George Leonard, co-founder (with Michael Murphy) of Integral Transformative Practice (ITP), was the author of numerous books on human possibilities and social change, including Education and Ecstasy, The Transformation, The Ultimate Athlete, The Silent Pulse, The End of Sex, Mastery, and The Way of Aikido. The 1995 book, The Life We Are Given, co-authored with Esalen founder Murphy, reports on a two-year experimental class in ITP created by the authors for realizing the potential of body, mind, heart, and soul. ITP Groups are now practicing not only throughout the U.S., but also in other countries as well.
From 1953 to 1970, Leonard served as a senior editor for Look magazine. He produced numerous essays and special issues on education, science, politics, the arts, the Civil Rights Movement, and foreign affairs. A collection of his Look essays was published in 1970 as “The Man & Woman Thing and Other Provocations”. His articles on education have won eleven national awards. Articles by George Leonard have also appeared in such magazines as Esquire, Harper’s, Atlantic, New York, Saturday Review, and The Nation. During the 1980’s, he wrote 42 pieces for Esquire, more than any other writer.
Leonard held a 5th-degree black belt in the martial art of aikido, and was the co-founder of an aikido school in Mill Valley, California. He was also the founder of Leonard Energy Training (LET), a practice inspired by aikido, which offers alternative ways of dealing with everyday life situations. Leonard introduced LET to more than 50,000 people in the U.S. and abroad.
George Leonard received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Noth Carolina (1948) and Doctor of Humanities degrees from Lewis and Clark College (1972), John F. Kennedy University (1985), and Saybrook Institute (2003). He was a past president of the Association for Humanistic Psychology; during his tenure, the Association’s membership reached its all-time high. He was President Emeritus of Esalen Institute. Leonard's adventures along with the human frontiers of the 1960's are described in his 1988 memoir, Walking on the Edge of the World.
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This issue features articles on the powers of practice. From creating your vision, to crafting intentions that are strengthened through conscious practice, we are able to navigate life's challenges with greater effectiveness, creativity, ease - and joy.
Read about the "extraordinary" in this issue as well as "Spirituality and the Sporting Life," the making of the LET video, George Leonard's "In the Beginning" in which he talks about the evolution of the human brain.
In this issue, we focus on ways to nurture the body----to honor its wisdom and what it needs to recharge and be nourished. Please take a few moments to learn from our inspiring contributors about the interplay of LET and tango, sustainable fitness, integral practices in the field of sport and a special feature on the wisdom of the body by George Leonard.
In this issue, we feature how our extraordinary nature is built right into our animal bodies and how our evolving practice sets the stage for realizing our budding supernature. Read how ITPI chair Christina Grote offers a glimpse of the vision of human development outlined in Michael Murphy's The Future of the Body and how George Leonard profiles the human brain in his 2008 Human Potential Chronicles. Also, enjoy learning how Leadership Transformed 2014 presenters Penney Peirce and Rachel Hamilton impart inventive and playful ways to greet others with curiosity, empathy and compassion - all extraordinary capacities at our fingertips.
Explore ITP's roots in India along with a recounting of one group member's experience on a pilgrimage to this country; be inspired by ITP Houston's unexpected turnout for their open sessions; and learn more about why we change from Cassi Vieten, IONS CEO.