Kindness Community

You are a person who is challenged by the demands of the everyday, from the expectations on social media to the challenges of work and wondering if you are being a good parent. With so much to do in this world so often, I see self-care is often the last thing. When you get home from work, after picking up the kids at daycare — you change into something more comfortable, rush to get dinner ready, and try your best to listen and be present with what your family is saying, but inside you are already curled up under the covers, overwhelmed.

Enter Rae Pilates Fusion. This is a program that is virtual. Each week there is a theme, something that translates from exercise to life without effort, for instance, being clear about what you want. In your workout you might be motivated to finish the average length of 25-minute video because you are determined to feel that burn and strength in your glutes, you want to feel that power in your body, reminding each and every cell, I can do hard things.

Each week brings new videos so you don’t get bored. Cardio, release, pilates fusion, and journaling- encouraging your whole body to engage in the life you are living. This program, this membership is translatable.

Within the community membership, there are live events that are also online, this gives the community a chance to get to know each other. “Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” – Helen Keller and think about it, when you are working out together, it is human nature to go a little harder because someone else is with you, you will pay attention more, and there is a relationship that builds because of it, this is a keystone part of what this membership is. There are scholarships available, and we do a monthly community class by donation, all proceeds go to a charity of choice.

So imagine that same day, but that in the morning you woke up 30 min before you normally did, you took some time to roll on massage balls, connect with your body, or sweat and dance around. By the time dinner rolls around your self-trust is on the rise, because you do what you say you will. Your body has worked through and moved in a way that allows for the digestion of thoughts and emotions from the previous day, or week, and you are able to just be. The irritation you would normally feel is not so in your face, because you made space to move, reflect and be as if moving was you opening the door to let the irritation out to play.

We are trained to talk to and about our bodies in a diminishing way. When you start to learn about some of the amazing things that it does, it becomes easier to be kind, this is something that naturally happens.

Our diaphragm, for instance, is a muscle that lives under the ribcage and aids in breathing, it is the main muscle used for breathing, one of the interesting things about this muscle is that in order for breath to be effective it rests as often as it works. So think, inhale diaphragm contracts to pull the air into your body, and then think REST the diaphragm while gravity supports the air being pushed back out of the lungs easily. Try this a few times, just thinking or picturing-- engagement - try to get as big around as you can like a wine barrel -- inhale, and then just like a balloon was getting the air let out of it easily, the child fingers letting go of the neck of the balloon, and the air effortlessly pouring out, diagram relaxing. Do it one more time maybe close your eyes a second. Do you notice any difference in your body after these few breaths? Without that balance our whole state of being is out of whack, and so we use imagery that supports what is actually happening in the body, this is not only something that can be useful for mindfulness and focus, but it is also encouraging a new relationship with how you talk to and about your body. Many of us have been traumatized in one way or another, and this type of work is very helpful in returning your nervous system to a more calm state, where you can digest, heal and rest. Using this membership to self-soothe, relieve stress, and express yourself is one way of many to regain a feeling of possibility and vitality in one's life and body. After all, is it not the place you experience life in your body?

I also sell a gear kit that comes with a loop band, a long band, a set of rolling massage balls, a personalized mini journal and pen, and a larger ball called blue squishy. These are some of the props we use in class, I think it is important to be able to take these balls and bands with you to move anyplace you go.

You can be a person who is busy, efficient, and skilled in their craft, who is also strong, open, and present. Sometimes we just need a little nudge to get there, you deserve to feel relaxed and strong in your body.