Updates: Black Lives Matter and Bowspring

Black Lives Matter

I really don’t think life is about the I-could-have-beens.  Life is only about the I-tried-to-do.  I don’t mind the failure but I can’t imagine that I’d forgive myself if I didn’t try.  -NIKKI GIOVANNI

I want to be an agent of change and so, like many of you, I have been asking the question, “what can I do?”  Each of us will find our own answer, but here is some of what I am doing.  First, I joined a group of other white people who are taking steps to manifest change.  One of the people in the group recommended this online program called DoTheWork.  It is a day by day program with content that educates and impacts our minds and hearts.  To give you an idea of what it entails, here is one of the recommended articles.

To do the full program, here is the link to “Do The Work”.

Also, as I do this work, I am reminded of the importance of doing deep processing on a physical, and emotional level.  Here are two resources I am using for that.

This book by Resmaa Menakem: My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies and this free course by the same person.

This book by Lama Rod Owen:  Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation Through Anger. 

I am also settling into my role as a Bowspring teacher and within that mind/body practice I am developing a class that will give us ways to work with racialized trauma in an embodied way.  If you would be interested in joining, let me know and I will send more info as I have it.  Regardless, as you do this work, make sure you are doing mind/body processing and care – if you go deep with it, under the anger, rage, denial, confusion, and shame there is heartbreak.  You can be in heartbreak, indeed I believe that it is through touching that place and opening to it that you will find the will and longevity to join the work to impact true and lasting change.

Since the stay at home order began I have been teaching online Bowspring classes almost every day.  With those classes I have learned and taught, this grounding, strengthening practice and it has been an anchor.  For me and the students.  And we all want to keep going.

With that, I will be starting another 4 week series of classes on July 6th.  We meet each weekday from 7:30-8:30am.  If you haven’t taken any of my classes, the best place to start is with the Intro to the Bowspring classes that meets on Mondays and Thursdays.  On the other days, we advance the practice.

If you are pregnant or have recently given birth, you can also join the Intro class.  However, I would love to again offer a class specifically for pregnant people – if you would like to take a Prenatal Bowspring class, let me know what days/times would be best for you.

You can find more details about our Bowspring classes here and the cost and upcoming schedule here.