Connecting Virtually and Keep Moving
So, here we go again, gyms and other non-essential, indoor businesses must close back down amidst the COVID-19 numbers surging. Even as many people were returning to normalcy for summer holidays or thinking we would soon be returning to a greater sense of normal life, we have to remove our expectations and readapt. As these changes fluctuate back and forth it can be extremely stressful, produce anxiety, and confuse us and our clients. It's challenging to know what to do. I've found myself saying often during these past few months that I feel like I'm either being too strict about my safety measures, or not strict enough, and nothing feels quite right. But honestly, no one knows what to do right now, so we do the best we can until we know more, and then we do better.
The strangest aspect I've noticed is that as I'm out on the street jogging, biking, or walking my dog, I feel fearful of others. If a person turns the corner near me I jump back to get the 6-foot distance between us. While this won't be forever, this is a necessary safety precaution right now, and it saddens me to feel the separation. I even see people avoiding eye contact as we're walking by as if that will be another measure of protection. I try to smile to acknowledge them from afar before realizing my mask is covering half my face, all our usual measures of connection are restricted.
I come from a dance background, a movement practice, from physical collaborations. I practiced movement skills while rolling around the floor of countless studios, studied weight-bearing exercises while leaning against a partner for contact improv, and explored vulnerability while sitting face-to-face with a peer to stare into their eyes for a whole 2-minutes without looking away. Right now, none of this is possible. Right now, we are afraid of each other, and of the uncertainty of the virus, each of us has been potentially exposed to. Right now, we have to be separated by screens and distance for our own and others' safety.
While it is challenging to adapt during this time, I do think this will create new avenues for dancers, performers, and other health and movement practitioners. I've already seen virtual performances around the world and taken dance classes from my living room with teachers in Seattle, New York, London, and Israel. Without the virtual option, I would be unable to take these classes and watch the shows, so I'm grateful for that, but I do start to miss the community, the energy of being in the space with others, the connection to other people moving together.
Similarly, I miss the in-person connection with my clients at my studio. As I've mentioned in other posts, I have been enjoying teaching virtually, and many clients have been grateful to be able to continue their practices. However, I have many more clients who haven't been so keen on classes in their own houses who have been hoping to return to the studio sooner than later. I haven't worked with those clients for 4 months now since my studio has been closed. While I have stayed in contact with them via personal texts and group email blasts, the connection is missing. This is a time to be innovative, to find new ways to connect, new ways to teach, and new projects to create within the space available to us.
While we seem to be returning back to a partial lockdown, the only way I'm staying sane is by continuing to teach, learn, read, virtual dates with friends, and continuing with my own exercises. Having a set schedule and a daily workout keeps my anxiety calmer, and gives me a structure to feel purposeful and productive. Pilates helps me center myself, focus on my breathing, and forget about all the crazy in the outside world for an hour. Find what movement you like to do, schedule it into your day, and give yourself the time.
My movement practice keeps me calm and connected. What moves you?
