Naka-Ima: Walking Dancing through the Weekend...

Following a brief explanation of these concepts, the weekend contains little content or information, and consists primarliy of interaction, in various formats.

We each have the opportunity of standing on a small platform in the front of the room, sharing about ourselves and letting ourselves be seen. During this time, we are gently coached to notice and express whatever feelings, sensations and ideas come up for us, and when we have a negative feeling, such as fear, anxiety, anger, guilt, discomfort or pain, to find the attachment that is underlying the feeling.

Once we identify and articulate the attachment (e.g. wanting control, wanting approval, wanting love...), we ask ourselves if we are willing to let go of it. We quickly discover that letting go is a physical, visceral experience that is profoundly real.

When a person lets go, posture straightens, the body opens, tension evaporates, and the person becomes luminous. Every person in the room sharse in the joy of this experience as we see and vicariously feel the release.

Naka-Ima means 'Here-Now' in Japanese

I also discover that when I let go I am thrust into the present, where my history, my patterns and my limiting ideas no longer have a hold on me. In that moment, I am free. All choices and ways of being are available. I learn that letting go is a choice I make moment by moment and that I always have the ability to let go, even with intense or adverse circumstances. Through my own experience and watching and working with others, I see how much energy we expend protecting and suppressing ourselves, and how much energy is free when we reveal our authentic selves.

As we sit in small groups, we encourage each other to share the things we were afraid to reveal: our pains and fears, our vulnerability, our fragile hopes and dreams, our love and affection for each other, and our clarity, wisdom and vision. We express frankly and directly what we see about each other.

We delve into our pasts to discover the roots of our attachments and destructive behavior patterns, and as attachments come up (which they do over and over again), we practice coaching each other in letting go. We support each other in moving into our emotions, surrenduring and giving full expression to our anger, grief, pain and joy. We kick and scream, we laugh and cry, coaxing each other through each courageous act of honesty, into the present.

I feel great relief with the discovery that my weaknesses - the ways that I protect and isolate myself, judge others, act covertly, keep myself small - my own dark and terrible secrets - are readily apparent to everyone, and always have been. In hearing them reflecting back to me, as I acknowledge and own them, their weight lifts.

I can no longer use my past to justify pushing love away or witholding my love. I can be vulnerable and affectionate. I see how in a fundamental way, I am just like everyone else: that we all share a common experience of humanity that transcends our differences.

By the end of the weekend, the obstacles we all have in the way of being clear, connected, compassionate, honest and powerful seem to have dissolved, as if they never really existed except in our own minds. This leaves a room full of glowing, radiant, loving beings.

While we know that the glow will come and go, and that our obstacles, defenses, wounds and attachments will continue to play with us, our relationship with them has transformed. They no longer have the same power over us.

We have become transparent to each other and ourselves. We have faith that no matter what may come up, we can move through it together and get through to the brighter side.

Naka-Ima: . . . Is it for you?

Walking through the Weekend...

Graduates share their experience

Experience at the Lost-Valley

History of the Naka-Ima

Here-Now: Newsletter

Naka-Ima-Teachers

Registration

Schedule

Why?

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