On biting off more than you can chew..
Hi friends,
I hope you are well and not despairing too much on the winter clinging on for dear life.. spring is coming.. HOLD ON!
It has been a busy month or so; balancing work, home and yoga teacher training has been a lot and for a moment there I was drowning in the ever growing “catch up list”.. I finally pressed pause, took a week off work and spent that week only focusing on the content I need to catch up on and I feel like a new human now!
I am over 50% of the way through the training and it has been a steep leaning curve; not just the Asana, Pranayama and Anatomy but in learning about myself; my desire to always keep up or my fear of falling behind. At school, the phrase “could do better” was always on my school report and that shit haunts me to this day. Those messages we receive when we are just starting to form ourselves are so important and as I am learning, many of them are important to challenge and dismantle. What is behind anyway? Like really? What will actually happen if I finish in June and not May? I’ve been meditating on it, and I’ll be ready when I am ready and the most important thing is to soak it all up and take on all the lessons, both intended and unintended!
Talking of my YTT, I will be offering community classes both online and (hopefully) in person.. I am aiming for sometime in April and they will be free classes for me to practice on. If you are interested, drop me a DM on IG and I let you know where and when!
I have been having a bit of an internal battle over the last few days in relation to work, my relevancy and my position in the fitness market. I guess I am an “elder” now; 44 years on this planet, 23 years teaching movement. I say that with a lot of pride, although the conflict being, that as an woman past the age of 35.. you start to become invisible.. or that is how it seems. Sometimes it feels like you lose your value when you lose your youth, despite the many years of experience, and the wisdom that comes from that. I say this not with bitterness but with pragmatism, it is something I have to consider and I have to navigate. The audience for what I do, is largely made up of 20-30 year olds, and I have to work a little harder to stand in my truth and make sure I am sharing my gifts and my knowledge, without fear. This is what I know to be true, that having friends of all ages, makes me a better person. I learn so much from my friends in their 40s, 50s and 60s.. but I also have incredible friends in their late 20s and 30s.. I mean even my kids teach me so much. So, I think about this a lot in my teaching, do I want to cosplay a 25 year old in class, in a hopes it makes me more relevant and boosts my numbers? or, do I show up in my full truth, 44 years old, many times around the block with the scars to show for it, thousands of classes taught and the experience that brings, the understanding of the body, how it works, how it often doesn’t work, what it needs, what people need but might not know they need yet.. the depression, the anxiety, the heartache, the years of healing and learning and growing.. the surrender, the acceptance.. the losses, the wins.. the sorrows and joys.. all these things that I bring into the room, whether I choose to share or not, they make me me.. I have something important to share and even when the ground seems shaky, I have to stay in that truth.. and yes, it is that deep and it is that serious. I have dedicated my mind, body and soul to the teaching of movement for TWENTY THREE years.. this isn’t a side hustle, its my life’s purpose or Dharma.
Ouft, I feel like I really needed to get that in front of me in black and white. Thank you for indulging me, and if you are still here.. gold star for perseverance! ⭐️
I need to go and get in the shower and turn the heat up so high in makes my skin turn the colour of lobster and then I am heading over to Notting Hill for Girls Night Out and 6:30pm. If you are reading this as it publishes (Approx 3pm (UK) on a friday 14th March and you wanna come down as my guest.. DM me on IG and I will make it happen!)
WATCH
I just finished Severance on Apple TV.. my brain literally exploded in the first couple of episodes of season 1 but a) WOW and b) what exactly am I supposed to do until season 3 comes out?!
READ
Guys.. I am still reading Wicked.. its a marathon.. I think its now just something I do before bed rather than something I am particularly enjoying. God please let me just finish it so I can move on honestly! I am also reading Jack Kornfield’s A Path With Heart.. if you have an interest in Buddhism and spiritual teachings, this is a great place to start!
LISTEN
WHELP.. there has been no listening for pleasure recently.. what can you recommend???
PRACTICE
Fri 14th, 6:30pm/ Soulcycle Notting Hill/ Girls Night Out
Sun 16th, 11:45am/ Soulcycle Soho/ Sunday Sanctuary 🕯️🕯️🕯️
This is my baby. High energy, with a big emphasis on grounding the mind, body and soul. A big inhale/ exhale and reset. - Also join us for a sweet treat after class - Buns at Home is our favourite spot!
Mon 17th, 9:30am/ Soulcycle Notting Hill
Tues 18th, 7am/ Soulcycle Notting Hill
Tues 18th, 10am/ Soulcycle Soho/ Soul & Meditate 🧘♀️
Your usual 45 Minute class with a touch more focus on breath awareness and the Mind<>Body Connection followed by an optional 10 minute meditation AFTER the stretch!
Thurs 20th, 7am/ Soulcycle Notting Hill
Thurs 20th, 10am/ Soulcycle Soho/ Soul & Meditate 🧘♀️
Fri 21st, 9:30am/ Soulcycle Notting Hill/ Hip Hop Friday 🔥
Fri 21st, 6:30pm/ Soulcycle Notting Hill/ Girls Night Out
Thank you for being here, have a wonderful week!
Big Love,
Melissa xoxo