What are you searching for? When you came to this Aikido of Austin Web site, you came with some purpose in mind. People come to us for many reasons and often find that what they get out of aikido is something they didn't even know they were searching for. What benefits do students of Aikido of Austin find? This is a partial list based on comments they have made:
Physical
- Improved health
- Improved flexibility
- Improved stamina & endurance
- Weight Loss
- Increased lung and heart capacity
- More energy - more of a feeling of being alive
- Improved balance
- Develop gracefulness and agility that can carry over into other sports and activities
Social
- Participate with your family, spouse or friend
- Community of friends
- Meet people with common interests
- Friendships
- Social events
- A place to play
Other Reasons...
- Aesthetically pleasing (It's a lot like dancing)
- Flexibility of schedule
- Self-defense
- Exposure to many related disciplines (meditation, a spiritual way of eating, sword practices)
- Peaceful atmosphere
Emotional
- Better self-discipline
- Increased ability to see other people's perspective
- Improved relationships at home and work
- Greater sense of calmness throughout the day
- Increased self-confidence
- Spiritual path consistent with one's core beliefs.
- Feel safer when traveling
Fun
- Sense of structure in life
- Better sense of control
- Reduced anger and other aggressive feelings
- Calm under attack (both physical and verbal)
- More composure, calmness
- Relearning how to learn
- Joy of being a beginner
- More patience
- Great way to reduce stress (leave your worries off the mat).
- Non-judgemental atmosphere
- Non-competitive atmosphere
- Mental Being disciplined about a discipline
- Better concentration
- Low pressure
- A source of learning that is never exhausted