Would you like to
meditate while dancing Tango? Yes, Buddha can teach you to dance Tango
through Zen. You might ask, “How does Tango have anything to do with
Zen?”
TangoZen is an innovative yet natural way of meditating
while dancing Tango. Referring to striking similarities between the
two, this book will introduce methods through which Tango dancers and
non-dancers can practice TangoZen to experience and enjoy the wonderful
benefits, which both Tango and Zen have to offer.
Everybody
knows meditation is a good thing. For example, Zen meditation, if
practiced properly, can create balance, calmness, groundedness,
centering, and harmony in mind and body. However, it is difficult to
meditate for many reasons. Meditation is mainly practiced while sitting
with legs crossed to support and ground one’s body. Unfortunately this
sitting posture can create uncomfortable feelings and even pains before
you benefit from the meditation practice. In addition, despite the
importance of practicing meditation regularly, it can be difficult to
stick to it with regularity due to the hectic life style we live every
day.
Can one meditate while moving around instead of sitting
down? Although it appears to be sedate and passive, Zen meditation can
also be practiced in more active ways than the sitting posture. For
example, walking meditation has been practiced among Buddhists since the
Buddha himself practiced it. Other forms of Zen meditation in motion
can also be found in sports and performing arts.
Tango is a
walking dance—a special gift from Argentina to the world. Unlike the
Tango images of sexy and provocative movements commonly featured in the
media, Tango is a social dance that should be danced while walking. Of
course, one embraces a partner and listens to music while walking. Tango
dancing has the potential to positively affect various social, physical
and emotional aspects of our existence. What is more, the effects and
benefits of meditation are experienced and shared among avid Tango
dancers.
The main goal of meditation is to discover and
reconcile one’s own nature. To reach that goal, Zen teaches us to devote
100% of our attention to what we are doing Here Now. Tango is a dance
of connection, uniting one and one’s partner while walking and listening
to music—together. Tango can be fully enjoyed only if one completely
surrenders to and connects with one’s partner, both physically and
emotionally, while dancing. Therefore, once recognizing similarities and
benefits of the two, one can truly unite and practice Tango and Zen.
One can meditate while dancing Tango, experiencing deeper appreciation
of physical, emotional, and even spiritual aspects of inner-self. That
is, one can practice TangoZen: Walking Dance Meditation.
Tango, Tango, Tango. . .
