Choice

Some of my classes are small, very small. The funniest thing is that surveys, conversations, and fact-finding says that people WANT movement and exercise classes. They even sign up for exercise classes…then don’t show up when the classes are there, right there in their very own building, an elevator ride away.

Or, some come to class and are “too tired” to actually do any of the movement. Some come for the music, conversation, interaction with a human. And that’s fine, although I always stand in the possibility that they will, eventually, begin moving. Some used to move, now barely move.

Some have come and now don’t come, some plan to come and haven’t made it once in the past 6 years.

There is a long laundry list of reasons, I hear some of them every week. Many of them are shoulder shrugs and attributed to the unknown.

What I know is that they KNOW movement and exercise are good for them, that their doctors and families recommend more movement and exercise, and that the organization funding the classes I teach are also in favor of opportunities to improve their health. Like so many, the knowledge doesn’t change the choices made on a daily basis. There are too many mental, emotional and real barriers to making the correct choice for themselves in the moment.

You could say that they are NOT coming and that is their choice. Which is only partly true.

My teacher, Dorothy Espiau, said, “I want to be remembered for giving people their choice back.” And I continue to teach her work, The GEMS of Excellence for that purpose. What I know is that the reasons for NOT coming, moving, doing more to keep themselves healthy are stressors ingrained in their neuralpathways that give them a NO on repeat when faced with the invitation to an opportunity to move, and THAT is NOT being in CHOICE! That is a stress response continuing to give them a NO to something that could be extremely beneficial.

I’ve used the example of the opportunity to come to my classes, but the truth is that stressors are at work in our lives ALL THE TIME. Consider the many things that can occur as a stressor - the invitation to come to class, colors - could be the color of the walls in the room, the instructor’s shirt, the carpet, conversations - could be the subject matter, the tone, pitch or tenor of the other person’s voice, or the color of their eyes, people who look like someone from your past, the weather, someone who reminds you of your 2nd grate teacher, or something your 4th grade teacher said or made you do. the music used in class … Any of these and many more things can obliterate the possibility of freely choosing to do …ANYTHING!

The GEMS of Excellence teaches simple tools to de-stress on the go, in the moment, as needed and on repeat! Participating in GEMS Courses teaches you the tools, when to use them, and you gain experience to notice all of the times to use them. We often don’t even notice the stressful waters we swim in! When you get the lower stress ball rolling the difference in your life gains momentum and a whole new world shows up. Participating actively in making authentic choices is a welcome relief and experience in LIVING that is difficult to comprehend when swimming in all that stress. You’re invited! Check out our information and Courses!

https://www.vintagemoves.co/intros-to-gems