The topic for tonight is “Stand in your Power as a Man”.  Lets discuss the ways in which we demonstrate our power as men.  I have invited an Eugene D Paki  to teach us the way of Haka.

Today, Haka is something many people identify with, and as always, many ridicule. However until one comes upon learning its true essence, they will never understand its true purpose and power. A truly sacred art to behold, wield and embrace

Join us Tuesday the 2 August  (held fortnightly) to share our knowledge and life journeys, offering each of us tools to take away and use in your own life…. gaining understandings about spirituality, relationships, health, vitality, sex, career, awareness….. and more.

The New Zealand Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge originally performed by warriors before a battle, displaying their strength and mana in order to intimidate their opposition. Haka, however, are also performed for various reasons for welcoming distinguished guests, or for ceremonial occasions such as funerals, birthdays and competition for example.
The most well-known haka which is performed by many sports teams of New Zealand, especially the All Blacks, is “Ka Mate”, which was first performed by Warrior Chief Te Rauparaha, of the Ngati Toa tribe. “Ka Mate” is about the cunningness Te Rauparaha used to outwit his enemies – a celebration of the triumph of life over death.

Eugene and the Haka: Maori culture has always been an integral part of my life and it’s something that I am very passionate about. The more I learn, the more I am in awe of how truly rich and beautiful our culture is and how blessed I am to be able to express and share the love of my culture to others that are willing and open to receiving it. It is a very special and sacred form of expression that conjures many feelings and emotions, such as ihi (power), wehi (awe) and mana (prestige). It has helped to increase my self awareness, boost my confidence, and it gives me a sense of purpose and identity.

In 1994, I was very fortunate to be selected into a small group of 8 men and women, to represent New Zealand through a large hotel chain situated outside of Tokyo. There we performed Maori culture to guests of these hotels as part of a promotion to encourage the guests to travel and explore our beautiful country of Aotearoa NZ. It was a great experience, one I will never forget especially being the first time travelling to another country and staying there for 4 months. The kapa haka group that I am now involved in is called Te Tai Mauri which formed in 2010. We practice every fortnight and are open to anyone who is interested in learning and performing waiata (songs) and haka.

REAL MEN? Woo Woo or Wise? When we men think of meditation, mens groups and spiritual growth, there’s a risk it will be seen as ‘woo-woo,’ or ‘flaky.’ Essentially, ‘being spiritual’ means connecting with your OWN wisdom, your OWN strength and your OWN truth. This is what we will explore in a practical and everyday way, with those of you who are interested in wanting more out of life.”

The mantra of our Gold Coast Men’s Group is I am fully responsible everything I feel and I am totally accountable for everything I do .

Cameron & Lyza at the Byron Spirit Festival doing the Haka

I am doing my best to be authentic and I am doing it from the heart and I’m opening up the opportunity for us all to get together and evolve while having some laughter, fun and f-ups along the way. I’m willing to open up & stand up and risk the chance of falling and making a fool of myself. Who really cares what other people think? I don’t think I do any more.

I’m not quite sure exactly where we are going to go with this, but I have a feeling that it’s going to be good. I know that authenticity is a good place to start. I invite you to join me each month, as we map out where we are going to go on this journey of evolution. Here is my vision.

Why me and why join a men’s group now?
My life has had its extreme ups and extreme downs. I have had more than the average bear’s share of disappointments, heartaches and failure. I have thrown myself into obsessive behaviours to distract me from the pain I felt. The more I drank the harder I worked, and it never seemed to quench my sadness, or sense of wanting more.

My desire for change never really seemed to get me where I wanted to go, as it was only short lived, with new locations, new ideas, and constant movement that stopped me from dealing with the now. I deferred many tough decisions for the immediate, easy, ‘quick fix. I never knew I had a choice.

If I only knew back then what I know now – that decision making is similar to driving a car… Every turn is a choice and every choice leads us on a different road to a different destination, a different life.

When I am driving, I am conscious that every turn has its consequences… and that any wrong turn will result in immediate ramifications.

I have begun to realise it’s the same with life. Every choice has REAL ramifications. Consciously or unconsciously I realise that every ‘poor decision’ I have made comes back and haunts me for years to come until I deal with it and get back on the right road heading in the right direction.
How many of us can relate to that?

Join me on this roller coaster of a ROAD called LIFE, with its highs and lows, its joys and sorrows, in the pursuit of transformation into a happier stress free satisfying life.

Not dealing with my stress as a Street Cop and entrepreneur –How I got to Hell and Back?
As a street cop for nearly 20 years I’ve seen destruction, violence, bashings and death on a regular basis. My stress-relief of choice resided somewhere in the bottom of a Bundaberg Rum bottle. If someone had explained to me that my demeanour, sleep patterns and stress could all be improved using meditation and alternative health methods, I probably would have locked them up for being a public nuisance! By the way that’s me in the picture on the right with the moustache.

1999 Brewarrina Police Station (Back of Bourke).

After leaving the police force for private enterprise, I experienced life in the fast lane, high stress, 18 hour days, 50 staff, 100 phone calls a day. I used 6-8 coffees a day to keep me up and a minimum of two bottles of scotch a week to bring me down. I was not only in the fast lane in business, I was in the fast lane for a heart attack! Something had to change. “I know that many men shy away from meditation and conversations about REAL issues for fear of being labelled soft or airy-fairy, but I am living proof of its life saving benefits. You can be both blokey and stress free. Cameron Monley

I am now committed to bringing quality experts from the alternative health, yoga and meditation, healthy eating and wellness, and spiritual growth industries together. I have called this regular gathering of like-minded locals from the Gold Coast, ‘The Infinite Connection,’ an organisation that promotes and networks with people wanting more out of life.

Alex Vesey : I have had the pleasure of knowing cameron for over 24 years, he is loud, a big presence, high energy wicked sense of humour and brutally honest. I trust him and I trust his judgement. This phase of Camerons life is seeing Cameron put back what he has been given in his life experiences. My experience as a psychiatric Nurse has allowed my self to see many a man in emotional distress and unrest, having the option to safely visit a man cave, like being proposed by Cameron, is wonderful option to experience a safe environment to learn, grow, mature and finally look at your self as honestly as I see cameron do. “ Cant wait to sit in the cave mate”.

Statistics about Men, Stress:
• STRESSED FOR TIME – In 2007, 35% of men always or often felt rushed or pressed for time. – Australia Bureau of Statistics

• DIVORCE RATES INCREASE – At the turn of the 20th century, divorce was virtually non-existent, but by the end of the 20th century it was estimated that 32 percent of Australian marriages would end in divorce (ABS, 2000). Journal of Sociology, Vol. 41, No. 2, June 2005

• ANXIETY – Anxiety is the most common mental condition in Australia. On average, 1 in 4 people – 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men – will experience anxiety. There are many types of anxiety, each consisting of a range of specific symptoms. www.beyondblue.org.au

• SUPPORT GROUP BENEFITS – Being in a support group can also help you develop new skills to relate to others. In addition, the members of the group who have the same problems can support each other and may suggest new ways of dealing with a particular problem. WebMD

• The University Of Wisconsin found that experienced meditators exhibit high levels of gamma wave activity, meaning they are automatically able to control their thoughts and reactions.

• AFL Premiership Sydney Swans Coach, Paul Roos, credits meditation with Sydney’s success, citing that 90% of success happens above the shoulders.

Cameron Monley and Lyza Saint Ambrosena are committed to bringing quality experts from the alternative health, yoga, meditation, healthy eating, wellness and spiritual growth industries together and call these regular gatherings of like minded locals from both Gold Coast and Brisbane, The Infinite Connection –  an organisation that promotes and networks with people wanting more out of life.

Learn more about the infinite Connection Events

Phone Cameron on 0414714948 suggested donation is $20

Location The Holy Rood Family Centre 192 Oxenford Tamborine Road Oxenford. Cross Street is Old Tamborine Road