Weekly Schedule 9/12/2022 — Finding Hope Where We Can Get It
THIS WEEK IS DONATION WEEK! Sign up for class(es) to have your class fee donated to our 2022 organization.
With the intention of gathering strength for the new generation of the Black community, our donation class recipient organization for 2022 is Third Street Youth Center and Clinic. Please read more about this clinic and the variety of programs they offer San Francisco youth between 12-24 years old: https://3rdstyouth.org
We donate 100% of class fees from classes attended the second week of every month to the annual organization. We also encourage you to make your own donation directly if you are able.
Please be prepared to provide updated proof of vaccination when visiting the studio. Here's a useful link to have on hand when you've forgotten your paper vaccination card:
https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
Remember that bivalent boosters are available to those who are eligible, and we encourage you to stay current on your vaccinations to help keep our community healthy.
We are continuing to wear masks fully covering the nose and mouth while in the Movement For Everyone studio. Our window does not open, our space is very intimate, and we're prioritizing hands-on work during in-person sessions. Online sessions are available for those who are unable to mask for 50-minutes. Thank you for your cooperation.
Week 131 - The news from last week is dizzying: the 21st year after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the turn in the war in Ukraine, and the conflicted emotions worldwide upon the death of the Queen Elizabeth. With the continued high rate of Covid-19 infections and deaths, I feel a bit of grief fatigue. I’m tired of feeling sad for the human life lost over the last few years, but not yet entirely calloused over emotionally.
Watching the interviews of strong and powerful women on the Apple TV+ show, “Gutsy”, helped me remember that hope is one of the most crucial parts of moving though grief or trauma. The show is produced and hosted by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton. Some of my favorite moments in the first two episodes were watching them participate in clown school in Paris, bowl with comedian Wanda Sykes, and paint with musical artist Megan Thee Stallion. Their interview subjects are even more varied, with a through line of highlighting women of varied backgrounds who are making a difference in our communities.
The other show I’ve been watching that is helping me feel more hopeful is “The End Is Nye” on Peacock starring and produced by Bill Nye. You might think a show about various possible end-of-the-world scenarios might be frightening and depressing, I found Nye’s calm and science-backed guidance of making incremental behavioral or environmental changes very reassuring. If you are a survivor of a natural disaster, the may not be the show for you.
The hope from celebrating seasonal changes also helps us regain hope. The Korean celebration of Chuseok (Korean Harvest) that celebrates the Harvest Moon and the agricultural harvest. Coming together with families and communities, sharing traditional foods, and celebrating culture helps us feel more connected and optimistic in what has been a very disjointed time.
On a totally different — but still hopeful — note: a recent Women’s Health magazine article talks about the benefits of TUT workouts (Time Under Tension) in creating increased muscle tone. As many of you who work with me know, I’m fond of referencing a phrase from one of my Gyrotonic Master Trainers:
We go slow to make lasting change in the body.
At the time, I found this maxim mildly infuriating. It made the exercises so much harder, and I’m not a fan of suffering during exercise! But, as the article mentions, by “performing exercises with less momentum” you’re able to strengthen and shape muscles more efficiently. Your alignment and form can also benefit from the slower tempo, with more time to check your position, and more time to reinforce neural pathways. This type of workout is great for time when you don’t have access to equipment. Rest assured I’ll have TUT workouts top of mind when teaching this week.
New start time for Thursday night Gyrotonic Pulley Tower Class! We are starting just five minutes later at 6:05pm so Sophia can take a breath after teaching ballet to DTC/SF students down the hall.
Here’s what’s on the schedule this week:
Tuesday, 9/13/2022
9:30am PST - ONLINE Mixed Level Pilates Mat (Harriet)
We are using the fitness ball (55-75cm) and long resistance band (6-ft plus) this month, working cardio intervals weather-permitting, and functional core connections. Video available if you can't attend live.
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=13574506
1:00pm PST - IN-PERSON Posture Focused GYROTONIC® Pulley Tower Class (Sophia)
A 50-minute group equipment class exploring Gyrotonic exercise on the Pulley Tower. No previous experience required. The class is ideal for those who are working on improving posture with the goal of maintaining a healthy and active life. Space for four (4) individuals.
The GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® is a form of deep abdominal strengthening, focusing on the body’s natural movement in three dimensions, breathing, as well as continuous motion that is smooth and uninterrupted.
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=11540424
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=31966982
Wednesday, 9/14/2022
10:30am PST - IN-PERSON Prenatal and Postnatal GYROTONIC® Pulley Tower Class (Harriet)
A 50-minute group equipment class open to new parents and birthing people using Gyrotonic exercise on the Pulley Tower as well as additional props to help support the body. Pre-crawling infants welcome starting next week. Space for four (4) individuals.
Focusing on the ability of the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® to increase circulation, mobilize and strengthen joints, and increase proprioceptive awareness, this in-person class focuses on connecting participants to their bodies as the demands upon it evolve and change.
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=34790781
Thursday, 9/15/2022
9:30am PST - ONLINE Balance and Flow GYROKINESIS® (Harriet)
We are focusing on breathing to support our necks and shoulders, and continuing our hip mobility work to support moving to the floor. Please have a long foam roller (36-inch), and bath towel ready for class. Video available if you can't attend live.
Focusing on the ability of the GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® to increase circulation, mobilize and strengthen joints, and increase proprioceptive awareness, this Zoom class prepares the body for more confidence in standing balance work.
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=13778332
6:05pm PST - IN-PERSON GYROTONIC® Pulley Tower Class (Sophia)
A 50-minute group equipment class exploring Gyrotonic exercise on the Pulley Tower. Space for four (4) individuals.
The GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® is a form of deep abdominal strengthening, focusing on the body’s natural movement in three dimensions, breathing, as well as continuous motion that is smooth and uninterrupted.
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=11540424
Looking forward to seeing you online and in-person this week! Until then, GET YOUR BOOSTER, breathe deeply, stay socially distant, healthy and sane.
Warmly,
Harriet
2022 FOCUS: Firmly deciding, after reducing an abstract problem into its components, to proceed on a journey toward harmony.
Read the first email of 2022 here to understand how this became our resolution for 2022.
