Therapeutic Fun...

Circus arts therapy , PSCA next place to play!!
As the hot summer days start to warm our bodies, our mind can get a little cloudy, maybe not just because of the heat, but halfway through the year we might start to feel the consequence of a full schedule, lack of sleep and all the daily responsabilities that might leave very little for simple things that are as important as our daily food..... have some rest and some fun....even if we are in the "adult" bracket...

Carrie Heller's therapeutic circus arts has become over the last couple of years my inspiration when it comes to creativity, knowledge and self -care.
Circus Arts therapy is this beautiful hybrid between the body and mind connection, between a therapeutic opportunity and the world of circus arts. Through some talking, bouncing and swinging, every person is encouraged to find balance in their lives, emphasizing self-care, nutrition and body awareness.
Being part of the first generation team trained in Circus Arts therapy has been a tremendous experience, Brande, Marisa and Marci, plus all the staff members at the Circus Arts Institute in Atlanta, made this stay something therapeutic in itself.

I just extend the invitation to everybody , children and adults, to find some space in their lives and allow themselves to be playful ...for some that might be some time with their nephews, children or neighbors, for others it might be just to go for a walk in the park- for us- and I guess I will speak for myself and a few that I know- it is being around the Circus School....... to play , to learn, or perform, and from now on, why not - to find our own therapeutic time - which is nothing else than playful self-care.

Reset

As the time keeps moving along and the blossoms turned into flowers, continuing the aerial practice through the summer -after a gorgeous set of performances during the student showcase in May keeps me engaged and inspired in the power of movement. Take a look and get inspired with some shoots taken by Jill's friend.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=58143&id=1536694238&l=a284b9e113

Summer heat and showers can take us through a myriad of situations, feeling hot, exhausted happy and maybe tired or frustrated at moments...the challenge though -is to keep yourself flowing...with the season...not against it.

Even knowing that whatever change is coming might make you sweat and surrender, the calmness within can keep you a float or...swinging in the air,....
with our director moving to Canada literally, following the circus... (Gregg, her husband is part of TOTEM the latest Cirque Du'Soleil production) and making a pause in her physical presence at the studio, we have to think that her movement will still
be present.

The words of encouragement for each of us as teachers, students or colleagues, the open arms to crazy ideas and the loving passion that she shares about the circus arts are staying with us as a source of energy, that will be recharged and hopefully renewed, by the time she comes back.

In the meantime, we will keep moving, up and sideways, down and around , and we will embrace her idea of the studio continuing to be a joy full free and safe place for practicing what you love the most.... circus, aerials or just the silence and calmness of the place, her place the PSCA.

See you at the studio.

Spring Creativity

It is Spring already.
IT seems like having the sun up in the sky and warmer temperatures allow us to feel a change in our perceptions.

So at the studio two of teachers, Niff and Kendra, proposed something new.
Let's get a show together.

Between ideas, rehearsals, discussions and blocks along the road, it seems like we will be up and running at the end of April.

The invitation is to come and enjoy, a performance that comes from the desire of change and transformation that all of us has, wishes or hopes to attain in some area of their lives. That is the root of the name CHRYSALIS.

Different people, different apparatus- one idea that thread us as one-
allow you to see the joy of being in the air and the power of transforming yourself for one act, one time or forever.

Enjoy the show

For Tickets please visit:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/103866

Or check
http://www.phillycircus.com/

Transitions

Last week we completed another session of Aerial conditioning.

As we had our last conversations between stretches, I was happy to hear how my students experienced the session and what were they hoping for the next one.

One particular student caught my attention through this session.
At some point she mentioned to me how she got injured from overdoing...another physical practice.
I saw her class by class, really focused, engaged- in the present
trying to do her best, but this time with a better sense of kindness to her body.




It seemed like she did not wanted to get hurt this time, so she made a choice of becoming strong through kindness to her body instead of -pushing....to the limit..of pain.

Thoughts turn into actions, emotions, physiological responses and/or -thoughts again.
Whatever path the mind goes- we do have the possibility of identifying ourselves with the positive or "stronger" part of it...

That is what I see over and over again.
That is what continues to inspire me in keep doing what I do;
promote well being- through aerial arts.

You choose though were do you want to go:
To a part of you that feels strong or to a part of you that feels defeated.

I hope that for this last session , my students thank themselves for how far they came, and realize that the transitions from where we want to be
-psychically and emotionally- have a cost...

A cost to ourselves that does not have to be pain full, but rather joy full and kind.

That is the only way that we can continue to move forward in life.

Be nice to yourself.

See you at the studio.

Cold Swing

New year's eve all the sudden became Valentine's day.
I guess that is the best example of how time flies.
Classes are going well at the PSCA, people is getting stronger but most importantly they are connecting body and mind as one.
The article that we shared about "mental rehearsals" made sense for all of them and even those that read with skepticism came back later to say "maybe I will try".

That what is all about, keep trying.

It is important to practice what you preach and in that sense I had to recently review the state of my body... and my mind.
A couple of weeks ago I thought I was getting a cold. A non-expected virus took me down for more than I was ready for-I had to wait and heal. I had to NOT move and heal.I had to lay down and NOT work ,to heal.

I did not hear what my body was telling me: STOP.

For the first time since I started to work in the aerial world I felt-all the sudden that I was going to fall. Upside down on the rope, 18 feet high up on the air- tangled. Lightheaded, tired and weak in a couple of minutes. My coach brought be back with a strong and encouraging voice "come on , feet up- get up!!" I had to get up...to be able to come down safely.
And so I did.
I went home and had to rest.
I had to consciously make the decision of stopping to get better.

After lots of sleep, food and quiet time I am getting realigned again.

Valentines day is supposed to be about love, the usual "romantic love"....what about the care about yourself?

So for this day I wish you the strength to say happy Valentine's to yourself
or as I am still hearing my coach say, to come "on your feet and get up" with care, with love; from whatever tangled point in your life you are- right now;
on the ground...or in the air.

See you at the studio.

Aerial Year

To all the aerialists...and aerialist to become this next year...
Keep your mind focus, your heart open and a light spirit.

Best Wishes for 2010

Winter Solstice , rebirth....and aerial practice.

Many different cultures celebrate around this time the Winter Solstice, meanings vary somewhat from place to place. The most important aspects of it from my perspective are the ideas of gratitude, preparedness, reflection and rebirth.

As we are about to experience Winter solstice tomorrow at 5:47pm, it makes me reflect of the beautiful moments and experiences that I had the chance to live this last couple of weeks, for example, I am working on a Silk act, (not my forte) that in spite of my "mind's instant judgment and label of not being what I do better" I decided to go ahead and immerse myself in the experience for the next weeks, or....actually maybe months.

Two interesting things I see in this new endeavor.
One is that I have no idea abut the time and place of the performance!, so there goes the all mighty planning/ chain....it is in a way better. No deadline. How often do we get to "just be" without the idea of goal- in front of us?...So I am definitely happy about that.

Two; is that I have been encouraged by wonderful women , Shana my mentor -and Kendra my current teacher to go and try.It is that attitude of exploration, that I am excited to re experience in the air. In other ways it feel like hearing go ahead and Trust....

I know this might not be easy for everybody. If we think to much or if we focus on the constant "self-monologue about what we do and how we do it", we might rather
stay save and perform/try just what we are used to -or what "we know we are good at".
Exploring new things in the air (or actually the overall idea of putting ourselves outside the -comfort zone-) gives you a new opportunity to experience a sense of learning, reliability, and not just in yourself but in the people around you, too.

My wish in two words for this upcoming rebirth in nature (as the days get longer!)is to go ahead and
Try something new, explore and play.
Do not allow you minds labels and judgments to keep you stagnant ( I am .. not capable, not fit, not coordinated, slow to learn, etc), and most importantly allow you body and mind to be one, even if is just for a couple of minutes a day.
It can be as complicated as taking aerial classes or it can be as simple as just- breathing, right here right now.

May this year bring more light and air in your life.
See you at the studio.