 A whole lot of things have changed dramatically since my last newsletter, and yet, thankfully, gracefully, there are things that remain the same. By the time you receive this in your inbox, it will have been announced to the public that Breathe Healing Arts Center in Newberg has permanently closed it's doors. I've known this for a little while, and have been quietly grieving this loss. It was never "just the space where my classes were held", Breathe was so much more than that. I really felt at home there, and there was no denying the good vibes, good friends, and good community. Sadly, I know that this won't be the only business that doesn't make it through this pandemic. Fortunately, I also know that the owner of Breathe is at peace with this decision. If you know anything about me, you know I'm a glass-half-full kind of person - actually I'm a "glass is refillable" kind of person! So I am confident that something new awaits and I will land where I am supposed to land. I'm looking forward to that Open Window. Why your MELT practice is so important right now...  Two Words: STUCK STRESS Remember the kitchen sponge analogy? When we have areas of dehydration in our connective tissue (and we all do), our tissue behaves like a dried up kitchen sponge. It simply doesn't move well and can't do it's job efficiently. More importantly, dehydrated connective tissue holds on to stress ~ literally. And these are stressful times... perhaps the most stressful time you've ever been through. You may not be working the way you were, you may not be moving the way you are used to, you may not be sleeping well ~ let's face it, for most of us, our lives have changed dramatically in a very short time. Your daily MELT practice will move that stress where it belongs - out of your body! It will calm your nervous system by returning it's environment to a more fluid state. Connective tissue is our largest living system, and when we work to keep it healthy, our whole body reaps the benefits. MELT Classes will remain online
for the month of May Each week I'll be sending you an email with a list of Zoom offerings for the week. Keep your eyes out for some special offers and beginning classes too! Is there something you'd like me to offer that isn't on the calendar yet? Hit reply and let me know your ideas! Remember, I stock all sorts of MELT equipment so you can start MELTing right away (plus I save you some shipping and handling charges)! I'm doing porch deliveries in the area to bring MELT right to your doorstep! By purchasing your equipment through me, you are truly helping me stay afloat during this time. I've got an online store too, if you're interested in our streaming service, MELT on Demand, or you live outside the area. You can link directly to my store HERE. As I shared with a new client recently: "If you try to MELT without using the proper equipment, you simply aren't MELTing. It's like wanting to make Pinot Noir using Chardonnay grapes. You'll still make wine, but you won't get the results you were expecting."  Welcome back! Wow - Where did June go? It's hard to believe that it's been a month since we returned home from our trip. We truly had the time of our lives and are so very grateful for a vacation without many hiccups or issues. It was our first trip to Italy and France, and it lived up to and exceeded every expectation. I have re-acclimated back to daily life and am focusing on summer schedules, specials and workshops. For those of you who don't follow me on social media - here are a few pics from our travels. "I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world." Mary Anne Radmacher Summer Specials - Bring A Friend!Bring A Friend to MELT during the months of July and August! That's right - bring your friend, your spouse, your kid, your neighbor - to any all-level MELT Class for FREE!* AND If you've never been to a MELT class, but you'd love to give it a try... your first class is FREE during July and August! Remember - you just need to wear comfy clothes, bring your water bottle and your yoga mat (if you have one) and I'll provide all the necessary MELT equipment. Regular classes prices are $12 for drop-ins. I also sell punch cards: 5 classes for $50 or 10 classes for $90. *please limit your free friend to one per week - thank you!  Beautycounter NewsThere's a sobering statistic for you. This week marked 81 years since the last major legislation was passed - that's right, it was 1938. Beautycounter is at the forefront of the movement to safer skin care and make up products for everyone. There has been a lot to catch up on in the Beautycounter world, and I'm still reading and learning about our exciting new products and changes.
 What's new this summer...Be on the lookout for Intro Workshops, a follow-up focus series on The Lower Body, a short series on Building a MELT Habit, MELTed Yoga, MELT-in-the-park, a summer picnic and more!
 Lately I've been thinking a lot about our environment, but not in the traditional way. You see, every week I visit a beautiful farm in Carlton for a MELT session. Brenda Smola-Foti owns and operates Tabula Rasa Farms and she is firmly committed to cultivating harmony between land, animals and people. One of the methods she has put into practice is permaculture - a way to work with nature to provide diversity, stability and resilience of the natural ecosystems. This practice works with the natural 'lay of the land' to create swales and terraces to collect and distribute rainwater throughout the farm. She rotates the animals throughout the property in a way that nourishes not only the animals, but the land as well. In working to create and maintain a healthy, viable farm, Brenda must take into consideration every pasture and every animal as well as the needs of the land itself. Last month, during one of my visits, I had the opportunity to introduce MELT to a new farmhand. I realized how easy it was to connect what he knew about creating and maintaining the healthy environment at the farm to creating and maintaining a healthy environment in the body. He understands what happens to the land when water doesn't flow naturally and knows the stiff, dry soil is difficult to work and doesn't absorb the rain readily. When we MELT, we are taking care of the entire biosystem. We are nurturing our internal environment and creating diversity, stability and resilience. MELT is working in every system, because it's all connected, and we can't impact one system in the body without impacting them all. Remember, our connective tissue invests in our muscles and organs, it's present in our brain, it gives our joints their ability to absorb shock, it's where the nervous system resides as well as the lymphatic system. It is your ecosystem, and it takes effort to keep it in it's best possible condition. I invite you to cultivate harmony within ~ I invite you to MELT.
The Traveling Thomases Remember, there will be no MELT classes from April 29 to May 24. Todd and I are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our honeymoon with a "bucket-list" trip to Italy and France. If you know me, you know our MELT equipment travels with me, and this will be no exception. Our plan is to take two MELT Performance Rollers and our Hand & Foot Kit. MELT is a must to unwind the impact of a long flight, stressful travel and the miles of walking we will be doing. I invite you to find and like my Flex Your Ability Facebook page - I'll be doing a bit of Facebook Live while I'm traveling and keeping you all up-to-date on our adventure! If you have any travel tips, experiences, etc. you'd love to share ~ please leave a comment! We'll be in Rome, Soriano Nel Cimino, Sienna, and the Cinque Terra region in Italy, as well as Mougins, France. Coming Soon to an office near you! |
