Hello Refinery Family!
Well, the season of Spring is here – starting with the Spring Equinox on March 20th. That day signified the rebalance of lightness and darkness – emerging from shorter days of winter into the longer, (warmer?) days of fertility and growth in spring. Western Religious traditions mimic this rhythm, as well, with Passover and Easter traditions both including purification and sacrifice (discomfort = short, dark days) and culminating with a celebration of liberation and hope (new beginning = longer, sunnier days.) Eastern Religious traditions of Holi (Hinduism) and Wesak (Buddhism) also celebrate the beginning of the longer days of Spring with festivities that emphasize the triumph of good over evil and the significance of pursuing a higher purpose (enlightenment). The symbols of these holidays include flowers, water, colored paint, and thorough cleaning of one’s house (Spring cleaning anyone?). The reality is that we are deeply affected by the balance or lack of balance of darkness and lightness from the sky regardless of where we live, if or how we worship, or the language we speak – and we must find our way to be in a useful rhythm with the changing season. All over the world, the transition to longer days has significance.
With that transition in mind – maybe this week, you consider:
- Finding a way to be a light for someone by doing a selfless deed
- Bringing fresh cut flowers into your home to offset the gray sky
- Practicing discipline by removing a habit that holds you back
- Appreciating a family member by going on a walk and mainly asking questions and listening
- Embodying the season of light by wearing a colorful item of clothing
- Freedom from your ruminating thoughts with a 10-minute meditation.
These are just brainstorms of ways that we can build on the routines we’ve been incorporating since January, and add some color, celebration, and joy to our daily lives and to those in our community.
On a personal and parenting level, Spring for me indicates the beginning of the (unpredictable) Spring sports season – baseball and softball, tennis, golf, lacrosse, track, and, OF COURSE, spring soccer – with hopeful athletes looking forward to games that are exciting, victorious, social, cold, and a little soggy. For the adults involved, the sports season is also time-consuming and involves a fair bit of driving. Make time for your workouts and your 2023 healthy routines so you can stay positive! We believe in daily movement so we try to manage any irritation or discomfort (right?) and celebrate our offspring’s anticipation and successes. If you are in this boat with me, I feel you! Go team! We can do this!
Happy Spring!
Ashleigh
Britany and Baby and Bye Bye
We are in our final month with Britany, and it’s a strong mix of emotions for me. My first one is gratitude, that she and I were connected and that she brought her teaching talents to our community. Secondly, I’m excited and joy-filled for this next chapter in her life. Becoming a mother has been the part of my adult life that taught me ALL the lessons needed to survive – the art of adulting, of radical acceptance, of humility and humor, of staying married, of getting sh*t done, of running a household and a business, and surviving a pandemic. Britany seems to have all of these already down, so she is likely to become wise beyond her years very quickly. And while I try not to admit it, I also feel sad for our loss of her in our gym lives. She brings energy, wit, and creativity to our workouts. She brings a level of professionalism and ambition that wasn’t here before she arrived. She will be missed, and we wish her and Rob and her baby girl all the best.
Remember to stop by The Refinery baby shower Sunday, April 17th, 10 am to 12 pm at my house. You either know where I live or Sarah will give you the address when you RSVP to 503-593-7035.
Thursday 5:30 pm Yoga Added!
Seems like our crew is learning that taking time for mobility and deliberately slowing down is a key component to wellness. It helps that we have two gifted yoga instructors to guide us. Starting this week, April 6th, Zach will start teaching a Thursday 5:30 pm Flow-Rida/yoga class to add to your Sunday morning and Tuesday evening practice. When class is over, you’ll still have time to enjoy some daylight and show up for your evening responsibilities in a grounded state.
Register in Mindbody!
We have our own Refinery app that makes it easy to schedule classes, buy packages and more! Download it for free!
