Search Results for mental health

  This article is written to be a companion piece for: https://open.substack.com/pub/shhdragon/p/listening-to-the-knee-forces-flexibility Flowing Like River Water: Dàoist Wisdom for Knee Health   In the Martial Arts, the knee represents far more than a mere mechanical joint – it embodies a meeting point between Earth and Heaven, structure and fluidity, intention [Read More]

Health in the Martial Art World Martial arts, as a whole, is a very deep and amazing practice.  For us to continue our beloved art to the next generation, we must know its past, present, and future. The past is full of war, philosophy, duels, religion, and spirituality. Current martial [Read More]

From Stress to Strength: The Neuroscientific Journey of Guided Meditation In an era defined by constant connectivity and relentless demands, mental wellness has become more critical than ever. Guided meditation emerges as a scientifically validated, accessible pathway to managing stress, enhancing cognitive function, and promoting overall well-being. Far from merely [Read More]

I often get called an overthinker, but recently, a friend changed the narrative for me when she referred to me as a “deep thinker.” She explained that it isn’t a weakness or something to feel ashamed of. She said that the overthinking, when it becomes overwhelming, is my anxiety, which [Read More]

New Year. New resolutions. For some people, January can be a time of reflection and an opportunity to set new goals. Many people look to address their health, fitness, and well-being. With this in mind, we look at seven ways in which martial arts can be beneficial all-round. Physical Health [Read More]

    The journey of personal Practice – whether in Martial Arts, meditation, or any disciplined pursuit – can sometimes feel stagnant. Never fear! There’s a simple but powerful approach that can revolutionize your training: theming your Practice throughout the year.   Power of Themes Introducing themes to your Practice [Read More]

How a Dàoist would craft successful New Year’s Resolutions.

  Few Fears this New Year’s Exploring New Year’s resolutions through a Zen perspective: The main thing is to have, develop, and nurture (or return to) a Discipline. Let’s walk this path in the healthiest manner, wherever it leads us. #GoallessPath     The Zen Path of Intentional Transformation As [Read More]

  In our fast-paced, information-rich world, it seems that our attention spans are shrinking faster than my paycheck around these gift-giving holidays. Tick tock ticktock go our brains at the blinding and blurring speed of TikTok. And let me tell you, the consequences are quite severe. Let’s take a stroll [Read More]

Abolishing Barriers & Chasms Section 1 – Your Assertions. One:You have said that you value meditation. Two:You have told me that you don’t meditate.Or, at least, not regularly enough. So, there’s a thing that you value:A regular meditation Practice.But, you don’t do it.Thus, there’s a disconnect. I refer to that [Read More]

I’m a reader, and, as part of my dedication to Martial Arts, I like to hear what other people are saying and doing. I like hearing new bits of history and different takes on the philosophy and methods of teaching and training. In the Martial Arts world, we are fortunate [Read More]

When pushed to extremes, humans can overcome amazing obstacles. Fueled by nothing but primal emotions, they gain the determination they didn’t have before. Emotions effect everything we do. The performance of martial artists are fueled by many different emotions for better and worse. Anger has shown to be both a [Read More]

The Seed. There is a quote in Hamilton that Alexander Hamilton, in the scene where Burr shoots him, sings, “Legacy. What is a legacy? It is planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” Sometimes teaching and training feel like that. A garden that is yet to bloom [Read More]

“I don’t have time to train” is something parents end up saying at some point in their martial arts and parenting journey. They have a point. Parenthood drains almost all of our personal resources. It takes time. It takes energy. It takes money. It takes focus. It takes attention.  Since [Read More]

One of the most valuable lessons of martial arts is how to persevere when you make mistakes. Many feel like giving up. It is so easy for people to give up when they feel exhausted, and to refuse to push through. This is especially important in self-defense training. When someone [Read More]