Weekly Schedule 3/21/2022 — Exercise Drudgery or Exercise Joy?
LAST WEEK WAS DONATION WEEK!
We raised $96 for this local San Francisco organization helping SF youth ages 12-24 years old.
If you missed signing up for class to have your class fee donated, head directly to the 3rd Street Youth donation url to make your own contribution:
https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E352969&id=1
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 full week of every month to the annual organization. We also encourage you to make your own donation directly if you are able.
Week 106 - We are officially past the two year mark of having our lives seismically shifted by the global Covid-19 pandemic. So grateful our community is staying strong as we start year three.
For all the stress and sorrow we have encountered during this time, I often reflect on the silver lining of our pandemic-induced behavioral changes. My short list:
Making time for activities I enjoy
Identifying my personal boundaries
Honing in on my values and working to live by them
Feeling better in my body
Less time commuting
I hope you share some of these and more. I particularly hope you've found some fun during our classes and sessions, whether online or in-person.
Margaret Talbot's March 14 article for The New Yorker struck a chord on two of my above list items: activities I enjoy and feeling better in my body. Her article, a book review entitled "Exercise is Good For You. The Exercise Industry May Not Be" was so entertaining I nearly forgot it was a book review. The subheading is what really hooked me:
Amid the marketing of unattainable physical ideals, it's easy to forget what made fitness fun
So true! The pandemic really helped me adjust to my new, postnatal body when I took a break from social media. Even though I'm in the industry, it was surprising how easily I was sucked-in to heavily edited and curated social media feeds, and how it chipped away at my confidence. Fitness magazines are also so guilty of photographing models "executing" workout routines rather than real bodies enjoying the movement.
Although I am interested in reading Bill Hayes' book, Sweat: A History of Exercise, Talbot's article mainly lifted my spirits and jibes with our movement community ethos that moving your body should feel good and be fun. I'm curious to know where our cultural self-flagellating mindset to exercise originated -- maybe Hayes discusses it in his book? Let me know if you start reading this book so we can discuss.
Here's what's on the schedule this week:
7:00am PDT - Monday, 3/21/2022
IN-PERSON GYROTONIC® Pulley Tower Class
A 50-minute group equipment class series exploring Gyrotonic exercise on the Pulley Tower great for total beginners, and also appropriate for those with moderate experience. Space for four (4) individuals. Curious about this movement system? This is a great class to learn more.
Sign-up for next week: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=11540424
9:30am PDT - Tuesday, 3/22/2022:
ONLINE Pilates Mat (Mixed Level)
We are staying with our wall work on the foam roller in March, adding some resistance to upper and lower limbs using both light hand weights and the long resistance band. We're putting our feet on the wall, so wear clean socks to keep your wall clean. Our focus is varying the planes of motion in the body for better balance and to stimulate the mind. Video available if you can't attend live.
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=13574506
9:30am PDT - Thursday, 3/24/2022:
ONLINE Balance and Flow GYROKINESIS®
Marching through March! We are flowing through the seated arm-work, then bringing our intention to connect the pelvis to the legs for increased strength and better balance. Have your stool/ chair, two bath towels (blankets, etc.), and a 5-ft+ medium resistance band. available..
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. Video available if you can't attend live.
Sign-up: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=16934439&appointmentType=13778332
Looking forward to seeing you online and in-person this week! Until then, 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.
