I finally decided to attend a class at the dojo after being highly recommended a few times by a friend who used to practice there.I showed up outside the dojo building and was a little lost trying to figure out where the class was when Wagener Sensei(I did not know him then) walked by, he asked me what I was looking for and then told me to follow him.
On entering the dojo, I was greeted by a fellow student and asked to join the lineup on the mat. Class started with some warm-up movements and stretches. Sensei immediately asked a senior student to be next to me and help with the stretches. Then, we moved on to the aikido techniques (I was really in awe of the demonstration as I had never been to a martial arts class before). A technique was demonstrated a few times and then students split into groups(mostly of 2) to practices the technique. I was again paired with a senior student who was really helpful in taking it slow and explaining me nuances of the technique. Sensei was also very involved throughout the class. He kept walking by and explained things as needed.
There was a small break after the first hour and all the students came up to me, introduced themselves and asked me about how I felt. It was really heartwarming to see everyone genuinely interested and I felt very welcomed. At the end of the class, I asked Sensei about payment for the class, he told me to just keep coming back. I was really surprised by this especially in a place like manhattan where a lot of places first want your money and commitment. But, the best part about the whole experience was this hard to explain feeling of calm I felt after leaving the class.
I had been looking for a practice which was not just a physical exercise but also worked on the mental aspect. The feeling that got after leaving my first class gave me a sense that aikido might be that practice. And, I was totally convinced after a few weeks of postponing I showed up to the morning class on Sunday. The Sunday class started of with Zazen meditation and it felt amazing(I regretted not coming earlier). There is a strong focus during all classes on breathing and being a good Uke(the person who receives the technique or takes the fall). Sensei always keeps mentioning that one needs to be good at receiving the technique to be able to apply it to others.
I am glad I took my friend’s recommendation. The dojo has a great atmosphere for learning, all the students are very supportive of each other and there is common desire to learn. The head instructor, Gary Wagener Sensei has created an environment which is fun (you will often see Sensei making funny and witty comments) and enjoyable but also very serious and focused at the core. I would highly recommended this school to anyone looking to get into martial arts or just looking for a way to re-energize their mind and body.
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