The New Year is well underway and so are our new rituals. Keep the momentum going and find the flow state you need this February with our new yoga and Pilates classes.
Ground yourself to a state of calm, focus, or confidence and energise yourself on the mat with our new yoga and Pilates classes. But sometimes, that can be easier said than done.
We speak to our yoga teacher Cecily, and our Pilates teacher Christina about how they’re finding flow and intention through the noise of busyness.
As the energy of a new year settles, how do you personally come back to intention — beyond goals and expectations?
Cecily: I try to shift back into the present moment and check back in with how I am feeling. Instead of asking myself “what must I finish?” I ask myself “how am I showing up here and now?”. It’s about being more intentional and ditching the “what” and owning the “how.” So for instance, one of my goals this year was to incorporate more strength training into my routine. Rather than just striving for lifting more weight, I’m striving for vitality and resiliency. It’s like a mindset shift on focusing on who I am becoming in the moment. This way I can truly honour what feels most aligned with my values and goals.
I’ve also been incorporating an end-of-day reflection. Instead of reviewing my to do list I reflect on how I have lived in alignment with my intentions. This is a beautiful opportunity to practise self-awareness rather than self-criticism.
Christina: I find that deep personal reflection helps me to re-align with what serves me, and what doesn’t. This might look like a quick journaling session, or a mental replay of the day or week when I catch a quiet moment. I focus deeply on whether my actions and choices reflect the values that I have for myself, and my family. The way our days flow as a young family is constantly shifting, so I find it helpful to ground myself in something constant. Right now that’s making sure I’m getting to a Pilates class at least two times a week, taking care of myself so I can show up for my little ones.
In moments where things feel full or fast-moving, what helps you return to a sense of calm and grounding in your body or routine?
Christina: Lately it’s been headphones and a great playlist. Little kids can be really loud (as they should be), but it can be super overwhelming. Whenever I feel myself getting lost in the chaos, my headphones go straight on.
Cecily: When the pace of life accelerates, I drop the "to-do" and return to the "right-now." I take a few slow, steady conscious breaths to wedge some space between a frantic impulse and a deliberate action. It’s a momentary pause that kills the chaos, and it instantly grounds me in a state of calm, present-moment clarity. The breath is one of the best tools we can lean into to create a change in both body and mind and it is literally under our noses! I might also step outside and walk around on the grass with bare feet and feel the earth underneath me. We can use physical sensations and touch to pull ourselves out of the head and back into the body.
When clarity replaces urgency, how do you decide what movement and wellbeing looks like for you in this season?
Cecily: I practise deep, spacious listening and I audit my energy before I move. If I’m feeling mentally fried, I’ll lean into restorative movement like a slow walk or Yin Yoga. If I’m feeling a bit stagnant and need to shake things up, I’ll choose something more high-energy/high-intensity. When clarity replaces urgency, movement and wellbeing becomes a way of honouring your body and celebrating what your body can do on any given day.
Christina: I try to gauge what will help, and what will hinder. Right now that looks like choosing nutrition that isn’t fancy and time consuming, but is simple and nourishing. Finding ways of moving that don’t require a lot of mental effort or that create more stress in my body. In the past I’ve made the mistake of adding more steps or more expectations into my wellbeing, which has often backfired and done the opposite of what I set out to achieve. I’m choosing to keep it simple in this season.
What can we expect when we roll out our mats to complete a class with you?
Cecily: When you step onto the mat with me, leave the "performance" at the door. You can expect a practice that prioritises breath and rhythm over routine, and focus and presence over perfection and form. I’ll always nudge you to listen to and honour your body - whether that means taking a child’s pose or finding an extra vinyasa.
Christina: I think you can expect to feel like you’re moving with someone who can relate to you. Teaching in a body that has changed through three pregnancies, I’ve been both amazed and deeply humbled by the way the body works. I feel like I’ve let go of any ego on the mat, and that’s allowed me to offer you a deeper and more understanding way of moving. I hope that you’ll feel seen and held in your movement and wellness journey.
Ready to find your flow? Join Christina and Cecily on the mat with a 7-day free trial to the KICApp.
