mindfullness
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Toronto Life Magazine + Podcast Interviews
Paul Lara - February 5, 2015
I got a text from a friend last week who said, ‘Congrats!! You’re in Toronto Life Magazine!!’ (February Issue) Shocked and amazed, I went on the hunt to find that I was mentioned as one of the four people in Toronto that offer meditation training (they used the word gurus, but hey lets not get too carried away here). I am pumped. Be sure and grab yourself a ...
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Reiki 2015
Paul Lara - January 27, 2015
Greetings Everyone, This month I am unveiling my new curriculum for Reiki. It’s a biggie. Mind/body fundamentals, meridian theory, internal cultivation and the time to practice will now be included in the scheduling according to the class. Based on my experience over the last 5 years here in Toronto, I have decided to lengthen the training to cover more material. Reiki beyond therapeutics looks much different. I hope ...
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The Essential 18 Tai Chi Form
Paul Lara - January 11, 2015
精义混元太极18式 JingYi HunYuan TaiJi 18 Shi (Essential 18 Movement Form) 1、三才起势 SanCai Qi Shi (3 Powers QiGong Form) 2、左右混元圈 ZuoYou HunYuan Quan (Left Right HunYuan Circles) 3、金刚捣碓 Jin Gang Dao Dui (Buddha’s Warrior Pounds Mortar) 4、懒扎衣 Lan Zha Yi (Lazily Tie Coat) 5、单鞭 Dan Bian (Single Whip) 6、雀地龙 Qiao Di Long (Sweep Earth Dragon) 7、白蛇吐信 Bai She Tu Xin (White Snake Spits Tongue) 8、当头炮 Dang Tou Pao (Overhead Cannon) 9、野马分鬃 Ye Ma Fen Zong ...
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QiBelly Tai Chi Curriculum
Paul Lara - January 11, 2015
In December I received another revised version of our training from my teacher in Beijing, Master Zhang Yu Fei. Just like last year when I posted the previous changes, I am frothing at the mouth for this new material. Holy #%@* it’s amazing. He has been a busy boy redesigning, restructuring and creating material that is leaps and bounds above the standard, somewhat dogmatic approach ...
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QiBelly TV: Episode 1
Paul Lara - September 8, 2014
Hello!! And welcome to the first episode of QiBelly TV!! I am not sure what is going on or what any of this means, but I have decided to start a talk show concept. In this first video recorded, we basically explain best we can what is happening. Have a look!! Season Premiere Thank you Paul ...
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Smooth Mind/Body Refreshment
Paul Lara - January 5, 2014
Have you experienced this yet? Set aside an hour a week and come check out our Happy Hour. Bang for you Buck techniques that first and foremost give you an experience that you can then turn into your reality. Over the last few months, this class has turned into something special indeed. At $5 a head it is not gonna break your bank. Looking for community, looking ...
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Meditation Tip of the Week
Paul Lara - May 29, 2013
Try meditating upon the word ‘Acceptance.’ For your life. For your day. For your moment. Whatever the word means to you, use it as a way of reinforcing the here and now. As your mind wanders, and it will, just bring it back. Don’t worry about how you got off track. Just bring it back each and every time to the word, Acceptance. Zen Meditation in Toronto aka ...
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Creating Balance Between Life & Work
Paul Lara - March 12, 2013
With the advent of smart phones and universal wi-fi, we have the ability to access anything and everything anytime we want. Love it or hate it, the fact remains we work longer hours than before. The line that used to separate work from home is no longer. It’s important to be in one place at one time. Mind separate from body, a habit that most of us ...
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Simple Breathing Techniques: Stress Reduction
Paul Lara - March 5, 2013
For most of us, the breath is not a conscientious process. Its not something we have to think about in order to survive. We breathe because we have to, it’s an involuntary response. But what if, just for a few minutes, I asked you to watch your breath. How would your body react? Think of your heartrate, your overall circulation, your digestion, your sleeping patterns, etc. ...
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Meditation in the Workplace
Paul Lara - March 2, 2013
What if work was your meditation? Seated at your workstation, just you and your assignment. Your assignment is one-pointed. Your assignment is to isolate your moment. One task at a time. No need for complexity. Learn how to create a habit that keeps you present, centered and more efficient. Maintaining awareness on just one thing at a time, we discover how to take meditation off the cushion and ...
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QiBelly Meditation – Workshop
Paul Lara - February 19, 2013
For beginners and adepts alike, this 2 hour workshop will break down ancient terminology and put abstract meditative concepts into a more palatable framework. By placing emphasis on results, we can objectively critique our practice to determine if what we are practicing is actually having a positive effect on our well-being. As little as 5 minutes a day, practiced consistently throughout the week, can have a tremendous ...
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On Parenting
Paul Lara - February 4, 2013
I didn’t want to write a blog on the difficulties of parenting, but here I am. So for those of you who didn’t know, I am the proud father of two boys, a 2 1/2 year old and a 2 month old. Becoming a father is a true blessing indeed. But ever since the birth of my youngest, life has been difficult to say the least. Sleep, ...
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100 Day Meditation
Paul Lara - November 19, 2012
Zhu Ji Gong aka DeYao – Achieving the Medicine Conditions for Zhu Ji Gong: • Retain possession of seminal fluid for entire time of practice. • Being able to control anger and deal with it effectively is very important. Too much fire/heat within the body at this time can be dangerous. • Spicy food and alcohol are to be avoided. • Face south (towards equator) during the seated practice which should be ...
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Into Mountains, Over Streams
Paul Lara - November 13, 2012
Into Mountains, Over Streams is an International Journal for Qigong & Taiji Culture, online. Packed with valuable information, it is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in Tai Chi or Qi Gong. A few weeks back, I was fortunate enough to be contacted by the editor of this online journal. I was asked if I was interested in becoming a ‘featured writer’ for them in the upcoming ...
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