Tango Zen Workshop @ Willow Street Yoga Center Saturday, February 7 & Sunday, February 8, 2004 (Part I & II) TANGO ZEN: MEDITATION IN MOTION with Chan and Eugenia Park Time: 2:30-4:30 each day http://TangoZen.com
Willow Street Yoga Center 6930 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-8038, [email protected] http://willowstreetyoga.com Cost: Single: $25 per class and $45 for both classes Couple or pair: $45 per class and $85 for both classes. Partner is encouraged but not required. Come in comfortable clothes and socks. For out-of-state dancers interested in attending the workshop, it is to be noted that there will be a regularly scheduled milonga, 7:00 to 10:00 pm, on Saturday, February 7 at DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 Q Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. ========================================= Tango Zen: Meditation in Motion Can one dance Tango to meditate? Everybody knows meditation is a good thing. For example, Zen meditation, if practiced properly, may create balance, calmness, groundedness, centering, and harmony in mind and body. However, it is difficult to meditate for many reasons. Meditation is mainly practiced while sitting with legs crossed to support and ground one s body. Unfortunately this sitting posture can give uncomfortable feelings and even pains before you benefit from the meditation practice. In addition, despite the importance of practicing meditation regularly, it can be difficult to stick to it with regularity due to the hectic life style we run everyday. Can one meditate while moving around instead of sitting down? Although it appears to be sedate and passive, Zen meditation can also be practiced in more active ways than the sitting posture. For example, walking meditation has been practiced among Buddhists since the Buddha himself practiced it. Other forms of Zen meditation in motion can also be found in sports and performing arts. Tango is a walking dance -- a special gift from Argentina to the world. Unlike Tango images of sexy and provocative movements commonly featured in media, Tango is a social dance that should be danced while walking. Of course, one embraces the partner and listens to music while walking. Benefits of Tango dancing can be explained in many aspects including social, physical, and emotional; however, it is interesting to note that the effects and benefits of meditation are experienced and shared among avid Tango dancers. Yes, one can dance Tango to meditate. As stated above, Zen is a meditation practice. Besides many associated benefits, its main goal is to discover and reconcile with one s own nature. To reach that goal, Zen teaches us to devote 100% of our attention to what we are doing Here Now. Tango is a dance of connection, uniting one and one s partner while walking and listening to music -- together. Tango can be fully enjoyed, as many Tango dancers experienced, only if one completely surrenders to and connects with one s partner, both physically and emotionally, while dancing. Therefore, once recognizing similarities and benefits between them, one can properly unite and practice Tango and Zen. In other words, one can meditate while dancing Tango, experiencing deeper appreciation of physical, emotional, and even spiritual aspect of inner-self. That is, one can practice Tango Zen: Meditation in Motion. This workshop introduces Tango Zen, an innovative yet natural idea of meditating while dancing Tango. Using the striking similarities between the two, this workshop will also introduce methods through which both tango dancers and non-dancers can practice Tango Zen to experience and enjoy the wonderful benefits, which both Tango and Zen have to offer. For tango dancers, this workshop will help enhance understanding of posture, groundedness, connection, sensibility, movement, balance, centering, etc. by practicing a number of exercises adapted from other martial arts, mediation techniques, and sports. For more information on Tango Zen and the workshop, please visit http://TangoZen.com. Inquiries on Tango Zen and/or the workshop can be directed to Chan on [email protected]. Tango Zen: Meditation in Motion http://www.TangoZen.com _________________________________________________________________ Check your PC for viruses with the FREE McAfee online computer scan. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
