Unless you have a strange desire to suffer to value health is a no brainer. A key to staying healthy is exercise. Some people get enough exercise as part of their daily life, but most of us need to take time to stay in shape, and some of us don't.

If you fall into that last category and don't like what is happening to your body as a result and do want to get in shape I have created a special package for you. How to Be an exerciser:

• Have more energy for what you want
• Get compliments from friends and strangers
• Set an example for your children, or future children
• Avoid medical expenses

You see I get tired holding people's hand to get them fit. I want to help you BE an independent exerciser so you can:

• Make exercise a natural part of your daily life
• Enjoy the process of exercise and look forward to it
• Take pleasure in creating your own routines
• Choose the level of fitness you want and know you can achieve it

I promise not to turn you into a self obsessed body fascist (but you are free to become one if you want!).

If you sign up for How to BE an exerciser you will learn:

• The keys of physiology and metabolism that support exercise and health
• To find opportunities to exercise whatever your schedule
• Exercises that you can do anywhere with no special equipment
• Dietary guidelines for a lean healthy body
• How to create your own workouts
• How to make anywhere your personal gym

I will also coach you to:

• Take on the mindset of habitually healthy people
• Remove blocks and let go of unhealthy habits
• Set realistic fitness goals
• Relax deeply for faster recovery
• Maintain your motivation over time

I will not:

• Shout at you and make you feel bad about your shape or your condition
• Bore and burden you with uneccessary information
• Impose how I think your body should look 
• mystify you with new age nonsense

So whether you want to be on the cover of fitness magazine, walk up stairs without getting out of breath, have a body you like to show off or just have the energy to play around with your kids then How to be an exerciser is for you.

Once you've done this course you won't need to spend money on gym membership, or have an expensive relationship with a personal trainer and that makes the programme much more valuable than anything else I have seen out there (by the way I like personal trainers, I just think you should pay them because you want to rather than need to).

Because How to BE an Exerciser is truly a mind body programme you will find you can apply the principles that you will learn in all kinds of situations, and enjoy the benfits throughout your life:

• Innoculate yourself against stress
• Develop focus you can use in work and play
• Learn skills faster
• Increase your personal presence and charisma
• and yes it will make you better in bed too

Now if you know me you then you also know how enthusiastic I am about martial arts, the grace of the movements, the depth of the principles. Because I love sharing this information if you sign up for How to BE and exerciser I will offer you a free month of Kungfu classes, or a place in my powerful self defence training Do you want to feel safer?

If you follow the How to be an exercise programme I guarantee you will get results. If it does not work I'll gve you your money back.

What do you get.

• 5 personal coaching sessions
• A workbook containing all the exercises and key information that you need
• Files that you can use to track your progress in fitness
• A method to develop good hbits in any field
• a free month of Kungfu training or a place on self defence seminar

The price of how to be an exerciser is €395

Not much for lifetime of fitness

To book your place send an e-mail to

info@transformativemartialarts.com

or call +33 (0)6 80 28 86 39

"We once again have the luck and pleasure to welcome master Luo Dexiu for two and half days of seminars in Nimes.

Master Luo is internally recognised for the depth and quality teaching of internal martial arts. Despite the variety of subjects each seminar shares a similar structure built around forms and their martial application. From this point of view these workshops can appeal to all practitioners of martial arts, whatever your style or level of experience. So please feel free to pass this information on to anyone who might be interested."

Multi-level workshops with master Luo Dexiu

September 24-26, Salle des combats, Stade des Costières, 123 rue de la Bouvine, Nimes

Friday 24th

18H- 22H Xingyi monkey form

Saturday 25th

9H30-12H30 Pre-heaven circular Bagua forms 4 and 5

14H30-17H30 a study of straight line Bagua forms from the first line

Sunday 26th

9H30-12h30 sticking hands

14H30-17H30 methods of self defense for common situations

Prices

Week end + Friday evening :110 euros

Week end : 90 euros

One day: 50 euros

half a day : 35 euros

To reserve a place and help with our organisation please send a deposit cheque for €30 to the following address, and do not hesitate to contact us for further information.

Association Yizongbagua

1360 chemin de Camplanier

30900 Nimes

06 85 64 75 03

yizong30@gmail.com

www.bagua-nimes.fr

For lodging in Nimes…

auberge de jeunesse de Nimes : http://fuaj.net/homepage/nimes/   
Hotel Kyriad : http://www.hotel-kyriad-nimes.com/
Hotel première classe : http://www.premiere-classe-nimes-centre-gare.fr/fr/index.aspx
Formule 1 : http://www.accorhotels.com/fr/hotel-2270-formule-1-hotelf1-nimes-ouest/index.shtml
Hotel Ibis : http://www.accorhotels.com/fr/hotel-0629-ibis-nimes-ouest/index.shtml
Holiday Inn : http://www.holidayinn-nimes.com/fr/hotel-holiday-inn-nimes-gard-camargue-sud-france.php
Hotel des Tuileries : http://www.hoteldestuileries.com/
hotel Majestic : http://hotel-majestic-nimes.com/
Hotel de provence : http://www.provencehotel.net/

The young and beautiful woman's eyes are wide with fear. She looks around but cannot see where to go. She turns to see her pursuer raise his hand full of menace. You arrive just in time, offer the ruffian an honorable escape route. He refuses and assails you, but is no match for your martial skills. He parts defeated. The young woman's eyes are now wide with admiration, gratitude, and something warmer as you calmly introduce yourself.

Within the martial arts this is a common (male) fantasy or daydream. It is also common enough in films as well. It has the three main elements of what the therapy Transactional Analysis describes as the drama triangle. These are a persecuter, victim and rescuer. The persecuter attacks the victim, then is foiled by the rescuer and turns into a victim, while the rescuer becomes a new persecuter. It is in the sudden change of roles that the drama happens.

This dynamic is a kind of game that replays itself in different forms, and different contexts. A person may have a game that they are attached to playing, and a role that they most like, and can often be summarised briefly. For example I find the victim t-shirt especially apt. On the front it says 'kick me' and on the back 'I knew you would.'

This dynamic can play out within a martial arts class. The victim joins the class, seeking a rescuer. It could be the redeeming and healing qualities of the art, exercise, health, concentration, focus…which can then be projected onto the teacher. If the teacher accepts them he or she is in trouble….The game is afoot and drama is on its way. The only way to win this game is not to play.

The victim will have a capacity to irritate, and frustrate, an exceptional ability to find the right buttons to press so that the game can progress. To play the victim needs a persecuter. If there is not one readily available they will create one, whether consciously or not.

Within a martial arts context there is a real physical risk here. Martial arts stress the importance of physical and emotioal control because the training aims to develop dangerous techniques with minimal risk, in preparation for situations where at least one party aims to maximise the risk for you. The victim seeks to circumvent that control.

When the drama unfolds in this context then it is almost instantly violent. The victim can trip a reflex that is designed to seriously injure. As a victim they will take no responsibility for their role in what happens to them. The victim can then move to a persecuter, morally or legally attacking the ex-rescuer who 'did them wrong.'

Not all victims play for the same stakes. For some the game is just to be told that they are stupid. Others will not stop until something serious happens.

Either way it is important to recognise and stop the game as swiftly as possible. In the first case the students does not progress, in the second the consequences can be far reaching for both parties.

The tricky part is how to recognise and stop the game.

Suggestions for the rescuers/persecuters

If you notice neediness or flattery from a student/classmate be aware. Equally notice if you find them especially irritating or frustrating. Do not take either personally.

Remember that you cannot save people, you can at best contribute to healthy contexts and recognise potential. Keep professional distance, and be prepared to disengage with the student or send them away. Develop your ability to see the person beyond their role as victim, and equally see yourself as more than a martial artist. When you are outside the situation then you can begin notice which of your buttons are activated that keep you playing in the game. Learn to to deactivate them, and spot the warning signs better next time.

Suggestions for Victims

If you find that you regularly meet arseholes who treat you mean get curious. Some people are just angry all the time. Some need provocation. Do not assume that the ones wo were mean to you are the constantly angry ones. If you provoke people without knowing it then you will find yourself in a victim's role. Ask neutral people to the main conflicts whether you are provocative/irritating in some way. Then figure out some new ways to be around people, unless you want to keep the victim role, and perpetuate the suffering that it involves.

No Blame

Most important for both parties is to let go of blame and forgive. You got played, that's all. You got played AND you played along. Recognise how your own habits/reactions played a part in the situation and get beyond them. It was a learning experience and you can do something different if  you ever find your self in a similar situation. 

Now file this away for a rainy day, and get back to training.

Do you deserve to be threatened, intimidated or attacked?

Of course not. But what can you do to ensure the safety of yourself and the people you care for?

Join us for the self-defence and personal protection course On October 20th from 14H30-18H30 at Espace Nataraja, 12 Rue Hippolyte Lebas, 75009 Paris and will cost €55 for the day. During this time you will learn:

• Special awareness techniques,
• Body language to put off potential attackers and defuse conflict
• How to maximise your hitting power
• Angles that help keep you safe
• Surprise techniques and escapes
• Psychological blocks to acting appropriately
• Key points of the law
• Guidelines for future practise

You will also get a good physical workout (though this is not the focus of the course), and many opportunities to laugh. Wear comfortable clothes, and be prepared to work barefoot.

The last courses in Spring and Summer were well attended, and a lot of fun. If you attended a previous course and want to attend this one I can offer you a €15 discount. I will start running regular sessions to further develop the skills, characteristics and knowledge that make work to keep you safer.

Reserve in advance if you want a place. info@transformativemartialarts.com Tel: 06 80 28 86 39

Here is a clip from the September session. Can you see where Claire elbows me in the head?