Maintaining a heavy elbow throughout the day will help us to move our bodies more efficiently, preventing shoulder injuries and helping keep us rooted in the ground.  

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--Joining my Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​ 

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There is a plumb line running through our bodies, sinking down the lower body into the ground, and lifting the upper body up to the heavens.  In this video Corey discusses a few points to consider while engaging with this line in the first Zhan Zhuang posture, Wuji.    

Wuji is often described as the uncarved block. It is the first posture in Zhan Zhuang, and in my opinion, the most important.  

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​ or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​ 

Where else to find me:  Blog: https://zenembodiment.com/

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Please like, comment,  and share this video!  

None of the information described in these Zen Embodiment videos should be mistaken for medical advice.  Please consult a doctor before engaging in any movement practices.  Thanks!

In this video, I read a blog post about a practice that has been very important to me and my process, Non-Directed Body Movement.  Please enjoy!  "But then something strange started to happen. The more I found the energy flowing through me in the NDBM,  I also found my zazen really take off energetically.  And in fact, the distinction began to dissolve.  I started to see that a really good organic zazen posture was really trying to happen if I let go into this great energy.  And the more I gave into this great energy,  I slowly fell in love more and more with this process.    No longer was I fighting against reality, but I began more and more to be nourished by it, guided.   

As the process deepened, my entire everyday way of being shifted on a cellular level."  

I will do a demo video of the practice soon.  

Please join our classes and the Facebook group below!  

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​

This short video is for Zhan Zhuang practitioners if you have just about a 10-15 minute break during the day to do a short practice.  I recommend that before doing these postures you have done the Eight Fold Brocade sometime earlier in the day.  Maybe you have a few short breaks throughout the day and want to get your body energized.  These simple practices pack a punch.  These practices are meant to be easy on the joints and to be a low impact  exercise get the blood flowing and strengthen the body in a safe manner.  

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​ or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​ 

Where else to find me:  

Blog: https://zenembodiment.com/

​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreyhessbo​... 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/21610​...  

Please like, comment,  and share this video!  

I encourage everyone to find a teacher and be showed these practices in person.  Also, none of the information described in these Zen Embodiment videos should be mistaken for medical advice.  Please consult a doctor before engaging in any movement practices.  Thanks!

This is a reading of a blog post about the practice of Zhan Zhuang.  It describes how the practice can help us open up and interact with our emotional world.  Plus it makes us stronger and healthier. Please enjoy!  "Gradually we will find ourselves enjoying this process.  It will feel liberating.  It might feel like, “Oh, I can finally engage with this part of myself which I could not reach, or could always avoid before.”  So, our stuck places, where unconscious emotions are held, can begin to be investigated, and eventually integrated.  This translates to everything in our lives."  Please join our classes and the Facebook group below!  

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​

In this discussion, I spoke with Simon Thakur, creator of Ancestral Movement. Simon is remarkably articulate and talks about his work which bridges the worlds of spirituality, embodiment, science, indigenous skills, anthropology, neuroscience, shamanism, dance, and more.  When I thought about starting this channel, Simon was one of the first people I thought of to invite for a chat.    

Simon can be found at his website: http://ancestralmovement.com​

Or on his outstanding Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/954751214582008

.​He is also teaching online Weekly Ancestral Movement Classes: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ancestral-movement-zoom-series-animal-body-practice-tickets-126692812613?fbclid=IwAR27x8HNSkQyqVQN1cC2KjfJ4e3xMHbX9A5RaHEGs-zw80OkJxdrJn9f4TU

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​

Today Illustrator and overall Zen Craftsman Mark Morse discusses how Zen has influenced his artistic life.  It's wonderful to see someone following their passion and seeing it work for their overall life.  

You can find more information about Mark at:  http://www.gatelessgatestudio.com​ 

Instagram: @gatelessgatestudio 

Facebook: @gatelessgatestudio 

Twitter: @GatelessStudio  

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​

In this episode Yoshi Ikeda Sensei joins us from his home in Shodoshima.  He discusses Japanese Style Acupuncture, as well as muscle testing and Sotai. He also gives a wonderful, and down to earth description of ki. Yoshi gave free acupuncture treatment to training people at Sogenji in Okayama while I lived there. He was also a great mentor for me. I am indebted to Yoshi and his wonderful wife Phyllis.  Just a technical note, the sound was a little tricky here, so I ended up loud and Yoshi is quiet.  Sorry bout that.    

Hanging out with Yoshi again made me miss Japan so much!    

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​

In this episode, I welcome Beau Vandendolder. Beau is a Zen student, practitioner of TCM, has a lot of experience with movement practices such as Yoga, Qigong, Taiji, Zhan Zhuang, etc, and is an Alexander Technique practitioner.  I brought Beau on to the page to hopefully shed some light on embodiment, and how Alexander Technique, Zen and Qigong all relate and can inform each other.  I especially appreciated his sharp mind, and discussing what it means to live a creative life.    

Beau can be found at his website: https://www.silvercreekacupuncture.com​

Or by email: [email protected]  

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​

In this Episode, we welcome the Moderators from the Rinzai Zen Discussion page, Daiho Matt Wagner, Genryo Bradley T. Jones, Meido Moore Roshi, Jim Tabor Sensei, and me, Ichigen Corey Hess.    We discussed what brought us to Zen, what we love about training, and what we hope will happen to Zen for the future in the West.    

If you find this content useful, please consider hitting the donate button on my business website: http://coreyhessbodytherapy.com/​or on my Patreon site: https://www.patreon.com/zenembodiment​