the joy of movement

Today marks the beginning of a new adventure!

✈️ I'm at the airport, on my way to Germany to attend Abilities Year 3 / Functional Hands-on for adults with Jeremy Krauss. I'm looking forward to the novelty, clarity, specificity and depth of learning, as well as connecting with an amazing group of humans. Jeremy's trainings have been the most diverse and international trainings I've been to and there is a palpable feeling of warm community enthusiasm.

My excitement is colored by my recent learning & hosting of Jeremy to teach his epic ​Simplicity and Complexity of Walking​ workshop that I then edited into ​48 videos​! I wove together the live camera footage and the zoom footage into separate tracks for ease of use--- movement lessons, talks, Q & As and hands-on demos.

I feel so grateful that Jeremy's work is being made available to more people via these videos. If you didn't register before, perhaps you can plan an little at home retreat for yourself sometime in the future. The public workshop is ​27 videos. Take a peek here​.

The workshop not only improved my walking but also:

  • Biking is way easier! I am stronger!

  • Swimming is effortless and newly powerful

  • Zumba is even more fun with sharp and clear movements

  • Hands-on sessions w/ clients are extra inspiring & effective!

  • Expanded my creative thinking (see below)

It's remarkable how much positive change came from this one workshop. I'm looking forward to the new learning adventure and hope to share more with you as time goes on.

One unexpected impact of the ​walking workshop​ was how it fueled my creativity and courage to create new lessons/ structures/ learning environments in last month's Movement & Creativity Integrative Retreat for ​both Movement and Creativity memberships​. My heart is warmed with all the positive experiences and changes on many levels.

Here are some student experiences:

"You are bringing so much encouragement. my shoulders are expanding and feeling new life. I liked adding the integration time at the end of the session. Your creativity seems to have taken a leap forward. Getting into the shoulders seemed almost unapproachable but you’re finding some clever nuances that seem like they’re gonna do a lot. Thank you, as always."

“This was SO what I needed today - complete turnaround in mood and outlook and reconnection with possibilities for me, not to mention the profound physical changes from the perfect selection of movement for me today.”

“Really enjoying the pace, space to enjoy the presence that surfaces, space to feel my impulse, and space for spontaneous things to arise, and feels very integrative!”

“It freed my neck”

“I so appreciated the pace the breaks , the structure its like the whole thing matched my internal rhythm! can’t express how grateful my system feels. 🙏♥️ And in that beautiful rhythm, a quiet feeling kept deepening, my shoulder blades kept expanding, and my impulses were more and more playful in the creative process."

“Helped my persistent problems with an old rotator cuff injury in my left shoulder. And inspired some creative thinking. :)”

“I really like the approach of alternating between movement and integration. I needed to refocus and I did.”

“Finding a spaciousness in brain and also between toes and fingers”

“Loved the structure, move create and integrate as well as using three things… really delighted I was able to stay for the whole process, I am normally so tired but this was beautifully paced, loved it thank you”

“I love the movement through the spine , plus all the frills!”

“I feel like all the gobbeldey-gook sticking between my scapulae and back is released. It had been constraining my pelvis movement and was chattering in the background. Whew!”

“It really changed my perspective.”

“Changed my idea about creativity.”

“Don't overthink. Give it space.”

Book recommendation:

I've been really enjoying this book by Kelly McGonigal: ​The Joy of Movement​ / It puts words and science behind so much of my experience of how movement benefits us on so many levels, physically, mentally, mentally, emotionally & creatively.

Here's a quote from the intro:

"Around the world, people who are physically active are happier and more satisfied with their lives... [They] have a stronger sense of purpose... more gratitude, love, and hope.

They feel more connected to their communities and are less likely to suffer from loneliness or become depressed...

the psychological and social benefits of physical activity do not depend on any particular physical ability or health status.

They have been demonstrated in people with chronic pain, physical disabilities, serious mental and physical illnesses, and even among patients in hospice care.

The joys described above-from hope and meaning to belonging-are linked first and foremost to movement..."