Yes, you read that right- aikilass is off the mat!
To summarise very briefly, I've not been well for a while and was finding training difficult. About two months ago, I ended up being admitted urgently to hospital. After investigative surgery, it turns out all my problems are due to Endometriosis. I have to go for more surgery to remove it, but should be ok for a while after that :)
So what's the Aikido link? Well, I thought I would share with you a little story whilst I was both on the ward and waiting to be knocked out for surgery. When the pain was bad, and I was two hours away from the next round of pain relief I attempted to practise deep breathing- actually worked a little to relieve some of the pain! Anyway, as I was saying when the medical staff were hooking me up to monitoring equipment ready to go for the surgery, I thought since the monitors measured my oxygen sats, pulse and BP I would see what the deep breathing we do does to your heart rate. It actually lowers it by 10 beats per minute! Thats really cool :) Anyway, I had to stop it, as I think I was scaring the scrub nurses at one point. No, I'm not a good patient I'm afraid.
Anyway, whilst I'm off the mat, my club mates have been a great rock of support. they've visited, texted, phoned, emailed- it all helps. I really miss it :( but hopefully I'll be back before Christmas.
Thanks guys, don't know what I'd do without you! The people we meet through martial arts are some of the greatest you'll ever know :)
