I believe that any movement is better than nothing (in most cases). I believe that any connection to your body is beneficial. Any attempt to build awareness is progress towards being more embodied.
Typically, I’ve been firmly planted in the opinion that with all this new tech being added to fitness - online classes, Peloton, posture gadgets and gizmos - my place was in the studio, working with people one on one. I thought nothing could replicate the amount of value that comes from working with someone in the same room. Having an expert eye on your every move, relying on hands-on corrections, and being in someone else’s caring energy just can’t happen virtually. In a lot of ways I still believe that, but earlier in 2020 I realized it makes me, our team, and this work inaccessible in a way. It’s a very hard line, black and white stance.
Enter coronavirus...
We as a business and I as an instructor are now forced to reexamine how our beliefs shape our actions. We must adapt if we want to find stability again.
I miss working in person and in my studio deeply, but opening up our studio virtually means we can be accessible to our clients in new ways. We are getting the chance to help our clients move through their homes more efficiently. We are giving them access to as much movement as possible within the perceived limitations of their space. We are getting creative with pillows, chairs, books, stairs, scarves, and cans of soup!
And while I wouldn’t have asked for any of this to happen, I feel deeply appreciative that so many of our clients are navigating this evolution with us, and I appreciate the lessons we're learning from this time of adaptation.
#KnowYourBody #KnowYourself
In a virtual session with a client recently, we got into a conversation that really stayed with me. We were talking about our movement habits, and how we develop “bad” or compensatory habits because of an injury or our environment. When we move more mindfully, we can have these moments of correcting our bad habit, and it just “feels right.” I said that the body is tricky and smart in that it is highly adaptable; even if the movement habits developed aren’t the most efficient, the body detours in order to stay as efficient as possible, based on extenuating circumstances. When we give ourselves a chance to course correct our movement, the body knows and feels that familiarity. It has that inherent intelligence.
It struck me when he, a psychotherapist, said: “The human mind does the same thing with behavior and emotion. We develop different types of perspectives or ways of talking to ourselves based on our experiences, trauma, environment, and those are generally habitual. They can be coping mechanisms to help be as functional as possible based on the extenuating circumstances, but it may not be our full potential. When we mindfully examine those habits, work to understand why we have them, and also look to find new ones, we can experience a similar feeling of knowing that’s better for us. It will also ‘feel right.’”
#OsteoporosisAwarenessMonth
Our team member Colleen was diagnosed with osteoporosis a little over a year ago after a routine bone density test. It came as quite a surprise as she’s always been active, weight trained, and had virtually no symptoms. To realize that your bones – the building blocks of stability – are unstable is emotionally and physically challenging, to say the least.
It’s been a test in her own approach to moving her body and how she teaches others to move. It also inspired her to bring more light to what is possible despite this diagnosis, which is why we are so excited that she’s co-leading our first osteoporosis workshop!
On Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30pm, you can join Colleen and long-time collaborator Andrea Moss from Moss Wellness to learn how movement and diet go hand in hand in preventing and slowing the progress of osteoporosis.
Andrea has years of experience guiding clients through a personalized program that provides them with better bone health, and she’ll share that valuable information in the first part of this workshop. Colleen will then share what has worked for her in terms of adapting her movement to protect and strengthen her bones.
This has been in the works for a while and we are very much looking forward to it! Stay tuned for more details on that soon, or email us if you want to be among the first to know.
#WitchyWednesday
After an enriching full moon circle last month, we’re excited to host another on #WitchyWednesday, May 6 at 7:30pm! In a time where just 6 feet can be felt on a deep level and health is on everyone’s mind, this event is meant to connect us.
For those of you new to a full moon or women’s circle, you can think of it as a group meditation class with a dash of collaborative experimentation. The circle will have some discussion about themes for this particular full moon, intention setting, a guided meditation, a brief journal prompt and reiki.
This donation-based women’s circle will send 100% of donations to Sanctuary for Families. During this quarantine, those in abusive relationships experience even more isolation. Sanctuary for Families serves NYC by providing counseling, legal support, and advocacy to these families, with a focus on undocumented women and families who receive less social assistance and underreport for fear of deportation.
If you are not able to make it or still not sure, but you know you would like Brittany to send reiki to you or a loved one in need, please reach out by replying to this email.