You may or may not have noticed that we didn’t post in January inspiring you to set your goals or resolutions. That was intentional. Each year we feel more deeply that starting a new year off with a bang or hitting the ground running just doesn’t feel aligned for the season (note that we are on the East Coast of the Western Hemisphere). It doesn’t feel aligned in our bodies or minds, and so we embraced quiet and stillness instead.
Reflecting in that quiet and stillness brought us to the image of a tree losing its leaves and becoming bare. While it can appear dead, in actuality it is conserving energy. In these moments the tree never wonders if it's being productive enough. Imagine if a tree felt ashamed, embarrassed, or guilty for doing nothing in the natural slowing down phase of its cycle. A tree does not judge or force, it simply is. It connects and flows with the cycles of its surroundings. Part of the cycle requires rest and stillness in order to grow more.
Now, are we suggesting to literally do nothing for the next three months? No, of course not. That is not possible in the reality we live in, even if many of us are working to shift that reality to a more fair and equitable one that actually collaborates with nature. We still have to work with what we have in the present. What we are advocating for is illumination of the subtle ways in which we can identify and allow ourselves to have cycles of ease and fluidity without judgment, shame, or guilt. To check our motivations and energy behind “New Year, New Me!” types of goals. What we are speaking to is the sneaky expectations, meanings, and pressures we put on ourselves and how that settles into the way we view, use, and move our bodies. Often many of us find that we’ve put so much pressure on ourselves to achieve or be productive the goal becomes impossible to complete, or we're robed of the satisfaction we thought we’d feel once we do achieve it.
There may be some years when hitting the ground hard and fast is absolutely appropriate and aligned with where you are, what you need and want. As we become more aware of what is happening inside of our bodies we become more attuned to the specifics and timing of its needs. We can become more tree-like, embracing stillness as part of the doing that is necessary for long lasting change and growth.
Missed our January workshop or looking for more regular and accessible opportunities to MELT with Molly? You're in luck!
MELT online class: Every Monday you have a weekly opportunity to join Molly in our online studio to explore the benefits of the MELT method. Each week Molly will create a class benefitting the group by tuning into their nervous system for deeper awareness of holding and movement patterns.
NOTE: While participating with the MELT props will provide you with the most benefit, they are not necessary for our online class. Email us for guidance on how to purchase a prop!
Mondays @ 7pm ET in our zoom studio
Your investment to get a spot: $20
MELT in-person workshop: This 90 minute workshop aims to help you learn about the science behind the method, and how to integrate some of the technique into your personal care routine. MELT props will be provided for the class and available for a discounted purchase after. This workshop will be held in-person at our Manhattan location inside F Squared Physical Therapy @ 19 W. 21st St. #901.
Friday, March 28th @ 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Your investment to attend: $30
FIRST THREE TO REGISTER WILL RECEIVE A FREE MELT BALL!
Call to Action in the Name of Change
As mindful movement practitioners, we are in the business of supporting and guiding our clients through change. That change does not happen in a vacuum, but instead has ripple effects. In that way, we are in the business of change in the individual, the community, and the world.
In honor of Black History Month we invite you to explore for the first time, revisit, and support these Black History resources: