Have you ever considered learning about Shaolin Monks? Shaolin monks believe strength comes only from the mind and that in training there are no limits to what the human body may endure. Shaolin Monks give us a charming insight into how we can live a longer, healthier life with more vitality even in the midst of our urban modern life.
Some say that the life of a Shaolin Monk is the life of an Olympic champion! It’s not difficult but one merely has to work hard every day to stay at the peak of health and fitness to achieve the end goal of enlightenment.
Training exercise techniques focus on balance, strength, endurance, and self-defense. These Monks can endure great amounts of pain with barely a flinch. The design and arrangements of their movements are based on the medical knowledge of ancient China and conform to the rule of movement of the human body.
They believe that what their bodies can endure is symptomatic of the strength of their souls and minds.
What Can I Learn from Shaolin?
1. Focusing on your Health
According to Shaolin Monks, your health, in general, should be your top priority because it’s the most important thing there is. Without health you can’t work or look after your family. Shaolin Monks never skip a workout.
2. Giving you the Strength to Commitment
That’s because a Shaolin Monk makes a vow in front of their community before starting their exercising. Being healthy requires lifestyle changes and a way of approaching life in a more holistic way. Think of what you want to achieve, how much time you can give to achieve this goal and make an inner commitment to strengthen your resolve.
3. Know more about Meditation
When a Shaolin Monk eats they are performing eating meditation. When they walk they perform walking meditation. Remaining focused on the path leads to stable peace.
4. Eat What Makes You Better
During exercise, your body will naturally reject unhealthy foods and desire healthy foods. Shaolin Monks think of food as medicine, only eating and drinking what they really need.
5. Train with Your Heart and Mind
Shaolin Monks are trained in the special art of Shaolin Kung Fu. It’s imperative to train with their heart and mind first then follow with their body. It is said that it’s better to train your heart and mind for ten minutes than an hour of unfocused training. The training is rigorous and is just as hard on the mind as it is the body.
6. Your Bad Habits Cause Problems, Not Reality
Whenever a negative emotion arises, a Shaolin Monk welcomes it as a gift so that they can progress on their path. We tend to cling to our worries, circling them round and round in our mind like a marble. But the truth is that by doing this we are only adding to our problem.
7. Peace is the Most Important
A Shaolin Monk’s theory is founded upon building peace through training and meditation. Whatever yours is, make sure you provide time to renew yourself on a daily basis and get in touch with the peace that is always within you. As they begin to master these skills, the limits of their bodies become nearly nonexistent.
8. Endure Pain
Shaolin Monks can endure incredible amounts of pain while barely flinching. What their bodies can do is symbolic of the inner balance they achieve through their training.
Shaolin may seem unusual to those who have never experienced it, but for these monks, it’s just a way of life.
I have the utmost respect for these guys. Incredible self-discipline.