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Transform Your Life with A.T.P
by Ted P. Attreides

(continued from Article 1, page 1)

The basic idea of ATP is simple: The more aspects of your being that you exercise in your daily life, the more likely that transformation will occur. (Transformation here refers to achieving and enjoying your full human potential -- the other 90 percent of your complete being.)

In other words, ATP suggests that we cannot leave any major part of ourselves behind. We are of a piece, mind, body, spirit, and heart, and only by recognizing and honoring this fact can we transform ourselves into complete human beings.

Therefore ATP integrates all aspects of your being -- physical, emotional, mental and spiritual -- into one comprehensive program.

Here's the meaning behind the name ATP:

Accelerated: The ATP program is accelerated because it smartly integrates

• body (physical fitness, diet, and breathing)
• mind (affirmations, visualizations, learning new ideas)
• spirit (meditation, contemplative prayer, spiritual discussions)
• heart (loving self-others, community activities)

Transformative: The ATP program is transformative in that it is aimed at conscious, positive change in body and being.

Practice: It is a practice in that it involves regular, disciplined activities that are devoted to long-term personal and social well -- being, happiness and fulfillment.

Although this is a good start at defining the components that make-up our inner and outer worlds, it is by no means the whole story of what ATP represents.

Exercising physical, emotional, mental and spiritual components within our self is very commendable and transformative in itself. But in this modern world, it just is not enough!

Today we live in complex worlds of personal relationships at home and at work, and participate as global citizens in our cities, states, and nations. Therefore, unlike the Yoga Teachers of yesteryear who sat on a mountain top and meditated for 10 to 20 years, we cannot ignore these aspects of our lives. Nor can we, in good conscience, ignore the obligations that come from them.

On some level we are each either a part of the many environmental and human-suffering problems around us, or we are part of the solution. There is little room left for bystanders.

Therefore, we are compelled to broaden our notions of what it means to live a complete life to include, A. Our personal relationships with others and, B. Our styles of participating in the social and natural worlds around us. It is for this reason then that the ATP program focuses on exercising all the basic levels of a human being -- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual -- not only in self, but in culture and nature as well.

Article 1 continued