Living From The Heart

Chris Willitts | Mind & Meditation | Motivation | Self-Cultivation

When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child. They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose. When the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else.

When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child’s song. When the child passes through the initiation into adulthood, the people again come together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song. Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the person’s bed, just as they did at their birth, and sing the person to their next life.

In the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them. The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment;

it is love and the remembrance of identity.

Read more…

Tosca Reno Interview: Mindful Practice to Improve Performance

Chris Willitts | Mind & Meditation | Strength Training | Yoga

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Tosca Reno of the highly acclaimed The Eat Clean Diet. I personally know people who have literally changed their lives using her program. Her model of eating is completely in line with everything I believe to be true about using food to maximize vibrant health.

For those of you who don’t know, Tosca is an incredibly successful author best known for the Eat-Clean Diet® series. She has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs. Tosca is also a motivational speaker and wellness consultant, media personality, and model.

Without further ado, please enjoy her insights about health and fitness…

1. In what ways do you incorporate mindfulness and/or visualization techniques when exercising?

Staying focused is important during any workout, be it cardio or strength training. I make a point to stay mindful about what I’m asking my body to do. When I’m training, I focus on my muscle as I lift a weight up and bring it back down again. I try not to think about anything else during that time. I call this putting my mind into my muscle and it improves my performance. Read more…

A Deeper Look at Meditation

Mind & Meditation

Quick History Lesson

In Theravada Buddhism, the term satipatthana is used in reference to setting a foundation or presence of mindfulness. The term offers several ways in which this base of mindfulness can be attained through meditation. Scholars have debated over the interpretation and translation of this term; however, two interpretations offer a wealth of information for beginning or re-configuring a meditation routine.

The first interpretation refers to the foundation of mindfulness, and the second interpretation refers to the establishing of mindfulness. The former outlines focuses on the meditation practice and the latter refers to the process of the meditation practice. Both of these interpretations are helpful in understanding the logistics of a meditation routine, as well as what is important to remember during the meditation practice.

In regards to the first interpretation, foundation of mindfulness, Theravada Buddhism prescribes four focal points. These four focal points are the frames of reference for the foundation of one’s mindfulness: Read more…

The Yin and Yang of Intensity and Rest

Muscle Building | Rest & Healing | Strength Training | Yoga

Mike Mentzer is a former Mr. Universe who had unique theories about strength training and bodybuilding.  He was an extreme proponent of “High Intensity Training,” meaning he recommended short, very intense bouts of exercise followed by lots and lots of rest. Many years ago, reading his books and articles completely transformed the way I looked at weight training (see “High-Intensity Training the Mike Mentzer Way”).   To this day, my workouts are typically very short and very intense based on Mentzer’s philosophy.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of his training method is the belief in the value of rest. I remember in one of his books, he told the story of inviting several of the world’s top bodybuilders to his home for a “training camp.”  Although these were all elite athletes who had “maxed out” in size, he promised them that if they spent a few days with him, their muscles would grow even more.  Most accepted the invitation but were skeptical that they would see any results since they had already been training as hard as they possibly could and had all reached plateaus that they simply could not pass. Read more…

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The Mindful Method: Meditation, Yoga, and Mindful Strength Training

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