Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Lincoln.
Hi Alison, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my practice 21 years ago when a friend of mine asked me to try something new. I was looking for a bit of adventure and purpose, so I joined an Aikido class with her.
The class came at just the right time—I was recently single and responded well to the sense of community and self-empowerment that one finds in Aikido class. It is a unique martial art. To a beginner, Aikido techniques feel much like a riddle that you can’t put down. Being a smaller person, I quickly realized I could control and redirect people twice my size by realigning my body placement, resulting in a safe and advantageous outcome. This newfound tool provided a sense of calm confidence and power.
The challenge was invigorating, and I decided I was ‘All-in’! I even set three clear goals for myself:
Achieve 2nd-degree black belt.
Become an instructor.
Own a training facility.
Then, I kept showing up—over and over—for two decades. On the days I wanted to curl under a blanket on my couch, I went to class. On the days my left knee was being a pain, I went to class. I’ve always felt better after class than on the days I did not attend. Class ends with a feeling of purpose and exuberance.
It’s been 21 years of training and instructing now, and I have exceeded my original goals: I’m a 4th-degree black belt and a well-seasoned instructor. I married the perfect business partner: a Zen priest and expert Aikido Instructor. Together, we’ve built Alexandria Zen Center, a mind and body wellness and training center. We provide a place where adults and kids in the local community can experience illuminating mind and body practices. Each of our programs is centered around Zen mindfulness, self-empowerment, stress management, and purposeful growth. We have cultivated a strong, vibrant community of like-minded individuals that support each other and help each other achieve their goals. Almost every class ends with a student saying, “Thank you, that was a great class!”, and my feeling of contentment never gets old.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is a famous saying by the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, that states, ‘True victory is victory over oneself.’ This illustrates that our biggest obstacles are self-made. It is great to set goals, but then we need to allow ourselves to achieve them. When we give anxiety, perfectionism, self-doubt, or even laziness full reign, we hinder our ability to move past them and grow. Most people come to their first class with some level of this sort of problem, including me. But class-by-class, I’ve learned how to clear my mind so that I can tackle life with confidence. In this way, training has been a great way to manage stress.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are a small, local business that provides the community with self-development opportunities of the mind and body, specifically within a setting of Zen mindfulness.
Our Zen program is excellent for gaining a deep understanding of Zen. As a Zen priest, my husband provides decades of experience in guiding student as they explore the depths of Zen mindfulness.
For Aikido martial arts, we offer an adults program, a women’s program, and a kids program for age 7-13.
Our kids Aikido program is excellent for developing confidence, focus, and respect, all without the stress of competition. While all kids benefit from our classes, we specialize in developing life skills in ADHD kids, encouraging engagement, focus, and respect in a constructive setting.
As a husband and wife team, the two of us total over 60 years of teaching experience. For this reason, we conduct each class with personal care. Each student is treated as a respected individual with serious and achievable goals. If you give us your commitment, we will give you your results. In fact, for us, that is the most rewarding part of our business!
What matters most to you?
We find that this is a community where you gain what you give. If you give the time, the commitment, and the focus, you gain the skills, the friendships, and the satisfaction that you are looking for. This is what we have experienced in our training, and this is what we enjoy watching unfold in our students’ training. Alexandria Zen Center is where one finds a sense of purpose, progress, and support—and that is what matters most to us.
Pricing:
- Kids Aikido: Free trial class–requires advanced booking. We offer a flexible schedule for busy families!
- Adults Aikido: $49 Beginners 3-class Course
- Zen: $49 Beginners 3-class Course
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ALXZen.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/alxzencenter
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/alxzencenter
- Other: Info@ALXZen.com
