PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Although meditation has been around for a very long time, only recently has it become a part of main- stream media with numerous musicians, actors, professional athletes, Olympians, coaches, and young professionals turning to the practice of meditation.

In fact, science has shown that meditation is one of only three things you can do to improve your will power (the other two being exercise and sleep)!

On top of this meditation will help you manage stress better, have more mental clarity, rejuvenate your spirituality, and help you gain a greater sense of awareness about your body.

WHERE TO START?

Even with all these amazing benefits knowing where to start is often confusing so I have created some simple guidelines to help you out.

CHOOSE A RELAXING ENVIRONMENT. Find a nice quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for fifteen minutes or longer. Sit down, relax and rest your hands on your lap. You can sit on the floor cross-legged with support of a meditation cushion, or on a chair with your feet resting on the ground. It is not necessary to force yourself into a lotus position if you’re not used to it. Regardless of how you sit, it is important to maintain a natural curve in your back. That means no slouching.

BREATHE SLOWLY AND DEEPLY. Close your eyes softly. Direct your soft, unfocused gaze downwards. Begin by taking a few slow and deep breaths – inhaling with your nose and exhaling through your mouth. Don’t force your breathing; let it come naturally. The first few intakes of air are likely to be shallow, but as you allow more air to fill your lungs, your breaths will gradually become deeper and fuller. Take as long as you need to breathe slowly and deeply.

BE AWARE. When you are breathing deeply, you will begin to feel calmer and more relaxed. That is a good sign. Now focus your attention on your breathing. Be aware of each breath that you take in through you nose. Be mindful of each breath you exhale with your mouth. Continue focusing on your breaths for as long as you like. If you find your attention swaying from your breaths, just gently bring it back. It may happen many times. Don’t be disheartened. What’s more important is that you realize that you have wandered and bring your attention back to where it should be. As you develop greater focus power, you will find it easier to concentrate.

ENDING THE SESSION. When you are ready to end the session, open your eyes and stand up slowly. Stretch yourself and extend your increased awareness to your activities.

It won’t take long before the benefits of meditation start to show, as for time of day it ranges from person to person (actually there is never a BAD time to do it!) but if you are looking to maximize it’s effects my recommendation would be to include it as your morning ritual within an hour of waking.

Start small. Five minutes a day is all it will take to start but remember that just like exercise, progress is important so look to improve from week to week until you are able to do twenty minutes at a time — seven days a week.

And here’s the thing about meditation: if you are too busy to do it, than it is even more important to get started.

THE ARM ACADEMY: OUR APPROACH TO GETTING RESULTS THAT LAST

After years of experience, innovation, and observation we noticed something incredibly important: To become fit and well requires not just hard work but physical education, pattern disruption, and behavior modification as well. After that, staying fit and well also requires support and guidance, but of an entirely different variety, with emphasis upon variation and progression.

Fortunately, when we were true to this proven formula, clients achieve their fitness, wellness, and lifestyle goals faster and in a more sustainable manner.

That’s why at ARM Systems we created The ARM Academy.

As we on-goingly reviewed our successes and failures, as well as feedback from loyal customers, we realized that what’s wanted and needed in the fitness industry–but what’s totally missing right now–is an all-inclusive solution that’s about much more than training on the floor. People want and need (A) lifestyle coaching, (B) access to complimentary wellness resources, (C) a sense that specific goals are being set and met, and (D) a progressive approach–not just the same type of training month after month, no end in sight. No, what we’ve heard, time and time again, is that people love a sense of graduation from one strictly defined level to another.

So we scanned the global marketplace for business models from which we might borrow structures and/or metaphors and after a full month of exploration, we were surprised but delighted to realize that the organizational model best suited to our wants and needs was that of the college or university.

For example,

THE ARM 100 SERIES: INTRODUCTIONS & CONSIDERATIONS is kind of like the informational sessions sponsored by most colleges, institutes, and universities. In our case, it only lasts an hour or two, and it’s completely free of charge. Conducted at our Milton campus (that’s what we’re calling it now) on a one-to-one basis–or in a group setting at your home, office, whatever–ARM 100 isn’t a sales meeting. There’s some actual value there, no matter what you choose to do next. That said, for those who want to move forward, appointments do close with opportunities to apply for ARM 200.

THE ARM 200 SERIES: EXPERIMENTS & DISCOVERIES is a week-long course that opens your mind and makes new things possible–kind of like an associate’s degree. During the course of ARM 200, we help new students understand their bodies, selves, and lives in a new way–and to evaluate what’s possible for all three. This is achieved thanks to an innovative teaching-and-learning format involving five one-on-one life-coaching experiences and five one-on-one personal-training experiences.

THE ARM 300 SERIES: FOUNDATIONS & FUNDAMENTALS is a month-long course that makes sure your mind and body are exactly where they need to be to make it “out there”–kind of like a bachelor’s degree. During the course of ARM 300, we help students correct, improve, and bring balance to their levels of mechanical, adaptational, and constitutional fitness. As with all of our courses, nutritional counseling is fully integrated–no additional fees nor charges.

THE ARM 400 SERIES: ADVENTURES & TRANSFORMATIONS is a quarter-long course that teaches you to set and meet a major project objective–kind of like a master’s degree. During the course of ARM 400, we help students design holistic, strategic, altogether realistic plans to objectively, measurably, and impactfully improve their bodies, selves, and lives.

THE ARM 500 SERIES: REFINEMENTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS is a year-long course, that teaches you to survive and thrive, no matter what–kind of like a doctorate or professional degree. During the course of ARM 500, we help students cultivate winning habits, maintain what they’ve already achieved, and accomplish even more–despite life’s inevitable challenges, difficulties, obstacles, and interruptions.

Honestly, I’ve just top-lined our new curriculum for you. There’s so much more to share, for example: all of the luxurious extras that are included with tuition; our small-group learning options, which can reduce costs by as much as fifty percent; our merit-based scholarship program; and our financing options, which make it easier than ever to get ARMed.

Want to know more? All you have to do is ask!

Ready to get started? Start the application process at ARMsystems.ca

Meanwhile, please remember that, when it comes to your fitness, wellness, and performance, the best step is usually the next step.

— Adam