Aikido as a way of life.

 Ron started today's class with ki exercises for warm ups. Then he demonstrated kokyu nage from yokemen, where he retreated, then entered and led uke's arm up while turning and then down into a back fall. Except no one is falling or rolling because most people are practicing alone. The next yokemen uchi kokyu nage started the same way and as ukes arm was led up, nage entered and kept turning, leading uke down in a circle. Next, we did yokemen uke sumi otoshi reversed...same beginning and then nage glided in with a rounded arm under uke's arm pit, sending uke off into a big roll. His last technique was yokemen uchi kota gieshe, same beginning and then tenkan, keeping solid contact on uke's wrist with both of nage's hands while letting the wrist still slide through. I introduced a build a kata exercise, emphasizing mindfulness. I started with a strike with my short stick. We practiced that for a minute or two and then I called next. The next person in alphabetical or

 Adjusting to training and teaching on zoom has been a challenge: lots of fun sometimes, painful other times and sometimes just weird. I am empathic and feel people's energy in class. Teaching on zoom feels like I am on another planet. I can see people and hear them but I can't feel their energy. I lost my enthusiasm when we first went to zoom because I felt so lost. I wasn't aware  of this until a few months in. Now I have my enthusiasm back. I realize that this is just another training opportunity. I am grateful for the courage to keep showing up when it felt so hard and boring. We have a sign that hangs in our dojo that says, Accept what is and move on. It doesn't mean we have to like it. If I don't resist the change, it won't be so painful. Of course I can't change any of this until I become aware of it. I am back to loving class again and am embracing the challenge.