"The galaxies exist in you, not printed as mere images within your skull, but in your every cell, your every atom."
- George Leonard
In these uncertain times, we're grateful for this practice and the tools it offers to balance and center. The days might be blurring together in a haze of social distancing and sheltering in place, but there are still plenty of opportunities to find a sense of awe in "the fact that each of us is unique in all of space and all of time." As George Leonard and Michael Murphy remind us in The Life We Are Given:
"Here is a possibility to be realized: Through the active consideration of transforming ourselves, of becoming consciously involved in our own evolution, we can reawaken to the miracle of existence. Through simple strategies and patient, diligent practice, we can reclaim the feeling of wonder we held so carelessly between our hands on summer days when we were very young."
In this month's practice resources newsletter we honor the core of our practice, the ITP Kata. Enjoy a guided video segment on stepping into GRACE, revisit George Leonard's guidelines for the practice and listen to an ITP original song inspired by this powerful series of movements.
The word GRACE serves here as an acronym, a sort of pilot's check list for balancing and centering. Charlotte Hatch, ITP Mastery Teacher, leads us through the opening segment of the Kata in this short video.
The series of mind-body-spirit exercises comprising the Kata are the core of ITP. The movements are intended to articulate all the muscle groups and joints in the body and to offer an opportunity for deep rhythmic breathing, relaxation, transformational imaging and meditation. The Kata was created by Aikido sensei and human potential pioneer, George Leonard, as a daily practice, intended to tap our latent capacities and to provide the experience of living a vital, joyful and fulfilling life. Here are his guidelines to help you during your Kata practice.
Add a joyful reminder of the power of your Kata practice in this ITP original by practitioners Rich Sigberman and Tim Cleary.
PRACTICE: Thursday Virtual Community Kata Sessions
Join us each Thursday at 4:30 pm PDT for a virtual, community ITP Kata. This offering, led by ITP teachers, is extended to members of our community to provide connection, support and sustenance during this time of uncertainty and upheaval. What's great about the Kata is that you can practice it anywhere, in this case, the comfort of your own home. YEHO!
Do you have a favorite ITP resource or tip you use to stay motivated? Reply to this email or send a message to Robert Stewart and we can share it in upcoming issues.
We hope these resources have energized your practice and sparked conversation in your community. Don't hesitate to pass this email along if you know of anyone embarking on a transformative journey of their own.
"There is a human striving for self-transcendence. It's part of what makes us human. With all of our flaws we want to go a little bit further than we've gone before and maybe even further than anyone else has gone before."
