Week 32 — “Bodylove”

Hello Pilates People!!!

Happy Sunday! 

Lots of announcements this week! Remember, the full story can be found here, but for the quick Cliff notes:

Our "Geekin' Out - Legs Edition" workshop is TODAY from 12-2pm with our rockstar friend Alec Hynes! There is still time to sign up on Mindbody AND if you put the code "RecFem_2020" in at checkout, you'll get 20% off!!! So, see you soon?!

And, just a quick little voting plug - have done it yet? Early voting began yesterday in NYC and there's a bonus to voting this year! With proof that you voted comes a FREE class with Sean! Join us Tuesday, November 3rd at 6pm for a little Election Day self-care moment. To learn how, click above!

We are also welcoming someone new to our instructor family!! Please welcome Emma Rumberg to our crew by taking her class THIS Thursday, October 29th at 12pm! She'll be taking over our Tuesday/Thursday 12pms and we cannot wait for you to meet her! For more info on Emma, please stay tuned! She’ll be up on the website soon!

There is one week left in our "Pay it Forward" promotion! Remember, you bring a friend, they complete their first purchase and then you AND your friend get a promotion code for more classes from us! So what are you waiting for? Go get 'em!

And finally, we're about to dive into this week...like really dive in...so we want to give you a way to wind down and take care with us. Beginning THIS Thursday, October 29th, we will be adding a "Stretch + Soothe" LIVE class from 6:45-7:30pm with Cassandra! Maybe you take the LIVE class first and do a combo? Or maybe you choose one or the other depending on how you're feeling that day. It's all up to YOU and we are here to support your choices!

Have you ever woken up from a night of enjoying your food, drink and company a little more than usual and thought, "Well, now I HAVE to do class today, and it better be a hard one to make up for last night."

Can we talk about that for a moment?

Because...why? Why is that how you feel and what are you actually doing?

Just to be clear, you're definitely not alone in that. I'd be lying in the biggest of ways if I tried to go anywhere near pretending I don't still have those thoughts. Often.

But why is that what we think?

Do we really believe that waking up and punishing ourselves for enjoying life is the way to live? 

Maybe, I guess. But mostly, no. I don't think so.

Can we astral project ourselves away from our bodies? Just for a moment. Promise I'll put you back.

Go with me here...I know I'm getting weird...

but what if your body was its own living breathing thing separate from you and your thoughts? 

Let's look at that living breathing thing and all it does on a daily basis. Remember everything it's survived, including its first violent experience - very simply being born. If you've been reading along with us, you know that your emotions LIVE in your body, so remember everything that body has FELT and carried along with it. And remember that somehow, that body is still alive and is still responsible for keeping YOU alive, and you know what? It's doing a fantastic f*cking job considering everything. (Sorry, Mom...it felt necessary)

Knowing everything you now know about that body, would you look at it and say, "Ugh, you're so lazy. Get up! You look terrible. What are you even doing?"

If you answered yes...I think maybe you should read "The Empathy Exams," and then try again (I actually think EVERYONE should read that book - you can have it when Hanna's done with it). 

But of course that's not what you would say! Because you're all wonderfully sensitive and compassionate humans who can see this being who is fighting every day against all odds to keep waking up and taking care of another being. This being whose entire existence is not meant for itself, it's meant for YOU.

How could you ever be mean to a being like that?

But we are, all the time. And I'd love to argue that it's not helpful.

Think about it. When you wake up and say and think ugly things to yourself about yourself, does it help you feel any better?

NO!

Does it motivate you to work harder?

Maybe? Sort of?

But are you going into that practice (whatever it is) because you want to or because you feel a sense of shame and guilt?

The latter, right?

And when has ANYTHING done from a place of shame and guilt led to healthy results?

Rarely...if ever.

So let's rewrite the script a little bit this week, shall we? Let's make some space and allowance for our bodies to be and do what they need to be and do. Once again, we're asking you to let go of what it looks like and what you THINK it should be and instead focus on what it feels like and listen to what it NEEDS to be.

Because life is WILD and ever changing and your bodies are constantly adapting to keep up and take care of YOU. Isn't it time you took a breath and said thank you? If in no other way than being open enough to listen and simply let it be whatever it needs to be that day, and remember that you are ALLOWED and SHOULD enjoy life. No consequences. 

And with that my friends, remember, we're adding that "Stretch + Soothe" class Thursday evenings. We hope to see you there just as much as we hope to see you for the sweaty moments too.

Show up when and how you need to. We'll be here.

Take care, everyone. We're still here. So are you.

All our love,
Cassandra + Pilates People

(10/25/20)