Ki (energy) is the cornerstone of Aikido. But, how do you practice ki? Following are some fun and simple ways you can practice extending your ki or becoming sensitive to the ki around you:

Mentally extend your energy (ki) towards someone who‘s not looking at you. As you extend your energy just engulf (surround) them with your energy and see if they fidget or turn to look at you. Your energy being directed at them may cause them to feel something. Try this with your pets too and see if they react. This also works in reverse. Have you ever felt like someone was watching you and when you looked around someone was? Start paying attention to how you feel around others.

Another way to practice extending your ki is to make eye contact and to verbally greet people. It can have a dramatic affect on the people you meet. Even if you are just passing by, look at them and say “hello”. Your “hello” or smile you give can change their day. Once their day has been affected by your warm greeting and smile, they are more likely to be in a better mood, which then affects how they interact with others. Eye contact does amazing things too. Look at people in the eyes when you are talking to them or just saying hi and watch their response. If you smile at the same time you usually get an even bigger response. It doesn’t cost anything and it makes people feel special to be looked at and smiled at. In these cases, I like to think of my energy as a warm ray of sunshine (even though I usually think of my energy as water) that is going to make this person feel warm and cozy.

Practice extending your energy everywhere you go – at school, on the playground, at the store, with your family and pets, with your teachers. Also, watch how other people greet each other or what they do when they pass by someone. When you’re standing in the checkout lane, watch how the other people interact with the clerk or the other people in line. Once again, people watching can provide a lot of entertainment as well as training opportunities. Have fun!

Teresa Mastison Sensei