At the beginning of this summer, I was wondering how I would ever juggle my clients, kids being home from school, everyday training, and keeping Artists in Unity moving forward with all of our projects in dance film. As summer now comes to a close in the next month and my kids are venturing back to school and as I take on another powerful year with Movement for You and Artists in Unity I realized one thing is for sure Breathing, Focus, and Dedication to a Morning Practice is key to keeping my life on track and with aligning my heart so I can carry out all of my beautiful responsibilities and keep true to myself.
Keeping true to myself has been a major focus over this past summer. AIU has been on quite a roller coaster ride with diving into projects, reorganizing of our material and footage for the past six years, preparing for all the post work that is ahead of us over this next year, and with my pushing of our international outreach. There have been honestly moments through these hot summer days that all I wanted to do was head to the beach and hang up the work. And yes, with my incredible kids along my side and since two years back I made the decision to freelance I was able to pack up and put things on hold when I needed too. Clear my head and redirect my priorities along the way. Keeping true to myself though and following out AIU and MFY missions has been quite challenging on certain days since I am the key player with both of my companies in making decisions and with the follow through. This is why I find the dedication to movement practice in the early morning hours is key to aligning my body, mind, and spirit.
This brings me to the most important reason dedication to morning practice and check-in with self is crucial~ My Kids. I remember growing up and having skating practice early, park program, or swim classes my childhood was filled with activity and keeping my body healthy from day one. There were even moments then that I would complain on some days that I didn’t want to do certain activities. But, by the end of the activity I was smiling bright and happily spreading my cheer to fellow friends and family. My energy always had a way of redirecting itself through physical activity which led my mind, body, and spirit to true alignment and connection to my heart. My childhood morning rituals helped to make me see the importance of morning practice and passing it onto my kids too.
Early morning summer hikes and connection to nature are the best dedications to morning practice~
Summer days are almost over and I am grateful for every special day that I had this past summer with my kids, family, and my daily practices. The daily practice has helped me to see that whatever is in front of us is obtainable and can be worked through with much grace. I will be continuing to build my private practice work with Movement for You as many new clients join by my side to experience Movement for You this coming fall. Artists in Unity has had its international kick off with one of our films in the beginning of August which was beautiful to see and experience. And I will continue on my mission of dedicating to my morning practices so then my love for movement, art, my family, clients, and my followers can feel all the joy that is within this heart of mine. Remember the more we check-in with ourselves and truly love ourselves (every ounce… the ups, downs, and the in between) is when true connection to our own heart is made. The beautiful aspect of this is then we are able to pass all that love and passion along to others.
This blog was written by founder and creator of Movement for You Practice Lindsay Schaefer.
Lindsay is also the Artistic Director of Artists in Unity. You can follow all the work of Movement for You and Artists in Unity via the following sites-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Movement-for-You-and-Artists-in-Unity/179731992111934?ref=bookmarks