In this podcast, and in the companion video on YouTube, I do an experiential exercise in the process of balancing while talking about the dynamic process of equilibrium in the body and in our larger lives.   

Listen in, and if you like and in a way that is appropriate for you, with or without a balance board, play along experimenting with striking your own balancing shapes.

Full notes with more resources on balancing in movement practices and in life will be available on the ablythecoach.com blog

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Please, Thank You, I’m Sorry.

An academic, poet, and lover of words, I’m continually fascinated by what language inspires, propels, and empowers us. Time and again, I have found that words have power, to bring mindfulness, intention, medicine.

Show notes and links in my Say the Magic Words: Musings on Resonant Affirmations, Powerful Phrases, Prayers, Stands & Mantra blog article at ablythecoach.com/blog

I would love to hear about your current inspirational intention, stand, or words of power as well as the challenges you’re currently facing on social media @ablythecoach 🙂

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst they/she

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Back-to-School is a good time to practice flexibility, adjusting to learning, new knowledge and schedules. Also the late-summer heat in the northern hemisphere is that much more conducive to a good stretch out. But tests to our personal resilience and ability to respond with agility to change come all year long.

Maybe you already love stretching and appreciate the experience and benefits. In that case, we’ve got the choir and the preacher, let’s sing!

But it could be that your emotions around stretching and flexibility work could be more mixed, or even downright negative. The words you use to describe stretching practice could be mild, such as uncomfortable, boring… or strong, such as awful, excruciating, torture.

In that case, it could be time for a shift of mindset and actual stretching setup, toward comfort, relaxation, and the positive influence, both physical and mental, of greater elasticity in our lives. It means more possibilities for movement, physical and metaphorical!

Momentary discomfort can, through mindfulness, curiosity, and resourcefulness, transform into something savory, delicious, even indulgent. With the right timing, intentions, music, positions and approaches, props, and breathwork you may just fall in love with the spaciousness of flexibility.

Come feast your senses with me 🙂

Show notes and all links available in the Sumptuous Stretching blog article linked here.

Please tell me about your experience and challenges with stretching, flexibility, and mobility. Still to come, ever-expanding movement offerings and writing on the topics of Cooling Down, Elements of Dance, Riding Waves of Change, and more!

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Dance theorists identify 7 basic movements of ballet or classical dance technique, and we can see these essential building blocks at play in every ballet pas, step, or movement.   

I'm excited to announce that around these 7 essentials, I've designed a free summer dance challenge to begin or continue your ballet journey!   

Balletlicious Basic Building Blocks of Dance is a 7-Day "not so intensive" challenge, enriching your knowledge of dance before the summer is over, at no charge in just minutes per day.  

We will focus on one basic movement each day, then look forward to more resources on putting it all together to come!  

Visit the sign-up page to be included in the 7-Day experience over the course of two weeks  27 July - 3 August:

Can't wait to dance together :)

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Not long ago I was in conversation with a physical therapist I know on Instagram about what we’d like to learn more about from one another. I shared that I seek resources for students with hyperextension/mobility, and Kelli told me:

“It could be interesting to learn more about how you coach dancers who need to adapt in their careers either due to severe injury or age or other factors that are cause for shifting of focus.”

I thought it would be great to address this in a blog article and podcast, as working with the right coach is an awesome move for dancers and other creatives in transition. 

Being creative by nature, it just takes an effective structure or container and catalyzing support to create empowered, transformational change!

My clients typically come to me for support around massive career shifts and tricky health challenges, as well as working through nasty breakups and other cataclysmic shifts. In short, folks dealing with radical change, whether it is chosen and wanted or totally unexpected, seek out coaching for effectively navigating the thrilling and terrifying transitions of life.

I have supported clients through career transitions such as from working within an organization to becoming an entrepreneur or founding a nonprofit, going back to school, taking on leadership positions, coping with injury, disability, and diagnosis, jumping from field-to-field, radical changes of medium, specialty and/or geography.

They could be struggling to find any semblance of balance in changing life circumstances, or yearn to integrate seemingly disparate needs, interests, and passions. What all my clients have in common is wanting to live purposefully, passionately, and creatively.

In the podcast I discuss the change process, coaching container, and my signature program.

My approach is holistic, rigorous, and truly unique, but you don’t have to take my word for it, you can experience the difference firsthand in a complimentary discovery call. Better than trying to explain how coaching works is to put the tools to work and see how the coaching container and process could transform your life!

Questions for Reflection

I would love to connect with you on Instagram, where I regularly post and go live @ablythecoach as well as my weekly email newsletter.

More details and further testimonials also available on my coaching page. In future articles I'll continue to share key tools and distinctions and expand upon the five touchstones of my signature program!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst

Do you feel a strong sense of personal direction, clarity about your purpose in life, and confidence that you are making the right moves to get there?  

The A Blythe Coach Dance Through Any Difficulty Framework of Grounding, Centering, Orienting, Creating, Relating which is woven into all of my coaching and teaching work.  

Recently I’ve been sharing a series of meditations to support the work, and so far have touched on Grounding, which is to do with foundation, focus, and our personal Essence, and Centering powerfully around our Purpose to create mobility and transformation. Later, Creating will have to do with living out our Mission or dharma, and Relating with sharing love, connecting with self, others, and spirit.  

Now we take the step of Orienting towards our personal Vision. This stage is associated with the Manipura or Solar Plexus and Anahata or Heart Chakras. We also explored the Solar Plexus Chakra a bit in the Centering meditation, so now we’ll explore the insights and associations of the Heart Chakra.

I provide Reflection Questions for before and after meditation, a simple Lovingkindness Meditation practice with or without music, Affirmations & Words of Power. 

Message me your answers to any of the questions you’re willing to share on IG @ablythecoach. Sharing your purpose and vision can be a celebration of, and accountability to, living out your purpose and mission!

How will you stay present to your vision when life and its obstacles inevitably come up?  

Sources: Accomplishment Coaching Coaches Training Program

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Announcing my FREE 5-Day Virtual Yogalicious ReTREAT!  Everyone deserves a break to rest and restore, and you can take one anytime, anywhere with an internet connection, and establish a self-care habit with this yoga series! The Re-TREAT launches 20.-24. June 2021 in honor of Pride and my birthday.  

Come as you are, and bring your favorite yoga props, pillows and blankets, candles, incense, crystals and beverages to create the full "retreat" experience.   

This Yoga Mini-ReTREAT provides a restful and rejuvenating practice oasis daily. Take just a handful of moments (or hours, depending on time available) out of your day, and feel the benefits.  

Each daily session is focused on one delicious shape or yoga pose, which you can choose to approach in a low-impact restorative manner or in a more energizing activated form, with adaptations to find your favorite flavor.   For yogis and movers at all levels, I’ll teach each session so that beginners can understand and experienced practitioners can go deeper into their experience of the poses and designing their practice.  

Just pop your information at the link here to sign up or, visit my Instagram @ablythecoach and send me a DM to get started.  

We will have fun and feel good!

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

Want to feel more powerful in your movements and in everything you do?  

Centering and Integrating generates power for movement and taking effective action from the core of your being.

This is a Centering Breathing & Meditation practice that can be done in any comfortable position, with or without supportive tools.

Choose a Centering Thought/affirmation/stand or compose a different phrase that resonates in your core. Examples:

Repeat your chosen Centering Thought to yourself as we continue with the meditation (with music), then release your Centering Thought and slowly return to the room and gently open your eyes.

Record or write down your chosen centering thought in a place where you will encounter it throughout the day and be reminded of your personal power.

Questions for Reflection

Other resources mentioned (full show notes will be up on the blog soon):

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst

DISCLAIMER: A Blythe Coach recommends that you consult your physician regarding the applicability of any recommendations and follow all safety instructions before beginning any exercise program. When participating in any exercise or exercise program, there is the possibility of physical injury. If you engage in this exercise or exercise program, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself.

A relaxing, centering, and meditative body scan exercise that can be practiced reclining or seated. Beneficial for dancers, athletes, and joyful movers.

Pulled from my Yoga Nidra Practice available on YouTube, and if you enjoy this sort of centering work you will also enjoy my Yogalicious Yummy Gentle Yoga for Dancers Video Playlist.

Share your favorite relaxing practice Instagram @ablythecoach, I would love to hear your perspective!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst

Move gracefully through whatever challenge you may currently face!

I’m Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst and Creator of A Blythe Coach, helping multi passionate creatives dance through their difficulties and take leaps of faith into joy and fulfillment.

I’m dropping in today to invite you to join my FREE 5-Day Dance Through Any Difficulty Virtual Coaching Challenge, which will take place May 16-20th for International Coaching Week!

It is so exciting to see people stepping up to the challenge, ready to clear obstacles out of the way of their ability to make moves with ease and power and live with joy and fulfillment! Just pop your information at the _link here to sign up_, or visit my Instagram @ablythecoach and send me a DM to get started.

The week of the virtual coaching challenge, we are going to clarify the obstacle/s you face and dance our way through them, choreographing your next quantum leap into joy and fulfillment in just a few juicy minutes per day! I will lead you step-by-step through a powerful coaching tool and distinctions, get clear about our current obstacles, practice embodied techniques, and take effective action.

Each day I will email you with a coaching tool or distinction to provide clarity, a short meditation, breathing, and/or movement practice to get grounded and centered, reflection to deepen understanding, and action steps to make your insights have a permanent impact in your life. The information will also be presented in video form in a link in each daily email.

I will also include links to the previous day’s content going forward, so you can refer to it, start again anytime, and go through the whole challenge again with your next difficulty. If you get stuck on any step, it can also be helpful to go back and re-do the former one with more clarity. Each time you use it, the insights deepen and you propel yourself forward.

***and if you found yourself here seeking more specific dance or yoga related content, check out those videos on YouTube and look forward to my Virtual Yoga Retreat in June and Virtual Dance Intensive in July!

Monday we are starting with a brief breathing practice to get centered, then identifying the stuck area, breakdown, or problem that you wish to dance through, then I’ll guide you through the process of removing the obstacle currently in your way, as well as provide the framework to use in the future.

Please spread the word to those you know who would enjoy or benefit from support in navigating their next step, and I’ll look forward to busting barriers with you! It can be even more effective to go through the challenge with a buddy.

As always, send me a message with any questions, and I’ll look forward to seeing you in the challenge next week!

Love, Blythe

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst