A Holistic Approach to Training and Coaching for Optimal Wellbeing By Paul Chek

Transcription

1 A Holistic Approach to Training and Coaching for Optimal Wellbeing By Paul Chek Today, we live in a mechanized world. In search of meaning, of understanding and of success in all things, we have peered through microscopes, mastered dissection, become specialized to the point that there is an expert for every part of the body in any major hospital and a machine for every part of the body in the gym. We have made massive gains in technology in the past 100 years while striving to fight off disease and gain health. Standing back for a moment to tabulate the score, it looks something like this: Chronic diseases = all time high, more per capita than ever! Orthopedic injuries in the work place = all time high, more than ever! Orthopedic injuries in sport all time high, more than every before! People in the gym exercising regularly, yet turning to chemical stimulants, steroids and futile slimming schemes after months, even years in the gym = all time high, more than every before! Gains in health and vitality among society as a whole = 0! Increase in life span = years when adjusted to compensate for those saved by emergency medicine, those that would have otherwise died at birth, and those living on life support or being kept alive, where nature would surely have activated the decomposers. Are we too close to the trees to see the forest as we look through our microscopes? Are we so isolated in the modern approach to exercise that the parts often look better, but function worse, having lost the whole? Have we broken the whole-foods of Mother Nature into such microscopic parts in search of enzymes, vitamins, fats, minerals, aminos, phytonutrients that we no longer have food; people are eating more than ever, yet, there is record obesity among the starving? Maybe now is a good time to stand back, way back, and look at the whole, before it s too late to dig ourselves out of the hole! The Tao We, and all things, come from somewhere. If you aren t comfortable with the concept of God as the orgin of all things, we can use the term Universal Energy or Universal Source. The Chinese like the Indians, believed that there is an ultimate reality which underlies and unifies the multiple things and events we observe: There are the three terms complete, all-embracing, the whole. These names are different, but the reality sought in them is the same: referring to the One thing (1) The Tao of Physics, by Fritjof Capra). This One thing, we shall refer to as Tao (see Figure 1 on the next page). Because we are but one of the all things, I will make the leap here and say that as the highest life-forms in this field of existence, we are of the Tao, emergent from the absolute, yet exemplifying the unlimited potential that exists in the Tao, here, in the relative, the now.

2 Soul and Spirit Like a droplet, leapt from vast expanse of the universal ocean, we arrive as Soul; Soul here being used to describe being of the Tao - just as a drop escapes the ocean and is no longer the ocean, yet the ocean is the drop and the life of the drop is surely that of the ocean, you are a drop of the Tao. You are a Soul ever experiencing, changing, growing - evolving. You are here to live, to learn, to remember, experiencing through relativity what can t be gained in the absolute. Just like the ocean can t fly, but for the drops a-spray, we, as Souls (drops) may have the urge to dance with a person we call friend, or lover, to give love or pain, seek creative expression in a given vocation or through artistic expression. Each unique Soul will create and leave it s signature everywhere; our choices if not seen, are felt, forever recorded you are a drop of the Tao. As a Soul being, you are gifted with choice. You are Yin, and you are Yang, the hands of Tao. As you choose to be, to live life, so shall you be - some light, some dark, some happy, some sad, sometimes creative and sometimes destructive the 10,000 things. It is your dance, your show, our show, we are spirits; I Am here to experience ALL, to breath like the Universe. Through the power of yang and the creative force of yin, I, great Soul, Spirit of the Tao, let me begin! Emergent from the Tao, it is you and I, as co-creative beings of Soul and Spirit who are here, in the only place we can truly feel what we know, yet so deeply yearn to remember. (Figure 1)

3 I AM To help another person become what they desire to be, which is helping them to discover who they truly are by expressing their creative potential, you, the practitioner, must know who you are to achieve optimal results within a Holistic model. Each of us enters the health or exercise fields for a reason. Often it is because we want to help others. We desire to work with people, co-creating their reality, helping them reach their potential, while fulfilling aspects of our Soul objective in our chosen field. To determine how much you know about who you are, simply answer the question, who am I? Begin with the statement, I am What did you come up with? I am a trainer, or I am a dancer, or I am Bill Williamson. The common reply describes what one perceives to be his or her identity where they have placed most of their creative energy in the form of thoughts, words and deeds. Frequently, after they answer with their job title, name or sport (for example, I am a hockey player), if you ask them again, no, WHO ARE YOU, REALLY? you will either hear, I don t know, or the same answer they just gave. From a physics point of view, we are a collection of about 100 trillion cells. Each cell is a collection of molecules, which is in turn a collection of atoms, of which about % is space. While it is known that every atom in the Universe has the ability to send and receive information, communicating with any and potentially all other atoms in the Universe, it is also known that atoms are energy. Thus, it is very safe to say that aside from being predominantly space, you are energy. While many ancient philosophers (ancient Yogis for example) stated as long ago as six thousand years ago that we were beings of light, energy expressed in the physical form. There is now a consensus, even among hard scientific circles (Tiller, Hunt, Gerber) that Universal energies are transferred to and from our bodies via a system of chakras (means wheels). As you can see in Figure 1, there are seven main chakras, each capable of sending and receiving information in the vibrational spectrum of light and sound. The light energy spectrum of each chakra corresponds to its color, or electromagnetic light frequency. Interestingly, these colors correspond to the colors of the rainbow, with the root chakra (the first chakra) receiving energy in the vibrational spectrum of red light or the sound do in the musical scale. As you ascend the seven primary chakras, each has a higher vibrational level of sound and light as represented by its color. Looking to the left of the chakras, you see the Main Issue column, and to the right you see the related Plexus/Gland column. Each of the chakras act as a step-down transformer, transforming corresponding vibrational life-force energy into the respective glands and nerve plexus. While this life-force energy (also called such things as Qi, Chi, Prana, Orgone Energy, Vital Force, Odic Force, Munia) serves a specific trophic functions (see Related Functions column), it also contains frequency coded Soul information that is relevant to the Main Issue interpreted by that chakra; each chakra represents a life lesson that must be mastered in order for our consciousness to rise to the next level of our development as spiritual beings or as Souls. The chakras also act as step-up transformers to transmit the thoughts and emotions that correspond to each chakra (see Main Issue column), allowing us to communicate with each other, with our environment, the Universe and with the Tao, God, or what every higher power you believe exists. This is alluded to by Gerber (Vibrational Medicine p. 132), who states:

4 The energy flow through the chakras can be in two different directions, that is, from the subtle energetic environment into the body, or vice-versa, from within the body projected out. Understanding this important aspect of our innate ability to communicate effectively will become very important later on as we become more appreciative of the choice to be made when training or coaching within the framework of a holistic model. I personally am 100% sure that we are Soul/Spiritual beings that have entered the field of relativity to gain real time experiences in the four-dimensional field of opposites we call home. But I think most of you will agree that everyone is currently at, and will evolve to a given level on the energetic scale represented by the life lessons or main issues associated with each chakra. Herein lies the importance of the power of choice. Who Am I? It can be loosely stated that you are the sum of your life experiences, perceptions and choices regarding such experiences and perceptions, which allows each of us to choose how far we will evolve from our relatively animal beginnings. We can also seen that while we each enter the physical plane with potentially predestined Soul objectives, we do begin each life with a process of physical and mental/emotional development that shows resemblance to our reptilian and mammalian progenitors. This has been confirmed by phylogenetic studies (MacLean, Anatomy). Reptilian and mammalian developmental characteristics are easily seen as the embryo develops, and then again as the baby progresses through its inherent physical and mental developmental stages. Activation and utilization of rhythms, drives and learning objectives related to given survival needs can be seen to occur in concert with correlative physical activities. Reptilian crawling followed by mammalian crawling and finally accomplishment of achieving upright posture and gait, which is representative of neomammalian (higher cortical) function and development. With each successive phase of our phylogeny being an outgrowth or expansion of the previous stage, our behaviors regarding developmental concerns becomes clear. The reptile is first concerned about safety, then food and only after those concerns are met does he/she entertain sex/procreation. A mammal reflects the same survival behavior, as does the human newborn. While these survival drives are hardwired into our developmental structure, as we pass into adolescence we are progressively programmed by our parents, siblings and social interactions. The common result, for example, is a person that is now your client and they wake up in the morning, stressed for fear of being unable to pay the rent/mortgage, yet begin their day with sex, eat breakfast and finally begin to consider how they will ensure their safety. Such behavior would surely bring death to any reptile or mammal in its natural habitat! As you can see from Figure 1, these hard wired survival drives fall within the realm of the Main Issues governed by chakras 1-3. Knowing full well what drives us, slick marketers spend millions upon millions of dollars to tell you just what your reptile and mammal want to see and hear. They Glamorize products and services of all sorts that can easily be linked to basic survival drives:

5 Preying on your desire for safety: - The need for regular medical examinations, scans, x-rays, and the daily use of drugs such as aspirin to decrease your risk of heart attack - Fancy homes and memberships to elite and exclusive clubs and associations of all sorts; increasing your chances of safety by association and by numbers - Life insurance, investment plans, educational funds, all sold under the guise of money equals safety Preying on your inherent sexual desires for race perpetuation: - Aesthetic products are heavily pushed with the knowledge of our inherent perception that beauty increases our chances of finding the best mate and producing the healthiest, strongest offspring. - Every kind of product from Coke and Pepsi to fast foods, automobiles and even gardening tools and kitchenware is marketed with a sexual flair. Preying on your inherent need for food and sustenance: - Watch most any TV commercial or look at any ad selling foods and you will see slick promotions geared toward perceived satisfaction, satiety and successful resolution of the need to either eat well, eat more or eat less due to fear of obesity or the desire to gain lean mass. The supplement manufacturers are absolutely vultures in the gym environment, taking bodily desires linked to food and sustenance to the bank, particularly when you come to appreciate the 3 rd chakra as the center of personal power and self will! These developmental correlates are important to recognize because a holistic assessment of any human being is respectful of the fact that while we are Soul/Spirit beings, we both inhabit animal-like bodies as vehicles of expression, and our inherent reptilian and animal drives tend to shine through our behavior. One of the primary evolutionary developments from reptile to mammal to human is the increasing size of the limbic system, which is linked to our ability to love, bond, and think both rationally and creatively, moving further and further away from life driven purely by reflex, survival need and environmental stimuli. This is seen at the 4 th chakra, which acts as a dividing line between the more animal energies and drives below and the more human qualities (see Main Issue column) represented by the 5 th, 6 th and 7 th chakras above. It All Begins with Thought! While reptiles and paleomammalian creatures live predominantly by survival drives, instincts and environmental stimuli, the neomammalian human being is gifted with a progressively greater capacity to appreciate their Soul link with the Tao. This means that we are capable of thought outside mere survival drive and instinct, as evidenced by carvings and cave paintings, jewelry and symbols dating back as far as 40,000 years (Joseph Campbell). With this power of thought comes a dramatically increased power to create, or co-create, expressing the ultimate and never ending potential that exists in the apparent emptiness of the Tao. As Soul beings, we wish collectively to experience everything (as evidenced each night on the evening news), and when we ignore or override our incoming Soul directive it causes problems. The Soul information, which may also be referred to as the consciousness, along with corresponding chi energy which serves vital trophic functions (see Related Functions column) can easily become blocked. It may become excessive, depending on our thoughts and choices, resulting in imbalances in our chakra system. Depending on the life lesson our choices are related to, or the

6 associated spinal segment-plexus-gland through which the stimuli enters, imbalances can result in the meridian system that feeds the terrestrial (chakra 1-3 & 4) and extraterrestrial (chakra 4-7) energy system. It is here, when working with your clients that both your choices and theirs will determine their progress as viewed within the scope of a truly holistic approach to coaching and training! The Choices We Make Before I explain the importance of the choices you make, we must orient ourselves to the remainder of the model in Figure 1. To the far left is the life-force/vitality scale, which can be used to determine where both you and your client are. Think of this scale like a car s battery. If you or your client are at optimal vitality, which means your life-force energy is strong, you will be at the top of the scale between 9 and 10. As your life-force energy diminishes, you will begin to show symptoms, as indicated on the scale. The column titled Poles & Biological Oscillators represents the polarity of the body with regard to electromagnetic, chi or prana energy flow. Energy flow is from positive to negative in the body. Steiner divided the body into three functional parts: o Sense Man: The central and peripheral nervous system, functioning to bring the environment from outside to within. o Rhythm Man: The heart working as the primary biological oscillator or rhythm generator, which influences the brain and intestinal tract as well as being intimate with the diaphragm cerebral-spinal pump mechanism o Metabolic Man: Serving the purpose of digestion, elimination, metabolism and movement; nourishing the ability to move and crystalize thoughts and words into deeds. The Nutrition/Training Affects & Effects column outlines the potential acute and chronic affects (emotional) and effects (objective) to any nutritional or exercise intervention that may have resulted from previous choices or may result from current choices. Chakras step-down Soul energies in vibration from the highest (violet/7 th ) to the lowest (red/1 st ) in descending order, following the polarity of the body. The body can be thought of like a magnet with a north and south pole along the vertical axis and turned horizontal, the positive pole becomes the right side and the negative the left side (Health Building by Dr. Randolph Stone). Over time, our choices as expressed by our thoughts, words and deeds and they express themselves as a crystallization of the bodily structure. The skilled practitioner will extrapolate a tremendous amount of information about a client s life-choices by simply observing their posture, movement, personality, spirit and sensing their energy. In the column titled Coaching or Training Response, I have borrowed the terms Red Light and Green Light from Thomas Hanna (Somatics) to demonstrate the postural responses typically demonstrated as crystallizations of your choices. Most commonly, your clients show up with some variation of the Red Light posture, and it is your job as an exercise or health care professional to coach them toward the more favorable Green Light response. It is VERY important for each of you operating as a professional in any branch of exercise or health care to realize that without saying a single word, your body posture, your movements and your

7 energetic tone are already conveying an education to them at an energetic, conscious and subconscious level. In other words, the choices you have made to become you, are literally influencing everyone around you, like it or not! APPLYING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COACHING AND TRAINING Anytime you come into close proximity with co-workers, clients, or anyone else for that matter, if your battery is lower than theirs, you will immediately begin to draw their energy. In essence, you become the negative pole of the field created by any person with greater vitality than yourself, and they become the positive field; energy flows from positive to negative! It is people s innate ability to sense this energy draw that makes it common to see otherwise very skilled exercise and health care professionals floundering to maintain a clientele. Such people are often referred to as negative attractors or drainers! Therefore, the first step to be taken in successfully applying a holistic approach to coaching and training is to elevate your vitality to a point noticeably higher than the great majority of your clientele! To begin using the summarized holistic model for coaching and training as I have outlined here, simply begin observing your client s posture, movement, phraseology and energy field upon initial exposure to them. In concert with a past and current medial history and an evaluation of their musculoskeletal and physiological systems, you can easily determine: A. Their approximate level of Life-force energy or Vitality. B. Their main operating software or frame of reference with regard to phylogenesis; reptilian, paleomammalian or neomammalian (human)? C. Their Main Issue, which will commonly correlate with both their problem area as delineated by spinal segment, or the region they have pain or dysfunction. D. Correlations between nerve plexus and glandular association (Plexus/Gland) with Related Functions will increase your probability of locating your client s key issue(s). E. By using the Poles & Biological Oscillators column, you can begin to understand the basics of which route to take toward restoration of Live-force energy and overall vitality. Steiner said that whenever there was a problem at one pole, you could expect its negative image (like a photographic negative) at the opposing pole. For example, someone with cerebral congestion from trying to juggle too many things in their life (Sense Man) could expect to have reciprocal constipation at the opposite pole (Metabolic Man). Because the diaphragm serves as the barrier between the reptilian and paleomammalian energies below and the more advanced neomammilian or human energies above, any life lesson being avoided is sure to eventually cause an energy imbalance either above or below the diaphragm, which in my experience always alters respiratory rhythm. Respiratory rhythm is directly linked to heart rhythm, or what is referred to as heart rate variability (HRV). The heart being the largest biological oscillator (like a large pendulum clock), will entrain other biological oscillators (smaller pendulums), which include the brain and intestinal oscillators, potentially disrupting their natural, optimal rhythm. Because of the linked interactions of all biological oscillators, incoherence can be reliably interpreted as stressful to the body. Knowing that Sense Man interprets the outer environment,

8 and Rhythm Man (heart) interprets the inner environment, it becomes evident that isolated problems are a mere impossibility, thus the need for a holistic approach. MORE CHOICES! Now that you have a brief idea of the complex interaction of the relationship between Tao, Soul/Spirit and the body, it not only becomes evident that great care and concern for the influence and creative ability of thoughts, words and deeds must be considered for their ability to crystalize in the body, we must consider the ramifications of our personal and professional interventions. When prescribing literally any exercise, supplement or dietary regimen, we are influencing every homeostatic control system via the influences listed in the Nutrition/Training Affects & Effects column. While I offer comprehensive explanations of the many aspects of what I have summarized here in my more advanced training programs, it can be comfortably stated that anything we do to our clients correctly as exercise and health care professionals should improve posture toward the green light posture, and should raise life-force and vitality. Segregating the body by both ignoring the indisputable fact that we are physical-emotionalmental-spiritual/soul beings and by the nonspecific, nonscientific use of exercises without specific assessment of major physical systems (such as the musculoskeletal, hormonal, visceral and limbic/emotional) mirrors the weaknesses in our current system of allopathic medicine. It was this very departure from a holistic approach in search of magic bullet drugs and cures that led to a medical system that treats the disease, not the person that has the disease. It disappoints me greatly to see the exercise and rehabilitation communities so eager to follow suit with machines to isolate every muscle and supplements to conquer any ailment. As you can see from the tabulation I did at the beginning of this article, the isolationists and allopathic approach has not helped humanity to achieve any increase in vitality or wellbeing. In fact it has done quite the opposite. We have more stimulants, chemical cocktails and low fat garbage processed foods being consumed in hopes of losing fat than ever, more drugs being consumed in hopes of adding lean mass, and more plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery being performed by those that have often worked for years in the modern gym environment to no avail, Red Bull in hand! As society s life-force energy and vitality decay, our behavior moves progressively back toward post-natal behaviors and drives that of a reptile or paleomammalian creature that cares merely about survival in the lower energy spectrum. As our bodies become progressively less health and more toxic, our ability to both receive Soul information and need chi nutrition diminishes, as does our ability to have relationships. Just look what white man s food and drink has done to the American Indians, who once had rich and beautiful terrestrial and extraterrestrial relationships! By embracing a holistic approach to coaching and training ourselves and our clients, we can rise above our animalistic instincts, drives and behaviors, focusing on our ability to love unconditionally, communicate more effectively and to become more creative.