Movement has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. It has always been freeing, empowering, and a place I went to feel connected to my truth in life.
Distance biking, roller skating, swimming, sports, and the long thread of dance have shaped me, though I spent my most dedicated time and attention in the worlds of Yoga. Yoga may have very well saved my life (that’s another story), and I am forever grateful for the teachers who have influenced my path for the better. There usually comes a point (or many), where we are invited to expand, to refresh our focus, and especially in regards to embodiment practices, to explore new patterns and pathways of moving.
I was drawn to the GYROKINESIS® Method by its rhythmic fluidity. I have always been a dancer first, and of course, the hoop has been one of the great loves of my life, so anything with rhythm and circularity is right up my alley! There have been a few friends over the years who had told me I’d love GYROTONIC® and I can’t believe it took me as long as it did to jump into the world of arches, curls, spirals, and waves!
Asana, I know you inside and out. Almost 25 years of yoga practice + 17 years of teaching + thousands of hours of intensive study of biomechanics, anatomy… alongside application of the teachings to real life bodies in class has given me confidence in the slice of embodiment practices that we call yogasana. The thing is, anything we do with repetition can set up patterns in our regular movement through life. What we really want is variety, versatility, and resilience ~ no one form or style holds all the answers to living fully and as free as possible in our embodiment. At least, I haven’t found it yet!
There’s so much evolving in the collective understanding of the body right now. Our old maps of bones and muscles are growing to include the important webs of interconnection of fascia -connective tissue- involved in receiving and transmitting force throughout our structure… or let’s say our ever-changing fluid bio-tensegrity system. ‘Everything is connected’ sounds trite, but it’s true. In the beginning, this was my experience in yogasana, but after years it became, for me, a collection of parts. My experience after a GYROKINESIS® session was one of unification and tingling aliveness. Much like yoga, a practice of awareness + movement + breath is a winning recipe, and the sequence of flows in this new-to-me system felt like my perfect next step after so many years of asana.
Always seek the juice. Seek the feeling of healthy, wholesome presence in your body. Seek what brings you peace and possibility in your mental space. No one practice is meant for everyone, and no one practice is meant to fit us throughout all the changes and growth in our lives. Follow the juice, no matter where it leads! If you’re inspired, I stand by the GYROKINESIS® Method as a potent one, and am happy to share anytime we may be together. It will be one of our offerings at Movement, Medicine & Magic, and if you’re in San Francisco, I’m beginning a weekly class in October 2017!
Excited. Follow the juice, my friends!