The Laughing Buddha
Hotei or Maitreya is better known in the Western world as the Laughing Buddha and he has become incorporated into Buddhist, Shinto and Taoist culture. He is the deity of contentment and abundance and is often referred to as a wandering monk who removes sadness from the people of the world.
To us he is a symbol and reminder of our own capacity to achieve happiness, fulfillment and an open heart. At the Laughing Buddha we embody this as we partner with people, while they discover their potential to become balanced and centered.
Health, strength and peace of mind depend completely on the maintenance of balance among the body, mind and spirit; and between our selves and the environment. By balancing and calming the world within us, we are able to deal with the constant changes and instability of the world outside of us.
Our Approach
We approach total health by addressing the needs of your whole being.
The Body: Our physical body accumulates stress, tension and toxins as a result of living our daily lives with a lack of balance. Through Shiatsu, Qi Gong and Nutritional Coaching we focus on the physical needs of our patients and integrate the body with the whole self.
The Spirit: Often our Spirit is neglected and becomes lost as we move through life on auto-pilot. It is possible for anyone to engage their Spirit and be conscious of it on a daily basis. At the Laughing Buddha we assist people in connecting with their Spirit through the practice of Meditation and Qi Gong, and waking it up with the physical stimulation of Shiatsu.
The Mind (Heart): Our thinking mind is a powerful force and is often misused. Emotional health, peace and generosity are dependent on the ability to calm the torrent of thoughts and observe our mind in action. Being conscious of our thoughts and keeping our heart open can bring about a sense of adventure and peace into our lives. We work with the heart-mind through the amazing power of breath with Qi Gong and meditation, as well as awakening the mind by addressing the choices we make and the accumulation of habits.
Why Us?
Understanding and peace develop from the heart of your own being. Taking responsibility for your health and your interaction with the external environment is the only path to achieving true happiness.
This can be challenging and takes courage and dedication on the part of the individual. One often requires the support of another or a group to move through the distractions and layers that stand in the way of returning to the center.
We understand and respect the individual needs of those that come to us for assistance, and are committed to partnering with our patients in achieving balance in all aspects of life.
We have been (and still are) dedicated to gathering wisdom, tools and education that allow us to assist others in realizing health, strength and peace of mind.
We, at the Laughing Buddha, are experiential learners – this means that we have gone through the heavy, complicated and exhausting moments ourselves. After trying as many techniques, therapies and methods possible, we found that the simplest route was the most direct.
We invite you to experience it for yourself!
About the Therapist
Jennifer Arndt is the founder and primary Therapist at the Laughing Buddha. Here is her story…
After experiencing a health crisis herself ten years ago, she was thrown into a whirlwind of doctors and heavy medications. Through divine intervention she found herself in the office of a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and decided to try a drug-free approach to overcoming her illness. With a combination of acupuncture and dietary changes she began to drop the numerous symptoms and started to experience a clarity that she never had.
At the same time she discovered her first Qi Gong teacher and fell in love with the art. Since that first Qi Gong class she has never looked back and continues to practice everyday.
What Jennifer experienced after her incurable illness disappeared, was not only a lack of symptoms, but a quality of life that was entirely new to her. With this new found energy and enthusiasm, she began to educate herself on nutrition, meditation and other complementary health practices. This led her to the Shiatsu School of Canada, where she completed the 2200 hour program and became a Certified Shiatsu Therapist.
Her motivation as a Therapist stems completely from her own experience and the desire to share what she has learned with others. She knows that perfect health and peace are available to anyone willing to make the commitment, and offers a professional and empathetic environment for her patients.