The practice of freedom [electronic resource] : Aikido principles as a spiritual guide

Drawing on the poetic wisdom of the Tao Te Ching , American sensei Wendy Palmer translates the powerful teachings of aikido for use in everyday life. With poignant reflections on her own life, including teaching inmates in a woman's federal prison, she describes how we can regain our sense of freedom, vitality, and integrity when under the duress of life's "attacks" by transforming our negativity into budo , or unconditional love. The Practice of Freedom is invaluable not only for students of aikido and other movement and martial arts, but also for those who seek to live with confidence and self-reliance, to establish clear and compassionate boundaries, and to deepen their capacities for relationships. In The Practice of Freedom, American sensei Wendy Palmer applies the basic principles of aikido to the conduct of everyday life. This fifth-degree black belt describes her own fascinating journey, one that includes caring for a mother with multiple sclerosis, teaching inmates in a women's federal prison, and the development her own method of meditation called Conscious Embodiment. In the process Palmer uses her many years of aikido practice to explore and respond to a simple but potent question: How? How can we maintain our vitality and integrity in times of stress? How do we transform our neg