Japanese Yoga: The Way of Dynamic Meditation. This step-by-step introduction to Japanese yoga (Shin-shin-toitsu-do) is based on the eclectic Western-Eastern teachings of Nakamura Tempu Sensei. It includes stretching, healing, and meditation exercises that promote mind/body integration. It is the first book in English to detail Mr. Nakamura’s life and teachings. The ultimate goal of Japanese yoga, which is based on mind-body unification principles, is increased concentration, calmness, and willpower in order to live a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life. H. E. Davey Sensei also discusses the relationship between Japanese yoga and various classical Japanese arts as part of a larger tradition of spiritual practice with spiritual and aesthetic roots in India, Japan, and the West. Japanese yoga, developed in the early 1900s by Nakamura Tempu Sensei from Indian Raja yoga, Japanese martial arts and meditation practices, as well as Western medicine and psychotherapy, offers a novel approach to experienced yoga students and a simple methodology for newcomers. Following a brief history of Shin-shin-toitsu-do, H. E. Davey Sensei discusses Mr. Nakamura’s Four Fundamental Principles for Mind and Body Unification. These principles connect the meditative experience to the motions of daily life, transforming it into “dynamic meditation.” Each of the Four Fundamental Principles is explained in detail through the use of practical experiments. Following that, readers are introduced to various forms of seated and moving meditation, as well as health exercises and self-healing arts. All of these are connected to the Four Fundamental Principles and can be used to improve performance in art, music, business, sports, and other endeavors. Readers discover how to incorporate Japanese yoga techniques into their daily routines without needing to sit on the floor or seek out a quiet space. At the conclusion of the book, readers will find simple but effective stretching exercises, information on continued practice, and a glossary and reference section. “Japanese Yoga: The Way of Dynamic Meditation” is a must-read for anyone interested in the mind/body/spirit connection.
