Transformation and Change: Reflections
- saralamiept
- Oct 24, 2021
- 4 min read
Shortly after my last blog post, when life was comfortable, "normal", and my business was coming into true form, the pandemic struck the world and turned it upside down. Panic, insecurity, and fear set in as our institutions and economy and our very structure of "work" came to a screeching halt. We had to quickly re-imagine our work lives, our family lives, all while living through the trauma of it all.
I realized quickly, being a hands-on therapist and in-person instructor, that I needed to pivot. I pushed through in the early months, making some videos, and continuing to treat a few individual clients in creative ways via phone consultations, home visits, and even using my back deck as a treatment space. But ultimately, I felt pulled and compelled into introspection. At the time, it was not clear why or how this would benefit myself and my business. It was not profitable, but more an investment. So while most of the world shut down, I began to work on my own fitness and health.
By March of 2021, I had built strength and muscle in my own body at home, and was itching to return to sharing my energy with the community. I was vaccinated and COVID risks seemed to be improving. I began teaching 2 fitness classes a week at CCBA, which was a bit scary at first (it had been a long time since I'd taught a class, after all), but ultimately so incredibly fulfilling sharing energy and hard work with humans in person again! Refer to my website for class descriptions and times. Reflecting back, all of the work I had put in on my personal fitness prepared me well to be able to effectively coach others.
I've learned a lot about myself, my needs, and the way I need to work over this loooong period of disruption and pause. I experience short creative bursts where I feel compelled to create, to write (like this blog post), and to share on social media. These are followed by sometimes very long rest periods, where I continue to go through my daily/weekly regular schedule with lots of rest built into that. I began this journey of creating a work structure that works for ME when I began working independently. This allows me to expand and contract as my creative urges ebb and flow, to rest during the day when my body requires it, to conserve my energy and spend it wisely. This pandemic pause has confirmed for me just how important it is to live in alignment with my body's physical and energetic needs. Not all of us were designed to work the 9-5 life, and if you identify with this post, consider this a bit of encouragement to explore your options. This also allows me to serve my clients and community in more powerful and influential ways.
Similar to my fitness journey in 2020, I finally felt prepared to begin my 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training this year. While it is taking longer than expected due to some major family health concerns over the summer, the reason behind this drive has taken shape. I will be presenting at an in-person training in February on the Biomechanics of Yoga, and I intend to take this teaching deeper and further in the form of guest-teaching and perhaps virtual courses and webinars. I can't truly describe what this feels like for me, but it is like an itch I am compelled and determined to scratch. I feel called to inform and instruct the yoga community in this very fundamental but intricate foundational knowledge because I often see injury inadvertently caused by bad advice given to yoga students by their teachers. Yoga teachers are trusted sources in movement and wellness in their students' lives, but the amount and quality of anatomy instruction in YTT programs is variable and leaves much to be desired.
As a physical therapist, yogi, and anatomy and biomechanics nerd, I am uniquely positioned and equipped to enrich the knowledge and understanding of yoga teachers in order to not only protect their students, but to help improve their students' stability and decrease their risk of injury. Just thinking about the ripples this training will create in so many people's lives is exciting and fulfilling. If you or your business is interested in learning more in this realm and strengthening your knowledge to provide your students with enriched experiences with asana practice, please email me at saralamiept@gmail.com to discuss details!
Another creative cycle has begun for me, which always seems to begin with serendipity, and seemingly divine timing. This cycle is multifaceted, with big ideas and smaller initiations. I am happy to announce that I am now providing physical therapy and personal training services at River Street Studios in Windsor, Vermont. This door opened as I began to transition out of DNA in White River Junction due to space limitations. The studio is beautiful and spacious and I am excited to begin treating my first clients there this week! Appointments can be scheduled via email or phone (below), and updated descriptions of services and rates can be found on my website https://saralamiept.wixsite.com/home.
Have you made any significant transformations since March 2020? When you reflect on the last year and a half, have you learned anything about yourself and your alignment with your true path? Has your path shifted or changed directions in subtle or dramatic ways? I want to hear about your journey!
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