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I have worked with Terumi in my capacity as speech-language therapist.  She lectured to my stroke support group at the College of Marin.  I adore her and her newsletters.  I hope you do too!

Keeping the body stable is one thing — stability of the mind is quite another.   Think of the hours you have put into mat work, exercises on the equipment, and picking out the right workout clothes.  It’s all so exhausting.

What happens, though, when you leave the studio (in your cute workout wear) and begin to move?  Let’s say you’re having coffee with a friend.  You, being the true-blue listener you are, have only your friend’s interests at heart….not your posture.  But if, say, just for a moment you drifted to your back muscles, or where your pelvis is sitting in that coffee-house chair (OMG!  Does my friend know I’ve diverted attention away from her story that I’ve already heard three times?), what kind of cues would you pick up about your own posture?  Or, what about your ability to walk up that trail (alert to dog poop to the right, step sprightly!), ride your bike on the bike path, hit the golf ball, swing that tennis racket, or dance your famous cha cha cha.  What happens to your posture then?  Are you able to challenge yourself a bit more?

It’s hard work to put into action the beautiful body mechanics you can achieve in the studio, isn’t it?  But that is the whole darn point!  I’m sure you love a good challenge, so here is mine to you:

Picture yourself becoming as free with your movements as you can be.   If your muscles could sing, they would harmonize with their neighboring muscles.  Imagine your elegance and feel that your true strength comes from deep within.   Enjoy the benefits of knowing that all your hard training is paying off.  Try to not be afraid of moving a bit faster, reaching a little farther, clicking your heels together 4 times, instead of only three, and repeat:  There’s no one like me.  There’s no one like me.  There’s no one like me.  You can do it!  And, you can do it because the isolated Pilates movements are not really isolated at all.  They are sequenced and balletic and rhythmic.  Pilates teaches you to pay attention.  But as a student of Pilates you may find the ultimate test is putting all your lessons in stability to the test…in motion.

Here’s an interesting article on golf that appeared in the Wall Street Journal recently:

WSJ.com - How the Pros Get Their Bodies Ready*

Sometimes it can be fun to check out what folks who do this sort of thing, ahem, I mean professional astrologers see when they read the skies.  Personally, I like reading my horoscope only when there is something really positive in the future.  Who can argue with a positive outlook.  See what’s up with your sign:

TRANSFORMATIVE VISIONS

SUSAN HEINZ

ASTROLOGER

Transformative Visions Astrology, Music of the Spheres

An Overview for 2010;

2010 is a crucial turning point year. As a “21” year, it calls for our greatest skillfulness to maneuver through this completion of the old paradigm and birth a new reality. It is a year of revolution, to revolve around a new center. Though we will see more demonstrations, this can be a year of revolution in the deepest core belief systems of humanity, moving beyond fear based, victim belief systems that have created structures of governing over the last 2000 years, into a self responsive, creative, innovative humanity that understands opportunities present in each moment. We are poised at this crossroads of choice, not only personal but also collective. This crossroads of choice is seen astrologically as the outer planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto are forming a T square pattern in the cardinal signs, Aries, Libra and Capricorn, a rare formation.

The year of the Tiger, beginning February 13^th, is a dramatic year of visionaries, extremes and bold actions. As we finish the year of the Ox, with its hard work and practicalities to deal with what’s before us, we are ushered into the New Year with a potent sign, a rare symbol gracing the doorway we are about to pass. A blue moon, lunar eclipse, dresses the full moon as it lights our passage into the New Year on New Year’s Eve. With Mars retrograde in Leo until March 10^th and Mercury retrograde until Jan 15^th, this is not a year to immediately plunge forward, but to begin with serious review of plans, actions and deep motives. With Mercury retrograding through the Earth signs in 2010, we are asked to carefully review our relationship to the Earth, its resources and creatures. We must pay special attention to our bodies and with all things material; money, security and work. How are we using our authority to create, what do we deeply value and how do you take care of ourselves? Be wise, simple, and practical. We must strengthen and learn how to deeply care for our bodies and energy systems, cultivating self regard at this level, being conscious of what foods we eat, where the food comes from, what kind of soil it is grown in. This is the year to transform our relationship to our foundations, our physical well-being, planet Earth and our values and belief systems.

With Uranus (the planet of crisis) to conjunct expansive Jupiter in the sign of new beginnings, Aries, in June, the stage will be set to awaken, embracing our responsibility as creators. But we must pass through a narrow birth canal. The crisis is the labor of birth, as humanity has a habit of crisis in order to birth itself. Crisis allows us to examine the strength, purpose, motive and intent of our deeper self. It expands our vision, and fosters compassion. It draws upon resources of the heart. Through crisis we are pushed to extreme effort, to draw upon our deep inner resources. The war, economic and environmental challenges form the contracting crisis, the walls of the birth canal. The challenges of this great Cardinal Cross peak this year at the Summer Solstice.

Because of the growth of technology and world wide instantaneous communication with each other, this crisis is global and for the first time is allowing the whole of humanity to participant in this awakening and potentially the healing of oppression and polarization. Though the financial markets and dollar will surely be challenged this year (google Ray Merriman for astrological financial forecasts), it is not what this is really about. It is about healing a long lineage of wounded humanity. In order to handle the uncertainty of not knowing outcomes, our awareness must heighten. We are driving to a new place that we have never been before. No habituated way of being, halfway paying attention, will work. Each one of us must be alert to new signs and signals directing our way.

The foundational values of our country will change over the next 4 years. With Pluto opposing the USA Venus the economy, our values and global relationships will continue to go through many changes. At the end of the year, USA experiences a Saturn Return, meaning we must evaluate what further adjustments need to be made to fulfill our potential and destiny. We must take definite actions to face up to what we have created.

The first half of the year will be incredibly challenging for President Obama. He will go through continued attacks, criticisms from all fronts. His popularity will continue to drop. He will be tested as if through fire. His own personal destiny challenges him to move through the wounds of his lineage inorder to be successful in his leadership. The war will be very challenging with many protests, especially through March. Situations will be stalled. In June situations there is a break-through. This is the man whose destiny leads him into creating new foundations for our country.

Humanity’s karma of the last 2000 years is cresting. Plant new seeds of visions, voices and actions to honor the quantum leap of consciousness, bringing sacredness, unity and peace back into our material world.

Twelve opportunities for 2010:

Aries (Mar 20-Apr 19): At the solstice, envision your life anew. During the winter months review where you are. Find a balance between your needs and the needs of others. The time of new beginnings and unexpected opportunities comes in the summer for you. You are moving through challenges in relationship. It is an opportunity to pause in your life and quietly readjust. Your career transforms.

Taurus (Apr 20-May 20): You find opportunity this year in sharing with new groups of people, being innovative in the community with others. This needs to be grounded through organizing your daily life and work routines. Carefully attend to your health, and caring for your body. You have the opportunity of breaking through old belief systems.

Gemini (May 21-Jun 20): This year there is the opportunity of new possibilities in your career. People seek out what you offer. To take up this opportunity you are challenged to drop your pictures of what things should look like and judging yourself harshly. It blocks your creativity. New levels of intimacy and support can flow in your life.

Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 21): Your obligation to a family member has been challenging. This year you have an opportunity to expand your world. Embrace change. It’s the doorway to new possibilities for you in career and life purpose. You can participate with life in a very different way than you are used to. Prepare for this by reading “Spontaneous Healing of Belief”, by Gregg Braden.

Leo (Jul 22 – Aug 22): This year, ask yourself what are your needs? What do you want? Review what is deeply important and valuable to you. What is your hearts desire? The area of focus to stimulate more fulfillment is in how you communicate yourself. The summer solstice brings rewarding and perhaps unexpected travel, or a person from a different culture exposing you to new points of view that are liberating and exciting.

Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): You have felt a burden, restriction or deep concern in the last part of 2009. 2010 provides you will the opportunity for more enjoyment and fun in relationship. There is the opportunity for a new partnership to form, opening doors in unexpected ways and leading to exciting new beginnings. Keep yourself balanced between carefully attuning to your self care and new possibilities.

Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): The big question is where are you going to focus your attention? You are balanced right now between authoring a new phase of your life and family concerns. This is an important transformative time for you. Give yourself a silent retreat to feel into the roots of your essence. Excitement and new beginnings are provided to you through your partnership or another person.

Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21): A silent retreat and inner contemplation to get to deep-rooted patterns bring much reward this year. You are dealing with your fears. Patterns of thinking and communicating are ready to be changed. Your opportunities lie in new ways to express yourself. Open your heart to those around you. Write poetry. Express your love. As your daily life changes unexpected graces come to you.

Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 20): You have felt very responsible for the people you work with, or your extended family. This is not an easy situation for you. It has caused you to look more deeply at yourself and your life patterns, patterns that have carried you through many scenarios in the past. You have the opportunity to develop a new sense of wholeness. This takes you into an exciting time of new directions of self expression, creativity and an unexpected opening of your heart.

Capricorn (Dec 21- Jan 19): You are involved in big changes in your life. Even your appearance is changing. You have worked hard and are achieving goals that are important to you. Your opportunity this year is to communicate yourself in new ways. Give yourself over to imaginative reveries. This will lead to breakthroughs in the goals that you set for yourself. Be open to intuitions that guide your direction.

Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 17): In 2010 you have the opportunity to bring out your wisdom and voice in new and unexpected ways. Find the venue to share your insights. People warm to your enthusiasm. A sibling or good friend will be helpful in this regard. You are deeply involved with how to assist humanity or clients to move through negativity, fear and resistance. Take unexpected risks in self expression.

Pisces (Feb 18-Mar 19): This year your opportunity exists within yourself. Give yourself the space to enjoy your live. Ask yourself what would that look like if you did. Follow this joy. There is a grace and beauty that comes to you in return for the service you have provided others. If you haven’t been involved with service to others now is the time to volunteer. It brings you joy.

Susan Heinz is a professional astrologer in Santa Cruz for 27 years, bringing together traditional & esoteric astrology, Tarot and Qabalah. For info on her Friday monthly astrology groups, her Qabalah and astrology classes and for personal consultations, call (831) 476-5787, or e-mail susanheinz@comcast.net

Check out this informative site for hand exercises:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arthritis/AR00030

“Good work, sweetheart!” said Pilates elder Jay Grimes to me (was that a wink?) as I worked my duet-best under his tutelage at Allison Gonzalez’s beautiful studio, Purely Pilates in San Carlos, CA.  What comes to mind is that when an elder teaches an older then what have you got besides a lot of years blowing the top off of any preconceived ideas of what getting older means to us?

The next day I had the opportunity to study with another  Pilates elder, Mary Bowen, at always-cutting-edge EHS Pilates Studio in San Francisco.  Here’s Mary, an elder, she’s 79, who stands up straight, believes in herself, continues to work like a horse and yet maintains that diva-like quality often reserved for the ingenue.  “Anyone in the room in their 50’s?” Mary asked the group.  Why yes indeed, I said to myself feeling my shoulders starting to round.  Usually, I would think that this question might be an indication to point out where the handicap bathroom is located.  But, when she said that it isn’t until we hit our 50s that life begins to reveal its mysteries, my shoulders relaxed.  I sat up straighter.   Mary said, “It’s as if your skin turns inside out - like starting all over again from the opposite side of ourselves.”  We can bring so much life experience to the table for our own well being– not to mention what we can take to the mat for our clients.   My arm shot up in answer to Mary’s question:  “Yes, over 50.  That’s me!”

Wink.

Aging is the hottest thing going and  I say, “Good work, sweethearts!”

Welcome to my planet.