Found Out About Macrobiotics From Aikido

[lilmizcheezcake]

Just wanted to introduce myself, I live in WA state, have two young boys, one husband, and a dog. I am very new to macrobiotics and trying to learn everything I can.

I have been feeling unhealthy and blah for a long time and have been looking for something to fix that. I came across macrobiotics when looking into a martial arts school specializing in Aikido. I had been thinking of joining some sort of martial arts and was surprised to find answers to my "unhealthy" problems in an unsuspected place.

So far I feel I am doing pretty good getting my meals to- two macrobiotic and one "regular" but not as bad as before meals. I am really excited about feeling better and about giving my family more nutritional meals that will make all of us healthier.

Thanks for the help I have received so far here, and look forward to learning more.


Lil Miz Rice Cake

[Klara]

Hello again Lil Miz,

My apologies - no guilt here in mb world!!! only yin and yang :>)

Just wanted to let you know my daughter makes a "killer" of a tofu cheesecake - so as long as you're just starting out and in transition mode, go for it!!!!! Then later when you know better, you'll have some fond memories to look back on!!!! There are five (pretty wide for me) cheesecake recipes in The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook by Joanne Stepaniak: Gazebo Cheezcake (with cashews), Lemon Teasecake (from millet, lemon juice, and cashews), Chocolate Almond Cheezcake (cashews, cocoa, almond extract), Pumpkin Cheezcake (ginger, cloves, canned (????) pumpkin, and Ricotta Cheezcake Pie.
Want to choose one and I'll send exact recipe? - or just play with it, blend up tofu with sweeteners and flavoring and add liquid - that's what I used to do in the old days - and used it as a topping for desserts - but since those days I have learned that beans don't go so well with sweeteners, so I won't make them (but will still give in to eating if they're around :>) )

Your family may not realize it now, but they are soooooooo lucky that you are doing this for them. Keep having fun.

Klara

[Manymoons]

Lilmizcheezecake

I found Aikido after I found the food. Did you pursue Aikido training and if so what Sensai? It is interesting to note that O Sesai (founder of Aikido)and Osawa (founder of macrobiotics) were close friends.

Both of these arts are based in yin/yang and can certainly complement the other. Aikido appears, on the surface, to be about fighting but is really about self-mastery. MB food is about self-mastery as well.

The only difference between an MB eater and a "regular" is the MB's consciousness of yin/yang. All food, as well as all things, have yin/yang aspects. The journey is to control one's balance and not be so subject to randomly being beaten around by the currents of life.

Aikido and this food are both quite simple but difficult to learn. Study the theorums and principles and most of all have fun. Take it slowly and dont expect an overnight success. Change that is gradual is the most enduring.

Manymoons

[lilmizcheezcake]

Hi Klara-

I thought there must be a tofu cheesecake out there somewhere. I am “really” not a big cheesecake eater, I like it but it was more of a “quest” I did a few years ago, trying to master the cheesecake. I am pretty good at making all sorts of cheesecake now, know all the little tricks of this and that to have one of those homemade cheesecakes that appear really fancy, but to be honest I don’t make them very often anymore. It sort of became a joke when I was in my cheesecake kick- because I was making one every week, trying this and that, and I think people where saying, “Geesh we can only eat so much cheesecake!” I am sure if I did some hunting I could find some yummy cheesecake recipes so I don’t want you to go to all the trouble of sending one to me but thank you for the offer.

When you started out in MB did you have a friend or friends that helped or was also starting out too, or did you do it all on your own? Sometimes I think it would be easier if I had others doing it with me than on my own, or if I went to a cooking class or something but know I will never be able to take a class with my schedule as it is now. I guess I am doing ok so far so maybe I should just be happy about that. Anyway thanks for your comments.

Lil Miz (add favorite cake)

[lilmizcheezcake]

Hello Manymoons-

I am still considering pursuing Aikido, I think I eventually will but just have to make that commitment and know I can follow through. (busy schedule) I really think martial arts are great and found this wonderful temple called Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America. I apologize because I can’t remember the Sensai’s name but if you look up the shrine name there is a website.

That is really interesting I didn’t know that the founder of Aikido and the founder of MB where friends-but that just makes since now that you have mentioned it. I too have noticed similarities with MB and Aikido and also am interested in the religious aspect of it, (Shinto,) but I need more studying.

When you said:

“The only difference between an MB eater and a "regular" is the MB's consciousness of yin/yang. All food, as well as all things, have yin/yang aspects. The journey is to control one's balance and not be so subject to randomly being beaten around by the currents of life.”

That was very helpful and made me relax a bit. Sometimes when I am consciously thinking about taking on MB it seems so big, so much work to be done, but when brought up as you did, the whole of everything doesn’t seems that big. I am not sure if that makes sense or not. I went looking for a martial art to do just as you put, “control balance and not be so subject to randomly being beaten around by currents of life,” and it seems as though I just might have found a treasure box full. I sure have a lot to explore. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments.

Lil Miz Carrot Cake

P.S. I forgot to ask, are you yourself in Aikido, if so do you enjoy it?

[Klara]

Hello Lil Miz Sweet,

I'm not an expert (yet????) on computer ways and at this point in time I'm guessing these identity names are taken as our real ones were already taken?? I'm still perplexed why we can't address each other with real names, but it's still a fun game -one site I signed up for my real name was taken and I sat there a long time thinking what name identifies me - challenging!!!!

Each of us, obviously are different and learn differently - my own experience, I fell into a cooking class series and am most grateful for it. Since then I have taken other classes, acquired many many books, been on many sites, been to a few local week long seminars and organized activities for local people interested.

I often said to myself if I were free (without family) I would go to some great teachers, no matter where - or live in the environment where I would only eat mb. I have friends who have done that and part of me has been quite envious.

But the real truth is I think perhaps for all of us, learning slowly is as manymoons put it the better way to learn - to really let lessons sink in and become part of you and let change happen slowly (remember the tortoise and the hare!!!) - again, with the qualifier that you are not in a deadly disease situation which does require more urgency.

I also felt if those around me were mb I'd be more encouraged, so I started weekly meetings with potlucks, which went on for three years. Previous to that I had organized monthly meetings for a couple years.

I cannot honestly say if those helped me or not - cooking classes definitely did at the beginning.

But at this stage in my adventure in life, I am finding other kinds of classes also help me - and feel they were tailored made for me in my search for spirituality - those classes deal more with letting go of what is not needed in my life - a very difficult lesson and will take me I see a long time to learn. There is so so so much out there, alot still tempts me, but I realize alot is not at all what I need.

What you mentioned, being happy with where we are, is also not so easy. Isn't that funny, that I am struggling just for that - to let go of wanting more and more and trying to truly appreciate and be grateful for where I am and what I already have. Yet at the same time, we all need to grow - it's all balance, again being both appreciative and stil searching for more.

And dealing with time is also one of the biggies.

For me learning not to try to do it all is the major influence. I am still working on eating my meals without needing to also read. Funny, seems so simple, yet isn't. Am working on being more in the Now, totally. That can be done no matter what road you choose to take.

And now that I've said all that, I still would encourage you to find others, either friends or teachers. Is there a bulletin board where you can look for others? Even if I haven't learned alot from friends, it was pleasant.

Klara

[Manymoons]

lilmizcheesecake

I have been involved with this food since 1966, and with Aikido since 1974. Both are treasures that I would trade for nothing else on the face of this earth. The journey has been at times filled with excruciatingly painful reflection as well as incredibal discovery. When one begins to see the yin/yang of things on an consistant basis, life becomes very interesting and there is never a dull moment. It can also get exaspirating as one witnesses what appears to be un-necessary complications. The universe is perfectly just however, and the dramas that some people thrive on are part of that justice.

The integration of yin with yang (and yang with yin) is the goal. The closer they are together, the more broadly the universal spectrum becomes visible.

Im responding from someones elses computer this morning. I think the modem on mine has "fried". I will therefore close for now.

Manymoons

[lilmizcheezcake]

Hi again Klara-

I am doing the many, many books and website- way of learning at the moment and that has been very helpful.

“I often said to myself if I were free (without family) I would go to some great teachers, no matter where - or live in the environment where I would only eat mb.” ME TOO! That would uncomplicated our eating and that thought has gone through my mind many times.

You say that it is hard for you not to read while you eat and I can understand that. Another thing that I seem to always forget is the chewing thing. I will be eating away and be almost done when the light bulb will go off, opps forgot to chew lots again! Lucky I am not a speed eater like my husband! I suppose that isn’t a major thing to worry about but it is just amazing how I can forget and most the time is because I am so busy thinking of this and that, what I have to do after the meal, ect, ect.

My oldest son is five and we just started him in Karate, which is working out great. One of the things he had to memorize to move on was Go Do Shin (Five Fold Path). The first path says, “Never forget the spirit of first beginning.”

I just have to keep that in mind and forget about the impatience of feeling as if I am not moving fast enough.

Take care,

Lil Miz Apple Cake

[lilmizcheezcake]

Manymoons-

Sorry to hear about your computer.

I look forward to starting my adventure with Aikido and it is exiting to know that the connection of macrobiotics and Aikido are not as strange as I first thought when I stumbled upon them.

Lil Miz

[Klara]

I have a dilemna with books - they're great, and if they're really great I rush through them - which is not great - I need to slowly digest them as I do food. The good part is they are always there waiting for me for when I'm ready to once again divulge their wonderful secrets - the bad part is there is always more and more books, more and more info on the computer and of course still real life to live. Interesting question to myself, why do I have time for the computer and not as much for books????

For chewing, part of being conscious is to first be intentional, to intend to do something - and it does take concentration. So I have to be calm and willing to take the time to chew - and that's best done when I eat alone - much much harder to eat with others who are not doing the same. And when I'm not "behind", that is, rushing to do the next thing, or thinking about the next thing. and this may be obvious, but certain foods do lend themselves better to chewing than others.

I loved Karate when I took it - any reason your son and you can't do it together? There was a great book I'd read, something like Growing Up with my Kids - five is a 'wonder" full age - he can teach you to see things all anew - how lucky YOU are - enjoy him. I'm sure you must have heard this a thousand times, but they really do grow up much too fast. My "baby" is now fourteen and very determined to be his own person, which is good, but the path is rough and I miss those old cuddly days.

Klara

[lilmizcheezcake]

Hi again Klara-

I am a book junkie! I swear Amazon knows me on a first name basis. (hehehe)

At the time I couldn’t take Karate with my son because they separate the kinders from the rest in their own class. When they reach yellow belt or deemed “old enough” for the mixed classes then there is a possibility, but then there is my youngest son who is two, and I do not take them to babysitters unless it is my parents which is an hour drive away. My husband is doing Karate atm and there is a possibility that they could take classes together, but basically they do their own classes at home, which has been a great dad-son bonding thing.

It seems my extra curricular stuff is pretty limited atm, working around my husbands work schedule ect, that is one of the reasons I wasn’t sure I will be able to take Aikido. Now we have come to the fact that I will be able to but about the middle of September when we find what day of the week my son’s soccer practices will be on. This is just a crazy part of the year; with school starting and the first year we have a child in school, the big Kindergarten and started two different activities for our oldest son. After things calm down I am sure this will be no big deal.

(Sigh) well I guess that is making a short story- longer. I do agree with you though “five yrs old” is such a fun time and I am really enjoying it.

Hope this day finds you well. Talk to you later.

[Bruce Paine]

lilmizcheezcake,

Two Aikido teachers that have had close ties with Michio Kushi and the Boston/Massachusetts macrobiotic community have been William "Bill" Gleason and Sato Saturo and are affiliated with the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) which is affiliated with World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

Here are 6 dojos affiliated with ASU in Washington State:

• Aikido Eastside, Bellevue
• Aikido Heiwa, Lynnwood
• Aikido Northshore, Kirkland
• Spokane Aikido, Spokane
• Palouse Aikido, Pullman
• West Seattle Aikikai, Seattle

George Ohsawa devotes a whole chapter to Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido in his The Art of Peace: A New Translation of THE BOOK OF JUDO, which I am reading, right now.

Thank you, very much.

Bruce Paine

[lilmizcheezcake]

Bruce-

Thank you for the great info and the book too. Sounds like a good one.

Lil Miz

[sarrett1]

I just had to chime in about Joanne's cookbook. I have it and have made a number of recipes from it and love it. The other week I made the three cheeze lasanga (w/spinich) for our Holiday pot luck at work and it went over very well (with those who tried it :-)) The funniest thing was one of the guys said that he liked it but don't tell him what was in it :-) I think I used spelt noodles to avoid any white flour in it.

Originally Posted by Klara

Just wanted to let you know my daughter makes a "killer" of a tofu cheesecake - so as long as you're just starting out and in transition mode, go for it!!!!! Then later when you know better, you'll have some fond memories to look back on!!!! There are five (pretty wide for me) cheesecake recipes in The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook by Joanne Stepaniak: Gazebo Cheezcake (with cashews), Lemon Teasecake (from millet, lemon juice, and cashews), Chocolate Almond Cheezcake (cashews, cocoa, almond extract), Pumpkin Cheezcake (ginger, cloves, canned (????) pumpkin, and Ricotta Cheezcake Pie.


Klara

[andybuildz]

Wish I could spend more time writing here this afternoon but I just stopped in during lunch and noticed the talk of Aikido. When I first started with Macrobiotics 30 something years ago
I was involved in Aikido on long Island here in NY. My sensei was Eddie Hagahari
www.liaikido.com
I spent several days a week studying for deveral years and loved it immensly until I moved to an area where there were no dojos and when I moved back to Long Island his dojo was too far from me to attend realistically but I carry the spirit with me.
Sooooo...now back into macrobiotics full steam ahead the past year at I least I found some of my past that I've reinvented into my life.
Just found it interesting about the connection. Spose' I've been on the same wave length for decades and never realized the corillation for whats thats worth. Just something to think about....More grist for the mill : )
Till later
andy