Balancing Spiritual and Material

Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by matthew in Blog

“When we see our own body as sacred, we will see all bodies as sacred”

- Matthew Fox, Theologian

There is no doubt about it. So much of the marketing around fitness in our world today is about achieving rapid fat loss, and the faster someone can promise it, the more people will sign up for their program. So much to distract us from the sacredness of our bodies.

This is not the case for everyone though. In fact, many who wish to live a spiritual life reject these marketing methods altogether, are turned away from a life of fitness by this materialistic focus and fear that there is nowhere to turn for a balanced approach.

Many of you are reading this because you have been drawn to the sacred aspect of my message. Many of you are following a spiritual path.

I am not a spiritual teacher, I am an individual who believes in the sacredness of our bodies and our purpose here on earth and is committed to doing my part to help restore a sense of sacred to our fitness industry which helps out so many people and could still reach out to more.

For you, all this focus on material success can create a little bit of anger. It results in a rejection of what the fitness industry is offering. And when we reject it we miss the many benefits that it can offer.

What’s it good for?

Strength training confers many benefits, when approached from a holistic standpoint. Our musculoskeletal system was designed to be used, and many people are just not giving it much work to do.

You can reduce the risk of certain diseases, improve performance, strength, agility, balance and co-ordination. The list could go on.

Yes, there are mechanical beasts that inhabit many gyms that actually enhance body dyfunction, but new technologies and equipment are coming forward that are making gyms a very different place and one that I believe many of you find joy in.

Recognising Your Material Desires

The rejection of the material nature of our desires can actually be a potential area of sabotage. People strive towards fat loss and achieving a healthy lean physique but get caught up blaming themselves for being materialistic.

If your spiritual quest requires you having a body that can perform it’s purpose with ease, and extra weight is preventing that from happen, and sapping your energy, what is wrong with this material desire? And if, without making it a primary objective so as to receive approval, you happen to end up with a six-pack, that is your gift from God.

I have always believed that when we have a balance between material success and spiritual success, that we can truly live the life of spiritual beings having a human existence. It is perfectly ok to have the desire to have a healthy weight and attractive body, it is the motivation behind it that makes all the difference. Intend on having that balance.

My exercise programs are performed with the intention of getting to connect to source energy more closely, as everytime I transcend my previous limitations, and grow stonger or fitter, I know that I have been blessed with a gift.

Non-attachment to our physical bodies is what will in the end provide us with spiritual liberation, but while we are here on earth, performing our purpose, it is definitely something to look after. Just remember you will be leaving it behind in the end.

I invite you to add your comments and experiences and insights to this page as others’ lives will be made richer by it.

 

For those of you inspired to explore this more deeply, I have a seminar coming up May 29th in Victoria, BC. The early bird special is over, but when you sign up at $97, you can bring a friend along for free! And I will send you an mp3 audio of a teleseminar that introduces you to the idea of Sacred Fitness.

The Mindset For Healthy Fat Loss