We aren’t in the business of moving fast and breaking things. We are in the business of moving slow and healing things.
Our clients often express frustration in their attempt to understand a movement, achieve a goal, figure out a personal or emotional issue, or heal physical pain. Those things are often tangled up in each other, though, and they don’t really respond to a linear approach. That means that “solving” these problems usually needs to happen in small incremental steps – not in one fell swoop.
I share in the frustration of not being able to “just be efficient,” deal with something once and be done. Why can’t I just plow through this? Sweat it out and be over it? Figure out the choreography the first time I see it and master it the first time I try it, so I can move onto the next thing?
Ahhhh, the beauty of unattainable perfection and all the chaos it causes!
I thought about this recently as I watered a delicate plant in a small pot. I had to slow down and dose out the water in small increments. Fine tune my attention to be sure I gave it just enough and didn’t spill the water everywhere.
It made me think about the tech industry’s approach to innovation and growth, coined by Mark Zuckerberg: “move fast and break things.” How hilarious would that be if that was our motto? Our approach to movement work is actually the exact opposite, “move slow and heal things.” In Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown perfectly describes the essence of this approach:
“We would understand that the strength of our movement is in the strength of our relationships, which could only be measured by their depth. Scaling up would mean going deeper, being more vulnerable and more empathetic.”
To me, this applies to relationships with others AND ourselves. Relationship building takes practice. Being vulnerable and empathetic with others and ourselves is the antithesis to the myths of perfection and efficiency; it takes practice. For us at The Co, we see our role as practice facilitators for wholeness – not perfection, not absolute symmetry, not mastery.
Don’t worry about replicating how we look when we do the movement; how does the movement feel in your body when you do it? What would be possible if we shifted the feeling of reward on the process of practice and not solely on the outcome?
Summer Pop-Up at The Floor
Join us for our Summer Pop at The Floor On Atlantic in Brooklyn, which runs through September 30, to embrace change and evolution through movement and engage with some of our newest offerings. In conjunction with our thriving Virtual Studio, during our pop-up, you will have the opportunity to expand your wellness practice, using both online and in-person support to facilitate better awareness, connection, and ease in your body.
This past year has really moved us to view normalcy, change, growth, and expansion in a different light. Holding that new perspective deeply in our hearts, minds, and bodies, we recently shifted our work to focus on physical and energetic healing. We now offer intelligent movement programs based in foundational Pilates theory as well as intuitive movement programs that integrate energy work for a more embodied approach to healing. Our goal is to use this bespoke approach to help you navigate change in your body so that you can show up more powerfully in your life (and in the world).
Sweet Summer Deal
If you’re interested in experiencing more of what The Floor On Atlantic has to offer, use our special code to get 20% OFF your first class or class package: SUMMERFUN20. Note: These classes are not hosted by or affiliated with The Co Pilates. Offer expires on September 30, 2021 at 11:59pm ET.
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. Both the change that just inevitably happens in life and the change they are choosing to make in themselves by coming to work with us. In other words, we are in the business of change – in the individual, the community, and the world.
In the name of change, this month we are continuing to honor the importance of acknowledging the cultures, healing practices, beliefs, traditions, and rituals that have been siphoned into the fitness and wellness industries from China, Japan, India, Thailand, and Tibet (to name a few) have been separated from the people that belong to those lands and cultures.
Indiaspora is a group of Indian leaders from around the world who have created a massive donation platform to get money to impactful nonprofits on the ground in India. At the end of April, they raised a million dollars in 48 hours to support families whose primary earners have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, help vulnerable migrant populations, and have made efforts to build makeshift hospitals.
Referral Program
A referral is the kindest compliment you could give us. If you think we would be a good fit for anyone you know, please consider spreading the word about the work we do together. For any new clients that may come our way as a result of your kind words, we would love to gift you an additional session to any current package you have with us. They can always schedule a call using the link below.
And, if you are part of or know a social justice organization looking for wellness support and collaboration for their clients or employees, please consider connecting us.