“Settle down, Feel your body…” as Nadeau repeats over and over again throughout Aikido class. “Settle, settle down…” This past February I have definitely felt some high, highs and low, lows. Much of life has wrapped itself around this month and this particular time for some reason; so much was being stirred up, sifted through, and transformed.
As I begin my 1st week of Aikido ever, I feel I am bridging a past life; my Samurai self. Today I return from a long Aikido training, where the 1st portion entailed weapons training, working with the bokuto (the longer wooden sword). The second portion was an All Levels training (technically it was my 2nd class this week). The feeling of being intimidated definitely fell into my mind a few times as I stood facing, attacking, and being thrown by the black belts. But I recall Rama’s words of wisdom and remember to Be Grateful that you are being thrown by a black belt, because a black belt knows exactly how and where to throw you without injuring you. This class was also a powerful reminder of checking in with my own insecurities of being good enough and instead just letting all of that go. Breathing into the moment to have body awareness, moving forward and picking yourself back up when you are thrown or make a mistake. Being in this class with the advanced students I felt grateful, grateful in being able to work with their expertise and also seeing the Value of a beginner’s mind. It was apparent to me, just as it is in meditation the quality, the newness, the clean slate upon where one stays open without judgment to develop their technique and the Essence of Oneself.
Going Slow gave a Space to think thru the Aikido gestures, but bringing forth the correctness of form was also important. As a teacher once said, “Practice doesn’t make perfect, Perfect practice makes Perfect”. The practice of Aikido definitely brings One to a place where one is getting back in touch & in harmony with themselves. As with all things it is useless to practice something fast & incorrectly, which only forms & hardens the habits of incorrect technique or movements. On my way home after practice, I experienced The Beauty of being a Beginner, there is a Joyous experience in being at home where you are.
