his manner was direct and truthful, he finally settled and took control of the Shaolin monastery where he initiated a new method of practice which came to be known as Chan or Zen in Japan.

As he found the monks there weak in body and mind he taught them active physical exercise of an internal and external nature which later developed into the various martial arts and chi gong. He also taught Zazen or seated meditation.

He meditated for 9 years in front of a rock, his image got imprinted onto the rock and it’s still a museum piece at the monastery today. This type of meditation was very austere but joined with active martial arts training, breathing and energy channelling exercises led to definite self development and liberation, Satori in Japanese or Nirvana in Sanskrit. Bhodidharma is usually depicted without eyelashes because he cut them off after having fallen asleep in meditation one day. He vowed that would never happen again.

Philosophically Zen did not concern itself with the transmigration of the soul and metaphysics but sought to anchor students in the here and now in order to fully apply themselves in this life thereby realising their potential and experiencing the truths of existence for themselves.

However Bhodidharma’s stern practice was modified by a later Zen Patriarch who held that enlightenment could be spontaneous and reverted to Zazen as the most important aspect of practice, and so it is today. This practice is also known as the southern school and the big Japanese Zen schools today follow this tradition. The biggest and most well known is the Soto Zen school with its main temple in Kyoto, the old imperial capital. Meditation is severe as you sit facing a wall (Bhodidharma’s rock) and not much else happens during practice. So when people in the West refer to Zen they usually have Soto Zen in mind, due to some popular books by various Soto Zen masters on the market.

Japanese culture is completely imbued with Zen. From calligraphy, painting and music to architecture, flower arrangement (Ikebana), the tea ceremony and the martial arts. Often we can see the Zen aspects more in the form than in its content and even where there is content it’s often mere lip service. Arguably we could suggest the same about most practices, whether Christian, Hindu or Buddhist.

Certainly Masunaga held that the 3 stages of development known in Zen could be experienced through the practice of Shiatsu. The first “joriki” or the development of the power of concentration could be attained by practicing the form, or kata. This idea of learning through a form is known in all eastern and also western approaches to learning. It teaches concentration, unifying action with mind and energy, technique, fluidity, empathy, posture, rhythm, being grounded and cultivating more vital energy in the hara. In the end the form becomes a profoundly meditative and intuitive tool without having to really think about it. The learning process bypasses the rational mind connecting to a higher intuitive dimension where true resonance with the receiver is felt due to heightened awareness and sensitivity which outweighs the ability to intellectualise what one actually feels or does.

The second idea of Satori awakening or “kensho-godo” he likened to “setsu-shin” or palpation-diagnosis. Here Masunaga wasn’t looking for a particular disease but rather trying to understand the patient psychologically as well as energetically and physically. This type of understanding implies empathy and is not a cold clinical diagnosis.

The third idea “mujodo no taigen” refers to the actualisation of our understanding, or it’s essential nature in our daily lives. For this Masunaga advocated moral precepts which we find in Buddhism as well as other spiritual paths:

“Live each day in the following way: be strong, be righteous, be cheerful, be humble, abandon avarice, maintain harmonious friendships and live in gratefulness” and furthermore “ eliminate all wrongful thoughts; eliminate hatred, rage, jealousy, envy, anger, dissatisfaction, doubt, discontent, bewilderment, anxiety, reproach, irritation and restlessness” (quoted from Nigel Dawes : London College of Shiatsu - Foundation Course 1990).

My Shiatsu teacher Nigel Dawes practiced Rinzai Zen (second largest Zen school in Japan) whereas I practised Kongo Zen, the philosophical basis of the martial art of Shorinji Kempo. However Kongo Zen is based on the northern tradition, in other words goes right back to Bodhidharma’s idea of mixing moving zen with seated meditation or za-zen. Kongo zen, like any Buddhist school is based on the 4 noble truths and the 8-fold path of the noble middle way. It is through a given practice that the truth and value of these teachings can be experienced. By concentrating on what needs to be done now, we can take our learning and growing into our own hands. Kongo Zen underlines the fact that our desires often contradict reality. The solution according to the Buddha was to understand reality at it’s deepest level which may be summed up in three concepts: 1. “Shogyo mujo” = all things change, nothing is permanent; 2. “Shoho muga” = all things are transitional and have no separate existence; 3. “Nehan seijaku” = with true understanding of this you can attain enlightenment. (quoted from Shorinji Kempo Fukudoku-hon published by Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji ).

By calling it ZEN Shiatsu Masunaga or indeed his publishers in the west must have been aware that interest in Zen was clearly growing as people were looking for wisdom, then and now. Nowadays it seems that many students and practitioners of Zen Shiatsu have little to no experience of Zen or Japanese traditions and culture. Moreover, if you don’t know what it is how can you practice let alone teach it? and without any real Zen practice, without a Zen master and no cultural experience how can anybody claim to be doing Zen Shiatsu in the West? Although they may express it differently this has been very much lamented by Akinobu Kishi or Kazanori Sasaki who taught Zen Shiatsu in Europe. Practitioners and teachers who have not followed proper Zen training tend to lack any deeper understanding and are therefore usually not connected to the tradition or the strength derived from its practice.

Kishi wrote in Life in Resonance: “Reading Japanese philosophy is important for some people and it can help. But that’s not the same as experience. You can only understand this philosophy through direct experience and for that you need to practice from the right principles. When we say that you need a view of Japanese philosophy to practice Shiatsu this means mu-shin. Just practice innocently; of course it’s not so easy. Shiatsu books have become very complicated and theoretical and this is not what is meant by philosophy.”

However there is a way round this. A Zen Shiatsu practitioner is primarily an artisan, not just a technician or an intellectual. There have always been excellent artisans and master craftsmen in the West, ranging from painters, musicians, carpenters and masons to healers and herbalists. By honing our skills until every cell in the body knows what to do thus bypassing any effort at conceptualisation, we can truly experience being in the moment together with the receiver.

We should remember that in order to infuse our practice with a deep spiritual consciousness, thereby lifting it from a material practice to a dialogue between souls, it isn’t necessary to convert to Zen Buddhism.

To know something you have to experience it and instead of immersing ourselves in other peoples cultures we could simply delve more deeply into our own. Furthermore the western spiritual traditions are very profound; Platonism, Neo-platonism, Hermeticism and Christianity which literally built it’s churches on the ancient temples and natural energy lines are the foundations of our own great wisdom traditions.

One of the greatest European physicians ever was Paracelsus. Physician, healer, alchemist, surgeon, herbalist, astrologer, philosopher and mystic he was deeply devout; following Christian ideals of charity, humility and service. But he was also strongly influenced by the European esoteric traditions which circulated freely in Renaissance Europe. A non-conformist in every way, medicine to him was a path to understanding the supernatural. Paracelsus had a holistic view of medicine, treated the whole body, stimulated the vital energy and saw the destruction of harmony and proportion as bringing degeneration and disease (here we see the direct link to the Platonic ideals).

Furthermore he asserted that “The supreme reason for medicine is love” and “The main substance of the art lies in experience and love, which is embodied in all the high arts. For we receive them from the love of God and we should give them with the same love” (quoted from Paracelsus - Selected Writings - edited by Jolande Jacobi).

Paracelsus writes: “Medicine rests upon four pillars - philosophy, astronomy, alchemy and ethics” (Similar to Masunaga, who first describes Shiatsu from a philosophical point of view) and “The nature and force of a disease must be discovered by their cause and not by their symptoms…” Or “Every disease is a kind of purgatory, the physician should know this and bear it in mind, lest he presume to determine in advance the time of recovery or the efficacy of his remedies; for this lies solely in God’s hands”… “ And is not he who cures the soul, which is more than the body, greater? Here then lies the supreme good; it is more than that which takes the disease away from the body and preserves the body” … “ If the physician is to understand the correct meaning of health, he must know that there are more than a hundred, indeed more than a thousand, kinds of stomach; consequently, if you gather a thousand persons, each of them will have a different kind of digestion, each unlike the others …Therefore the various dietary prescriptions should be observed not only for the sake of recovery from illness but for the sake of preserving one’s health” (All quotes from Paracelsus - Selected Writings - Jolande Jacobi).

Paracelsus was a genius but so untypical and so challenging to established theory at the time that he has been slandered or at best misunderstood except by the few who have always carried his banner and fought for his legacy (In a recent biography Philip Ball continues this misunderstanding).

Paracelsus and others, such as Hahnemann later on (founder of homeopathy) where like giants walking the stage of Western medical history. They advocated a holistic approach to medicine long ago, the importance of vital energy, an energetic body and soul which alas remain concepts outside of modern medical theory. However the similarities with oriental medicine are immediately obvious.

In line with this Zen Buddhism is synonymous with other spiritual practises. For as long as there is a real spiritual nature striving to advance, making the practice of Shiatsu part of one’s spiritual approach and anchoring the practice in spiritual philosophy, then there is no problem for westerners doing Zen Shiatsu. All spiritual paths lead to the same conclusions: that “Love is the architect of the universe” (Hesiod, Greek writer, 7th century BCE) and that nothing has any separate existence. However, real practice and more personal integrity would do much to get the European intellectual back into their Hara and heart.

I wish all Shiatsu Practitioners and Teachers courage and fortitude in the ever continuing struggle to bring light where there is darkness while moving forward in spiritual awareness.

Copyright Gerry Rixen 2015

”We must avoid with our utmost endeavour, And amputate with fire and sword, And by all other means,

From the body, sickness;

From the soul, ignorance;

From the belly, luxury;

From a city, sedition;

From a family, discord;

And from all things, excess”

Pythagoras (quoted from Manly P. Hall “The Secret History of all Ages”)

I would recommend the following books for those interested in learning more about Yoga: Swami Satyananda Saraswati's “Asana, Pranayama, Mu- dra, Bandha”; BKS Iyengar's “Light on Yoga” and Swami Vishnu Devananda's “The Complete Book of Yoga” (to name but 3 excellent, authoritative and highly informative books) .

I didn't simply want to repeat what others have explained brilliantly elsewhere, so my “What is Yoga ?” focuses on its ancient roots and universal appeal.

Yoga means union; often seen as the union of body and mind or the union of the individual human spirit with the universal, great spirit.

Techniques and methods to harness and liberate the body’s energy, to educate the individual and expand consciousness were important aspects of all an- cient civilisations from Egypt to China. It's the process of becoming a fully functional adult with re- sponsibilities towards family and / or society as well as liberating the individual from his/her own nega- tive habits and to fully develop his/her potential.

Part of this knowledge was generally diffused but higher levels of practice were only taught in special schools or organisations such as religious groups and the ancient Mystery Schools.

Access to information depended on the various levels of initiation through which disciples had to pass to merit accessing further knowledge. Such knowledge was not limited to the physical body, breathing techniques and meditation but included mathematics and numerology, geometry, astronomy and music.

This approach to personal evolution through knowledge existed in all parts of the world right at the dawn of civilisation and is part of the inheritance received from the lost civilisations of the pre-flood era. These were the catastrophic events which wiped out the previous cycle of civilisation between 20.000 to 10.000 BC, when the ice melted, sea levels rose by over 100 meters and other climatic changes plunged the globe from ice age into the current much warmer climate.

Certainly Yoga and Tantra, the Indian names associated with these practices date from at least the Indus Valley cultures which already existed by 8000 BC. Excavations at Harappa have pushed back our sense of time regarding the origin of our civilisation and yet even these well documented facts are mostly ignored in school books and universities. The Turkish archaeological site of Gobeki Tepi, most certainly a temple, has been dated to 10.000 BC. This makes it very clear that human activity on the planet was far more advanced and much older than anybody in acade- mia would risk to admit.

Yoga is discussed in detail in the Baghavad Gita which is part of the The Mahabharata, the ancient Indian epic. In addition there are Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. These make up the classic texts.

The Baghavad Gita focuses on right action, fulfilling one's duty and mission and how through discern- ment and right conduct spiritual evolution and tran- scendence may be achieved.

The Yoga Sutras focus on moral precepts before any other techniques should be practised, for it is only through mastering these moral commandments that a disciple can truly transcend his spiritu- al limitations.

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika focuses on asanas (postures) to strengthen and purify the body, working also on concentration and coordination together with breath control in order to provide the disciple with a firm grounding and healthy body. It's only by developing both body and mind that the disciple is made ready to receive further instruction and can comprehend the importance of the moral commandments.

Various methods or paths of practice have always existed and the difference in approach made for a different school or tradition. The pedagogical method chosen depends on the history and experience of the instructor and the level at which one teaches.

Students of yoga come with their own history and experience and therefore will need to find the type of teacher most suited.

Yoga has the great advantage of being a profound and coherent system of physical exercise, breath- ing techniques, meditation and philosophy as well as knowledge of the human energy system, psychology and nutrition. Nothing less than a total pro- gram for health, well-being and spiritual advancement.

Oriental teachers and most western teachers of oriental systems of philosophy are often ignorant of the western traditions which are all fundamentally based on Platonism and Christianity. For westerners any real spiritual and cultural grounding should include an understanding of the occidental traditions and the specific meaning and mission these developed. Ignoring them means not looking at the big picture. Ignorance of their own culture cuts people off from the flow of energy to which they are heirs. A vibrational resonance to which they should be naturally attuned.

Westerners who believe that all wisdom is to be found in the East are missing out on the ancient teachings of their own culture. However it may be necessary to go East before returning to the West.

There has been a great need in the West to revitalise spirituality and religion by studying the great eastern spiritual traditions. The strength of yoga is its coherence on all levels, providing grounding and a logical step by step approach to understanding spiritual philosophy. (similar to Zen or Platonism).

Physical disciplines like Yoga or others that have great therapeutic value coupled with profound life enhancing philosophies are obviously very attractive, especially in a materialist culture that has lost it's way. The spiritual refertilisation and fusion of ideas in the West is a great hope for the future of mankind because it produces a wave of conscious- ness which is building up a critical mass helping more and more people to awaken and get the mes- sage. It may still be on a simple level but the broader the base the broader also the platform at the top of the pyramid with ever more beacons to light up the path.

Europe's particular history started with the Greeks who synthesised oriental wisdom and infused it with their own genius. Man was still bound by loyalty to clans and city states but fundamentally he was an individual with a personal mission to accomplish. Individual consciousness was strengthened which led to a weakening of group consciousness. In tales, myths, tragedies and comedies the Greeks constantly emphasised the importance of individu- als in shaping their destinies and in free communication with divine principles. This freedom of con- sciousness produced such a liberating effect that it generated such amazing creativity in every field.

The idea of personal freedom is the running theme throughout western history and culture. It has not yet reached it's full potential and has often only reared its ugly head in blatant egotistical strife, however its underlying value and importance for the development of mankind cannot be denied.

Freedom means the right to use one's own free will. However one must then suffer the effects of all the causes one has set in motion. Given too much rope many people will hang themselves. The Greeks themselves emphasized discipline and harmony, starting with a healthy body and healthy mind; the grounding and self confidence necessary for im- provements in other fields.

Denying personal freedom means moving back in history. It is through the development of personal consciousness, that means exercising free will and understanding the nature of impermanence and cause and effect, that new spiritual group awareness can be developed.

The oriental systems are here to stay. Yoga has proved its great benefits and has adapted brilliantly to the needs of modern man. Fusion with the western spiritual traditions is now necessary to turn the page of the century. Platonism, Neoplatonism, Hermetism and Christianity (which literally and philosophically built its churches on the old temples) are not a spent force.

However their esoteric meaning and mystical nature need to be understood and taught. Not just in an intellectual way; indeed reason and logic lead to cognition but experiencing the learning process through the body, through meditation and the process of initiation, opens our centres of consciousness which are fundamentally energetic and informational.

Many westerners have a poor regard for spiritual traditions these days, mostly due to lack of understanding, poor education and materialist brainwashing. There has always been religious bigotry, arrogance and fanaticism but these are of course irreligious, ignorant, vile and perverted expressions of spiritual traditions. It has nothing to do with the great souls and their timeless teachings.

Yoga is a science of life on all levels which is why good health is a must, but it includes a spiritual dimension because fundamentally spiritual growth is our mission. Otherwise life is meaningless. Only by advancing ourselves along with others are we contributing to the illumination of all and aligning ourselves with the source of con- sciousness and light.

This then is our path, not all duty and hard work but experiencing also great joy deep in our hearts through our chosen practice. Alignment with the source lifts the burden, shows that life's lessons are symbolic rather than personal and helps us stay grounded while contemplating the stars.

Copyright: Gerry Rixen 2013

Any energy must have a source. The fundamental notion of source or origin of everything in both physical and non-physical realms is called God or the First Cause (Plato). It is the ultimate source beyond and at the beginning of all other sources of creation.

The Big Bang is often viewed as the only origin we can go back to where everything was created in a gigantic explosion in a single moment. Both matter and consciousness contained in the cosmic egg expanded at phenomenal speed creating the universe known to us.

But it is the void that existed before time and space and the Big Bang which produced the cosmic egg in the first place that we need to look at. This is the quantum void of infinite probabilities and possibilities which through an impulse incomprehensible to us but is consciousness itself decided, somehow, to manifest itself in all the myriad possibilities we see reflected in the seen and the unseen. The phenomenal world and the purely energetic, informational un-manifested world.

Energy is vital for the content of consciousness to be communicated. Informational blueprints vibrate and resonate in all manner of frequencies slowly establishing themselves in the various hierarchical realms until they get to the most dense, the physical where its organising properties quickly established what we call life on earth. This means the original source or divine principle divides into archetypes, the platonic forms. There is no fundamental difference between ancient Greek philosophy, Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism.

Energy cannot be separated from spirit. All physical phenomena are energetic. Digestive, circulatory or the hormonal system are all influenced by mind and emotions. Thinking and praying produce energetic frequencies containing information. The information is perceived passively or actively, consciously or subconsciously and integrat- ed into the body-mind and aura.

Information or its energetic blueprints contain a binary code which allows for coherence and correspondence. That means the information is fundamentally functional and carries meaning but manifests differently on different levels of existence, as above so below, and contains the fundamental polarity necessary for action and growth on each level on which it is active.

Organising principles, coherence and correspondence are directly linked to spirit and consciousness and do not have totally separate existences.

Polarity is the fundamental law of a dynamic universe. Everything divides into male - female; hot - cold; dry - moist etc. Any initiating or affirming impulse must get to a corresponding receiving or enveloping energy. A thing or phenomenon can only be completely understood by knowing its opposite. And that is why there is good and evil. So we can understand the difference, learn to differentiate and to discern, exercise free will and experience the results of our own decisions and actions. Without this process there would be no evolution and no self-development. Our own errors become the spring-board for change and growth.

Energy is constantly moving, nothing rests. “Panda Rei” or Everything Changes, Heraclitus' (Greek philosopher 600 BCE) famous realisation implies impermanence as the fundamental law of existence; and movement implies vibration. Understanding and tuning into a movement's vibration means becoming sensitive to that particular reso- nance which is it’s signature. This is very important for hands-on healing, in fact the reason it works.

Great movements are subdivided into smaller and smaller movements known as cycles, seasons, tides and waves. These have to be understood as individual rhythms as well as how they operate within a greater orchestra. Just the physical body is a universe onto itself. The body's rhythms are vital to keeping healthy. Breathing, heart rate, digestion, hormonal functioning, sympathetic and para-sympathetic nervous system and sleep have their own specific rhythm integrated and co-ordinated to function coherently as a larger organism.

As energy is never static the effects it produces also reveal their cause. Every action has its reaction. Understanding the cause or multiple causes behind the apparent manifestations helps living more consciously as we become more aware that destiny is shaped by our own application of free will. We reap what we sow. It doesn't mean we can control everything; accepting and understanding that causation is multi-layered and maybe ultimately beyond human intellectual comprehension is another way of tuning into the great cosmic laboratory.

Any expression or form are also at the same time energetic phenomena. Love for example exists both in the field of human emotion as well as the realm of spirit and effects selfless human and even animal action. Beauty on the other hand is ex- pressed directly in the field of matter, the physical manifestation of the universe. Great beauty re- minds us of something, that in fact the world is beautiful. This touches heart and soul keeping us connected to the ultimate source of love and beauty which Platonists simply called The Good.

The vibrational universe is an enchanted universe with life teeming on all levels of existence. Prana or “The Informational Spiritual Life Force” is the energetic thread which permeates all of creation.

Copyright: Gerry Rixen 2013

Karma is the Sanskrit word for action and reaction, or to us in the west as cause and effect which gov- erns destiny and fate.

Any analysis of a given situation whether personal, social, economic or political will attempt to rationalise the causes which have produced the given effect. And the more complex the situation or problem the more difficult it is to discern the underlying cause or perhaps multiple causes. Moreover the various causes may exist on various levels and may be open to widely differing interpretations.

Illness and disease are some of the most poignant examples of cause and effect as stress factors, psychological blockages and defence mechanisms, lifestyle, diet and relationships all have to be taken into consideration.

However there is always the concept of a primal cause or origin, the idea of a starting point, creating movement in a particular direction.

Then there's the fact that multiple, seemingly unrelated factors converge to produce a specific result. So somebody may get sick or even seriously ill due to various factors including stress at work, problems in the relationship or solitude, bad diet and digestion, lack of exercise etc which will cause the body to manifest signs and symptoms of diease.

The various organisms and subtle bodies need to function at optimal coherence to produce optimal health. All the various functions produce the one human individual and all the levels of human functioning must be taken into consideration.

So the nature of or relationship between cause and effect makes us think, analyse and contemplate our actions and their possible reactions. This in turn leads to a higher state of awareness. If this is not the case bad habits or mistakes are often repeated until the individual finally becomes aware of the link between a given situation and his /her own contri- bution towards its cause. Blaming others will no longer suffice! The individual's own role in shaping the inner as well as the outer self becomes obvious leading to the understanding that exercising free will shapes our destiny.

The physical body and character with it's talents and difficulties are all part of our innate nature. We are not born as white sheets of paper for our parents, educators and the environment to inscribe a random story. A twofold process of how the innate nature of the individual is nurtured and how it reacts and develops is the process of growing up.

Understanding Karma means working towards a better understanding of ourselves, changing and adjusting in a positive way through our own effort and creating a meaningful and therefore more fulfilled life. It is possible to transcend the narrow and limited self by simply no longer accepting to live in our own shadow but to step forward into the light, deeply feeling the connection with the divine life force.

Any kind of therapy is a way of working on and therefore improving ourselves. Diet, exercise and relaxation are essential to well-being. Recognising negative emotions such as anger and how they are fuelled or fed by thought processes is another equally important dimension.

Real spiritual progress can only be made by opening the heart. Forgiveness is not just a mental process but must be worked on, felt and applied. Expiation and atonement are fundamental steps towards redemption. Forgiveness also implies for- giving and loving ourselves and therefore learning to value who we are and developing a healthy sense of self-esteem. Only then can intuition flow freely and can be confidently trusted as a guiding beacon.

In this way, who we are and our past karma, can be transcended, even transmuted as the past can be healed and is therefore no longer relevant. The present becomes the creative motor uniting past, present and future. Anything done with good intention frees us from negative spiritual karma even if the result is difficult or unpleasant on the physical plane.

By uniting the intelligence of heart and head the na- ture of cause and effect may be comprehended at a deeper level. Contemplation is the key to higher awareness. However life is complex. Even the most saintly fall ill or may become the victim of an assassin's bullet.

Although we are ultimately the architects and masons of our own destiny certain events in life may be fated.

Fate is a karma that cannot be avoided. It has to be lived, experienced and dealt with to be exhausted. Even if it were possible to avoid or dodge, fate would catch up with the individual at a later stage. The impossibility of running away from fate is the great theme of Greek tragedies. These events may come into a person's life at any time and have their cause in the individual's long history of rebirths. By experiencing, witnessing, accepting and confronting this old karma, it too will be exhausted and transformed and the flame extinguished so that on his deathbed the person can truly look back at a life well lived; no matter the pain which was only a temporary purging.

Cause and effect are fundamental principles of esoteric science. The idea of random movement devoid of meaning implies a meaningless universe. Spiritual philosophy holds that the universe is not merely functional but that love and beauty are part of it. In fact it is these fundamental principles which inspire it; “Love is the architect of the universe” (Hesiod, Greece, 7th century, BCE).

The unseen and spirit world is far greater than the physical universe and is ultimately governed by moral principles. To understand this we need more than a process of rational investigation. It involves the irrational and mystical dimension as well as an opening of heart and mind. Experience in real life is indispensable. Those who have very limited experiences rarely have deep interior realisations.

Even people of high rank in religious orders, thera- pists and teachers often show a great discrepancy between what they preach and teach and true life experience. Their understanding remains book knowledge or what they heard from their master.

Transcendence cannot be achieved by reading a book although it may positively inspire and inform, giving us food for thought. Suffering and reading about suffering is not the same thing. So it is with everything else, meditation, exercise, climbing a mountain or experiencing great joy in profound connection with divine principles.

That love and light are more fundamental than the flesh can be experienced in and through the physical body. There's no need negating the flesh; after all it's our nature and vehicle. But feeling vital energy surging through the body is not an intellectual experience. It is experiential, natural and real. It is gnosis.

What the great masters have taught is more pro- foundly real than anything else. Now it is attainable more easily than at any time in recent history How- ever personal effort and a good guide (Teacher) are necessary.

Exercising free will and taking responsibility for our actions in the experimental dimension of time and space, with cause and effect flowing from the divine logos, supplies both grounding and sharpens the spirit. Cause and effect flows from logos and is logos; it is the universal law known to the Egyptians, Hindus and Greeks alike and known as Dharma in Buddhism. The purposeful unfoldment of divine principles is seen both an act of god as well as being god.

Energetic disciplines, such as Yoga or other physical, moral and spiritual disciplines will enhance our awareness and understanding of free will and therefore help us make better choices, avoiding negative effects. Karma can only be overcome by facing up to the challenges it presents ie. taking action and learning about the relationship between the causes put in motion and the effects reaped. A certain effort brings a certain result.

The universe is truly enchanted and stripped of it's magic only if the human mind contemplating it is devoid of imagination and cut off from the divine energy flowing through him/her. A faulty radio cannot be expected to pick up on the finer frequencies. Denial is no measure of truth.

It is by hauling the spirit out of the dungeon and paying homage to its divine origin that health is also regained.

Copyright: Gerry Rixen 2014

In the last Shiatsu Society News Bill Palmer shares with us some of his thoughts on the whole issue of Qi and / or energy which prompted me to share with you all some of my own thoughts on this very interesting subject and hopefully contribute to the ongoing discussion. As a Shiatsu practitioner and teacher, Yoga Teacher and Martial Arts Instructor, I’ve had to think of this question a lot as I need to communicate to my students how they can understand what qi, prana or energy is or how it manifests, how we can perceive it and how work with this more and more. 

Although all Shiatsu practitioners and Yogis etc work with qi we have different levels of understanding, different sensations, experiences and ways to conceptualise this phenomenon. So I understand and respect Bill Palmer’s point of view as much as I respect Cliff Andrews ideas of vibrational frequencies and the link with Quantum Physics.

I agree with Bill Palmer that the concept of Qi is very deeply understood in Chinese Medicine and that the more simple word energy cannot do justice to the complexities and intricacies of the word Qi in Chinese language, culture and medicine. This is a familiar problem to translators. Do I use the original word because exactly the same word does not exist in my language or should I use an approximation in my own language because the foreign word will never really be understood as the cultural and linguistic and perhaps spiritual references are missing ? 

Like many teachers I used to explain the idea of Qi via the ideogram of rice and steam, yin and yang and generally spoke more about Qi or rather Ki, instead of energy as I know Japanese culture quite well whereas I have never been to China and don’t speak any Chinese.  

Chinese Medicine has it’s own internal logic and for anyone wanting to deeply understand Chinese Medicine I think they’ll need to deeply understand the Chinese ideas of Qi. But energy is universal and not limited to any particular cultural or medical understanding. That means that we can do Shiatsu with a more or less profound or particular TCM bias. The Zen Shiatsu style allows us to work within purely energetic considerations of kyo and jitsu and just the basic TCM notions of Qi.   

Linking our understanding of energy to Quantum Physics helps us delve into how energy behaves at a very subtle level, the sub-atomic level and how energy can be  influenced and manipulated through consciousness. Then we have the idea that there is indeed an etheric field or matrix through which subtle information can pass or through which related people, animals, plants or objects can communicate with or without the need for energy to pass through any time-space zone to get from one place or person to another. So Quantum Physics gives us an energy model for understanding for example how prayer works. That deep concentration and intention sends out powerful « radio » messages has been understood by many traditions for millennia which is why so much practice is devoted to it.

Alchemy is another case in point and has always been known and practised in many secret societies. It is about manipulating the physical world through consciousness and intention, and our own practice, Shiatsu is also « practicing alchemy » as we help transform often heavy and negatively charged energies to radiating higher vibrations of energy which positively affect all the various bodies ; the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual and therefore clean the auric field.

So the word energy, just as Qi or Prana, also has many facets to it as we slowly explore the concept at deeper levels. As a discipline Shiatsu needs to be defined and explained and our own understanding of Qi, Prana and Energy as well as Meridians, Chakras and Nadis is constantly evolving. Are meridians the same as Nadis (sometimes described as astral tubes) or are we talking about different ideas altogether ? How do the Chakras relate to the Meridians ?

But there is one important area of energy medicine we rarely talk about. We have stripped all the talk about energy from it’s true source which is spirit. Even Quantum Physics is only really interested in how the physical universe works and doesn’t ask or answer the question WHY it’s there in the first place, what does it do and how is it related to the evolution of human souls ? What is the source of love and of consciousness ? Why must consciousness evolve ?

It is only when we ask the WHY question that our own consciousness really expands. Of course that takes us into the whole field of spirituality / religion / esotericism as physics and even quantum physics yield no answers at all.

We should keep our own spiritual beliefs out of Shiatsu, no doubt. We need to present an image to the public that demonstrates that Shiatsu is a great oriental body and mind therapy free of any religious bias. Sure ! But if we really want to talk about energy we simply cannot ignore the whole concept of spirit. And at some stage the issue must be discussed within the Shiatsu network because we work with « subtle energy ».

Love and compassion are certainly very strong energies and also extremely important when projecting light, colour or sound. This directly involves the practitioner’s heart chakra and can be felt by the patient as empathy or warmth or seen as a colour or hue. The effect of a « simple connection » like this may be very powerful and induce healing on other levels, for example the physical and not just the emotional or spiritual body.

But let’s go a little further. During a treatment recently I perceived or visualised (I can no longer distinguish what comes through first and why) Mary, the mother of Christ behind the patient’s head sending and enveloping my patient with love. This was towards the end of the treatment and there was a definite change coming all over my patient as if carried in a cocoon of love. Talking about it after the treatment we realised that we had both felt the same thing and had both felt this beautiful benevolent spirit.   

This little example of working with spirit, of course is also felt as energy. Many psychic healers work with spirits, guardian angels and spirit guides and have a somewhat different idea about energy than what is commonly accepted in the Shiatsu / TCM world. I am not clairvoyant and don’t have any particular or unusual psychic abilities.  But I have had many experiences such as the one described above. However I always start treatments with a prayer and try to align and connect with my own spirit guides. I no longer work alone.

My own understanding of energy changed radically when I first went to Brazil in 2002. Since then I have returned nearly every year and I have experienced and witnessed things I never felt or saw before. The main person I see there is a hands-on healer. Any further relationship with Shiatsu stops here ; he does have psychic abilities, works as a medium, mostly in trance (natural, not drug induced) and treats people individually, does group sessions and trains mediums. I can only describe him as a very spiritual or religious person. The healing centre he runs in São Paolo looks more like an esoteric temple or church with treatment rooms rather than our idea of an integrated health clinic. 

Energy and spirit also come to mind when I think of a recent trip to Delphi in Greece and to the tomb of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy. In both cases the energy was very strong. Delphi is a wonderful place to visit but around the temple of Apollo, the inner precinct of the oracle, the energy was particularly strong and felt like a vertical current going through my body. It was grounding and at the same time up-lifting. At the tomb of Saint Francis the energy was all around and then got denser and enveloped me. Within seconds tears came to my eyes, unexpectedly, as I had been quite calm before…

These are completely natural phenomena and every year during our summer Shiatsu workshop in Greece the energy from sea and mountains, the ancient history and spirit of the place together with practicing Shiatsu and Yoga produce strong sensations in all of us which go beyond the words of Energy, Qi or Prana but connect us deeply with the natural world and to God, working on our hearts and souls.  

Copyright : Gerry Rixen 2008

The reason there is so much literature about warriors in spiritual traditions is because conquering one's lower nature is likened to warfare. The battles fought are interior battles to overcome inherent negativity such as anger, gluttony, lust, pride, avarice, envy and laziness or failing to act. However it is fear and selfishness which are at the base of these dispositions leading to an ego-centred personality. The struggle is one of substituting these with their opposite qualities, the virtues of courage and steadfastness, humility, gratitude, patience, diligence, generosity, temperance and sexual control. It is the path of virtue leading to spiritual development in order to become a more tolerant, respectful, compassionate and loving person.

The spiritual path is therefore not an easy one which is recognised by the ancient Greeks, in Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism alike. 

The spiritual path is an ongoing process, a way of life by which the individual slowly develops his consciousness in tune with experience and faith in the chosen path, slowly accumulating merit. 

However old habits are strong and temptation isn’t something modern man finds easy to resist. In fact he jumps headfirst into it as he has not been instructed to be aware of the pitfalls these imply, both in this life as well as in the afterlife. 

The spiritual life is informed by understanding the moral nature of man and the universe. Honest, non-violent, respectful, truthful and hard working people produce better families and better societies as everyone or at least the vast majority are contributing towards the Good.  A peaceful and thriving community needs people who treat each other with respect which comes about because they adhere to the same precepts and moral code. Dishonest, lying, cheating, thieving, selfish people never produce a harmonious peaceful community but one of discord, strife and violence. So there's no need to discuss the relevance of morals. Only a society in which individual freedom is respected can lead to peaceful cohabitation, mutual understanding and loving relationships. It's clear that the great problems we face in the world are produced by selfishness in every aspect. Selfishness brings about a breakdown of the moral code and leads to disrespect, inequality and violence; in other words a breakdown of social cohesion.

So morality is not something invented by religions and their leaders but follows the observation of personal and group psychology. Peace and cohesion are desirable objectives in any group. They can be enforced through a strict penal code or better through education and the striving towards spiritual ideals. Harming your family and clan members ultimately harms yourself as friction leads to fear, distrust and envy leading to vengeful behaviour and feuding which is violence. 

All societies have moral codes which fundamentally agree with each other. First and foremost is that of non-violence in thought and action, but in order to strive towards this goal we need to become more loving and expand our self-centred self. 

Acting against our own morals may produce profound sentiments of guilt and remorse. These can be of two kinds. They may be justified or unjustified. In other words a person is made to feel guilty about something in order to be controlled. In this case he becomes a victim of a moral code used to coerce the members of a given community. This is a perversion of morals and the reason many people have problems with religion. But even here the moral code itself may be fundamentally useful but is abused and perverted. 

But feeling sorry for something that one has done is a completely human response. It is an emotion coming from the heart. As children, people still have a natural sense of justice and always side with the good and the just. Breaching our own deep felt feelings for selfish personal gain may provoke equally deep feelings of guilt and remorse or in many cases denial and desperate attempts to justify the action and blame others as it may be impossible for the individual to take a real look at themselves and admit to wrongdoing that's been the cause of misery and suffering.  

But understanding one’s own actions and behaviour, understanding one’s own involvement and the suffering one has caused others, the soul will naturally be haunted by feelings of guilt, shame and remorse. Feelings which will render the person spiritually and physically sick and may lead to degenerative disease such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.

This is well known in the spiritual traditions which is why there is a path to redemption. In other words the soul can be hauled back out of the dungeon because there is a way that a person can make good his transgressions and heal the past so it no longer follows him around like a ghost and loses its power over him. By burning bad karma in the fire of good actions it is possible to evolve; understanding and conscious of our nature and motivations behind actions.

The process of penance and atonement expiates transgressions so the individual can move forward. Now the wrongdoing has had a purpose, the purpose of transformation and it has been relegated to the level of error, even if a grave error and committed with full knowledge of the implication of the sin. 

A transgression, even a grave act against God, such as killing another person, can be made good. 

This is a hugely important issue as this spiritual cleansing then brings harmony and coherence into the various bodies such as emotions and thoughts which have recovered peace and serenity. Sleep, digestion and the nervous system will improve and a sense of ease and economy of energy will be felt in the physical body.

Having no recourse to the spiritual path and it's balm and succour a person may avail himself or herself to psychotherapy and a number of other types of therapy but many therapists are atheists and lack any profound understanding of spiritual issues.

Healing the soul is of the utmost importance. It is the soul that governs and having heavy issues troubling our conscience without the proper guidelines to heal the wounds will result in depression, loss of motivation and vigour and ultimately disease of the physical body.

So the old concepts of healing the soul are as important as ever and have not changed since the times of Pythagoras, the Buddha, Plato or Jesus. The spiritual warrior is aware of his potential and also aware of the pitfalls. The spiritual succour of prayers and mantras of philosophy and meditation, contemplation and selfless service are of the greatest importance as it involves the person actively, slowly substituting the old mental images for new ones, keeping the practitioner on the narrow path towards becoming a better person.

This is the spiritual re-birthing that people go through after great mishaps and disappointments, cleaning the debris blocking the smooth flow of energy and reconnecting the soul with the divine principle. It may be brought about by prayer and meditation by meetings or encounters with other individuals, or by developing a deeper appreciation for nature. However all of these follow on from understanding and acting according to the moral law, recognising pride for what it is and clearly seeing the sinful nature inherent in everyone instead of using intellectual pride to constantly find excuses. 

Awakening and aligning to spiritual ideals is very hard for the modern man, trapped as he is in believing that acting on desires equals freedom instead of recognising that desires may enslave us whereas virtue leads to freedom and beatitude.

Newspapers and universities have done much to lead people astray and poisoned them against the teachings of religion and spiritual philosophy. Those who promote these materialistic dogma will have much to answer for as they deprive individuals of true teachings which benefit the mind, the emotions and the soul. 

That is why the spiritual traditions are fundamentally really beautiful and profound. The spiritual warrior confronts all issues head on, not giving in to fear or hearsay. There is always forgiveness no matter what has been done because there is love in the universe and every single person may reap the benefits of love and grace. 

Understanding and valuing oneself as an expression of the divine soul and seeking forgiveness through penance is very different to merely punishing oneself for any transgression. But some action has to be taken. Deep felt remorse must give way to positive motivation and intention which are crucial. If the individual gets stuck in his own negativity nothing good will come of it. Redemption is a process, like reaching a mountain peak after a long climb and brings joy and reintegration of a person's own bodies, physical, vital and psycho-spiritual as well as re-integration into the world. Redemption reunites the individual with himself or herself, reconnecting the individual soul to the universal soul, to truth, love and God.

Copyright: Gerry Rixen 2015

Yoga Therapy seems to be a new path in yoga, or is it ?

Yoga Therapy has become a new trend within Yoga, with many different approaches now being developed, many of which focus only on the physical body, using the western model of Anatomy and Physiology in order to understand health and disease. Although this western model can be very useful it only applies to the physical body.

In this article I intend to shed light onto the roots and practice of Yoga Therapy in order to promote better understanding and appreciation for this truly ancient art. This will be done by looking at the five bodies or Koshas that make up a living human being and how we can heal from the material body to the soul body through the practice of Yoga. Yoga Therapy simply understood refers to Healing through Yoga, promoting Yoga as a truly Therapeutic Practice.

All cultures around the world acknowledge that human beings have a body and a psyche, a body and mind or a three-fold division of body, mind and soul or even body, mind, spirit and soul.

The western esoteric schools also speak of a four-fold division into physical, astral, mental and causal also known as carnal, natural, spiritual and divine. This four-fold division is very similar to the Yogic idea of 5 bodies which we shall examine here. Whether we take these divisions as truth or a model to help understand reality is up to each person individually. Certainly a part of us stays on earth after death whereas another part continues it’s journey through the afterlife and beyond.

The four-fold division of the body can be simply understood by looking at the physical body as a vehicle or carriage (Earth element); drawn by horses which symbolise emotions, feelings, desires and passions (Water element). The third body is the driver, symbolising the mind (Air element) and the fourth body is the master, which stands for the will or consciousness (Fire element). This will be explored further during the course as the elements are important in understanding the Chakras as well as the Zodiac.

Yogic theory expands this concept to five bodies which gives us a great structure of body, energy and psyche. Health, self-improvement and development must include working on all these various aspects of the self.

Physical health along with vitality are of primary concern to anyone wanting to free the body from weakness, sickness and disease and the mind from worry, fear and anxiety. The Yogi sees the body as a vehicle to perform his life’s work and duties, a temple for the soul.

Our Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine Course is directly based on Yogic healing of the 5 Koshas but also includes other holistic methods and theories for treating these various bodies; including ideas and concepts from Chinese Medicine, Nutrition (East & West), hands-on Shiatsu palpation, Chakra balancing and Kinesiology techniques; Yogic and Esoteric Philosophy and Psychology as well as modern Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology.

We will now look at the Koshas in more detail in order to give a clearer understanding of the multi-dimensional Yogic approach to health and healing.

ANNAMAYA KOSHA / The Physical Body.

This is the physical body, the structure and functioning of all aspects of the human body including the internal organs, hormonal, nervous and immune systems, the body’s cycles and rhythms such as sleep, digestion, and menstruation.

At this level Yoga therapy concentrates first on correct breathing, stimulating the diaphragm and lungs. Enhanced breathing will automatically stimulate lungs, heart, circulation and digestion.

Many illnesses and diseases are a direct result of poor superficial breathing which fails to bring new Prana or energy into the organism, such as oxygen, as well as failing to eliminate toxins. Good breathing furthermore tonifies the digestive organs and is the basis for good intestinal activity (peristalsis). Good breathing also promotes mental clarity, a slower heart rate and emotional and physical grounding.

Physical exercise is the next important step to recovery. It may be useful to practice general Yoga, keep fit exercises and sports. However, in order to recover from sickness and aid acute problems, it is imperative to practice a specific set of Asanas designed to nurture and strengthen weak areas and systems of the body. In case of extreme fatigue and sickness only recuperative asanas may be practiced in order to stimulate and enhance specific organs without running the risk of tiring the patient even more.

Should the first chakra for example be particularly involved in a person’s imbalance, this may include Kidney and Bladder problems, reproductive difficulties, constipation, lack of vitality, weak low back, eating disorders, retentive, nervous or restless behaviour. In this case for example the plough is particularly effective in aiding the Kidney and Bladder Meridian channels, relax the nervous system, and promote healing of the para-sympathetic nervous system.

Yoga Asana practice can focus on the 1 st chakra, tonifying the organs, strengthening the nervous, hormonal and immune systems, releasing tension and bringing prana, fresh blood and awareness to this part of the body and mind. All standing postures will also strengthen the first chakra, as we draw energy up through the feet charging the first chakra. The Asanas are designed to stimulate, calm, disperse and tonifie energy within the body.

Recuperative Asanas, indeed all Asanas, need to be performed with much awareness, correct breathing, proper alignment and relaxation. Although the Asana is a physical exercise the patient may scan and feel more than just physical sensations, becoming aware of the breath, energy flow, emotions or trauma while in a pose. Asana practice may become deeply meditative connecting body and psyche.

As all the 5 bodies are connected so working on any one level will also have an effect on the other bodies. So the Asanas will have an effect on the whole body/mind influencing the person from the body up, energising the also the vital, emotional, mental and soul bodies.

Furthermore, it is important to understand that treating the first Chakra will positively influence all other Chakras and therefore bodily systems, mind, emotions and spirit. By healing a particular, important aspect of self we are reintegrating and reconnecting, thereby re-establishing a more harmonious, well-functioning system as a whole.

Meditation, Relaxation and Chanting are also physical in nature and work strongly on emotions, mind and spirit as well as the physical body. These practices regulate breathing, bring peace and tranquility to the body/mind and harmonise the subtle energies thereby relaxing and invigorating all the bodies.

Next there is Nutrition and diet which are as important as Asana practice when it comes to healing the body. We are what we eat. Nutrition has therefore always been of great importance to Yogis. Patients do not recover if they fail to adjust their diet. It is absolutely essential to understand how diet affects our digestive and immune systems and how important it is to have a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Improved diet will also help the body to detox, strengthen and regulate organ functions, sleep, nervous and hormonal activity.

PRANAMAYA KOSHA / The Vital Body
The second body is known as the vital, ethereal or energy body. It harnesses and diffuses our prana or vital energy. If this body is weak or deficient all other bodies will also lack energy including the physical. The modern condition of “burn out” is exactly this. The total exhaustion of the vital and physical bodies.

It is therefore essential not to leak energy and to build up reserves as all systems take energy from this level. A first step to build up the vital body is through enhanced breathing and keeping the body protected from the environment eg. cold, heat, humidity, dryness and wind. A healthy pranic shield will do much to improve immunity and vitality. Breath work (Pranayama), a healthy diet, good exercise and relaxation will keep the vital body strong and resistant.

The Chakras, Nadis and the Chinese Acupuncture Meridians exist at this level. Many holistic therapists work with these vital structures and energy fields as they connect to the vital organs as well as emotion and spirit. The tremendous efficacy of Yoga, Shiatsu or Acupuncture is based on stimulating these energy lines (Meridians), centres (Chakras) and points (Acu-points). These are tried and tested ancient medical practices which have all stood the test of time and lead to holistic healing and transformation.

Continued practice leads to feeling and working with these energy fields and centres starting a completely new dialogue within the practitioner or patient.

MANOMAYA KOSHA / The Mental Body

The 3rd Kosha is about our emotional and instinctual life. This level gives us the faculty of thought, memory and doubt. Here it is important to reflect on one’s actions and reactions, understanding and overcoming fear or anger based emotional reactions. Consciousness and the experience of peace must evolve which is why Yoga prescribes practicing Yama and Niyama, the moral code of Yoga.

The first two of these moral commandments, non-violence and truthfulness are at the root of self development and lead to greater awareness and taking responsibility for one’s actions.

Aligning with these goals develops mindfulness on all levels and overcomes selfishness. Karma Yoga or selfless service also particularly improves the 3rd Kosha as the individual destroys his limited ego-centred box, his loneliness and separation and rejoins the world.

Mantra practice may be included at this level as it keeps the mind focused, as it must especially if energy is needed to heal from disease. Negative and irrational mental processes, emotions and instincts can weaken all of the other bodies. Energy leakage in any body may be a serious problem to recovery.

VIJNANAMAYA KOSHA / The Wisdom Body

At this level the individual is asked to apply knowledge and wisdom to the whole of his life. This is learned through the process of understanding cause and effect. All actions have reactions and repercussions, it is through understanding this that the individual becomes more mindful, considering the effects of actions not only regarding himself but also family, friends, community and country.

Cause and effect are linked directly and indirectly. Multi causality is how different strands flow together to produce a given effect and that more than one idea has to be taken into consideration when evaluating the causes leading to any given effect.

Holistic or natural medicine sees the causal factors of disease in the underlying weaknesses in body and psyche, thus taking a multi causality approach.

This understanding of cause and effect is very important because it empowers the patient helping him realise why he is sick and what he must truly do in order to heal and become whole again, connected to his higher self. Empowering the patient means helping to understand and reach a decision based on all the available information together with the therapists. Treatment must never just be imposed. It steals power from the patient thus rendering them passive in their own healing process.

The wisdom body calls for bringing intellect, reason, wisdom and higher knowledge into our consciousness, self empowering tools to take life and health into one’s own hands. This leads to more evolved levels of love, compassion, joy and fulfilment.

Yogic philosophy and psychology are the traditional ways of working with this body. However the previous 3 must be cleansed so that the 4 th and 5 th bodies can shine.

ANANDAMAYA KOSHA / The Bliss Body

This level of existence is also called the causal body or soul. Many people are out of touch with this level of themselves, they have lost contact. Our modern society no longer speaks about the soul or its journey in the afterlife. The concept of the divine has become taboo; an uncomfortable topic removed from schools, families and healing.

However Yoga holds that the soul is the driver and that to have lost the connection to our inner most being will lead to sickness and disease as well as emotional and mental problems.

Meditation, initiation, prayer, mantra, chanting, spending time in silence or hiking in the mountains may do much to help the individual reconnect to their soul-purpose. When we are truly living our potential in line with our soul purpose, we can move forward with confidence and discernment.

Many of the previously stated ideas for healing the other Koshas will also have an effect on the soul level. Any work done on any level will filter through to the other levels and have a positive effect but it is important to understand the patient’s needs and capacities.

A holistic therapy must work on all five Koshas to facilitate more complete, holistic healing. Sickness and disease are a kind of purgatory so there is a great opportunity to detox, purge and change, delving into deeper understanding of the self and reconnecting all the bits to the whole spectrum.

In conclusion Yoga Therapy presents us with a fantastic healing program across all bodies of existence leading to improved health, self-empowerment and spiritual growth. It is a model for understanding the human condition as well as evaluating and improving health, overcoming sickness, disease, fear and anxiety.

Furthermore it is open. That means that we may work with more than one idea on any individual body. For example a person may use psychotherapy as a tool to work with his compelling instincts and emotions on the 3rd level. Or a person may chose surgery to remove a cyst or tumour, which would be working on the physical level.

Yoga therapy should not be exclusive. On the contrary it is a model which helps both therapists and the patients themselves understand what is really going on and what other areas of the personality or physical body need attention to facilitate transformation and health. Therefore bodywork, acupuncture, herbal medicine, homeopathy, nutrition, sports etc can all be included.

Prayer, forgiveness, chanting, releasing emotions and meditation are also in themselves such powerful tools and are yet overlooked in our modern era. Yoga Therapy brings all aspects of the body and mind together, exploring with the patient how to proceed.

We welcome everyone to our Yoga Therapy and Integrative Medicine Course which we hold once annually. For more information please visit our website or send us an email.

Copyright: Gerry Rixen 2020