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Continuing Education Courses for Fitness Professionals
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The Need for Self-Actualizationby Linda Christy Weiler, M.S.The Hierarchy of Needs was created by Humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow. Depicted as a pyramid, it suggests that there is a specific sequential order of progression which mankind follows when identifying and fulfilling needs. Physiological needs must be taken care of first. For example, food and air are the primary and most basic needs, and they are located at the bottom of the pyramid. Moving upward, the next need is safety, then love and belonging, and then self-esteem. At the very top of the pyramid we find the need for self-actualization. Simply stated, the term ‘self actualization’ refers to the innate need of all humans to feel that our lifetimes were VALUABLE and FULFILLING (not necessarily remarkable or special). A self-actualized individual lives freely and honestly, and finds value in being his or her true self.
The specific attributes associated with self-actualization – such as morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, and lack of prejudice or judgment are remarkably similar to characteristics affiliated with what yoga refers to as that blissful state of ‘enlightenment.’ When we practice yoga postures with the intent of restoring balance to the body and equanimity to the psyche, what we are really seeking is a little sip or a tiny taste of enlightenment. The esoteric goal of this integrative practice (yoga) is to ‘embody’ the attributes associated with self-actualization.
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