COVID19 - Kick You Up the Bum with Both Feet

As actors, makers and creators many of us already live with a lot of uncertainty, it comes with the territory, sadly so does depression and anxiety. So I know that for many of you this may be feeling heightened as each announcement comes and jobs / gigs / shows / events get cancelled. It is with a heavy heart that I finally announce Both Feet classes will be putting their feet up (temporarily). We don't yet know what this looks or feels like and even though our heart is heavy we are still feeling optimistic. Why? Well...

There is one thing I know for sure: you and me, we're resilient f*ckers. We have the special kind of brains that adapt, that turn a challenge into something beautiful. We see ways to make use of what we have now. Yes our worlds are changing. Yes we may feel overwhelmed / scared / [insert word of your choice] but let's all take a moment, step back and check out the massive sack of resources we have. 

What do we know from our training?

• Nothing stands still - everything is always moving so trust that we will get through this
• Over thinking doesn't help - if your head is on overdrive, know that putting your attention away from yourself is the kindest thing you can do for you. (See below)
• To be open, honest and generous - ah this is perhaps the most important, many of the actors and humans I'm surrounded by are this inherently which is already showing in my FB feed with the acts of kindness and care being offered to complete strangers. Check out choreographer and movement director Lucy Lane's Be Kind Be Useful Livestream - a perfect example and I'm sure there's many more (link them in the comments?)
• To trust in this moment - what is true now? This moment is more important that clinging onto what was yesterday or living in What If land. When we trust that, we will adapt and things are much easier.  
• Stick with the facts - Are you working with the facts or are you getting caught up all the other stuff? 
• To listen & respond - listen to your body and hear what it needs. Do you need to breathe, rest, clean, make something, play, run? Do you need to stay in? Do you need to go to the hospital / doctor?
• To trust yourself and everything you are made up of - you have everything you need to get through this, you are resourceful and brave and creative and have the most phenomenal imagination to pull you through. I've already seen people I'm connected to pooling resources, being intuitive to each others needs and using their skills to pay the bills etc
• It's your job to not know - we've been training to relinquish control, to be ready for anything, to expect the unexpected. Well, here we are. 
  
• It's OK to feel - whatever you're feeling, it's OK. Be kind to yourself, let it move, know you don't need to indulge it and trust you can ride the wave.

---

       When Shakespeare was quarantined because of The Plague he wrote King Lear

If you're someone who can get stuff in your head and need to calm the chaos (and even if you're not!) then definitely take this time to connect with your present self. Replaying the What Ifs through your mind is probably not going to be great for you so trust you have loads of tools to help with that, if you choose to use them.

• Breathe 
  • Those of you who have come to my class recently will probably be familiar with this song.
  • ​​Feet on the floor, eyes closed or softened and allow your attention to come to your breathing: in your nose and out your mouth. Just notice. What is it doing? Is your in-breath longer or shorter than your out-breath? If your mind wonders, allow your tongue to rise to the roof of your mouth with each in-breath and drop as you breathe out. 
• Take some time to release
  • ​You can add this to your breath work by moving your attention around your body, starting with your eyebrows, across your face, down your jaw, your neck, your shoulders, your hands, spine, tum, bum, thighs, ankles and to the end of your toes and as you go notice where you're holding tension and allow it to melt away with every out-breath
  • There are plenty of other ways to release too - maybe it's having a bloody good shout or cry or dance!
• Stretch
  • Have a good stretch. I do it a lot throughout the day, when I'm "tab flicking" or feeling disconnected or disorientated and I should be working - it's a winner. The blood flow to the muscles increases which kicks in the "rest and digest" (parasympathetic) part of our nervous system promoting relaxation and also releases delicious endorphins. Who doesn't want a few of them?!
• Drink water and eat well
  • ​Easier said than done, of course. But what we put into our bodies will affect our thoughts, our sleep and our energy. I know you know this but we all need reminding, don't we? It's made me have a drink of water, so, thanks ;-)
  • Around 80% of your immune system resides in your gut so by strengthening digestion you also strengthen immunity.
    
• Get as much air as you can
  • ​Noone can stop you from getting out and going for a walk (or if you're wild, a jog!)
  • It's easy to get sucked into the very tiny world on your phones but look up, allow yourself to notice the beauty that is around you. 

That's all I have to say right now. I'm going to figure out ways we can stay connected, because we need to so if you have any ideas, talk to me. We are a family, we'll get through this together. 

All the love,

​Steph xxx

and of course, Adam sends his love too "Onward we go! We’ll be fine, we got this. Plus, if we can be useful to any of you you know where we are." 🙌🏻