| I learn Aikido - a Japanese martial art. I didn't start | | | | head-first into a wall, of resisting things, of fighting. |
| training so that I could fight anybody, because I | | | | Looking for that place or way where there is no |
| have no need or desire to fight. I started training | | | | resistance, no wall, is what enables you to move |
| because of the connection between body and | | | | forward smoothly and effortlessly. |
| mind. | | | | No difficulty, no stress. Life is good. |
| Soon after I started training in Aikido I discovered | | | | Now you may be thinking: "Oh, that's quite easy |
| a fascinating truth: Aikido is life. What happens in | | | | to say, but other people are more than me - |
| the dojo (that's what the training area is called), | | | | they have more money, more power, a better |
| also happens in life. That is what I would like to | | | | education. They are stronger." |
| share with you in this article. | | | | Let's go back to Aikido to see what can be done. |
| During an Aikido lesson, the sensei (teacher) | | | | In Aikido practice, ironically it's those who are |
| demonstrates an exercise or technique with one | | | | stronger who have the hardest time learning. |
| of the students. After this demonstration, all the | | | | Why? Because they rely upon their physical |
| students pair-up and practice the technique they | | | | strength. |
| just saw. | | | | Those who are smaller, like me - a woman, 5 |
| By practicing Aikido I learn how to accept, to | | | | feet 4 inches tall - cannot rely upon their physical |
| connect with others, to follow. I learn harmony | | | | strength to perform an exercise. When they try, |
| and intimacy. I learn many other important | | | | they soon discover that it just doesn't work. My |
| concepts, but one of them is the most relevant | | | | partner will almost always be bigger and stronger |
| when discussing the connection between Aikido | | | | than me. |
| and stress: I learn to look for the place or the | | | | I learned fast enough that in order to succeed, I |
| way which allows me to perform the exercise | | | | must find a way to do the exercise without |
| easily and effortlessly. | | | | force. I realized that I have to use softness. The |
| Most of us, both in Aikido and in life, tend to use | | | | softer, less stiff I am in Aikido, the easier it |
| force instead of looking for the easy way to do | | | | becomes for me. |
| whatever it is we're doing. We tend to walk into | | | | It works the same way in life. |
| walls instead of finding a way around them. | | | | All you have to do is choose to be more |
| In both Aikido and life, once I remind myself that | | | | accepting, softer, to let harmony in. Look for the |
| there is always a way AROUND difficulties, and | | | | way that doesn't involve conflict. There is always |
| once I look for that way, I find that I can move | | | | such a way. |
| forward easily and effortlessly. | | | | Once you've realized that, a huge amount of |
| Effort and difficulty are the building blocks of | | | | stress leaves your life, and joy enters in its stead. |
| stress. Effort and difficulty consist of walking | | | | |