Transformation Arts Community-Action for Health & Wellness - Local/Regional/National/Global Extension

At the risk of stating the obvious, we must consider that 'knowing the problem and challenges” in Health & Wellness, at the Local/Regional/National/Global levels, only identifies the condition. Making large scale “course changes” requires a foundation that is free of agendas that prioritize financial gain as the defining guiding factor. Programs that face large scale changes are characteristically met with resistance during the initial development, for as we all know “We are creatures of habit” and commonly reject change in the inception phase.

Some practical questions we can ask ourselves in order to move past the “resistance phase” are:

• Where do our current systems “break-down” and why?
• What are the “best practices” options and how is that determined; by who and what criteria?
• In the best case scenario, what are the elements and common(reproduce-able) frame-work of a local (small success measurement), comprehensive community-action Health & Wellness system?
• What are the projections for start-up, of a cost-effective plan, and how do we stimulate “share-shouldering” these costs at the community-action level?
• What could be the incentives for change and who could/would manage this process?

This particular issue is something I spend time with everyday and is usually addressed by the “experts” from their personal perspective: typically colored by their prejudices, often lacking objectivity or a “What's best for the the whole” perspective, how hard or easy it is, and what science-based research says forgetting that “time-tested results are science”. While systems come and go and not everyone can agree on the one and only answer, there are still solutions for our quandary that are inclusive and provide a basic level of common sense, direction and sanity. That being said, we also need to acknowledge that continued support of broken systems, in the name of commerce-driven free-choice, have given us chronic and compound conditions that now lead the pack at the global level for highest death rate causes. We also need to acknowledge that the U.S, as the wealthiest country in the world has the least affordable health care system. We are also on the lower spectrum of knowledge when it come to:

1. Health education, proof & ability of life-long self health care and penalize individuals who wish to engage in self health care by charging ridiculous prices for natural alternatives and organic foods.
2. Simple solutions that consider fair wages for previously exalted professions; ex.- doctors that make reasonable salaries, hospitals that are cost-effective and not driven by insurance premiums, organic foods that are reasonable to all, the elimination of industry-driven dictatorships that corner markets and make it illegal to grow food, the accepted norms that say we should be taxed for everything we do, or need a license to inter-act in self employment allowing the money saved to trickle down to individual saving.
3. Change- minimizing resource loss and “retro-fitting” usable materials to down-size costs. Typical perspectives don't look for sustainable solutions, or have “re-use clauses” or revere human resource as revenue-saving, often glamorizing “new cutting-edge” high cost choices thereby putting question & fear into sustainable resources, driving cost to their peaks.

While the question may arise as to”What this has to do with Health & Wellness", it is simply explained by understanding that mis-appropriated spending causes under-funding in areas of need. It is also true that habitual spending that only focuses on the “latest & greatest” is a form of social ego, almost always rooted in subjective illusion, propagated by the desire for easy solutions and “waste-capitalism”.

Transformation Arts currently provides classes to the public that have a history of regional inter-action, developing and creating “out-posts” in different cities, of instructors/facilitators who carry out reasonably priced Health & Wellness programs at the first level; public Health instruction. Our second level is to bring our programs into these 4 areas:

• Youth Injury and Illness Prevention- these programs are foundational encompassing movement sets that strengthen and vitalize the mind/body using original methods that are a type of “Kung Fu Yoga”, teaching basic seasonal adjustments, diet, release and alternative methods for transforming emotional imbalances.
• Business/Corporate Wellness- these programs emphasize how to adjust excess and deficient conditions, regulate bodily changes in accord to the larger changes that happen in ten yr. cycles, personal tools used to strengthen systemic and circulatory imbalances and diagnostic skills used to relieve multi-layered imbalances.
• Elder Health- Social degradation is a symptom of family break-down and the loss of respect of passing lineage tradition. At some point the treasure of experiential learning was undermined, in favor of “new & better”, and the intrinsic value of experience was put into question. Caring for our Elders, making available age-appropriate balance and range of motion movement therapeutics classes and addressing pain-relieving issues with time-tested solutions in the realm of Internal Arts education and training.
• Public Classes- The heart of our program rests in our public-class offerings. These classes are not so different that our other core programs, embracing the same foundations in Tai Chi/QiGong/ Yoga basics. They represent our on-going life learning practice/study orientation, keep a foundation for continuous development and is where we meet our teachers-in-training, extending their experience in a public service environment. All of our other programs and their practioners are welcome to participate at any time.

In summary of our open agenda, we are actively exemplifying 'walking our talk', by offering cost-effective Health and Wellness programs at the community-action level. There are many well-intentioned groups, non-profits and institutions actively seeking deeper basics in self Health care, currently most programs exist at the “information level”. This is a start but needs active follow-up/follow-through procedures and at the most basic level, on-going mind/body fitness programs open to all. No one will say it, but we must observe our own behavior and admit that we are “addicted” to our life styles, that are pleasure-driven and excessive. Common sense calls for the re-learning of “moderation” and self examination. One of the greatest act of courage is to admit that we may need help an support to return back to our true self....Mind/Body Fitness programs are designed just for this, to return balance and life-force to the mind/body/spirit and to repair the inner separations and past traumas that imbalance our present moments.We are openly looking to inter-act and participate in unraveling Health and Wellness limitations and seek to be a part of large-scale health reformation. It is our intention to be a part of fulfilling this mission.