I was struck by two NYT articles about the stress many black women, in particular, are feeling and succumbing to under the stress and crisis of COVID-19.  In particular, by the writing and the story of a mom of twin boys in Morristown, NJ, a place I lived and loved for several years before moving to West New York, where I am currently.

I reached out via IG to Daniel Hertzberg, Jenn’s husband, as his profile was public thru his website, to offer a movement series to support her health, as well as the writer of the article, Dani McClain, via Twitter, to thank her for expanding my vision.  I know all I can do is give love thru moving students to stretch and strengthen themselves so there is more ease and open space in both their minds and bodies to handle what is ahead.

I have been keeping my head down since March, and supporting my regular students and clients as we all worked to keep our heads up and above the water level.  I admitted to other teachers and friends, the chasm I felt inside for feeling nothing but ease, joy and privilege while working/teaching virtually and safely from my home studio.

I started by recognizing that need with my brother. He suffered a lightening strike years ago and as a result has a considerable amount of nerve damage. My encouragement to find a Pilates studio in Durham where he lives never really materialized.  Whenever he would visit me, I would always work with him to help stretch him out on the apparatus.   Upon returning home, the good habits simply wouldn’t be consistent.

When he asked if an inflatable dome-like device, Aero trainer, was good for him, I immediately set up a zoom link to guide him thru a sequence taken from the Spine Corrector series. (more about my brother in forthcoming posts.)

Then I was touched by a young mother of two twin boys and realized I have time and capacity to give away a few more hours to those that need to stretch and release and a new movement series of classes was born.

Personal Mental Adjustments

Sometimes I write to reveal my thoughts to myself.  It’s a way of working out the specifics and details in my head and moving them from ideas to words and then into actions.  I always approach serious projects, new endeavors and business planning this way.

Sometimes the conversation in my head is so wrapped up and embedded with issues that I became frozen without action.  A bit of a block.  Reading the news would leave me feeling like I have been run over emotionally by a truck. Issues like  black women’s birth rates, taking a knee, starbucks encounters, being kicked off the golf course, rape, assault, death by knee, church shootings, etc.

 

The “Strong Black Woman” is a cultural icon, born of black women’s resilience in the face of systemic oppression that has dismantled families and made economic stability a formidable challenge. She is self-sufficient and self-sacrificing. She is a provider, caretaker and homemaker. And often, she is suffering.”

NYT Op-ed “The Strong and Stressed Black Woman” By Inger E. Burnett-Zeigler

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Physically, emotionally and psychologically, we all react to stress in one of two ways, fight or  flight.  We run towards (fight) or away (flight).  Still, frozen and catatonic are still a possibility and perhaps useful, if walking up on a bear in the woods. Maybe.

Some of us work it out by moving with exercise, Pilates and Yoga and may enjoy herbal teas and infused hemp drinks to release tension and stress.  While some of us don’t have the option or may not be aware of the possibilility of these outlets to release and relieve ourselves.

Jenn was aware.  She practiced Yoga.  I knew she knew what to do.  The article revealed that she was stuck and maybe needed a hand to help pull or guide her.

I offered.  She gleefully accepted.

She and I chatted via PMs on IG for about an hour at 5am on Christmas morning as I solidified the calendar for her session.

Knowing that the best stress releasing therapy is breathing and movement, I am planning a “soothing movement” session that will expand the chest and free the limbs and mind over a small ball to begin. As time progresses, I will add more rigor and challenge if appropriate.

Too much is unknown and “undercover” in all of our lives. The isolation of this year has really brought me to the truth of what it means to have “2020” vision.

I likened it to an iceberg in my 5:30am Christmas morning IG conversation with Jenn. I feel like we are all looking at the  massive hard cold realty above the surface, but the stress, strain, after effects and future impacts are far deeper and will go unseen for a while.

So I carved out three hours each week (two private hours and one group session) for the first six months of 2021 and commit to offering Pilates movement sessions to men and women of color that seek release and relief thru movement. Stretch and strength will happen in the process, but it’s not the focus or the goal.

I am looking forward, very much, to working with Jenn, my brother and the women that will reach out as we all find each other in our efforts to walk thru the aftermath of physical, mental and emotional adjustments in the time of Covid-19.