The holiday season is a peculiar time of year. Peculiar in the sense that it seems to hold so much contradiction. The days are shorter. The nights longer and colder. And yet, it's traditionally filled with celebrations and festivals of light. To layer the contradiction more, we pass through the winter solstice – the darkest day of the year. I’m reminded of all the beautiful insights that come out of the juxtaposition of light and dark. There is the literal decrease in sunlight and increase in dark in our hemisphere. Yet, it allows for the tradition of illuminating homes with decorative lights. There is the joy and celebration of the holidays rubbing up against sorrow, loss, and pain that many people experience this time of year.
Recently, this contradiction of light and dark caught my eye while teaching a client online. As she adjusted into an exercise in her own space part are her leg and foot became out of view of the camera. Instead of asking her to adjust herself again I was able to “see” how her body was moving based on her shadow. It was such a glorious moment to experience seeing more of someone by looking at their shadow.
The idea of a shadow, our shadow, or the dark often gets a bad rap. But we’ve found in our work with our clients, and the human body, that it’s something to explore. We develop fear of moving in certain ways for good reason. That fear, that shadow, can protect us. However, it can shed light on ways we may have disconnected from ourselves and our movement - allowing us to actually see more.
Our wish for you this holiday season is that you find a balanced comfort in the light and the shadow. May your shadows illuminate something new for you!
Pilates and Mindful Movement for Better Sex
Speaking of reasons to celebrate! We are elated to share our first of several iterations of online classes and workshops. First up, Pilates and Mindful Movement for Better Sex! This class is designed to begin to guide the participant in a self-practice of body awareness and connection. Often when we are more body aware and connected to ourselves, we are more able to experience pleasure in our body. This class integrates foundational Pilates exercises, mindful movement prompts, with practical considerations for why someone might experience pain. Enjoy a segment of the class above!
We are Popping Up Again!
This time in Manhattan. From January 4th through March 31st, 2022 we are opening up availability in our newest collaboration space in Flatiron at F Squared Physical Therapy. In person one-on-one sessions will be offered to current and new clients as availability allows. For more information and access to sign up contact us!
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.
The recent abortion law hearings at the Supreme Court level has sparked rightful concern about abortion rights and access to quality healthcare for women. The arguments in favor of restriction have a blatant disregard for the ripple effects of the physical, mental, and financial stresses pregnancy can impose on women and birthing people, especially if pregnancy is the result of sexual or domestic violence. FreeFrom is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the generational impact of domestic violence by not only investing in survivor health but survivor wealth.The FreeFrom team is made up of queer, trans, im/migrant, and BIPOC survivors. They envision a world in which all survivors are able to build the wealth and financial security necessary to support their individual, intergenerational, and community healing—enabling them to thrive. They put this into practice within their own organization by paying every employee within the non-profit and in their social enterprise, Gifted by FreeFrom, a living wage. Shop their online store this holiday season to support the way they are changing communities at a deeper level!