more about ZenSkii
 

Presence on the mountain

Downhill skiing is a game, and this game is playing with all of our emotions. We are being thrown from joy to anger, from happiness to despair. From disapointment, grief, and confusion ... into magic.
And right there, in this magical run, many of us for sure would like to stay for ever .....
where everything just happens, and the skis seem to turn by themselves, without any kind of effort or intention.

Unfourtunately, though, this happens quite rarely.

Often this magic run will come as a surprise. Maybe I leave, uncounsiously, the urge that something has to work. Maybe I put all my wishes and desires to the side for a while.
Maybe I am just tired or content ... forgetting the planning of the run. Maybe I just "follow the tips of my skis" ....

Maybe my senses open for the beauty all around... the light ... glittering snowcrystals. Maybe my breath "takes over" spontaniusly.

Whatever the reason, it will be difficult to repeat the run, to find the same magical feeling. The special experience will go to the history, affecting us who experienced it, in different ways.
 
I have many times been reflecting about how I am blocking myself, how I am actually sabotaging for myself on the hill :  Do I think to much ? Do I want to much ? How much does my concentration contribute in creating tensions in my body ? ... am I in stress ? ...
am I angry ? .. sad .. frustrated ?
Do I have any connection with my emotions at all ?

I have noticed that when I have evaluating thoughts about  my skiing, the slope, how I feel,
or just ordinary commenting about the circumstances ... then the magical run is far away.
If I instead, for example, have focused contact with my breathing, I might be able to "take command", and again move closer to that run.
If I can also manage to let go of all expectations I eventually have about the run, accept everything there is, right now, and find the presence ... I will take further steps towards that very special run.


About the ZenSkii-course

What we will do is starting to build a so called "bodyawareness". This means you will develop a feeling for how you are moving the different bodyparts. You are training relaxing, while moving, listening to the signals of the body,  etcetera.
You are asking yourself ; am I relaxed? or do I just think I am ?

The connection between body and mind becomes increasingly important to understand. How do they inflence eachother? The thought says one thing ... body another ... how can they "become friends" ?

During the ZenSkii-course we are also "working" the fears, and anxiety. We talk about it, instead of surpressing it. We are trying to find ways of transforming them into enjoyment and into creative turns ....

The fear influence the body a lot. Standing on a tilted, slippery floor is not at all normal,
and to become scared is quite understandable.
The body has to correct its own balance while taking in technical instructions. Difficult ... and it is normal with fear.....every time we take steps towards a steeper run, it will rise ...

Especially when one is moving towards middle of life, or has passed that.

Where does it come from ? How do I handle it ?

The ZenSkii-course, which mostly runs for a weekend or 3 days, includes daily indoor-training  morning and night ( appr. 1 hour each time). We are practising Qigong, TaiChi, Meditation ... some Yoga.
The exercises are combined with theory about power of thought, and about how the feelings and emotions influence the body.

Well out on the hill we are moving towards presence, all senses open, inwards and outwards.

A very important cornerstone in the ZenSkii-school is the "skiballet" ... the dance on skis ...
The movements from the Freestyle-competitions of the 70-ties are excellent training for coordination and balance .... towards security and control on the mountain.
There are a lot of moves ... some of them are easier, some are much harder.

It is extremely fun, but you will probably also be surprised over how much your "normal" skiing will be affected, no matter where you are in your progression.

Please notice that the different exercises will be selected depending on the level of the skier.


Finally ;

Even if the ZenSkii-course mainly aims on "landing in" the right part of the brain, the technique will not at all be forgotten. Actually quite at the contrary, feedback on your skiing will be an important part of the course.
                 

                 Warmly welcome to try ZenSkii this winter !

                                                                                         Peter Buchar


During the winterseason I offer workshops, clinics and seminars at some selected skiresorts. Certain courses you will find in the calender, but you are also welcome to contact me if you have wishes or thoughts to arrange something of your own.
It can be a private lesson, as well as a weekend-course for you and some friends, at a place you decide.
Another alternative might be to let a group of staff develop good energy together while playing and laughing, learning the basics of ZenSkii.
 
                          For more info, please write me ( see "contact" )                                                            
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