Good Morning From Athens, an Update on Transitions
Good morning from Athens. I’m watching the sunrise on this new land, with Vermont-like winter temperatures. It snowed here for the first time in three years!! The snow has been the primary topic of conversation because everything stopped until it disappeared on its own. Here in Georgia there’s no salt, no winter tires, and no plow trucks. Therefore the snow just sits because hardly anyone drives… It’s quite a change from Vermont, but it’s beautiful.
The snow in Athens, Georgia
I’m taking my four month Rolfing sabbatical inside a progressive collective of holistic physical therapies, including chiropractors, acupuncture, Rolfing and Massage. They are a down to earth, hard working and straight forward group. As I write this, I’m close to finishing my first week, and I’m loving it already.
My new co-workers are friendly, helpful and inviting. The clients are lovely and very receptive. They have a lot of complex issues, and I’m preparing for each of them before they arrive, speaking with their regular rolfer, reading up on best strategies, and just toning my expertise.
It’s gratifying for me to feel the pulse of this thriving community. Like any good business person, I’m learning to offer them something in that tricky in-between space – balancing what they want and my hard-earned expertise in Rolf Movement studies.
Over the past few years, in my Vermont practice, I was highly shaped by the space at the Being/Body Somatic Arts studio at the Chase Mill. It inspired me to bring deep somatic initiatives to the people there. It was a daring adventure and it’s still in the works. It’s always been a collective enterprise, and I’ve worked with many different, great people who have helped me along the way.
Something is telling me, the momentum is coming together, and the space will grow with a clear and convincing message that healing is creative and somatic, curiosity and initiative. It happens in groups as well as through personal sessions. We are taking some time to upgrade the website and put more fire in our activity out into the community. It’s my way of both staying in touch with the Burlington community as well as figure out how to reach out more broadly. We’re getting stronger and preparing to be fantastic and serve!
Before I go, I want to let you know that I will be teaching online on Friday mornings from 9:30-10:30 am. This will be a 5 part Rolf Movement class focusing on easing up and maximizing the potential for clear and easy breath – mobile and open shoulders, neck, and head, and an easeful transition between the spine and the pelvis. We will progress gradually and thoroughly through each of these great explorations while finding ways to integrate into our bodies for better informed movement choices that keep us active, easeful and filled with joy. We will use our own hands to feel for flow versus obstruction and we will create more flow and effectiveness in our movement. Stay tuned for more information soon!!
Lastly, I want to share that there are some classes coming to the Being/Body space at the Chace Mill with Robin Zabiegalski and Bonnie Johanna-Ross.
Here’s some more info about those offerings:
Robin is a graduate of Story Yoga’s teacher training program, a 200hr certified yoga teacher, with additional training in Accessible Yoga and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga. Robin believes in approaching yoga with gentleness and compassion. In their classes you are always welcome to engage in YOUR practice. Their goal is to guide you through a practice that allows you to discover how shapes and flows feel in your body and how you can adjust to feel the best in your body.
Robin will be teaching Queer Yoga – an affinity space for queer folks to practice yoga and build community – on Monday nights from 6-7pm and Flow Yoga – a beginner-friendly, slow, Vinyasa style class – on Wednesdays from 9am-10am. Both classes will also be available on Zoom. Sign up at https://robinzabiegalski.getomnify.com/.
Keep an eye on this blog for upcoming posts, compiled from past Newsletters. It’s a chance to read them again or read them for the first time.