Thursday, February 23, 2017

IJYA

The International Japanese Yoga Association (IJYA) is the first Japan-based association to offer Shin-shin-toitsu-do teaching certification to people living outside of Japan. This is important, because with the exception of the Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts (www.senninfoundation.com), no organizations outside of Japan can validly certify teachers of Tempu-style Japanese yoga (Shin-shin-toitsu-do). With so few legitimate Shin-shin-toitsu-do instructors outside of Japan, the Western public needs to be careful about whom they accept as teachers of Nakamura Sensei’s mind-body unification principles.

After the publication of Japanese Yoga: The Way of Dynamic Meditation, a few misguided folks decided to promote themselves as teachers of Nakamura Sensei’s methodology, usually claiming to offer “Japanese yoga” classes. Unfortunately, they learned Anjo Daza Ho, Muga Ichi-nen Ho, Yodo Ho, and other methods from this book, without the benefit of a real teacher. Using Japanese Yoga as a practice guide benefits your health and well being, but the book doesn’t present all of the methods found in Nakamura Sensei’s Shin-shin-toitsu-do. Much more is needed to teach the public. At this point, all legitimate instructors of Nakamura Sensei’s methodology are certified by Japan-based associations, and instructors should be able to show proof of their teaching certification. (You might also want to ask who your prospective teacher studied under and what connection this person has to Nakamura Sensei.) If you encounter a teacher who cannot, or will not, show you such teaching certification, be cautious about studying with him or her.

Japanese culture is hierarchically based, and exponents of Japanese cultural arts are frequently ranked, with Japanese martial arts being the most well known version of this phenomenon. Most everyone is aware of how martial arts students are ranked according to “dan.” (Shodan equals first-degree black belt, nidan is second-degree black belt, and so on.) This approach, however, is used in other Japanese arts as well, and one can hold a dan grade in Japanese calligraphy or even the game of Go.

That said, teaching certification in the IJYA isn’t exactly equivalent to this “ranking” format. It’s closer to university degrees, and the levels of IJYA teaching certification are as follows:

               Koshi: Lecturer

               Jokyoju: Associate Professor

               Kyoju: Professor

Koshi is similar to a bachelor’s degree, Jokyoju is equivalent to a master’s degree, with Kyoju equaling a doctorate or Ph.D. IJYA teaching certificates are printed in Japanese and English, featuring President Sawai’s Japanese calligraphy and seals. Each certificate is hand signed, in Japanese and English, by Sawai Sensei.

All of these levels require years of direct study under a certified teacher. For example, as of 2013 only two individuals outside of Japan hold full Kyoju certification: H. E. Davey Sensei with nearly 40 years of training and Kevin Heard Sensei with nearly 30 years of experience.

For inquiries about the qualifications of a prospective teacher, or for information about IJYA teaching certification, contact the IJYA HQ. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and offer advice. Just send email to hedavey@aol.com. 

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Amazing New Book!

“A simple guide to effective meditation that moves the reader from concentration to genuine meditative experience. The author maintains that such experiences are actually natural to us and that ‘harsh ascetic practice’ is unnecessary. Sawai Atsuhiro shows that meditation teaches how to deal with the stresses of modern life, improves one's general health, and can lead to the realization that we are one with the universe. Several methods of effective meditation are described. This is a book that will cause even the casual reader to want to meditate.”

Robert E. Carter, author of Encounter with Enlightenment and Becoming Bamboo: Western and Eastern Explorations of the Meaning of Life

Sawai Atsuhiro’s The True Paths to Meditation masterfully explains simple and profound forms of meditation, which the author learned from the celebrated founder of yoga in Japan, Nakamura Tempu. Mr. Nakamura taught Shin-shin-toitsu-do (“The Way of Mind and Body Unification”) for five decades, authored popular books and trained many of Japan’s most notable people in government, business, sports, martial arts, and entertainment.

As one of Mr. Nakamura’s closest students, Mr. Sawai received the highest level of teaching certification in Shin-shin-toitsu-do from him. He is a retired college professor and a bestselling author of meditation books in Japan. He is also the President of the International Japanese Yoga Association in Kyoto, which has members in over 20 nations.

In The True Paths to Meditation, his first English language book specifically written for Westerners, Mr. Sawai provides comprehensive insights into his unique life philosophy, evolved from over 50 years of Zen and yogic meditation. He also introduces methods to release the power of ki—the life energy of the universe. Using the forms of meditation in this book, you can realize deeper calmness, concentration, willpower, and a more positive way of living.
Complete with useful photos, a handy glossary, and suggestions for ongoing practice, The True Paths to Meditation will appeal to folks new to meditation as well as experienced meditators.



Look inside the book: https://www.amazon.com/True-Paths-Meditation-Sawai-Atsuhiro-ebook/dp/B00LH4QGJM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1487715342&sr=8-1