Orientation to Practice starts Sep. 23, 2014

Orientation to Practice is the Fall theme for Center Yourself Tuesdays:

Practice is a mind set and an activity where you repeat an operation or movement, assessing and attending to how you do it. You introduce new variables, try something, make mistakes, form questions, change strategy and try again.

This can happen at a very mental/analytical level or it can happen with a more diffuse mindset. We can explore, play, fall, get up, try again. Sometimes we engage in practice with knitted brow and self judgement, but learning often slows down under such circumstances. Practice can be approached with an open curious mindset, a sense of humor and compassion for self.

When you start something new there’s a transition; an adjustment is required.  So often we are thrust into a situation where we must perform before we’ve even had a chance to get our bearings.

Whatever your practice, give yourself time and space to orient. Come to the dojo Tuesdays 5:30pm for a half hour orientation to practice.

A dojo is a place where we “practice the way.” At Multnomah Aikikai our primary practice is the martial art of Aikido. In this class, utilizing basic movements of Aikido, you will orient to the joy of practice. Whether you continue with Aikido practice or take up another practice, you will have cultivated the inner tools to direct your own learning with compassion, a sense of humor and the joy of movement.

Tuesdays 5:30 – 6:00pm, starting September 23, 2014

FREE during Sep. 23- Oct. 28 

Instructor: Suzane Van Amburgh

Location: Multnomah Aikikai,  6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239

Train your brain, Move your body, Center yourself.

Explore the Lines of Engagement

Join us for practice…

This program is on hiatus until further notice. Please check the home page for info on our current Saturday program. 

 The Lines of Engagement

Center, Engage, Connect

Come and play Saturday at the dojo in a safe, light-hearted atmosphere of lively, sensory learning. Based on the movements of Aikido, explore the lines of engagement:
  • Investigate the moment when you encounter your partner.
  • Sense your center.
  • Experiment with where and when you make initial contact.
  • Discover how you change the angle of encounter.
  • Sense your balance.
  • Follow the trajectory of your partner’s motion.
  • Notice when you naturally take a step to restore balance.

No experience required. You do not have to fall down if you don’t want to. This class is taught by Suzane Van Amburgh, GCFP and shidoin aikido instructor Free to Multnomah Aikikai Members (Regular and Community members).  Open to the public for drop in fee of $10. Send us a quick email to let us know if you’d like to attend: spacetomoveinfo@gmail.com

Contact us to be informed of class schedule changes and additions

Location:  Aikido Multnomah Aikikai, 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239  503-246-8120 | dojo@multnomahaikikai.com       

Every Tuesday: drop in, practice, center yourself.

Note: Center Yourself Tuesdays is on hiatus for the summer.

Tuesdays at 5:30pm drop in, take off your shoes, relax, move, center yourself…

Whenever you start something new there’s a transition; an adjustment is required.  So often we are thrust into a situation where we must perform before we’ve even had a chance to get our bearings.

Whatever your practice, give yourself time and space to orient. Come to the dojo Tuesdays 5:30pm. Center yourself and orient yourself to practice.

Practice is a mind set and an activity where you repeat an operation or movement, assessing and attending to how you do it. You introduce new variables, try something, make mistakes, form questions, change strategy and try again.

This can happen at a very mental/analytical level or it can happen with a more diffuse mindset. We can explore, play, fall, get up, try again. Sometimes we engage in practice with knitted brow and self judgement, but learning often slows down under such circumstances. Practice can be approached with an open curious mindset, a sense of humor and compassion for self.

A dojo is a place where we “practice the way.” At Multnomah Aikikai our primary practice is the martial art of Aikido. In this class, utilizing basic movements of Aikido, you will orient to the joy of practice. Whether you continue with Aikido practice or take up another practice, you will have cultivated the inner tools to direct your own learning with compassion, a sense of humor and the joy of movement.

Drop by any Tuesday. No experience required. Public welcome, fee is just $10. Members participate free. Class is 5:30- 6:00pm. Instructor: Suzane Van Amburgh.

Location: Multnomah Aikikai,  6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239

Center Yourself Tuesdays

Train your brain, Move your body, Center yourself.

Center Yourself Tuesdays starting June 4

Come learn to center yourself with the wooden sword, balance and breath.

In this new Center Yourself Tuesday series we will study the fundamentals of sword work using the wooden bokken while practicing an eight part kata. No falling is required in this class. Footwork patterns include pivoting, sliding and stepping forward and backward. If you do not have your own bokken you may borrow one from the school during class time.

During this class we will:

•    Raise the sword in line with the spine
•    Execute sword motions relative to the center line of the body
•    Move our upper body so it’s supported by the motion of the lower body
•    Develop footwork that supports movements of the sword

By learning these skills we will :

make good use of the ground so that gravity becomes a friendly force • enable our bones to transmit power cleanly so that our muscles can relax • engage the left hand so that it knows what the right hand is doing • educate the left and right half’s of our bodies to coordinate around a central axis • allow our ribs to expand and contract in sync with the rise and fall of the sword and breath • allow our eyes to settle and align with our intention •  improve our balance so that dynamic stability is realized

“Being centered” and “moving from center” will shift from abstract concepts to tangible experiences.

Your instructor: Suzane Van Amburgh

This class is open to the public for a $10 drop in fee.
Free to dojo members and private students.
Center Yourself, Tuesdays, 5:30-6:00pm

Find your Space to Move® at Multnomah Aikikai: 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239

Tuesdays in April 5:30 – 6:00 pm

Aikido Basics is the theme

for Center Yourself Tuesdays in April.

  • Practice footwork patterns to reinforce center line and improve balance.
  • Bring yourself to the ground gently and rise again with fluidity.

Open to the public: $10 drop-in.

Free for members and “Aikido Starter Kit” participants.

Train your brain, move your body, center yourself

Find your Space To Move® at Multnomah Aikikai

Multnomah Aikikai is located at 6415 SW Macadam Ave, Portland OR 97239

 

Aikido for Attorneys? Yes!

Stoel Rives LLP brought in Space To Move® to present a customized version of Aikido and the Art of Negotiation to a group of attorneys new to the firm. The professional development training was delivered by Suzane Van Amburgh of Space To Move and Greg Corbin of Stoel Rives LLP. Both Suzane and Greg practice aikido at Multnomah Aikikai in Portland Oregon. Learn more…

Stoel and Space To Move partnered

Stoel Rives and Space To Move coffee mugs: Center, Engage, Connect.