2021 Lesson Learned to Keep it F*%&ing Simple
2022 can be a year of laughter, vulnerable curse words, and shameless toots.
The past two years have been intense but I don’t have to tell you this, do I? As I sit here wearing my Captain Obvious hat, I realize we have spent the last two years contemplating the weight of it all. Maybe I can encourage you, and myself, to lighten the load… and have a little fun again.
As I read Brene Brown‘s “Dare to Lead”, I am reminded of our most precious gift. The gift of time. As she says, it is the most important “non-renewable resource”. I want to thank all of the humans who choose to spend time with us. We had a total of 15,775 visits in the year of 2021! Whether your visit was for a private session or a virtual class, you are a valuable part of our community. We are grateful to all of you!
I’m also thrilled to give an extra shout out to students and teachers who spent A LOT of their time here. Out of those visits mentioned, an amazing 3,099 were in the care of the remarkable Jo Mcdonald. She is our Belmont mama and cheerleader. She has kept this fire strong and worked every day to keep the passion of the studio alive. I truly don’t know where this studio would be without her. Not far behind her is Savanna Wonderwheel, Lily Matson, and Meghan Maris. These teachers are here every day for our growing community. I’m grateful for their presence and expertise. I learn everyday from their participation in our community.
Out of those visits mentioned, a few special students came in on an average of three times a week with dedication and curiosity resulting in over 100 visits in the year 2021. You inspire me. Your commitment to the relationship you are building with your life, through the lens of this tissue we are bound, is a magnificent accomplishment.
Bradley Coffey (297 visits)
Ann Phillips (278 visits)
Gene Trowbridge (214 visits)
Beth Ann Fishberg (211 visits)
Andy Mishler (199 visits)
Jane Sage (184 visits)
Yvonne Vallette (156 visits)
Pam Haines (154 visits)
Carol Criswell (150 visits)
Lindsay Herzog (133 visits)
Kendra Cullen (133 visits)
Anne McHugh (129 visits)
Barb Millikan (128 visits)
Vanora St.Clair (123 visits)
Marissa Haines (118 visits)
Lisa Pace (116 visits)
Jennifer Bowers (115 visits)
Amy Long (115 visits)
Ginny Sorensen (114 visits)
Marny Rivera (112 visits)
Deep Thoughts for 2022
Part 1: Laughter in the face of adversity
In 2020, Williams didn’t exist. Belmont was thriving. We were about to expand and had a plan to be more aggressive about marketing in the Williams North Portland area. Then we closed and had to pivot. Now we find ourselves trying to grow a business at a time when people are not sure about being in person. Our world seems a bit more scarce than it did three years ago. As we rebuild it we will need elbow grease, fire, Shakti, inspiration, and most of all laughter! Last night I was reading quotes from the phenomenal Betty White. A woman who led through subtle action and by living her message. She didn’t force others to be loving or kind, she simply was loving and kind as a way of influencing others. She also had one of the most brilliant comic minds out there. Exemplified by this quote, “Why do people say ‘grow some balls’? Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.”
The body provides an endless metaphor, giving way to profound meaning as well as laughter and joy. I hope all of you wonderful readers can laugh at that quote. There is no part of me trying to put down my male counterparts. I love you and am thrilled to have you in the studio. Every man who walks into our doors is optimistic proof that these practices are for everyone… Not just women!
Now back to that ridiculous funny quote; Yoga Bhoga and Cascadia Pilates have taken a pounding and we are still here! I’d say that means we are pretty tough. To overcome the heartbreak of the past few years, let us be proud of our success after adversity, and laugh a little at how ridiculous it all really was! A bonus quote from Betty White: “If one has no sense of humor, one is in trouble.”
Part 2: Sometimes you need to say f&%!
For 2022, I have a motto. Keep it f&$%ing simple. I only say this word with clear awareness that it is overused and losing any gusto it used to hold. As a former New Yorker (transplant during my 20’s, not native) I remember learning that word and how to use it with the power from my gut, my core, my deeper soul. Cheers to all the Manhattanites who taught me how to yell like Hoffman “I’m walkin’ here!”. Which in real life often includes an uncouth F$%#. This word became a release of all that stagnant energy I wanted out. The anxiety and anger built up in my core. I would love to let all of these stressful moments move past my bones. Not to avoid the feelings but to let them move through me. Shake it out, flow in vinyasa, hang from the rope wall, and push into carriages. Can we give our bodies that chance for an internal F%$& release of everything we have been through? Can we move the pain through us towards healing?
Now back to my four letter filled moto. “Keep It F#$%ing Simple”. My conviction to keep it simple is intentioned towards my personal life, my business decisions, and my teaching. There is nothing more powerful than the work of yoga and pilates. Yoga is a true act of social justice with its primary commandment of non-violence. Non-violence to each other and to the world as a whole. Pilates is a movement system of complete presence and connection. Being present with each little piece, through expansion and contraction. I’m hoping to help us all refocus on the beauty of both these practices by simplifying everything we do here at Yoga Bhoga and Cascadia Pilates. I want it to be simple enough so we can get deep, get a little dirty, and let all the F%$&’s go.
Ok, so I think I have cursed enough (which for me is actually saying a lot). In all seriousness, I hope for everyone here at YBCP, that we can find a release of expectation, pressure, and tension. I hope for everyone a new year of forgiveness and exploration. I hope for everyone a year of love and kindness. I hope for everyone a year of patience. I hope for everyone a year of “its ok”. YOU ARE GOING TO BE OK.
Part 3: Change the story. A fart isn’t embarrassing.
“All Galileo said, all Darwin said, was, “It doesn’t have to be the way we thought it was.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin, No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters
Let’s end on a high note, or squeaky note, or a juicy note, your choice. Our original collection of responses from our 2021 survey was lovely. There was so much support for our teaching staff, and in contrast so much frustration with the software MBO. Since reading all of the responses, I’ve gone down a few rabbit holes. I’ve led myself into a deeper sense of confusion and even embarrassment. How could I recover from the woes of my dearest students? How can I make it right again? My face would turn red while thinking about the frustration our students felt. It reminded me of that time I farted in class. In all seriousness! When you fart in class, it is horrifying!
Good feedback is like a good stretch. Bad feedback is like a fart in class.
After twists and turns of thought and metaphor, I came to the “What if we changed the story” junction. What if it didn’t have to be the way we thought it was??? Maybe if I fart in 2022, I could change the story to “yes! My organs are finally moving. I’m releasing something that is no longer serving me”.
I could also change the story of our feedback to “that is really inspiring”. It inspires me to be better. I recognize where we really are even if it is different than what I thought. Here are the three primary things we had concerns about and how we are moving forward.
We have changed the schedule too much. We are no longer changing the schedule (unless we are adding classes). All classes on the schedule are here to stay, even virtual classes past March. We won’t take them away, we won’t change them on you. And as long as you keep showing up, we will keep logging on.
MBO needs to get cleaned up. We are gutting your accounts. If that sounds a little harsh I mean it in a good way. Many of our problems with MBO have been exhausting but after an epic amount of hours on hold, we are finally getting the answers we need to simplify your accounts and make booking classes possible.
Our messaging is too complicated and confusing. We are simplifying our offers and our words. We are getting clear. Our website has already changed to be more direct and less confusing. We aren’t done but we have made immense progress.
Basically, we tooted. Let's clear the air and keep moving.
For those in the community, thank you. Thank you for always being our cheerleaders and for bringing friends and family to join in on all the fun. We hope you get a chance to smile with us in the year ahead. It will be a fun one, because it will be less confusing, more reliable, and definitely joyful.
With love,
Krista
