Sword Dance

One of my students said that every time we dance tango, Arya's sword fighting lessons from Game of Thrones replay in his head.

"This is what is happening in my head every time we dance together." ~ Archis Gore 

Full video: Game of Thrones ✖ Sword Lessons 

I love the connection between dance and sword fighting.  There are so many parallels within this clip (the full video compilation), besides the actual act of swinging the swords and the dance itself:

1) the sword (or your embrace and your partner) becomes an extension of you and as such, you learn to use your muscles and move in a way that includes and responds to the weight and shape and position of this additional part of yourself; it becomes a part of you in accomplishing your (common) goal

Hugs a Day

I recently took the streets of Seattle asking people how many hugs they give or get a day.  Most people fell in around 4-5 hugs, some less, some more.  They say we need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth (Virginia Satir).

And it’s even scientifically proven: studies show that when we hug people, our pituitary gland releases oxytocin, a hormone that contributes to our happiness. Oxytocin – nicknamed the “cuddle” or “love hormone” – also boosts trust and empathy and reduces anxiety and stress ("Oxytocin Moer Than Mere 'Love Hormone'", Web MD).  So, just pop some oxytocin pills?  You could, but the effects are greater when coupled with social interaction.  Yup, got to hug actual people to get this effect!  Besides, who couldn’t use more hugs?

How many hugs do you get or give a day?

Creativity has its own Timeline

The thing about having lots of ideas coming at you and feeling inspired, is that you have to juggle them all... I'm just taking them in as they come until the storm subsides and I can see who's left standing. Then I'll roll up my sleeves and attempt to make sense of them all.

Creativity has its own timeline.  Let it flow.

Nature's RESET Button

Feeling frazzled?  On the edge of a breakdown? 

This morning I came in to work at 9am and when I looked at the clock reading almost 11am still feeling like I hadn’t really started my day, I heaved a huge sigh. Frustration. A coworker who hadn’t finished her work the day before came in so she needed the computer, which disrupted my get-the-day-started flow. It’s ok – she’s new. But once I finally did get started at 9:55am, I took some pictures of this adorable baby and plugged in the camera to load them into the system as I usually do. Instead of showing up on the screen, the computer just kept showing that little blue circle spinning and spinning. No pictures. 

Our Default is Atrophy

Hunch Back Posture Problems
www.askthetrainer.com

“Our default is atrophy,” says Charlie Bellia – if you don’t use it, you lose it. That goes for muscles, languages, skills. That’s why it’s so hard to get back into working out when you stop for a couple weeks.  Your brain is efficient; it’s the best spring-cleaner, trims out all the extra fat, anything we don’t need, it gets rid of. Our instincts tell us that if you work your muscles to the point of fatigue, those muscles need to be stronger. It’s survival, explains Charlie, if you get too tired hiking up Mount Si, your brain senses that it could be, on the most primal level, dangerous. Working your muscles tells your brain that you need them. And if you demand more of them, they rise to the occasion – that’s what they’re there for. Their function is to work for you and your movement needs.

Lydia Condrea, a linguist and language teacher, tells her students that their brain is lazy. Unless they can trick it into needing to work to find other ways to communicate, it will default to the system it is most comfortable in. That is why it is nearly impossible to really pick up a new language in a situation in which you rely heavily on your native language or one that you already know well. When I studied in Rome during my sophomore year in college,

Pet Portraits

One of my newest endeavors. I have been taking pictures of cats and dogs for years. I love the challenge: they don't care if you're trying to take a picture, so pictures of animals are always candid shots. But this challenge is actually what I feel allows me to capture their personality, their essence. Cats and dogs don't hide anything - what you is what you get. Real.

Mini-Photo Session Event

June 21st ~ 11am-12pm

If you know of any pet owners who might be interested in
a portrait, please spread the word about my upcoming Mini-Photo Session Event this Saturday, June 21st at Greenlake, just North of the Bathhouse!

The Gift of Eye Contact

Eye contact is a huge return-on-investment.

Eye contact is recognition. With eye contact you acknowledge the presence of another human being, another living, breathing person with their own reasons to smile or sigh heavy, with their own mother, sister, brother, family ties, with their desires, their worries, their little silver lining, their needs, their space. When you pass a person on the street and make a little eye contact, just a little, maybe even smile, you make a gesture, a connection, acknowledging the presence of a human being sharing space with you.

It's nice and I bet everyone involved will feel just a bit lifted, a bit lighter, a bit brighter. I'm working on this and if you feel you can work on it too, let's do it together.

Eye contact is a little gift of a bit of yourself. Give more. Give the gift of eye contact.