Every Jedi recognizes the need for balance. Yet balance is far more than your sense of equilibrium; it is a Great Principle informing every aspect of your body and mind in your daily life and training. This principle may simply be stated as, “Neither too much or too little!”
The Jedi who is balanced reacts neither too fast or too slow, too aggressively or too passively. The one that exhibits balances is in harmony with their surroundings and physical training can help achieve that sort of balance.
Balance determines the correct pace, timing, and accuracy any individual depends upon. The human body itself depends upon a delicate balance of its own bodily systems. For optimum health, the body must maintain the proper acid/base and blood-sugar levels; its temperature must neither be too hot nor too cold; breath, not too fast nor too slow; not too muscular or too emaciated. Even our water and nutrient intake must be in balance. Every where a Jedi looks he or she can see the laws of balance at work.
This law is the recognition of natural limitations. It is possible, of course, to go beyond the boundaries dictated by this law, just as you can temporarily resist the natural laws (one should be mindful that reference here concerning the context of the Force, which allows a Jedi to move beyond the natural perimeters of the natural arena).
Applying your understanding of this principle to your training, you become immune to the impatience and frustration, because you recognize that balance refers to all aspects of life. You will be no longer enslaved to mental highs and lows, success and defeat. The Jedi will see balance as a means to transcend the extremes and see positive productivity to their training programs.
The Jedi understands the balance of three core areas, mind, spirit, and physical. To focus on any singular activity would neglect the others. By striking a balance to the three core areas, the Jedi forwards their training in a manner as to be complete and whole. Essentially, by balancing one’s training, the Jedi looks to become “centered.”
Peace and Namaste,
Oda, Jedi Master
I learned to train via heart rate fourteen years ago. The ideas and philosophy presented comes from Sally Edwards. Her book, The Heart Rate Monitor Book, will be used as a reference to this aspect of the program. Training by time and distance are obsolete nowadays; but they are an excellent measuring stick. To train yourself you’ll need to work the most important part of your body, the heart. By doing so you’ll learn to slow your heart rate down, a vital element of a Jedi when exerting themselves. The heart is the most important muscle in the body. Hence if you have had a heart problem, of any kind, in your life seek medical advice before you begin the fitness program.
—Oda Jedi Master with Vicki R. Pierson, ACE Certified Personal Trainer
