“Aikido is not for correcting others; it is for correcting your own mind.”
                                                                      ~ Morehei Ueshiba - O Sensei

Aikido, the art of peace, is a modern Japanese martial art, developed by Morehei Ueshiba (1883-1969).

The student learns to move or connect with a partner, blending with the energy, or ki, that evolves during the attack.
The process offers the opportunities both to recognize patterns of reacting within a dynamic situation of seemingly conflicting opposites and to learn to interact in a relaxed and focused way under pressure. The principles of reconciliation, empathy, harmony, and cooperation are transferred to everyday life, offering real personal development.
Elaine Yoder has been practicing Aikido in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1977. She holds a 5th degree black belt and has been teaching at City Aikido in San Francisco for over 15 years. She has traveled to Tokyo to train at Hombu Dojo three times, and teaches workshops in the Bay Area.
She is interested in how we can use the principles of Aikido to do more than just enjoy the incredible movement. It is through this art that we can develop our awareness of how we interact with the world around us, and contribute with a sense of developing inner harmony.