Preparing Body & Mind

We are rapidly approaching a time of convergence when the behavior patterns of the past no longer enable us to move forward effectively. More and more people are searching for answers to the fundamental questions regarding the purpose and meaning of life. Many are beginning to realize that they may have to rely on their own abilities to weather the coming difficulties. For some there is a seductive aspect to the concept that things are going to fall apart. For others there is a tendency to allow doubt and fear to permeate their lives. Still others see an opportunity to profit from the disaster. None of these outlooks are beneficial in the long run. And while there has been a lot of talk about gathering supplies and stockpiling weapons, there has not been enough discussion about physical and mental preparation.
The truth is that we are living in a precarious interconnected society that has the potential to collapse at any time. The longer we continue to distract our attention from these issues the quicker we travel headlong over the cliff. The time has come to pay attention. In order to carry on our existence we need to prepare ourselves for change; dramatic, society-encompassing, life-altering change.
This dramatic change is about to occur for the human race. It has often been called the end of the world as we know it. This is not a fully comprehensible concept for most people. It is virtually impossible to imagine the changes that are going to occur. Not only that, but it is coming very fast and we are poorly prepared. If we are going to exist at all in the world that is to be, we need to get our act together now. We need to put ourselves in a position to deal with the future, whatever it may be. Surviving whatever happens is going to be a challenge no matter who you are or where you live. As we all struggle to ready ourselves for this change we must take care to maintain our center. It is easy to start making compromises when times get difficult. Yet this only leads to trouble. In truth, the only way forward is to learn to help ourselves as we adapt to the ever-changing world.

Preparing the Body
One of the major realizations we need to make is the fact that we are going to be relying on our physical body much more in the world to come than we do today. We have gotten soft with the easy availability of food and devices that make life simple and convenient. Survival of the fittest is going to take on a whole new meaning. It is important to understand that this will not just mean whoever has the most muscles. No, instead survival will depend on a variety of physical skills including flexibility, stamina in adverse conditions, and the ability to go without food for extended periods of time. A healthy immune system and strong constitution will be vital. Practices such as Tai Chi, Qigong, Zen Yoga, and other traditional martial arts that focus on internal energy are well suited to this type of physical preparation. At the heart of them, all of these are methods for building a reservoir of energy in the body. This reservoir is essential in preparation for dramatic changes.
Of all the physical skills, learning to breathe properly is the most important. It can be considered the most basic skill to gather and maintain energy, yet many people do not have this ability. As a result in times of crisis they are unable to remain calm and can easily be caught up in the flow of events. Breathing is the key to maintaining balance and control in the physical body when events begin to get out of hand.

Energy Breathing Exercise
This exercise is both simple and complex. Regular practice expands lung capacity, slows down breathing making it smoother and more even. It cleans and invigorates the lungs and the deep rhythmic respiration of the abdominal cavity acts as an internal massage for the, liver, kidneys, spleen, and heart. This passive massage strengthens and energizes them, making them less susceptible to disease and degeneration.
Of course, use common sense when trying any exercise for the first time. Begin very slowly. It is very important that you become responsible for your own body. Know your limits and pay attention. The practice can be done from a standing posture or lying down. The exercise itself consists of five separate aspects: inhalation, retention, exhalation, suspension and the finish.
Begin the exercise with simple abdominal breathing. Push the lower belly out and down as you breathe in. Use the abdominal muscles to create a vacuum allowing the lungs to expand to the maximum capacity. Next, as you breathe out, pull the belly in and up, exhaling from the bottom of your lungs.
Inhalation
Calmly and peacefully, inhale through your nose. Expand your lower abdomen, pushing out and down as you breathe in. Once your abdomen is full, focus on your ribcage and continue inhaling. When the ribcage is full, move your attention up and expand your chest. Finally, fill your collarbones, shoulders, and nose. Stop and hold your breathe in.
Retention
Holding your breath in, bring your attention to the fullness of your body. Feel the expansion circulating the oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. There is no set time to hold your breathe in. Everyone is at a different level. All that matters is that you are comfortable and relaxed. Don’t hold the breath longer than is comfortable.
Exhalation
Slowly begin to exhale through your nose. Contract the lower abdomen first by pulling in and up. Continue to exhale by contracting the ribcage and then the chest. Lower the collarbones and shoulders. Blow the air from your and nose. Empty it all out. Stop and hold your breath out.
Suspension
Hold the breath out. Bring your attention to the emptiness of the body. Feel your body like an empty balloon waiting to be filled. Again, don’t hold your breath past the point of being comfortable. Holding the breath out can be rather daunting at first. Take care and go slow.
Repeat
On the next inhalation don’t gasp for air. Calmly and smoothly inhale just as before. Feel the air reaching far beyond your abdomen, filling every corner of your body like an expanding balloon. Notice the sensation of your body as the new oxygen is brought in.
If possible, do the complete set three times.
Finish
Resume normal breathing. Gradually bring your attention to the feeling within your body. The changes may be very subtle at first. This is because many of us have literally become like strangers within our own bodies. We have become desensitized. Now, if you are able to turn inwards and notice how your body feels you will begin to sense your body coming to life because you are filling it with energy. Each time you practice energy breathing you will be recharging the energy reserves within your body. You will be exchanging the old stagnated energy that has been trapped within your body and replacing it with fresh powerful energy.
In addition to breathing, another important thing to be aware of is eating properly. If our diet is more of an addiction to chemical-filled junk foods or we lack essential vitamins or minerals we are not going to be on the top of our game when it is most important. Learning to eat fresh food from the local area is a good start. Gaining an understanding of fasting and the various methodologies is also a good idea. Preparing the body is much more than physical fitness.

Preparing the Mind
Just as vital to being physically prepared for the change, is to be prepared mentally. We may need to think and react quickly to unexpected situations. If we are too deeply plugged into the matrix of cell phones, internet, and television it is going to be a major shock to the system when that all crashes down. Panic will ensue. If we are not able to think clearly and devise a strategy to deal with whatever problem we face it is likely that we will not survive. Again practices such as Tai Chi, Qigong, Zen Yoga and traditional martial arts are intended to provide the introspection and mental discipline that enable a calm, controlled response to even the worst disaster.
The modern world will not be very forgiving to those who are unprepared. Even highly trained martial artists may be called upon to search deep within themselves for the strength and courage to proceed. This is where meditation is so important. The Zen Mind is a state of being fully aware in the present moment. It leaves the distractions behind and allows us to see things as they truly are. From the Zen Mind we are able to deal with everything in its proper time and place. The training of Zen Mind is meditation.

Meditation Exercise
Find a quiet place without the chance of interruption and spend at least five minutes in total silence with yourself. The idea here is to let the mental activity of your mind settle down. This practice is not about stopping thoughts. Instead, it is simply putting some space between the thoughts and allowing them to be. It is not always easy, but this type of training is vital because if the mind is distracted, there is no connection to the body. When there is no connection, the mind tends to become overly attached to the body causing reactions to become hesitant and unbalanced. Meditation is a practice that filters out all of the irrelevant noise from the world and allows us to think clearly. It has been used for thousands of years to help people deal with the rampant thoughts that often run through our minds. It is a vital skill to deal with the panic and chaos of a crisis. Once you are able to sit for 5 minutes each day, gradually extend the time. The longer you are able to sit in silence the more calm your mind will become.

The bottom line is that we really don’t know what is going to happen. There are plenty of people willing to offer predictions, but the truth is that it doesn’t matter. Spending time debating predictions is simply another distraction. At the end of the day it is important to realize that no matter how well supplied you are, no matter how much ammo you have, regardless of how far off the grid you go, you will still have to deal with a host of unexpected problems, challenges and dangers. What is important is preparing the body and mind to be ready for whatever you may have to face. Having a body that is able to respond to the challenges you ask of it and a mind that is calm and clear is an imperative.

Aaron Hoopes