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The YOGA WALL is UP @the Collective!!!

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:15:46 GMT

Dear Being,

I cannot express my excitement enough about this incredibly supportive and useful modality. My dear friend and colleague, Joelle VanSickle explains the Wall and her approach:

The Yoga Wall is a therapeutic tool to help support and enhance your movement practice. Yoga Wall Ropes were first introduced by BKS Iyengar many decades ago as a means to assist with postural alignment and make postures accessible to all practitioners. In our Yoga Wall sessions, you will utilize the Wall to build strength, cultivate body awareness, elongate muscles, gently traction your spine, and support healthy breathing, (among other things!). With the support of the Wall, you are more able to drop into your experience and find a balance of steadiness and ease in your body and mind. The focus of our offerings is on private and small group Wall sessions so that you may work closely with the teacher to help meet your individual needs.

Joelle will be offering private & small group sessions beginning April 1, 2022:

Yoga Wall Trio

Fridays and Sundays beginning 4/1/22, 9:30-10:45 am

Yoga Wall Private

By appointment. Use the Yoga Wall to help support your unique body and being. Personalized practice will be tailored to your individual needs and can be an adjunct to physical therapy, when you are cleared to do so.

Intro to The Yoga Wall Series

Next course begins 4/1/22. A 6-week course to help introduce you to the Yoga Wall. Learn how to set up your straps and adjust them for your unique body. An accessible, progressive practice series designed to help you feel the benefits of the Wall.

Restorative Yoga (Continues!)

Sundays, 9:30-11:00 am (changing to 11:00-12:30 beginning 3/13/22), $25/class
A little bit of movement and a lot of resting designed to help you relax and refresh.

For more information, or to register, click HERE .

ALSO Happening In March @ the Collective:

Friday, March 18th: Tai Chi & Community Meditation

6PM Join Steven Reilly for a FREE demo Tai Chi lesson! Email gratefulcranemartialarts@gmail.com to register.

7PM Community Mantra & Meditation with Corinna & Samantha! Join us for discussion, guided chanting with periods of quiet reflection, and of course lots of laughs! No sign-up necessary, and free of charge!
*masking is optional

As always, if you have any questions or would just like to connect, please feel free to reach out! I look forward to working together in whatever form it may be!

In Love & Service,
Sam

Tai Chi Starting in March!

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 19:12:32 GMT

Tai Chi @FulBeing Collective

Hi friends! I am so excited to share this new offering and new instructor with the FulBeing Collective community:

Tai Chi, an internal art form and moving meditation, focuses on cultivating internal energy, which the Chinese refer to as "Chi". Like other internal arts, it is famous for calming the mind, relaxing the body, and strengthening the spirit. Some other benefits, which may sound much more practical in modern society, include boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, improving balance and strength, and counteracting depression and anxiety.

Sifu Steven Reilly has studied at Dragon & Crane, in Somers, NY, for over 10 years. He practices both Tai Chi and Shaolin Kung Fu under Master John Scattaretico. He is truly grateful for the opportunity to begin sharing this art with those who wish to learn. This weekly one-hour class will offer students an opened door to a world of movement, philosophy, and laughter. All skill levels are welcome, and beginners are especially encouraged!

Steven believes that Tai Chi should be for everyone, so this class will be offered on a sliding scale from $10-$40 per week, with no commitments. There will be a free demo class on Friday, March 18 ^th at 6pm. Weekly class day & time will be decided based on student availability!

For more information, or to register for the demo class, please email gratefulcranemartialarts@gmail.com .
We will have a community meditation event with Corinna & Samantha directly following! We hope you’ll join us!

Other News:

Therapeutics Classes Continue! As some of you know already, our Therapeutics class is an atypical small group experience, in that part of it is led, and part of it is self-directed. It bridges a gap between a fully led class and a home self-practice. We all have an opportunity to learn new things but also to tap into what our bodies already know and have. Our schedule for February & beyond:

Mondays at 12pm
Thursdays at 10am

Click here to learn more about our class program. Sign up ASAP, as there is a max for these classes. Feel free to email me with any questions at all!

Restorative Yoga with Joelle VanSickle also continues:
Sundays at 9:30

***And a little teaser***
the YOGA WALL will be coming to FulBeing Collective!!!
Be on the lookout for a separate email shortly.

As always, if you have any questions or would just like to connect, please feel free to reach out! I look forward to working together in whatever form it may be!

In Love & Service,
Sam

Are your basic needs being met?

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 19:05:36 GMT

Basic Human Needs

Dear Being,

No matter your circumstances, it's been quite the almost-2-years. There has been challenge after challenge, and most of us are in a state of nervous system overload. My clients and patients are feeling the overload in their physical bodies. Even those who I have just casually spoken to at the soccer field or at school pick up are expressing this holding in their bodies. Whenever I feel myself spiraling into anxiety or generally overwhelmed by life's curves, I am reminded to ask- am I spinning my wheels? So fast, that my needs aren't being met? My most basic, simple human needs? In short, they are: nutrition, hydration, sleep/rest, movement, and connection. I thought I'd share with you what these things mean to me, and small shifts you can try, to address each.

Nutrition: this has nothing to do with a diet or weight loss, in fact it is quite the opposite mind frame of diet culture/ capitalism. What foods make me feel nourished and energized? If I'm on an actual diet, do I feel shamed to keep it up even if my body doesn't feel right? Do I use food as reward? Small shift: for 24 hours, try only consuming whole, real foods, that don't come in a package or have any components that you don't recognize. Let go of "rules" like no carbs, or low fat. Notice how you feel in your body's energy and vitality, notice the difference.

Hydration: do I feel thirsty throughout the day, and am I giving myself enough time, space, and mindfulness to listen to that cue? Small shift: try drinking 64 oz. of water in 24 hours. Use a 32 oz. bottle that you can fill twice throughout your day, and keep it with you. Work your way up to your bodyweight in ounces (for example, if you are 150 pounds, drink 150 ounces of water)

Sleep/Rest: this is a big one. Do I wake up tired/groggy? How easily do I fall asleep at night? Do I have bedtime/waketime rituals (similar to what a baby/child has)? Small shift: try powering down your phone (even your wifi too- put it on a timer and have it off between 10pm and 7am) at least 30 minutes before sleep. Be free of blue light of any kind within 30 minutes of sleep and 30 minutes of waking. Give your nervous system a chance to adjust!

Movement: again, opposite of workout or gym culture. Not "pushing" your body or using exercise as punishment. What movements make me feel nourished/energized? Small shift: move your body during the first 30 minutes of waking. It can be very gentle, intuitive movements that help your body adjust to being upright after sleeping all night. Try walking outside for 5-15 minutes during the day, no matter the weather.

Connection: to our breath, to our center/that grounded place within, and to those around us who we love. This means distraction-free, screen-free, presence with ourselves or another. A creative endeavor, a walk in nature, journaling, etc... Small shift: Try sitting at the edge of the bed in the morning before standing up. Ground your feet on the floor, place a hand over your heart. Take 10 slow, conscious, deep breaths. Light a candle and set an intention for the day.

Funny how these are the first things to go when we are stressed...right? Sometimes we think "I need a vacation", or "I need to sign onto this diet/exercise/self help program" in order to feel a much needed change in our lives. But in reality, the small shifts are the big things. My approach with this insight is to help us lean in closer to all parts of ourselves here and now. It is to help us navigate a deeper and more meaningful relationship with our bodies exactly as they are right now, and these important factors. It is quite the opposite of shame, hype, productivity, selling something, or any other common message we get from society. We don't need to change or add anything to our bodies or minds, we may just need to dust them off and refine what's already there.

To be clear, addressing these things in an expensive, fancy way is a product of privilege. Some folks can afford to buy organic food, spend hours and lots of money on yoga/exercise, and engage in other more commonly thought of forms of self care. But this is not the kind of care for ourselves that I'm talking about, or that I believe is actually needed. This approach is accessible to those with only a few minutes, a few bucks, and a yearning for a deeper connection to ourselves and each other. Many of these suggestions may seem silly, or maybe even impossible. They are neither! Creating rituals around these checkpoints in this mindful way can make a huge difference in our mental health and how we show up for our lives. If you'd like to learn more about how to create a ritual for yourself, I am happy to share more, please reach out.

Therapeutics Program Is Expanding!

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 16:42:32 GMT

Dear Being,

It was somewhat of a dream to curate a space that people could come and explore their own bodies and movement, with some facilitation/guidance, but different than a lead yoga class. My ideas for this therapeutics program came to a halt with COVID, and I am slowly bringing them into fruition, one small conscious step at a time. We have been meeting once per week, and the group is so special.

Some folks have asked for a different model, and more often...so beginning November 1, 2021, the Therapeutics Program will be offered twice per week, as a drop-in class, with class packages available (5 & 10 packs). The twice per week option will give those who were looking for more than once per week to explore and deepen their practice. Many of you were interested in the first series but could not commit to all 8 weeks of class, so here is a great opportunity to experience what class is all about, and how it helps inform your home practice. This class is an excellent option for those who work privately with me for either PT or wellness, and are looking to expand, enhance, and integrate their healing work. I hope you’ll consider trying it!

Begins Monday, November 1st, 2021:

Mondays & Thursdays, 10:30-12
Drop-in, 5-pack & 10-pack available

**Sign up ASAP, as there is an 8 person max for these classes. See below to register!

Other Class Series/Workshops

Yours to Know — a 4-week exploration of the female pelvis and all the possibility it holds

Join Erica Rodas, Holistic Pelvic Care™ practitioner, to explore the anatomy and rhythms of the female pelvis and breasts. We’ll use Holistic Pelvic Care™ principles including reflection, movement, visualization, external touch and breath. You’ll learn practices to connect more intimately with yourself, in the company of a small group of women.

Monday evenings, Nov 1-22, 6:30-7:40pm
Cost: $125 for the series; $34 per drop-in

Reach out to erica@rubiaot.com for more info.

Barre & Pilates with Barre Bellas:

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays. Visit barrebellasfit.com to register!

As always, if you have any questions or would just like to connect, please feel free to reach out! I look forward to working together in whatever form it may be!

In Love & Service,
Sam

Therapeutics Class w/Samantha

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 14:57:32 GMT

"Therapeutic" Yoga?

Dear Being,

I put the word therapeutic in quotations, because it is sort of taboo in the yoga world to call a yoga offering therapy...which is silly in a way, because yoga is inherently therapeutic. Many things can be therapeutic if we use it with intention and consciousness. I've witnessed many people use yoga, meditation, or other awareness based practices with the very same neuroses that they would binge watch TV, eat too much sugar, or use drugs! The point of saying all this is to emphasize the intention behind the action, and to come from a place of curiosity and relationship rather than control or attachment.

Many folks I've worked with over the past few years have expressed a desire to take more of what they learn here home with them for some sort of daily practice. I have struggled with how to facilitate that the best way I can, as well as what my own self practice looks like on the regular. I am still on that journey, and learning and listening every single day. What I have found to be incredibly helpful in the past, is a community setting to inspire and support a collective good, and having other eyes and ears to learn from (of course with a professional for guidance and facilitation). This has led me to start this small group Therapeutics Series, beginning September 9th.

This offering is meant to bridge a gap between a formally led class and a self guided practice. It is intended to provide a safe place for folks to explore what movements may or may not serve them throughout their daily tasks and life journey. Elements included in each practice will be a common theme or concept, breath, active range of motion, strength in that range of motion, restoring/rest, and laughs :) Special attention will be given to each individual to address their injury/ailment/diagnosis. Education and autonomy are a focus so that students are able to bring the concepts into their lives. I do hope you'll join me!

Other Classes Starting in September:

Pre-Natal Yoga: for moms to be at any stage of pregnancy. Practice being present and accepting of the changes that body, mind, and lifestyle endure during this time. Move your body safely and therapeutically, connect to your breath in a whole new way. Prepare for labor/delivery, gather resources to support you throughout your motherhood journey, and connect with other moms to be.

Post-Partum Series: for moms of children of ANY AGE (babies under 1 welcome to attend)! Practice being present in your post-baby life, no matter what age your child is. Move your body safely and progressively, connect to your pelvic floor and breath. Gather resources to support you throughout your motherhood journey, and connect with other families.

Prenatal: Mindset, Breath & Movement

Fridays, 9/10/21 - 10/29/21 at 10:00am

Cost: $199

Post Partum: Mindset, Breath & Movement

(babies welcome)

Fridays, 9/10/21 - 10/29/21 at 11:30am

Cost: $199

Therapeutic Breath, Mobility & Strength

Thursdays, 9/9/21 - 10/28/21 at 10:00am

Cost $199

MASK WEARING
Masks are required for entry into the space, but may be removed by vaccinated folks once they reach their working area. Masks are required for unvaccinated folks.

New Provider Sarah Capua

In sweetly perfect timing to the above sentiment about the word “therapy” in yoga, I am honored to introduce Sarah Capua, as she will be starting private sessions at the Collective in September. Here is a heart-opening description of yoga therapy, from this incredible teacher, mentor, and friend of mine:

Yoga is a system which recognizes our multidimensional nature, and understands that healing involves more than just our physical body. Yoga therapy is the thoughtful application of the tools of yoga - postures, movement, breathwork, meditative tools, teachings and more - to come into conversation with all of the aspects of ourselves necessary for real transformation. Yoga therapy aims to bring us into nourishing relationship with our whole system, helps us notice what needs our attention, access what is hidden beneath our stories, bring intentionality to our reactivity, and understand ourselves more deeply, so we have access to our innate, internal support for our healing.

Private sessions look different for each individual and their specific needs. They can include prescribed movement and breathing practice, led meditation, conversation and listening, exploring teachings, visualization, chanting, ritual, or supported rest. There is no agenda or requirements, only a vast resource of tools at our disposal. Sarah's first intention is to keep her clients safe, supported, and seen.

This work can be a support for those dealing with illness, injury, and treatment, emotional and mental health, chronic pain, life transitions, as well as those who wish to deepen their engagement in their lives and support their wellness. Sarah has particular experience and passion for working with clients during and post cancer treatment, care around grief and loss, trauma, and death and dying. Sarah will also be partnering her treatment with Sam to help clients deepen their healing work.

Interested clients can register for a short consultation with Sarah via her website to discuss how this process might be a support for you.

Bio: Sarah Capua is a dedicated student, teacher, Yoga Therapist, and spiritual caregiver. Her work is rooted in the tradition of T.Krishnamacharya, Zen Buddhist contemplative practice and caregiving, and her role as chaplain for people in trauma and end of life. Her hope is to be a compassionate and curious support for others on the path, to bear witness and make meaning, and to hold a mirror up to our embodied wisdom which can be a companion no matter where life takes us. www.sarahcapua.com

Mantra & Meditation Night!

Join Samantha & Corinna on Friday, September 24th at 7pm.
More Details to Follow Next Newsletter!

As always, if you have any questions or would just like to connect, please feel free to reach out! I look forward to working together in whatever form it may be!

Warmly,
Sam

New Class for Moms at FulBeing Collective

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 19:38:09 GMT

More Unfolding at the Collective

Dear Being,

When I left my basement and came out into the public with FulBeing PT, I knew that more would arise, and that I am not meant to just work one-on-one doing traditional PT (or traditional anything for that matter!). The FulBeing Collective is slowly expanding its reach to people of all walks of life with its many modalities offered by the most beautiful people I know. COVID has certainly put a detour in some of our plans, but I believe the pause was necessary, and I trust that things will continue to unfold as they are meant to, however slow it may seem. This summer I am incubating some ideas for my own group classes that I hope will be born in the fall. Other folks who I feel aligned with have also reached out and connected with the mission of the FulBeing Collective, whom many of you have met and worked with by now.

I am so very excited to introduce my dear friend and colleague, Lauren Buckles. Our acupuncturist connected us, after months of saying, “you should really meet Sam/Lauren, you’d get along so well!” I worked with her during/after her pregnancy, and have since also become a student of hers when she started teaching online during COVID. On top of birthing a human, over the past year Lauren has launched her own business, Nestful . Lauren will be offering a series of yoga & mindfulness for moms, and I could not recommend her class more. See below for details, and sign up here !

Upcoming Events & News

Yoga + Mindfulness for Moms

Every Tuesday in July from 3:00 to 4:00 pm

Live at The Fulbeing Collective

Classes are open to moms of children ages 0-10 looking to practice yoga poses and breathing techniques to support self-care. Time will be given at the end of each class to reflect upon how to integrate practices into your life to support yourself and your children. Please feel free to bring your newborn or toddler. This is not your typical yoga class!

$90 for the 4 Week Series - July 6, 13, 20, 27

***BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR FALL YOGA & THERAPEUTICS CLASSES WITH SAMANTHA!!!***

MASK WEARING:
We ask that you please enter/exit, as well as navigate the common areas with your mask on.
Once you “land” —either on your yoga mat, or in a private room with your provider, vaccinated folks may choose to remove their mask.
We encourage you to make the choice that makes you feel safe, comfortable, and more okay, no matter what that is.

CHAIRS!
We’ve been having fun with Iyengar chairs, learning online and practicing with one another. Both Joelle and Erin are offering privates and semi-privates using the chairs—or not! Check out the Collective page on my website to schedule with either of them!

Catch FREE DEEP BREATHS this Friday:
Outdoor Community Meditation
Fridays, 6/18 12:15-1:00pm
1285 Route 9
outside in the grassy & parking lot area behind my building.
Yes there is shade! Yes there are chairs available!

Come as you are, ALL are welcome!

***This will be the last outdoor Friday Meditation for awhile—the weather is getting steamy and we will restart this outdoor event towards the end of the summer when it gets cooler!***

The Need For Community & Mask Update

Mon, 24 May 2021 15:28:23 GMT

The Need for Community

Dear Being,

I hope this message finds you present and connected to yourSelf, whether you are happy, sad, well, unwell, and anything in between. There is an intake packet that all of my clients are asked to fill out, and in it there is a question- “have you experienced a stressful event in the recent past?”. I chuckle at this question every time—some people (albeit not many) actually check the “NO” box!!! HA! We are collectively undergoing changes and enduring stressors that we haven’t seen in our current lifetimes, so to see that there are some folks who aren’t recognizing that is shocking. I do know that it manifests very differently in each person, and the conscious awareness of how stress lives in us depends largely on the tools we have to access our inner workings. We are all activated, we all have decision fatigue, and the vast differences in opinions and practices can get exhausting to navigate. It is mental health awareness month, and being visible and audible with our stuff is so important. Sharing our reactions and emotions in a safe community is so very necessary, and there is a balance between hiding them and professing them as everyone else’s truth. Last week with the buzz about mask mandates changing, a fellow trusted colleague reached out to me and a few others, sharing her concern. We all ended up sharing what came up for us, and it was so helpful in processing and then moving forward with the next small step. What we came up with was—people need to do what they need to do to feel OK right now—even if its different than what anyone else is doing or even the powers that be are saying is okay. If people don’t feel first and foremost safe, then what’s the point of offering anything else?

Mental health struggles can look very different on each individual. It may look like nothing at all, or even overachieving, having it all together, or seeming totally sure of our decisions. Each of us is experiencing challenges, and COVID (and all of the decisions that come along with it) has been a doozy. I’ve learned to associate stressors, changes, challenges as a call to check in with my mental well-being on a daily, or even moment to moment basis. What makes me feel like I’m okay? This is why we gather on Fridays for our outdoor community meditation. It is an opportunity to pause and attune to our inner dialogue, how our bodies are holding stress, how that changes our breath, and gives insight into how to take the next small step so that we can feel more okay. I hope you can join us this week!

Mask Update & Events

MASK WEARING :
We ask that you please enter/exit, as well as navigate the common areas with your mask on.

Once you “land” —either on your yoga mat, or in a private room with your provider, vaccinated people may choose to remove their mask. This is for one-on-one services only. Groups will still be required to wear masks for the time being.
- All providers will keep their masks on.
- We encourage you to make the choice that makes you feel safe, comfortable, and more okay, no matter what that is.

CHAIRS!

We’ve been having fun with these Iyengar chairs, learning online and practicing with one another. Both Joelle and Erin are offering privates and semi-privates using the chairs—or not! Check out the Collective page on my website to schedule with either of them!

FREE DEEP BREATHS :
Outdoor Community Meditation (weather permitting)
Fridays, 12:15-1:00pm
1285 Route 9
- outside in the grassy & parking lot area behind my building.
- Yes there is shade! Yes there are chairs available !

Come as you are, ALL are welcome!
No sign up needed! Just show up!

Exciting Things Unfolding...

Mon, 10 May 2021 19:39:28 GMT

New Instructor, FREE Community Meditation

Hi Beings,

I hope everyone was able to enjoy a Mother’s Day weekend unique to you and your situation. I have always felt very connected to mothers, and cannot help but become reflective and somewhat emotional around Mother’s Day. These kinds of holidays can come with a charge, especially during a pandemic. There is a special place in my heart for those who are estranged from their mother or child or who have a strained relationship. For those who long to be biological mothers and cannot be, those who have lost their mother or child, and brand new mommies who are putting pressure on themselves. We are all figuring it out along the way, and we aren’t here to get it perfect or put on a front that we know what we’re doing. When we fumble and stumble honestly and graciously, we remind others to soften and allow things to be exactly as they are without so much pressure. The truth is we are all mothers, whether you are a mother to biological children, adopted children, fur babies, plant babies, create art, connect to nature, birth an idea, nurture any other living being...that is a connection to Divine Mother Spirit.

I’ve been feeling lots of dynamic energy with spring in the air, and so there has been lots of movement at the studio/office. I am thrilled to announce an amazing instructor, Joelle VanSickle, is now offering small group classes (she has cutely named them “pods”). Her approach to teaching is accessible, safe and supportive. From personal experience in her classes, I can say that I would send any of my loved ones, students or patients with injury to her. I have always felt (and noted others to express the same) safe, included, challenged, and curious in her class. Joelle specializes in restorative yoga, subtle body, and the yoga wall. Please visit her site to learn more or to sign up for classes.

Just another friendly reminder that FREE DEEP BREATHS is still going on! Fridays, 12:15-1pm in the parking lot/grassy area to the left of my building. It has been a lovely community event and I’d love to see you there.

I hope you are all healthy and well, and as always, I’m sending lots of love to each of you.

Warmly,
Sam

Joelle’s Pod Classes:

Mondays at 6pm / Saturdays at 10:30am

Message from Joelle:

A PodClass is an opportunity for you to mindfully and safely practice Yoga in-person in a group of up to 3 people. It is a semi-private and also a class, where you can focus your attention on what you need from practice in the moment with live guidance in a supportive community. It is an approach that considers the fullness of you-- your goals, subtle body awareness, and of course those injuries and health conditions if you have them. It is not necessarily the Covid Pod you’ve heard about where the same people practice together consistently (although it can be). However, it is a group that is committed to the well-being of the others present, so we will uphold all state-mandated safety protocols and if we are sick, we will stay home. I am also happy to come to your home location for solo, duo, or trio pods as long as everyone in the group is vaccinated. Please sign up for the live Wappingers Falls schedule below or on my schedule page .

I believe there is huge value in individualized practice, and we don’t always get that in larger groups. These experiences will honor the overall needs of the group with unique accommodations and variations for you. It can be a way to workshop themes, consider your nagging questions, make discoveries, and potentially help us to approach our virtual, group, or home practice with a new perspective. I look forward to seeing you!

FREE DEEP BREATHS CONTINUES!

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:22:36 GMT

Last week we started this group, and it was lovely to be together. Admittedly we all experienced some culture shock because for many it was the first time being in a group in over a year. Safely distanced, those who felt comfortable removed their masks, and we all breathed together. One student pointed out that breathing had been deemed unsafe in a way over the past year. Another said she hadn’t seen anyone’s smile in person in over a year. A few office workers from my building came on their lunch break. It was a diverse group of people with very different experiences and lifestyles, and we all shared the common thread of community. I do hope you’ll join us this week.

This offering is on Fridays at 12:15 and will run 30-45 minutes. It will be held in the grassy area in the lot near my office building (look for the chairs/blankets set up in the grass...if you don’t see us, come to suite 8 to find me). The address is 1285 route 9, and the lot is behind the bank when you pull in. Shade and chairs will be available for those who need. Come as you are, ALL are welcome!

Happy Spring, PSA, & Free Deep Breaths

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 19:03:54 GMT

Happy Spring!

Dear Being,

What a year, I’m so refreshed and energized by the sun, the warmth, the flowers, the availability to be outdoors with others. While the state of the world is still ever-uncertain, there is something hopeful that I feel connected to. I engaged on social media this week with a little PSA, and it unexpectedly started a domino effect of lovely conversation and feedback from people I know and don’t know. Here is what I shared:

Drink water. A lot.
Thin does not equal healthy.
Sunshine is healing. Go outside and feel for yourself.
Rituals are important. Wake up each morning with an intentionally chosen task, no matter how small.
You can feel happy and sad all at the same time.
If you use exercise as punishment and food as reward, there’s something to look at there.
A cleaner house, healthier meals, better behaved kids, etc doesn’t make you a better parent.
Yoga is not a set of poses, being flexible, or even peaceful. Yoga is full engagement with whatever is in front of you at any given moment.
Place value on presence rather than multitasking.
Cellulite, anger, wrinkles, frustration, rolls, disappointment, gray hair, bad TV..., are all part of the human experience.
Your body is your vehicle. It is not just a physical structure. Everything that has ever happened to you lives in your body.
Your breath is your best friend. Try calling her every day.

This certainly doesn’t cure anything or get rid of suffering, but it sure is a starting point. And its hard work. Work that we can’t and shouldn’t do alone. To support one another, see the below community offering starting next week.

Over the past year I’ve noticed a significant need, a common thread, among those who seek my help here, as well as in myself and in my close circle that I’d like to share. When we are in a state of stress or experiencing trauma (like we all are currently whether you realize it or not), it is very challenging to learn new things. It’s hard to retain a new exercise, learn a new breathing technique, read a book and remember what you just read. What I have noticed in moments of stress, if we aren’t aware, we tend to grasp for new and external things to quell anxiety or unease. What is actually necessary is returning back to basics. Checking in with our very most basic needs in our every day existence. That can be hard to do on our own, especially when we are inundated with products and programs galore that promise to make us “happy” in one way or another. I have gradually moved away from overloading clients with exercises (even if they’d benefit ultimately from them), and began to first invite them into looking at certain “checkpoints” in their lifestyle: Sleep, Hydration, Movement, And Connection. This can take shape differently for each individual, but these are areas that are worth modifying in moments where its difficult to handle much else (ie a pandemic). If you’d like a sample daily program checkpoint list, email me! If you’d like a consultation to develop a tailored program for you individually, let’s set up an appointment! In the meantime, I do hope you’ll join me in breath and stillness on Fridays (weather permitting). See below.

Warmly,

Sam

FREE DEEP BREATHS :

Outdoor Community Meditation (weather permitting) Fridays (starting 4/16), 12:15-1:00pm
1285 Route 9, outside in the grassy & parking lot area behind my building

Yes there is shade!

Yes there are chairs available!

Come as you are, ALL are welcome!

No sign up needed! Just show up!

Therapy, Pain, Listening

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:33:48 GMT

Hi Beings,

More and more of you are coming to see me for guidance with movement, breath, postural and lifestyle changes, with no definitive injury or “problem”. When I started my business I felt the need to distinguish between physical therapy and other services, well, because logistically it changes the office-y stuff on my end...but ultimately I don’t operate the same way as other therapists anyhow. Physical therapy as a licensed profession has certain guidelines and standards to go by, which I absolutely appreciate. But also I feel this tends to pigeon-hole many therapists into thinking they can and can’t do certain things, and for how long, etc. Long-lasting change in the body, mind, breath, and habits takes ongoing practice. Those changes are not always measurable by the same ruler in every person. And those practices to create that change shift as our lives and circumstances do. Guidance with that can be sought out at any time, and may include any number of modalities to address the needs of the individual. So I am distinguishing less and less between PT and other services nowadays, because truly, everything is everything (those of you who work with me in person have heard me say this a thousand times!). This has been something on my mind as of late.

I just finished a book called Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gotlieb. It is a compilation of stories from a mental health professional, both of her patients and her as a patient with her own therapist. The book is fantastically hilarious, extremely humanizing, and relatable beyond measure (extra poignant right now as we all need humanization and relatability more than ever). Throughout the book she shares her journey in therapy, as well as the journey of a few patients of hers. What I found so interesting is that she seeks therapy for herself initially after a painful unforeseen breakup with her partner. Towards the end she shares a sentiment about why people seek therapy and what it’s actually for. What she came to realize for herself was that the catalyst for her seeking help may have been the pain of losing her relationship, but that was not the end of her work, nor the point of her work. In the pain and loss, she was led to unpack many underlying emotions and patterns that had been stirring beneath the surface of her circumstances. Uncovering these ended up having nothing to do with the breakup, and everything to do with living her life fully and creating long-standing change. It also showed her that while therapy patients typically get discharged, the work never ends.

For me, this put into a framework what I’ve had trouble articulating over the years. People usually are led to therapy because of some kind of pain, no one wants to be in it. In a typical school of thought with any kind of therapy, you begin with the end in mind: not needing it anymore once the pain goes away. However, I realize I am interested in what lies beyond the quell of acute pain. I cannot “make” pain go away for people, and certainly don’t claim to heal anyone, as I believe we all have the innate capacity to heal ourselves. While manual work has incredible healing properties, and movement is a staple of my practice, I don’t believe that is what actually creates the most effective change long-term (GASP!). I believe it has a very important place! It can certainly address pain in the moment, aide in awareness of patterns, and help heal an acute episode. I believe that our physical bodies are the keepers of our emotions, memories, experiences, habits, and therefore a signal like pain is the manifestation of something more than just what’s in the body. That’s not to say at all that “pain is in our heads”. Its actually quite the opposite...pain is a trusty voice that is always reminding us of where we need to move stuck energy wherever we hold it. Pain is an incredible communicator if we have the patience and tools to listen. Perhaps I’m realizing that what I’m actually helping my patients with, is finding the tools to listen. Again and again, to whatever comes up.

This brings me to tell you more about my upcoming virtual workshops. My plan is to offer a monthly virtual meeting on a different topic related to my work. See below for the schedule thus far!

Upcoming Workshops: (ALL VIRTUAL)

Monday, February 1st 6:30pm: Prenatal WellBeing Workshop
Course Objectives:

Educate mother about changes in body, mind, breath during pregnancy
Offer tools to move well, breathe well, and connect well during pregnancy & beyond
Offer tools for optimal labor/delivery
Empower mother (& partner if applicable) to make informed choices
Experience practices of body, mind & breath to take home
Connect with other mothers & families
Gather resources for ongoing support
Help make the connection between pregnancy and the lessons of life

Monday, March 1st 6:30pm: Being With Pain
This workshop is a long time in the making. We will discuss chronic and acute pain and what drives us to create change. We will explore the neurological mechanism for perceiving pain, and learn practices that address breath, thoughts, and movement around pain. A very special teacher will be joining me, and I cannot wait to offer this to our community.

Monday, April 5th 6:30pm: PostPartum WellBeing Workshop
Information on registration will be coming to you very soon!