A year in review…
What do you say about this year? Although every year we have different circumstances, this year has proven to be unique. As a global community, we all experienced a global pandemic. Each of us has been directly impacted to some degree, and how we feel about it varies greatly. Personally, I did have Covid, fortunately a mild case, but many lives were lost. The year started with touring per usual and traveling all over Europe and in the US. However, as we all know, all touring came to a complete halt, and I felt the panic of ‘what next’, just like so many who lost jobs. Catapulted into, “How do we make this work?”, was terrifying. Thank you to everyone who joined online classes and tutorials. We rallied as a community and supported each other through difficult times. And what does one do when what they once knew comes to an unexpected and perceived dead end? We take a deep breath and realize we’re being thrown into the unknown.
That is some scary sh*t…
The unknown is always a bit nerve-racking. Often met with excitement if we’re the ones making the choice, but can be terrifying when we are launched into it. And here we are….
I dare say that I owe Covid a massive “Thank You”. It changed my life in so many ways that I was trying to instigate on my own but was resisting and moving at a snails pace.
After spending nearly 7 years on the road, I was able to witness the change of seasons in my own back yard. I started to garden again and dig in the dirt. To think that I will have been able to see my home landscape change over an entire year is still a welcomed surprise. Unexpected, but it was time….. I just didn’t realize it.
I also lost my dear Piccalo after nearly 20 years of his sweet presence in my life. Having the time to be with him in the final 6 months of his life was a powerful gift. I miss him….but his wisdom has left a paw print on my heart.
After some soul-searching, I realized it was time to switch gears. I pulled the emergency brake and let the engine stall. Time for change. I enrolled myself in school and started voraciously exploring my own mind and where this new journey was taking me. I’d like to say I learned how to slow down, but that’s still an ongoing lesson. Choosing to step back and nearly start over is breathtaking in the both the “scary movie, I’ve stopped breathing” way and also when we are “awe inspired” as life unfolds. Some days I was able to gracefully navigate the uncharted waters. But if we’re speaking real life, there were a number of days when I was resisting change, kicking, screaming and crying. And that too is just part of the journey. Time to rebirth myself, again.
Some people are familiar with the term doula. A doula is a professionally trained companion who provides emotional, physical, and educational support to another through a significant health-related experience. Most often this relates to childbirth. But what I found, is that many of us could use a “Life Doula”. Someone trained to provide guidance and support through LIFE experiences, both great and small. Someone to help us navigate through the rough patches or times when we get stuck. I’ve been supported in this way and now it’s my turn to step into that role. Pole coach, turned Life coach. I’ve always believed that the pole studio and workshops were a microcosm for life. We get to practice our strength, vulnerability, and trust. We run into our limiting beliefs, are faced with a choice to move forward, push past our insecurities and also learn how to be gentle and kinder to ourselves. This is an exact parallel to life. We dance with the pole and we dance with life.
Life is a journey and you are the artist. Start creating and expressing your masterpiece. It’s time to expand and explore your life.
When we are reborn, we don’t grow up overnight. It takes time. And we move through each stage of life, emerging from our infancy. Step by step remembering how to walk, then run, then fly.
So here we are ready to dance into a new year. As of January 1st I will be offering Life coaching. Yes, I still teach pole! And also providing support off the pole. It’s new, a little scary, and also exciting. And what does this look like?
Working in conjunction with our pole practice and off the pole:
Intention and goal setting
Transforming fears energy into understanding
Mindfulness and meditation
Work and career shifts
Limiting belief structures
Relationships
Personal discovery and inquiry
Inner work and remembering who you are
Transmuting energy from past experiences
Tackling daily tasks with less resistance
Unblocking ourselves
The exciting part is that these skills are relevant in the studio and outside in our daily lives. Life coaching helps us to “unstick” ourselves with and take steps toward our desires.
If you are curious about these service - great news! I’m offering a very limited number of spot for complimentary coaching sessions.
Want to know more?
We think pole is just a physical practice, but it’s so much more. Learning to harness our emotional and mental state can have a powerful impact to our pole journey and beyond. Here’s to enriching your pole life!
Food for your body
Although I was born up north in Wisconsin, I’ve lived in the south for over 30 years. It’s a southern tradition to eat collards and black eyed peas on New Year's Day as a symbol of welcoming wealth in to the year. Recently I experimented with cooking collards and black eyes peas….and I have to say this recipe that I’m sharing is INCREDIBLE!!! It’s using the collard as a wrap and also a delicious filing of black eyed peas. I highly recommend making the bbq sauce the recipe offers, it’s tasty and my new favorite! The best part is the recipe is its vegan, super healthy and gets rave reviews from everyone I’ve shared it with! And because biscuits are both southern and loved by nearly everyone, I’ve included a vegan biscuit recipe that is BOMB!!! Happy eatin’ New Year's or not!
Food for your mind
Where ever you go, there you are. - Jon Kabat-Zinn
Food for your soul
In this new year, may we begin to realize that no matter what our external circumstances are: global pandemic, job change or loss, relationship shifts, or deep uncertainty we still meet each day with ourselves and our inner state. When we are in right relationship to ourselves we can greet our external world with the energy of curiosity rather than resistance or fear. We tend to busy ourselves and travel far and wide to get away from ourselves…. But wherever you go, there you are. And then we were forced to stay put, quarantine, and slow down. And again, we are faced with “there you are”, no running. Let’s take time to cultivate a healthy relationship with our hearts so that no matter where we are, we can meet our circumstances with inner calm, courage, clarity, compassion and curiosity. Here you are… always.
As we head into the new year, I hope you all find time to feed your body, mind, and soul.
Until next time friends,
Heidi