The Origins of Aikido

The term \’Aikido\’ is created by the grouping of three characters in the Japanese language. \’Ai\’, which signifies \’joining\’; \’ki\’, which means \’spirit\’ and \’do\’, which means \’way\’. These three words actually encapsulate the essence of Aikido as a sort of martial art: \’the joining of the spirit to find the way\’. It was only in the period from 1930\’s to the 1940\’s that the name Aikido was formally accepted as the name of this martial art variety.

Aikido uses methods that do not seriously injure or kill not like different types of martial art. The movements and skills being taught are just intended to divert attention or immobilize attackers. This is perhaps the explanation why most people prefer Aikido, because of its concentration on peace and tranquility as opposed to violence and conflict. In deed, Aikido teacher, Morihei Ueshiba, believes that to have power over hostility without causing any injury is the art of peace.

Ueshiba, who is also called Osensei, which signifies \’Great Teacher\’, formed Aikido from the doctrine of Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. He incorporated the methods of the \’yari\’, the spear; the \’juken\’, the bayonet; and the \’jo\’, which is a short quarterstaff. But what ultimately distinguishes Aikido from other types of martial art is the fact that its proponents can strike while empty-handed. Proponents require no arms for their protection.

As a young child, he was greatly into physical fitness and conditioning. This was because of his oath to avenge his father\’s attackers. Eventually, his studies and actions brought him to the discipline of the various martial arts. He studied several of them. He even has qualifications for fencing, fighting with spears, etc. He has learned it all. This is perhaps the reason why Aikido is such a disparate and multi-disciplinary form of martial art.

Yet despite his expertise, he remained discontented. He felt that there was still something missing. It was then that he turned to the religions. He studied under a spiritual guide, Onisaburo Deguchi of the sect called Omoto-kyo in Ayabe. Deguchi taught him to take care of his spiritual development. He then pooled his spiritual beliefs and his mastery of the various martial arts and Aikido was born.

His relationship with this fascinating spiritual leader Deguchi also smoothed the path for his introduction to the elite political and military personnel as a martial artist. Because of this connection, he was able to found Aikido and even pass on his knowledge to students, who have, in turn, created their own methods and techniques in Aikido.

Aikido is a blend of the different styles of jujitsu as well as some of the techniques of sword and spear fighting, of which Ueshiba was an expert. To obtain an general picture, Aikido combines the joint locks and throws of jujitsu and the techniques of the body necessary when fighting with swords and spears.

Oriental in origin, it was brought to the West by Minoru Mochizuki when he visited France in 1951. He introduced the Aikido methods to students who were learning judo. In 1952, Tadashi Abe came to France as the official Aikikai Honbu representative. Then in 1953, Kenji Tomiki toured throughout the United States while Koichi Tohei stayed in Hawaii for a full year where he set up a dojo. Aikido then spread its influence in the United Kingdom two years after and in 1965, it reached Germany and Australia. At present, Aikido has centres all over the world.

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Spiritual Gay Retreats

Our lives can get very hectic. Job, family, commuting, health issues, etc can all weigh us down to the point of feeling lost. Our mental and physical health requires that we take a break from it all once in awhile. Luckily, we have countless vacation options these days.

You can vacation alone, with friends or family, or you can travel with a group. You can also choose to travel with a group of people that have similar backgrounds and interests. Spiritual travel is one choice for gay people.

Being gay, we all have at least one thing in common. Vacationing with others that have had similar experiences in life can add to our time away. This commonality helps to form bonds within the group.

People we have just met can quickly become friends and confidants. This makes gay vacations all the more special and meaningful. We\’re able to share our gay vacations experience with others that we know understand us.

Being understood allows us to open up, relax more and let our guard down. This vulnerability lets more of the vacation into our hearts and minds. The more we feel the vacation, the more we recover from the strains of life at home.

If we take vacations with people that have similar goals for the vacation, we can deepen our experience even more. One such goal can be to connect with the spiritual aspects of the place being visited. Then we share our gayness and our quest for connectedness to our world.

Exploring our spirituality while on gay tours visiting special places throughout the world is a wonderful combination. With the other group members by our side, we are encouraged to step outside our box and live free. Living freer is the main goal of all vacations, is it not?

Looking at gay adventure vacations by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys will you plan your gay adventure trips so they go smoothly.

Gay Travel Packages In Hawaii

Hawaii is a Pacific paradise that has long held a distinct allure for travelers from around the world. With a warm, welcoming native population and a well-balanced, culturally-rich blend of Asian, Polynesian and white European cultures, Hawaii is a popular destination for straight and gay vacations alike. While the LGBT community may seem a bit quiet and low-key on the islands, those taking part in gay travel to Hawaii will find a high level of acceptance, due in part to generations of different cultures growing accustomed to living together with no one overriding cultural or religious influence.

Oahu is the third largest island in size, but is home to 70% of the states population, as well as the state capitol, Honolulu, and the popular tourist area, Waikiki. When visiting Oahu on gay holidays, travelers will not want to miss the LGBT-friendly La Cucaracha where authentic Mexican food, great music and delicious margaritas are always on the menu. Those who want to check out Oahus scene should check out 80% Straight Inc., a community clothing, book and novelty store located in the Waikiki Grand, and the handful of bars and clubs on the island, including Angles Waikiki, Fusion Waikiki, In-Between and Hulas Bar & Lei Stand. Beach goers will find a warm welcome at Queens Surf beach and near the lighthouse at Diamond Head.

A gay vacation to Maui might not include an exciting scene, other than one smaller area of Little Beach in Makena, but Maui has much to offer to any traveler, including old-world villages, sunrises atop Mount Haleakala and wiling away an afternoon wandering amid waterfalls, making this island a wonderful location for gay travel retreats. If you prefer exploring the most tropical, scenic island in Hawaii, Kauai is a must-see stop and is home to two LGBT-friendly lodgings that offer clothing optional areas, as well as amazing canyons, cliffs and waterfalls.

The Big Island is another friendly option with plenty of LGBT-friendly lodging options, as well as several businesses and restaurants and one bar. Gay vacations on the Big Island include everything from visiting an active volcano or strolling on black sand beaches to exploring a rain forest and gazing in wonderment at the snow on Mauna Kea.

As the most remote island chain anywhere in the world, Hawaii is a tropical destination that everyone should have the chance to see at least once. In a single vacation to this island paradise you can ride horses down black sand beaches, attend a real luau, learn the hula, tour a pineapple plantation, explore a volcano and snorkel or scuba dive in crystal clear waters. To enjoy your Hawaii vacation to the fullest, try partaking in a gay holidays tour or enlisting the help of a travel agency that regularly plans Hawaii gay travel.

Howie Holben thoughts for gay travel in Hawaii. Spirit Journeys has made gay holiday travel special again and they also have gay weekend getaways for men.

Enjoy Your Life Once Again With Chakra Meditation

Meditation has been around for around two thousand years, it\’s been a way of life for mankind. In fact every religion that is practiced by men uses some sort of meditation as a way of achieving a higher form of spiritual consciousness.

At first meditation was used mostly by religious priests, but through the years meditation has been picked up by ordinary people when they discover just how the various benefits work.

If you are not really aware of what meditation is, basically you intensely focus on sounds, objects, ideas, a breathing rhythm, actions or even movements to be able to allow your perception to intensify, you will cut down on your stress levels, enhance relaxation, and gain personal and spiritual growth.

Although meditation techniques have originally been practiced along religious traditions and beliefs in order to build up spiritual knowledge and awareness of ultimate reality, it can also be employed by anyone in order to relieve stress and pain.

With the latest understanding by Western medical practitioners of the important role of the mind in one\’s ability to cope with health issues, more and more interest in meditation and its function in alleviating some physical ailments has made the practice an adjunct of traditional medical treatment.

It is interesting to note that medical clinics and hospitals across the nation have been offering the practice of meditation as a possible method for patients to improve their health. Meditation is currently employed as a method for treatment of some diseases, as an additional therapeutic process for a comprehensive treatment program and as a means of improving the quality of life of people with chronic, debilitating, or incurable illnesses.

Current health care application of meditation focuses on three particular approaches: transcendental meditation, relaxation response meditation and mindfulness meditation (also referred to as mindfulness-based stress reduction).

Meditation focuses on the seven major chakras, which also correspond to the body\’s major endocrine glands.

If you would practice meditation for at least 30 minutes a day it will contribute to your balanced and harmonious interdependent functions of the major chakras with one another.

You will notice the energy flowing from the root, sacral, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye, and finally the crown chakras while meditating. Your whole body\’s biological, emotional, and spiritual aspects become more nourished and balance the body cleansing physical, emotional and spiritual toxins.

Since chakra meditation requires deep concentration the uninterrupted flow of energy into the body also gives a boost to the major chakras (and their corresponding endocrine counterparts).

You know how catalytic converters work? Well imagine your chakra meditation as a catalytic converter for your body. It gathers the energy outside of your body and channels it to the useful portions of your body\’s chakra system.

And since your chakras are such a huge part of your body\’s physical and metaphysical makeup, with fine tuning of these items our daily lives are affected either directly or indirectly, emotionally, physically, intellectually, and even spiritually.

You have several ways that you can practice the art of chakra meditation, but no matter how you go about doing the meditation you biggest step in the chakra meditation is to allow the state of focus to go and spread throughout the whole body.

You will not notice an immediate change from practicing chakra meditation, but more of a gradually change that will slowly take over your thoughts to give you a more positive outlook on life. Meditation is believed to help a person live a better life and be happier both physically and emotionally.

The most notable effect of chakra meditation is that a person\’s ability to concentrate and awareness are greatly enhanced even only after a week. Imagine if you are performing chakra meditation for years!

Also other noted benefits of chakra meditation are heightened creativity, better resourcefulness because of better perception. Also another proven benefit of chakra meditation is people tend to sleep much better and deeper, thus they will awake more refreshed in the morning, and overall health will also benefit by getting deeper sleep.

If you practice daily chakra meditations you will also notice a great reduction in the level of stress in all areas of your life. Because you will have better control over your emotions and better patience

Generally, overall health and well-being is greatly improved when meditation becomes a part of your daily routine. It helps to lower blood pressure which in turn can help prevent strokes and heart disease. It can also help reduce the effect of stress on people who suffer from chronic illnesses.

Even if you are only able to practice meditation for half an hour a day you will be able to notice a more healthy and productive life.

Anne-Marie-Laureaut is a writer for the chakra-balance.com website. To discover how understanding chakra meditation will improve your whole life and to get 29 Free chakra meditation healing and balance mp3 audios visit here.

categories: chakra meditation,chakra balancing,chakra balance,chakra healing,chakra energy,chakra system,natural medicine,alternative health,alternative medicine,spiritual healing,spirituality,wellness

China, The Perfect Gay Travel Destination

China is a communist-led nation with an everyday life that is largely influenced by traditions that go back many generations. This may make China appear to be a less than friendly option for gay travel; however tourists might be surprised to find a thriving scene throughout Chinas urban areas including neighborhoods, bars, clubs and pride celebrations, as well as a growing level of acceptance largely due to the visibility of an organized LGBT community. China offers an array of vacation options including unique cultural experiences, breathtaking landscapes, delectable food and fabulous fashion, making China a perfect choice for gay vacations.

Hong Kong and Shanghai are perhaps the most popular destinations in China for gay tours. With visible, well-organized LGBT communities, numerous clubs, saunas, bars, restaurants and other establishments, annual pride celebrations and LGBT community events throughout the year, both of these large metropolitan areas have much to offer for LGBT travelers. Visitors will find a number of beaches on Hong Kong Island that are popular with men, as well as several neighborhoods including Hong Kongs Soho, Lan Kwai Fong and Tsim Sha Tsui in nearby Kowloon. Shanghais club scene is largely located in the French Concession district and offers a variety of options from dimly lit lounges to dance clubs.

Another larger metropolitan area offering both an international business hub and exceptional fashion, shopping and dining is the city of Beijing. While Beijing may not have the thriving nightlife expected in Hong Kong or Shanghai, there are several clubs, bars and restaurants throughout the area. Destination is the most popular LGBT nightspot in Beijing and caters to a primarily male audience, but is also frequented by women. There are also a number of eateries within walking distance, including a romantic Spanish tapas restaurant called Mare and Alameda, a trendy fusion bistro.

China is a great chance to have new experiences. Get as much as you can on your gay trip by using a travel agent to plan your trip.

You will make new friends and explore China with a group of people in an environment that allows you to be yourself. If you are not sure you are ready to take on China with a group, working with a travel agency that regularly organizes gay tours to China to plan your China trip will assist you in planning the vacation of a lifetime.

Proposals for a gay couple vacation in China from Howie Holben. He and Spirit Journeys have put together gay romance trips and they also have gay tantra retreats for men.

An Overview Of Gay Travel To Italy

Italy is a country well-known for its history, art, architecture and romance. With its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant history and rich culture, Italy is a popular destination for gay travel, as well as being home to many settings for movies, plays and books. Friends, partners and families travel to Italy at all times of the year for the food and the fashion, and to see many of the most famous examples of architecture and art in the world. Whether your idea of perfect gay romantic destinations is strolling through the narrow streets of Venice, cruising through the countryside with the top down in search of historical sites and quaint wineries, spending a day at a Florence museum or partaking in Milans exuberant nightlife, you are sure to find Italy an ideal location for gay vacations.

Folks looking for gay travel experiences in Italy will find the largest selection of gay clubs and bars in Milan and Rome; however, Florence, Venice, Bologna, Geneva and Padua, as well as other cities and towns frequented by tourists, also have gay-friendly and gay-owned bars and businesses that provide a welcoming environment for visitors on an Italian gay vacation. Travelers will find gay-friendly and gay-owned hotels throughout the country, including Tuscanys gay-owned La Quircia Rosa and Villa le Masse, and gay-friendly Hotel Porta Rossa, which is only a short stroll from the Galleria dellAccademia, which houses Michelangelos David and is the one of the oldest hotels in Italy.

Italys larger cities have established gay and lesbian communities, providing many options for your Italian gay vacation. Milan is often thought of as the most accepting city in Italy, with Florence, Rome and Bologna also topping this list with larger gay and lesbian populations, which make each of these popular choices for gay vacations. There are gay pride celebrations in many cities and three lesbian and gay film festivals, including Milans Festival del Cinema Gay Lesbico e della Cultura Queer, the Turin International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the Florence Queer Festival.

Enlisting the assistance of a travel agency that regularly arranges gay tours to Italy or offers organized gay vacations to Italy is a good way to ensure that you will be working with someone who understands your particular needs and can guide you towards a safe, fulfilling gay vacation.

You may also want to consider taking part in an organized vacation or professional tours during your time in Italy, which will allow you to benefit from a well-organized itinerary and an educated tour guide. This will ensure that you will have the best vacation possible and will have many memories to bring home with you.

A Italy gay trips suggestions post by Spirit Journeys very own Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys does an incredible gay trip and they can make your gay trips really memorable.

Gay Holidays With Purpose

Imagine making the perfect gay travel destinations plans. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful experience to visit ancient civilizations and have a glimpse at the magnificence and mystery of the natural wonders that can be found on our planet? There are many destinations that allow a person to interact with indigenous cultures while tapping into the philosophies of ancient cultures. A person could participate in ceremonies and mediation while visiting sacred sites that also provide the opportunity for sightseeing, adventure and relaxation.

There are a wide variety of gay travel plans to choose from. A person can choose trips that are designed to fulfill areas of interest such as scuba diving, bird watching, whale watching, skiing, sailing and more. The types of trips available are as varied as a person’s interests are. You can try a gay tantra workshop or maybe a gay couples retreat.

There are a number of companies that specialize in planning gay travel. Many of these agencies are well known for planning meaningful journeys that are known to enlighten the mind and heal the body. While exploring these sacred sites can lead to an increased spirituality these trips can also be the catalyst for building lifelong friendships with likeminded people.

Perhaps a longer journey would be in order. One of the top gay vacation destinations is the popular Grand Canyon white water rafting trip. This trip is very spiritual and relaxing and also offers the more adventurous travelers many opportunities for hiking and swimming. The trip is guided by canyon experts and all meals and camping gear is provided. Most people that have enjoyed this trip describe this as one of the most spiritual experiences they have ever had.

Taking the time to really think about what you need and expect from your vacation is an important part of the planning process. Do you want your time to be spent with lots of fun activities or spend time discovering and growing your spirituality? Perhaps you would like a vacation that offered a mix of different activities.

While it would be possible to plan a wonderful vacation on your own it may be a good idea to consider booking gay tours with a company that specializes in gay travel. You can enjoy the luxury of visiting poplar vacation destinations or a spiritual retreat while making lifelong friends of likeminded individuals.

The mystery of the natural world and ancient civilizations can also be a focus of gay travel. Often called pilgrimages, this type of travel includes visiting the local people and learning their traditions and philosophies. There is also ample time for typical travel activities like sightseeing, shopping and just relaxing.

Sacred places have held an attraction for millions of people since the dawn of time. This attraction is because these places are known for the healing of mind and body. They will continue to be honored and visited because they provide a way to learn about the old ways and can lead to personal healing and growth.

Guidance for gay travel. Aritcle by Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys provides gay people gay holidays and gay tours of a lifetime.

categories: metaphysical,spirituality,motivation,self improvement,inspirational,travel,gay tours,gay holidays,travel,tourism,vacations,gay,sexuality

Gay Vacation Tips For Australia

There is a phenomenal vacation destination, filled with one-of-a-kind adventures and exciting locales. Its cities are urbane and vibrant, perfect for gay travel. It is a land of wonders so diverse, with natural and manmade settings so remarkable, it is almost indescribable. Where? Australia!

Australia offers the gay traveler an impressive and welcoming destination unlike any other in the world. It is no wonder gay couples and singles are heading “Down Under” for the experience of a lifetime.

When you’re in Australia you are rarely far from experiences that will excite you as never before. For the wine connoisseur, try going to Yarra, Coal River or Swan Valleys. Visit the wineries and their tasting rooms to experience first-hand the contrast between a smooth white and smoky red. Excitement junkies can go diving on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland or Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

Visitors can swim with giant whale sharks at Ningaloo. In the Northern Territory at Darwin Harbor, you can dive World War II shipwrecks. In Tasmania you can hike national parks and ancient rainforests, home to interesting plants and animals.

No gay traveler can miss Melbourne, the second-largest city in Australia. This is a multi-cultural metropolis where Victorian and contemporary architecture blend seemlessly. In this very gay friendly city, you can spend time with the sculptures in Werrebee Park, shop to you drop at high-end shops or less expensive boutiques, go to first class theater productions, and then end your day with a visit to one of Melbourne’s hot clubs! Perfect for a gay romantic getaway too.

Oh, and don’t forget the cuisine”from purely Australian, to Asian, with a generous helping of Mediterranean, French and other exotic offerings, there is enough to satisfy the most discerning palate.

Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons there are reversed from the season in the Northern Hemispere. In general, Australias coastal regions are warm and humid, while the interior regions are desert-like and dry, with blistering temperatures in the daytime that dip to freezing at night.

Australia has a very wide range of accommodations. From hostels to small inns for romantic holidays, to high end spa retreats and everything in between, making gay vacations to Australia affordable, no matter what you budget might be.

Gay travel suggestions column for gay people going to Australia. Spirit Journeys offers the gay community with a great gay vacation and gay tours. Post authored by Howie Holben.

Planning Gay Travel To Greece

Greece offers an array of opportunities for fantastic gay travel experience. Gay travel to Greece will naturally include amazing sunrises, relaxing on white, sandy beaches, trekking to historical sites to explore ancient ruins, and ferrying between several of Greeces breathtakingly beautiful islands. Whether you dream of a gay vacation that includes family fun like picking olives and exploring museums, a restful respite in a seaside resort with your partner, or a rowdy week of taking in the Athens nightlife with a group of friends, Greece will undoubtedly prove to be an ideal setting for your gay vacation.

Athens has a lively gay scene with several clubs and bars, as well as gay-owned and gay-friendly cafs, coffee shops and lodging options. For gay men interested in partaking in a bit of bathhouse culture during their gay vacation to Greece, there are two popular saunas in Athens. Athens Relax caters to a mixed-age clientele and is a large sauna directly across the street from one of Athens popular gay clubs, while the smaller Hera caters to a more mature clientele. There is also an unofficial gay beach area at Limanakia, which is south of Athens and a popular hangout for gay men.

Mykonos is one of the most welcoming Greek islands for gay vacations and has long been a popular gay travel destination. With exquisite beaches, spectacular scenery, a vibrant nightlife, welcoming locals and a cosmopolitan air, Mykonos is a must-see stop on any Greek gay vacation. Gay-friendly lodgings abound on Mykonos, including an adults only lodging option that is gay-owned and caters exclusively to gay travelers. Crete is another vastly popular Greek island for gay travel. While there is no definable gay scene on Crete, there is a bed and breakfast that is gay-owned, a few gay bars and businesses, gay beaches and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, which makes Crete a natural choice for any gay vacation to Greece.

Lesbian tourists visiting Greece must, of course, venture to the Island of Lesvos where they can explore Eressos, the birthplace of Sappho, take romantic walks on breathtaking beaches, indulge in luxury spa treatments, relax over an ouzo in one of many cafs and partake in a lively women-focused nightlife. This beautiful island is constantly awash with lesbian travelers and is an ideal spot for a gay vacation.

While Greece is largely a traditional, religious country as a whole, those on gay vacations will find a warm, welcoming atmosphere in most areas. To ensure that your gay vacation to Greece is the most fulfilling and relaxing break possible, consider visiting Greece as part of gay trips, or work with a travel agency with experience planning gay vacations to Greece.

A Greece gay travel hints essay by Spirit Journeys administrator Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys does incredible gay vacations for the gay community. They can help you make your gay trips really memorable.

Gay Vacations Tips For Peru

For many, the best a gay vacation — in it\’s most basic and simple form — is merely a way to put regular life on hold while you take off for a week or two in order to melt the stress of your day-to-day, recharge and participate in experiences that you normally wouldn\’t be part of if you never left home. What if your next vacation went deeper?

Some people want to move toward more balance in their life. They want more than just a quick, temporary release from life\’s stresses. They want to be more in touch with their spirit and their heart. If this is what you seek, try spiritual journeys to magical Peru\’s Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu for your next vacation.

Nestled in the Andes Mountains, this area of Peru is know for it\’s spiritual connection to the Earth. The area is filled with ruins from the Inca Empire. To touch walls that were built with such precision such a long time ago, can be a very moving experience. An exeperience you will not forget.

The Kamaquen Retreat Center is known to be wonderful place to stay while visiting the Sacred Valley. The staff at Kamaquen is adept at brining their guests close to the Andean people, spirit and culture. The center\’s goal is to their guests find a bit of themselves while exploring the Sacred Valley.

Visiting Machu Picchu while in Peru is a must! It\’s only a short distance to Machu Picchu from the Sacred Valley. From the moment you enter Machu Picchu, the energy of the site embraces you. You cannot be there and not have your spirit be touched.

There many places on the grounds of Machu Picchu that are perfect just to sit and meditate. It is easy to become one with Machu Picchu and to absorb it\’s spiritual energy. Many people have had life changing revelations just being at Machu Picchu. Gay spirituality tours to Peru can change your life.

An article about a gay vacation in Peru by Spirit Journeys operator Howie Holben. Spirit Journeys offers gay vacations that will excite you.

categories: metaphysical,spirituality,self improvement,motivation,inspirational,gay,travel,vacations,tours,tourism,health,fitness,recreation

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