BODYLOGOS = The Body’s Divine Wisdom

It is a Practice and a Lifestyle outlined in The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind

BODYLOGOS AT WORK FOR YOU:

Getting Clear on What You Need in your Workplace

by Donia Elizabeth Allen ~ BodyLogos Instructor

Several years ago an exceptional professional opportunity came my way through a friend. The position was in a new field and industry, and I was lucky to get it. I jumped at the chance.

The position itself was also new, and I reported to a member of the senior leadership team. My charge was to manage projects related to preparing this organization for an ambitious change process that included a capital campaign and building project. The unusually talented and hard-working staff was more than capable of handling these projects but even with a brilliant mission and extraordinary team change isn’t easy!

One of the many changes involved a member of the senior leadership moving to a smaller office so that a colleague and I could then move into, and share, her larger office. There was a lot of grumbling: who was going to take the measurements and order the furniture, why did people have to share space, why couldn’t everyone stay put until we all relocated out of the space for renovations?

In the meantime, I was sitting at a tiny work-study desk with no shelves, drawers, or privacy. It was very clear to me that there was no way I was going to be able to manage the projects I’d been tasked with without a more functional workspace. I was the most recent hire, in a new position, in a new industry: I had the most to lose if I didn’t perform well, and a lot to prove.

Fortunately, I had been practicing Bodylogos for a while by this time. I was in the habit, through active meditation, of checking in with myself regularly, asking how I felt about people and situations, and trusting the answers that came to me (abdominal work); with clarifying what I wanted and needed to bring into my life to feel fulfilled and successful (biceps work); and with determining what I needed to practice letting go of (triceps) while maintaining my integrity (shoulder work) and a sense of comfort and safety (buttocks and back muscle work).

“Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind,” Bodylogos’ vision statement, makes clear that it’s a physical practice designed to strengthen muscles, and promote postural integrity. But Bodylogos also encourages us to continually explore our psyche-muscular blueprints, to be curious about the relationship between our physical and emotional needs, and our aspirations. As I became more comfortable doing Bodylogos workouts I got better at identifying my strengths and weaknesses, and developing strategies to meet my goals. Over time, I began to practice Bodylogos in my workplace – identifying strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, and developing strategic ways of addressing situations within the organization and relationships with colleagues, too.

With the Bodylogos approach in mind, I got clear that what I needed most strategically in that situation was a functional workspace, and so I offered to take the lead on this relatively small office move.  As soon as I volunteered, there was more, and louder grumbling: you’re new, this isn’t fair to you, so-and-so ought to be handling this since it was their idea, it should have been done before you even arrived. It was tempting to join in the kvetching: it was a way for me, as the new person, to bond with colleagues who’d been there a while and also to blow off a little steam as I was anxious about the move, too. But I got clear quickly about this too, specifically, that joining in the complaining wasn’t going to get me what I needed (a more functional workspace), and could potentially put me at risk if it involved complaining about senior leaders and it got back to them.

So I engaged facilities to help me take measurements and make decisions about furniture and packing. I engaged the technology manager to determine to move computers, and other electronics. And I communicated with everyone in the suite affected by the move. By the end of the process I had gotten exactly what I needed: a functional workspace, and a supervisor who was delighted by how smoothly things went. And, crucially, I avoided getting caught up in power struggles and a cycle of bonding through complaining with colleagues, and I stayed true to myself and my values.

I went on to have a stellar professional experience that changed the course of my career, and led to several very dynamic collaborations with colleagues that continue to this day. During this time I also realized the extent to which Bodylogos had become an integral part of my life, and decided to become a Bodylogos instructor so that I could encourage others to try the Bodylogos approach to move their lives and energy in new directions.

 

Get your copy of The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind today!

Balboa Publishing
with a 5% gift to Safe Horizons

Amazon

Inspiration creates a oneness with Spirit. You are fully awake and at ease as energy courses through you. I call it relaxed strength, but describe it as grace.

The first time I experienced this phenomenon it was kind of an out-of-body experience. You could call it a trans-state. But truth is, I was literally frightened out of my body’s tension into mind-body alignment. In this aligned trans-state I became a human antenna, a lightening rod that seemed to channel all-that-is through me.

I am reminded of this energy channel when creating art, in love or lost in honest labor. My body connects my know-how and spirit with that of a larger Universal Intelligence.

So now I practice daily, I deliberately surrender tension, to access spiritual intelligence.

As I give up the fight to prove my rightness and relevance I surrender into a relaxed stretch that energizes my body’s natural antenna. The strength that channels through me stretches my bones between earth and sky, dissolving all uncertainty. I feel plugged into a source energy that aligns me with all that could be.

We are led to believe that good posture is something that we do (or should do), but in my experience good, or bad, posture does us. Paying attention to our posture as a guide to feel connected, relaxed and strong is its gift.

Posture expresses what we are carrying inside. It is our story trying to attract or distract our attention.

The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind, my book/3D-video learning system guides you toward relaxed strength, introduces you to the energy serge of mind-body alignment, and offers a way to translate your posture’s meaning and byway, transform your life.

The BodyLogos Philosophy: Now In Book/Video Form!

Whether you’re a visual, aural or verbal learner, you’ll discover how to

release tension and build strength.

Order your copy of The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind, a pioneering book/3D video learning system today!

The Connection and Direction of Purpose:

More of What You’ll Find Inside The Art of Strength-A Look at Chapters 5 & 6

Have you ever looked up to the sky and wondered, What is the meaning of it all? Why am I here; what’s my purpose?

I’m not a fan of labeling the asking of these questions an “existential crisis,” as I don’t believe this kind of curiosity is a crisis at all. In fact, these moments of inquisitiveness and reflection, of recognizing that there’s something bigger than ourselves out there at play, are absolutely necessary and vital to a meaningful existence.

The Universe has a great deal to teach us about our inner selves and outer world. When we deeply connect to our purpose and regularly make the necessary adjustments to continue to move with purpose in our lives, we are actively participating in Universal well-being.

In fact, a fundamental principle of Tao is that every individual is a microcosm of the Universe.

Like the Universe, you are an energy system comprised of energy orbits and connections that keep you alive and in motion. BodyLogos aims to align the inner momentum of our individual energy system with that of the vast Universe. This alignment connects us to a meaningful intersection—the unique purpose of our human journey.

And that’s what these two chapters in my new book The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind are all about: connection and direction.

They help you dig deeper into the newfound understanding of alignment you gained from earlier chapters and discover balance. You learn that bone stillness and muscle movement manage energy flow. You are guided to experience skeletal alignment and muscular balance as two distinct systems that, when managed separately,  allow holding patterns (tension) trapped between them to dissolve. Furthermore, you learn to create a more complementary relationship between them that replenishes vital energy.

Strength lies in efficiently bringing your energy back to its origin point—your Dan Tien—to synchronize your bones and muscles, and create the same restorative momentum observed out there in the solar system. This universal synchronization joins the relationship you have with yourself to your relationship with the world at large. In that connection, you gain a call-to-action. You plan the direction you want to take in life… and train for it in the gym!

Through chapters 5 and 6, discover:
The book gives you exclusive access to videos that help visually guide you through these exercises.

 

• How to experience equipoise, the “how-to” to peace of mind, the stillness in the middle of motion

• How to differentiate between tension and strength and distinguish energy movement from physical movement to replenish and reinforce your vitality

• How the 5-Element Theory can balance your workouts and help you find your focus and achieve your goals

 

Strength training workouts are your opportunity to practice balanced energy. You lay a foundation that cuts through the negative self-talk and regularly relates you with an inner-authority that strengthens your understanding and commitment to create the life you want. You use your workouts to recognize a life goal and stay connected through its fruition!

My wish for you is that as you experience greater depth within your own vital energy, you will experience greater depth in your connection with the world.

The beauty of BodyLogos is that it involves you in an inner exploration of your own  authenticity as it relates to the world around you. It inspires you to connect with a workout challenge to connect better with a life challenge. It builds a relationship with your Spirit Self that recognizes you are an integral part of all of Creation.

Your efforts to enlighten yourself are efforts to enlighten the world.

 

Get your copy of The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind today!

Balboa Publishing
with a 5% gift to Safe Horizons

Amazon

BODYLOGOS = The Body’s Divine Wisdom

It is a Practice and a Lifestyle outlined in The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind

The Psyche-Muscular Blueprint:

A Cornerstone of Bodylogos

by Donia Elizabeth Allen ~ Bodylogos Instructor

The Bodylogos practice makes simple, intuitive connections between the physiological roles of the major muscle groups, and their emotional significance.

For example, physiologically biceps are the muscles we use to literally bring things toward us: a free weight if we’re doing biceps curls, or a fork if we’re lifting food to our mouths.

In Bodylogos, practitioners use biceps exercises to envision and meditate on aspirational or emotional things we’d like to bring toward us: a new work project, relationship, or healthy habit.

What would I like to bring into my life at this time?

This simple question facilitates the connection between what we’re doing physically, our mental focus and our emotional clarity.

The transparent blend of the physiological and emotional – call it a psyche-muscular blueprint – is a cornerstone of the Bodylogos practice. It is designed to encourage dialogue and build trust between what your body is doing and what your soul wants to create.

A key benefit of the Bodylogos approach is that because it engages our minds and bodies concurrently, we rarely get bored, or stuck in a rut. It is a practice that creates space for us to contemplate, ask questions and to change as our dreams and needs do. For this reason we can return to Bodylogos again and again without risk of burnout, which is so often what happens with more traditional, one-dimensional exercise routines.

What follows are brief descriptions of the major muscle groups’ physiological roles and questions related to their emotional significance to consider as you work these muscle groups.

ABDOMINALS

Physiological function: Abdominals are the central muscles of the body. All movement emanates from them. They provide essential support for the spine and central nervous system.

Questions to consider: How do you feel today? Can you turn your attention to your quiet center or spirit self?

 

QUADRICEPS

Physiological function: These powerful muscles are critical for forward movement including walking, jumping, squatting and running.

Questions to consider: What do you aspire to move toward? What’s your dream, and are you actively moving toward it?

 

HAMSTRINGS

Physiological function: These muscles connect and motor the knees and hips for backward movement.

Questions to consider: What strength and insights can you draw on from your past experiences and use to create your future?

 

BUTTOCKS

Physiological function: Buttock muscles are the most powerful muscle group in the body. Their strength and padding provides security and comfort. The buttocks are responsible for movement of hips and thighs.

Questions to consider: Are you secure with your own power? What makes you feel comfortable in your personal and professional relationships?

 

CALVES

Physiological function: Calf muscles are responsible for flexing the foot at the ankle joint and the leg at the knee joint. They ground and elevate your weight.

Questions to consider:  What are you determined to accomplish in your life? What grounds and supports your efforts?

 

BICEPS

Physiological function: Biceps muscles control flexion of elbow and shoulder joints to lift and bring things inward.

Questions to consider: What would you like to bring into your life or improve upon at this time? What does it look like, sound like, taste like, and feel like?

 

TRICEPS

Physiological function: Triceps muscles control extension of the forearm to push things away.

Questions to consider: What would you like to let go of or say “No Thank You” to? What do you no longer need in your life?

 

SHOULDERS

Physiological function: Shoulder muscles are the widest part of the human skeleton. They offer arms full range of motion, and the integrity of their alignment frames your posture.

Questions to consider: How does integrity feel to you? What do you need to feel a sense of integrity in your life, work, and relationships?

 

CHEST

Physiological function: Chest muscles sit atop the heart, support spinal alignment, and present your body’s smile to the world at large.

Questions to consider: Do you feel connected to your joy? What causes your heart to lift and express itself, or shuts your heart down?

 

BACK

Physiological function: The back muscles are the most protective of the vital organs, and have the the thickest skin on the body. They help support the spine and allow humans to stand upright and pull themselves up off the ground.

Questions to consider: Do you have your own back – emotionally, financially, professionally? What do you need to feel a sense of protection and safety?

 

Align your workouts with meditations on your emotional wishes and dreams and be amazed by how much progress you make!

Get your copy of The Art of Strength: Sculpt the Body ~ Train the Mind today!

Balboa Publishing
with a 5% gift to Safe Horizons

Amazon

My mom always says, “If you can read you can do anything.”

I’ve come to realize that gift as freedom.

Whether I’m learning to garden, knit or raise my parrots, books are my guide. Even learning to deviate from the page, like when cooking or drawing, the pages taught me to think creatively enough to stretch beyond them.

Authors are experts at something, and if that expertise excites you, let experienced words inspire you into action. Better yet, gift that perfect book to inspire those you care about to take their first steps toward inspired action.

While non-fiction books teach physical skills, fiction connects our spirit to living. In either case, the mind is gathering data for our physical-spiritual selves to flourish and feel a part of life.

Authors share, not only their expertise but also, their companionship. We are no longer alone in our curiosity on a subject. We are challenged to consider new things and stretched to change our status quo. And, because we’re not alone in the journey of a book, change becomes so much easier.

Every book, when well crafted, leaves the reader altered. We get clearer on what we want to be, do and practice.

Thanks for this lesson mom.

The Art of Strength brings you on a physical-spiritual journey that inspires action.