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By admin, February 18, 2010 10:07 pm

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

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By admin, February 18, 2010 10:02 pm

Newsletter – 2010, 02

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By admin, January 10, 2010 7:30 pm

Here’s a fun and interesting way to practice Aikido outside the dojo. Paying attention to what’s around you can help keep you safe, but it can also help you find your car. The next time you go to the store with your parents take notice of where they park the car. You can do this with or without your parents’ knowledge (if you do this without them knowing and they need help finding the car you’ll come across as if you possess superpowers:). Look for landmarks to help you remember where the car is. Remember not to choose other cars as a landmark because they may move and not be there when you return. Good landmarks would be trees, light poles, signs on poles, where you parked compared to the store’s entrance or anything else that doesn’t move. Then, when you come out of the store be the first one to find the car… or be there ready to come to the rescue if your mom or  dad need help finding the car. One more thing about parking lots. As you are walking in a parking lot watch the taillights of parked cars. If you see white lights that means the car is in reverse and may be moving backwards. Keep an eye on the driver and be prepared to stop as they may not see you.

This will sound silly, but have fun in the parking lots! Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention.

Teresa Mastison Sensei

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By admin, November 1, 2009 11:44 pm

Newsletter – 2009, 11/12