<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<!--
	Downloaded: 05-21-2013 04:00 AM
	From AikiWeb Aikido Forums, http://www.aikiweb.com/forums
	Userid: 16736
	User Name: Sarah Lothmann
-->

<blogEntries>
<blogEntry id="3497">
	<title><![CDATA[11 Weeks &amp; 1 Day Later]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[It's been 11 weeks and 1 day since I crunched my shoulder in class.  I went to the doctor today for yet another x-ray.  Doc says I'm all healed up!!!  :D So now that the fracture is all solid again I have to do a few more additional weeks in Physical Therapy.  During these next few weeks I am supposed to simulate some motions I will encounter in the horse world and Aikido dojo.  Assuming there's no pain, then I am allowed back into action FINALLY!!! :D]]></body>
	<date>05-18-2009</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="3485">
	<title><![CDATA[Road To Recovery]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[My lesson in what not to do, as I last wrote in my blog, ended up being a bunch of lessons all bound together in one moment of impact. :uch:  The day after I drilled my shoulder into the mats I was at the Urgent Care for radiology and hopefully some relief.  Rather a long story, but I'll give the short version of it:  2 doctors, 1 specialist, a trip to the MRI center to discover I'm claustrophobic, 3 new ice bags, 4 boxes of heat patches, 5 cut shirts, stacks of bills, stacks of dishes, 2 refills of pain meds, sleep and no sleep, and now on my third week of physical therapy later.... I finally am at my six week mark of my recovery! :o  Phew!  Talk about a doozie!  As it turns out I fractured my Acromion and tore some beloved soft tissue. :rolleyes:  Oops! :o 

I had a follow up last Friday.  The doctor said I still can't go back to Aikido or riding horses for at least 4 more weeks and a clean x-ray.  So I'm continuing, as I have been, to keep going to class to observe, read anything and everything I can get my hands on about Aikido, and practice my footwork.  

So I suppose this has been my official initiation to the art? :p  Glad to have it out of the way!  I'm super eager for the day I get to get back into my gi and finally make it to my official "3rd day". ;) :D]]></body>
	<date>04-20-2009</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="3452">
	<title><![CDATA[A Lesson In What Not To Do]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[- Day #2 on the mats -

I stumbled out of bed this morning feeling still achy and sore from my first day.  I had been stretching several times in the last few days to encourage a speedy recovery.  So I stretched once more, hopped in the shower, nuked some breakfast and headed to class.  So eager I was for my chance to apply what all I could remember, that I nearly got a speeding ticket on the way there.  [I]This was my first hint that I needed to heed, but failed.[/I]  

I got to the dojo, suited up, and again stretched myself out.  Finally I was feeling limber again!  The Sempai that I had met when I first visited the dojo was there again this morning.  Sensei asked him to work with me for awhile.  He is fantastic!  His energy feels very aware and absolutely adjustable!  No wonder he's a black belt!  I don't know yet just how much he's trained or for how long, however, he certainly offers a lot that I can [U][I]and[/I][/U] am learning from.  He started me out with various rolling techniques.  Something about the way he said things brought about one of those "Aha!" moments.:)  While my ankle is weak and unstable, I was able to overcome it somewhat because he taught me the importance of spotting and keeping my attention directed on where my energy is returning to.  So excited to have something click, I began to rush...  [B]BIG[/B] whoops!  As he was having me practice frontward rolling from kneeling, I got lost in transition.  I left the present moment.  On my first day, I started imagining a ball of energy that I curl around when I roll.  Today I forgot my ball of energy and instead thwarted myself directly against it....I burrowed my shoulder directly and deeply into the mat.  I heard a crunch and a grinding crackle just before my brained received a very clear message:  [B]OUCH![/B] :uch: [I]This, my friends, is my lesson I learned of what not to do![/I]  Obviously meeting opposing energy head on isn't the goal.  However, more importantly, I believe, is [I]not to leave the present moment[/I].  By getting ahead of myself I created pain and some down time over the next few days.  

Immediately I realized this lesson.  During the next few techniques I was taught, I remembered to inhale deeply, relax, and zero in on Uke.  Each time I did this, I stayed balanced, direct, centered, and found some momentary grace - if even only for a nano second. :o  This was quite a rewarding feeling!  Meanwhile, my shoulder grew more painful as class progressed.  I took a moment to step off the mats and ice it for a bit.  As I watched, I wanted so much to keep working.  After 10 minutes or so of a breather, I returned for one last technique before class ended.  Definitely the last part was a struggle!  However, I come from the horse world, a mentality of "What do you do when you fall off a horse?  Get back on!"  So I felt it necessary to my education to attempt more work and finish on a positive note!  


Do I have any regrets?  If I could start today over and do it again, would I do it the same?  [B]ABSOLUTELY!![/B]  Today's lesson is one I cherish and carry with me both on and off the mats.  Today I reflect on the words of Maya Angelou, "Take time out."  Indeed I must take a moment to be in the moment, as nothing else truly exists. :D]]></body>
	<date>03-08-2009</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="3450">
	<title><![CDATA[First Day On the Mats]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Many years ago after watching several martial arts movies, and after having a conversation with a friend who was learning Aikido, I realized I wanted to try this.  Long story short, my life training in the equestrian world kept me from discovering too much of anything new!  Over the span of time I ended up in a Tai Chi class at my local YMCA.  I did enjoy that, although my experiences there were cut short due to, well...I'll just leave it at - life.  Six months ago my life shifted significantly.  Everything that could have changed did change.  Having learned the lesson of mind over matter, the possibilities of positive thinking, and the powers in manifestation, I decided to stop making excuses for not living for myself.  I got online immediately to find out where some Aikido dojos were in my city.  I had found a couple that were near my home.  For some reason I kept feeling something encouraging me to visit one dojo in particular.  

Upon entering that particular dojo, I was immediately greeted by one of the Sempai.  He was smiling, friendly, and eager to welcome me.  He took interest, asked me questions, and answered mine as well.  He graciously showed me where I could sit to observe class, and then told me much about the dojo.  After class I was greeted by the dojo cho.  He too asked me questions and in turn answered mine.  I already knew I wanted to come back for more!

After observing three classes, I asked if I could join as I had already felt such resonance with what I had seen thus far!  So the formalities took place and I was given my dogi so I could attend the next class.

The following day and a half were absolute torture for me as I waited for my first class.  I felt this twisting mix of eagerness and nervousness.  I suppose the word for it would be [I]anxiety[/I]?  

Earlier this evening, I finally had my first day on the mats!  Thanks to several knee and ankle injuries over the years, seiza was maybe the most difficult part for me!  Luckily, Sensei told me I could sit with my legs crossed while I am recovering from my most recent ankle injury.  Phew!!  While there currently aren't very many women at my dojo, (three others - me being the fourth) one happened to be there tonight!  She was well versed in Aikido. Sensei asked if she would help me learn the basics.  She has so much patience!!!!!  Her demonstrations and explanations were very clear and helpful.  She taught me more about some of the basic ettiquette on the mats, stances, movement, principals, rolls, and oodles upon oodles of vocabulary!!  Wow!!  I feel so blessed to have had such a fantastic first day!  Sensei came over to us often to further teach me these basics!  I even got to learn the gist of one technique and try it before the end of class!!  I feel a shmidge overwhelmed by the wealth of information given to me today, but mostly I feel absolutely [U]alive[/U]!  The only other thing in life that gives me this kind of "high" is training my horses and students!  Who knew?!  Aikido has been something I've wanted to learn for so many years... Even after all my anticipation, already on day one, I am finding it is everything I have hoped for and so much more!

So if this is day one, I can only imagine just how much fulfillment I am going to experience over the next years as I keep returning to the mats! :D]]></body>
	<date>03-05-2009</date>
</blogEntry>


</blogEntries>