Body Based Practices

I have been reflecting recently on the benefits of having a spiritual practice that is body based in nature. The practices of Aikido are designed to bring the body, mind and spirit into unity. Who are we when this is achieved? What does it take to reach such a state? Is it sustainable? In my opinion, there is something to be said for engaging in practices that put your body on the line. That is, putting yourself regularly in a situation in which you have to encounter your own fear and discomfort and receive immediate feedback regarding your ability to be with such circumstances. To choose to walk towards your discomfort on a regular basis has a beautiful effect of reducing your fear and raising your feelings of personal strength and empowerment. It takes so much energy to avoid ourselves and ultimately it is a futile and exhausting endeavor. The act of choosing to meet yourself through your body opens up pathways to yourself, to your connectedness to all things, to your health/wellness and to your wholeness. Committing to showing up day after day and willingly receive the reflections that the mirror of the practice so generously provides is ultimately the path to freedom. To experience those exquisite moments when body, mind and spirit are fully integrated while under some kind of duress is to know an inner peace that most people long for and few people know how to attain. We begin to know ourselves as people who can stay calm and present under life's pressures. As someone who can show up fully for the hard things in life and not only be grounded and present but open hearted and compassionate as well. Such a state of presence and equilibrium is not achieved by an idea or a thought but by engaging in a regular practice preferably in the presence of others. Training in an Aikido dojo can provide such an opportunity. Staying with something over time, that is many years, and despite being challenged and tested in ways we can never imagine, we develop a depth of being that can only serve to benefit the world.

Intro

Greetings to all of you who have an interest in the Path of Peace!

I have been wanting to have a way to share my thoughts, my teachings and other relevant information that arises as I walk this Aiki Path. And now, I finally have a blog!

I am excited to have this new pathway through which to share my thoughts about how the embodiment of the principles of Aikido can improve the quality of daily life for everyone.

Please check back often for updates. Until next time, breathe as often as possible, feel your feet on the Earth and know that who you are and what you do matters!