Many thanks to Michael Martinez of Boulder, Colorado who sent us this Japanese scroll of Daruma dancing.

Daruma, or Bodhidharma as he’s called, is the Indian monk who brought the tradition of Zen from India to China in the fifth century. In Japan he’s become a folklore figure. Because he sat powerfully in zazen meditation, he’s often depicted as a round-bottomed doll which you can’t push over. There’s a proverb that goes with the Daruma doll – “Seven times down, eight times up,” revealing the dauntless mindset of the Zen practitioner.
This Daruma is in the round-bottomed form of the doll but is dancing. Zen practice is often linked with stillness – the deep stillness of meditation, but within this seeming stillness is incredible dynamism. Many Zen masters danced at times in their practice and spontanous movement work is very beneficial both physically and spiritually.
Also, when our practice goes deep enough we experience kensho – the enlightenment of “seeing our true nature”. At this time our life may fill with an incredible dancing joy. Hakuin Zenji, the great teacher of our lineage writes:
“Utau mo mau mo nori no koe.”
“Our singing and dancing is the voice of the Dharma.”
Wishing you the dauntless courage to practice deeply and strongly so that your life too may be an expression of this dancing joy.
Daizan

We have a fastrack Zenways Yoga Teacher Training Course running from 3rd – 17th April at the Beacon Centre in Devon. There’s more information on the sidebar – “Could You Become a Yoga Teacher.” If you register before February 28th there’s a £300 earlybird discount.

Former student, Mila Clement-Horton said, “I learned more about how to teach in two weeks than I did in five years university teacher training.” You’ll also take your yoga up to a whole new level and have a lot of time. It’s very intensive and also very transformative. So many students have considered it life-changing.

There’s an earlybird discount of £300 for students who register before 28th February. If you’re considering taking the plunge, drop me a note at