Beat the virus blues

There are so many emails and Facebook memes about this virus and our situation right now, our helplessness, our stress.  One that I received twice today spoke to me.  It included these words: “What expectations of normal am I letting go of today?”

Well, let me tell you what is happening for me.  My 22-year-old daughter and her two and a half year old son are living with me.  Expectations, normal, what does that even mean?

Bad news: I don’t have a minute to myself.

Good news: I love Brandon’s little voice, his laughter and the sound of his footsteps running. toward me in the morning.  I could go on, but I won’t bore you with a Grandma’s kvelling.

Good news: I love teaching, whether in person or online.

Bad news: Reaching out is difficult in a busy, busy house.

However, I am a Feldenkrais Practitioner. If I include my years as a physical therapist, I have been touching people in a healing way for 45 years.  What???  It’s a great part of who I am. I touch, I teach, I help people reach out of their habitual patterns and feel better, move easier, and become experts on themselves.  I love my work.  I was a bit confused by not being able to do it, but now I can do it online.

I am teaching online and that is working for me and for my students.  One long time student said that she just didn’t like not being in the room with her classmates. She added that at least she could see them, and be with them virtually, and that would do for now.

Another new student said, “I am truly blessed and inspired by everyone taking care of everyone so lovingly. It is one of the great gifts of this time and I am grateful. I want to encourage everyone to take loving care of themselves at this time. Giving is wonderful and everyone must do things to nourish and care for themselves even as there is great joy in doing for others. One of the most wonderful things I have experienced, one of the gifts of this time we are sharing, was Beth Rubenstein’s class yesterday. My body was tense and aching when I started the class, and the changes and healing I got from that class are kind of indescribable. Please try it, you really owe it to yourself to experience that kind of healing. There is nothing in the class that will hurt you (as Beth will tell you, don’t do it if it hurts), the $ cost is minimal, and you will thank yourself afterwards. Don’t think about it – Just do it!!”

 Many of us are feeling the need to reinvent ourselves, even if it is just for a little while.  Although I have many friends and former colleagues who are retired, I am not one of them. One of the reasons I originally embraced the Feldenkrais Method® was because I could see myself doing this work until I was carried out of my office.  I just love what I do, how it makes others feel and grow and how it does the same to me.

So, all of that said, come play with me, the way we can play now.  You can’t come in and lie and my floor with a group, but you can lie on your floor, in your jammies if you like, no makeup required and breathe, roll, reach and calm with me.  We are in a period where we need to be resilient, my new favorite word.  We will get through this, with each other, apart.

I am teaching three weekly classes and one “pop up.” Below is the link to my next class on Friday, April 3rd.  This will be a series about RESILIENCE, RELAXATION, AND REJUVINATION.  It will be every Friday at 10:30 AM until we are over this quarantine. We will play and laugh and learn together.

You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Apr 3, 2020 10:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/v50scu2pqj0iUvHcrQ7AsoZ-emnA0NoypA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

My regular Introduction to the Feldenkrais Method® will start on April 8th at 12:00 noon.  It will be a six-week series where you will learn about your habitual patterns, and how to leave them behind to feel better and move easier.

I am also teaching the Tuesday “Curious Class” at 10:30 AM.  You can sign up and pay on my website: https://bethrubenstein.com/appointments/
You will receive a confirmation email with the online meeting link.

Right now we are continuing to figure out new ways to manage our expectations and be in our world today.  I look forward to assisting you and to seeing you on the floor soon.

B

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