chopsticks can air-rate your soil just push gently. Yes some of the smaller feeder roots may be damages but no big deal in small amounts. Roots die and grow new everyday.

Chopsticks work well to as a soil moisture meeter sort of like when you check a baking cake if it's done with the wire. Dip it in and it it's wet you have water deeper in the soil.

On your next round pick up some chunky perlite and mix your soil with a 60% soil to 40% perlite and make sure you have plenty of holes for drainage and you will not have this problem.