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I recently invested in a beautiful painting for Le Bureau! I am expecting its’ arrival any day now and I am excited to display it. The name of the painting is “OUR WAVE.” I was attracted to the painting as soon as I made eye contact with it. This doesn’t happen to me often as the only other time I remember having a similar attraction is when I saw Pontus for the first time… it was love at first sight! 🙂

AS you may imagine, the painting is a wave; a large, abstract, beautiful and bright portrait of a wave!

Here is why I like it so much…

I love the idea of how “Our Wave” can be easily used for an analogy for “our life.” Its a beautiful reminder that our experience and sometimes circumstances within a situation can change! A wave is alive, steadily and rhythmically flowing in and out to sea, and unpredictable in its’ nature, as it can be rough and over powering at times. Just how our life is dynamic, sometimes more stressful and demanding. Unlike the ever flowing waves, we have to choose to ride and participate in our own life and hopefully we learn to adapt to our new circumstances and cope with the ups and the downs our journey brings. Right after Pontus and I married in 2003, my Dad gave us a plaque with the saying, “a smile can calm any storm life brings.” Although this is very true, I also believe that self-awareness and knowledge of the bigger picture of what is happening can help us adapt to our current reality. Having more knowledge will help free us of “our storm” that we may be experiencing. We have to pay attention as we ride our waves of life!

It’s encouraging just to know that our waves crash and then get drawn back into the ocean and begin again. There is continual flow and movement just how there are many opportunities for us to find more freedom if we choose to be awake, alive, and learn from our past experiences. There is beauty in the oneness of our wave and therefore, our life’s experiences. I try to remember this analogy myself when I am feeling down and experiencing difficult times.

What’s even more beautiful is that we all share in life’s experiences! It’s encouraging to know that we are not alone, rather, we are connected and reflections of one another. We all catch our waves differently, and as a result, experience different outcomes and consequences depending on the dynamic of our wave. “Our rides” will never quite be the same, and we will have opportunities to experience our waves differently.

I know the more I choose to ride my waves with a humble self awareness I will be able to feel more of what the wave is giving me in return. I hope I can encourage everyone I know to fully participate in their own ride and truly have a sense of play! The more we play the more we feel, and hopefully as a consequence, we learn our lessons to help us adapt to new changes and see our wave to our advantage instead of more and more obstacles in our way.

The nature of a wave is wild, alive and free, unattached and ever moving. You may be wondering, why is Brooke talking about waves when Pilates is more about control and setting boundaries? I see your point! I am asking you to find a sense of play in our center and allow yourself to let it go to feel more connection through your whole body. In return you may feel how you automatically become more stable and centered! I encourage you to think yourself as a wave, by adapting to your own circumstances in that moment and just how a wave can flow around their obstacles, so can you! Allow yourself to FEEL, to breathe bigger, lengthen your side body longer, soften into the fullness of your back body stronger, shine and radiate brighter through your limbs, and lastly, sustain a pulsation of drawing in and out from your center line, just how the wave draws to the center of its tube before it crashes and gets drawn back out to begin again. Feeling the result of applying these simple actions will create more space within. This inner freedom will help you maneuver through any obstacles in your own body and hopefully allow you to tap into a deeper connection and strength at your center.

Just how a wave can crash strongly, I hope that you also give your all and dive deeper within your own body and overall experience. Life does happen and will present us with some rough rides, however, if we, like the wave, continue to get up and adapt to our circumstances, I believe, there will be grace in the unrelenting movement. With steady practice and self awareness, we will have opportunities to swim up and out and connect with ourselves and make our overall experience better.

Do you fully participate in your own journey?

Much Aloha,
Brooke

The ARTISTS BEHIND OUR WAVE:
Known as The Twins, Alessio and Marcello Bugagiar moved to Maui from their homeland, Florence, Italy, to windsurf and pursue their careers as artists. They are like the two sides of a coin. Marcello, the visionary, and Alessio, the technician. Together they complete passionate works of art of extreme beauty and originality. The juxtaposition of of the classic and the contemporary, the European and the Hawaiian. “We complete each other, we feel we become one energy that expresses a single idea.”

 

Meaning of ALOHA –
The real meaning of Aloha in Hawaiian is that of Love, Peace, and Compassion.  It’s the guidelines of how to live – a life of Aloha is one when the heart is so full it is overflowing with the ability to influence others around you with your spirit.

 

Just returning from vacation on the BIG Island of Hawaii, I feel inspired to share the following story with you…

Better known as Peaman, Sean, is an acquaintance I have known all my life and see every year in Kona. He has been putting on free running and multi-sport events in Kona for the last 20-years and generally contributing to the aloha feel that the Big Island is famous for.

Sean was in an accident at the age of 9 and he still suffers severe pain on a daily basis. One (not ALL) of his obstacles have been that his pituitary gland does not function and he does not produce any hormones. As a result he has zero motility in his gut which makes it extremely difficult for him to absorb nutrition and gain any weight. Usually it hurts me to look at him because he is so skinny! However, something was different about Sean this year. I was expecting to see his frail physic, bald head, and chicken legs. Instead, I saw him with a full head hair, and possessing some muscle mass. He actually had meat on his bones! What happened I wondered?

 

SEAN –
The accident happened when I was 9 years old when we were back visiting Manhattan Beach, California. A drunk driver hit us going almost 70 mph, killing my mother instantly. It put me in the hospital for an extended amount of time and caused major damage to my pituitary gland, which helps maintain your body’s muscle mass.
During the accident I had the experience of going toward the loving light of God and then going back into my body. I would say that moment has formed my life in a very positive way.
When I was in high school, no one knew how bad the pituitary damage was. When everyone else was growing facial hair and wanting to have girlfriends, I wanted to play in the mud. I was not interested in standing in the hallway with fancy clothes. I wanted to throw the ball around like we did in elementary school.
In high school, I was running track and playing Pop Warner football and doing all the things normal kids did, but just having a lot of pain and unusual health situations. Suddenly, my femur breaks and they tell me I have the bone density of a 70-year-old man and that I have osteoporosis.
If you look now, as far as my heath and the pain I’m in, I still say it is a blessing. I would not be doing what I’m doing if it was not for that.

 

When I saw Sean, I automatically said, Wow! You look great. What happened? What did you do?

He was so kind and humble and told me his story. He said, a lot happened! Mainly he stated that he choose to live. He hit rock bottom, sleeping 36 hours at a time and only weighing in at 80 lbs. At that low point he knew he wanted to live and therefore had to make some changes…body, mind and spirit.

 

SEAN –
Last year before the Hapuna Rough Water Swim was a big rough patch. I was hovering around 80 pounds and sometimes sleeping up to 36 hours at a time. To do Hapuna — I cannot even explain it. On paper, it was nearly impossible.
When you go into something and tell yourself you can’t do it, you’re not going to do it. In the years I was able to do Ironman, I did not train as much as I should have, but never told myself I couldn’t do it. When I did train, I wouldn’t wear a watch or heart monitor because I didn’t want something to telling me what my limits were. I just go by how I feel, regardless of time or numbers.
I think the way I make it through the rough patches is with consistency and not giving up. I do what I can do, but make the effort to get up and do it. Movement is what keeps me alive.

 

In addition to not giving up, being present, and believing in himself, Sean told me he simply does what he needs to do to keep his body absorbing the nutrients he needs the best he can. This means daily injections of B12, hormones, daily Noni juice(if you do not know what this is, look it up! It is magic), and lots and lots of protein shakes as he regurgitates most of what he eats.  He also continues to exercise daily, I see him almost every morning at the Kailua-Kona pier swimming out to the 1.2 mile buoy. Most impressively, he is kind, compassionate, caring, and has an expansive heart. He is not ashamed to share his story, his struggles, and also work hard to fell better. He does not let his pain and all his daily upkeep prevent him from keeping a positive outlook on life. I love it! He is no victim to his pain and knows that life is to be lived and also shared. He is definitely an inspiration to me and how I want to live my life.

 

What do you hope people take away from a Peaman event?
SEAN- I would say the beauty of Kona and the giving nature of the people here.

I always hope people experience aloha in its purest form, which is when people come together and celebrate the day. I really get perturbed when people talk bad about Hawaii and say the aloha is gone. There is always aloha, you just have to find it.
Our slogan is, “Live, Laugh and be a Pea.” All these people who are so called “adults” love a kids party better. People are big kids and just want to have fun. That’s my belief.

 

I hope you can all find and see the Aloha in yourself and share your incredible ALOHA with the ones around you.

Aloha,
Brooke

If you travel to Kona and want to participate in one of Sean’s events, please click here!

 

I am writing to you now as a Graduate of THE WORK. I am so grateful for having been one of the few chosen to participate in this wonderful graduate program. Thank you Jay and Vintage Pilates!

I have been teaching Pilates since 2005, originally certified through a Power Pilates comprehensive training, based in New York. Since that time I have continued to deepen my study having being exposed to many different approaches and styles of the Pilates method, and also became certified with a more rehabilitative contemporary approach to Pilates with Balanced Body back in 2010. Having experienced the 2 very different approaches in addition to my own study of many other varying styles, one would think that I felt grounded in the method of Pilates, however, at times, I felt overly stimulated with too much information.

Participating in The Work, has encouraged me to take a step back, relax, and literally SEE more; see more of myself, see more of the method as a whole, and also see the person in front of me.

Let me explain. Have you ever been instructed to do something that conflicts with another person/teacher/doctor etc…? I do not know about you, but I have!:) My point is, everyone will SEE differently and possibly different things in you, and as a result, different things will be emphasized depending on who your teacher is that day. This could frustrate and confuse you if you are not aware of the “bigger picture”. Not seeing the “bigger picture” narrows your perspective and you could become “stuck” not knowing what to do, and which way to turn, as every teacher is telling you something different. OR, perhaps you will instead welcome that other perspective and approach as you know that it is just another set of eyes showing you what they see that day. Approaching things differently in my opinion is not a bad thing. However, it is necessary that the practitioner understand the bigger picture and continues to root themselves in the essence of each exercise. Too much information, with various styles and approaches, could over stimulate the practitioner and even the teacher. The more you hear the less you see!

For me, being in The Work has allowed me to re-connect to the heart of pilates and given me the tools needed to filter the feedback and instruction I have given that day, thus helping me me connect. I credit my time in The Work for building my trust and self confidence in myself to consistently SEE the bigger picture and the method as one.

Personally, the opportunity to learn and witness Jay teaching the way Joseph Pilates would have taught the exercises himself has been so wonderful because it is so straightforward and direct! There is nothing complex, no additional props, no extra modifications. YOU have an opportunity to think less, move more, SEE more, feel more, and connect fully to what you are doing.

It was a sweaty old gym, Jay said often. You did not make an appointment, you just showed up and did the work you knew how. When Joe or one of his helpers saw that you were ready to add another exercise they would, but not until you showed you were ready! The gym was not a social either, people were working out! You were taught an exercise or exercises and were supposed to remember! You would not be talked through the exercise once they were taught…. You would maybe get a poke or a push/pull sometimes but that was it! There was also no props(pillows, foam rollers etc,,). In fact, If there is one thing that Jay dis-approves of it is the use of PROPS. He says, props take away the WORK. Its not supposed to be comfortable! You need to learn and grow and comfort is not going to help you! Also if you came into the studio to work out and there was no equipment ready, Clara, Joe’s wife would point out a small wall space you could start your practice.:)

Having gone through this simple, yet very challenging program, my understanding of how the entire system works together is so much richer and deeper than it’s ever been. We were encouraged to watch and “SEE” and worry less about what we knew. The use of simple themes in the exercises was one thing that helped me connect and see the bigger picture. Some examples of themes were…seat connection, back connection, low body reach, 2 way stretch, spinal shapes. Using the ‘themes’, I could find the exercise for myself more and negotiate what feedback that was given worked for me without feeling as if I did not get it because the teacher did not approve! I had to do the work and dig deeper into myself and my own awareness to find the answers I was searching for ….I definitely understand why they named the program The Work!

The Work, cannot be compared to any other Pilates graduate program available. It is for teachers who are interested re-connecting to the heart of Pilates and who yearn to be grounded in the original work. The intense study with regular lessons, assessments, and workshops gave me just enough structure and focus to do this and more. I reconnected more to the method and I also reconnected to myself literally and figuratively. I learned less is more and also that it’s important to observe and be quiet so you can see the body and have it tell you what it needs.

Moving forward, I will practice keeping my eyes open and mouth shut (as Jay would say) and allow myself to SEE more. In my teaching, I will contemplate what your body is telling me, staying rooted to the original teachings, and I will do my best to help you experience better connections in your body. Just like in Joe’s sweaty studio…I hope to inspire you all to keep moving! Be mindful of what you do, listen and observe what your body is telling you, and I will continue to help you grow in the method and give you a little poke, push and pull when you need it! I hope I can carry the torch of Joseph Pilates on to all of you and keep his amazing authentic method alive…it’s so much more than just exercise!

Happy Thanksgiving,
Brooke

I will leave you with the lyrics to this U2 song –
“CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS”

The more you see the less you know
The less you find out as you go
I knew much more then than I do now
Neon heart, day-glo eyes
The city lit by fireflies
They’re advertising in the skies
For people like us
And I miss you when you’re not around
I’m getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Don’t look before you laugh
Look ugly in a photograph
Flash bulbs, purple irises the camera can’t see
I’ve seen you walk unafraid
I’ve seen you in the clothes you’ve made
Can you see the beauty inside of me?
What happened to the beauty I had inside of me?
And I miss you when you’re not around
I’m getting ready to leave the ground
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
In the city of blinding lights
Time, time, time
Time won’t leave me as I am
But time won’t take the boy out of this man
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Oh, you look so beautiful tonight
Yeah, the city of blinding lights
The more you know, the less you feel
Some pray for what others steal
Blessing’s not just for the ones who kneel, luckily

 

Has anyone seen the movie, Notting Hill? If so do you remember the following…
Spike comes in after being photographed by the press being seen in only his briefs. He says, “How did I look? (looking in a mirror) Not bad, not at all bad. Well chosen briefs I must say. Chicks love grey. (clenching his bum) Nice. Firm. Buttocks!”

If you have no idea what I am referring to please check it out and watch the whole movie too!!

“Blossom your buttocks” is a common cue you will hear at an Anusara Yoga class. It generally means for one to inner spiral their upper inner thighs, apart from one another to broaden the buttocks and create space in their hips and low back.

“Squeeze your bottom” is a common cue you you may hear at a Pilates studio. I hope most of you can agree that I refrain from saying “squeeze,” but still note the role and importance the buttocks play in integrating the lower and upper body.

The point I would like to make is that one cue (left alone) is not better than the other nor is one cue(left alone) more correct than the other. Both could be good if used appropriately according to an individuals needs. This is why I always recommend private classes before taking group classes, especially if you are new to the method, otherwise you may find yourself doing more harm to learn your tendencies instead of what you should be focusing on!

The differences between cues struck me this past Friday afternoon after my conversations I shared at my happy hour. My example above clearly shows the difference between Pilates and Yoga. Now, please also understand, that I only stated ONE CUE. I truly believe both methods are trying to bring about similar results in the body and mind; they are just going about it differently!

The quote I put on my Le Bureau shirt says, “do it right, keep it tight.” My good friend, also a pelvic floor specialist, whom I have known since teaching yoga classes to the medical students at Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa(15 years a go), was going to buy my Le Bureau shirt and then quickly changed her mind after she saw my quote! She told me, “my duty is to relieve my clients “tightness” not to keep it tight!” I understood her perspective and how she perceived my quote and said no worries (another shirt without the quote coming soon!); she said she would wait. In our conversation she also told me that Pilates and Cross-fit practitioners keep her in business because they get so tight in their pelvic floor. Hmm

Adding on to this, I know several Pilates teachers and practitioners alike that have painful tailbones, and although they love Pilates, it sometimes makes their symptoms worse. Personally, I have struggled with Pelvic floor tightness, and can understand how the method of Pilates could make matters worse. If one is not practicing with an underlying understanding of how to integrate and lengthen through their center. Should one squeeze or should one blossom? That is the question!

I questioned the Pilates method along with everything else I was doing. I was in misery and also embarrassed as a Pilates teacher. As embarrassed as I was, I knew that “nothing lasts forever” and instead of giving up on the method itself and my teachers I decided instead to look deeper and investigate why I was struggling and to also find a way up and out! I firmly believe there is always a way if you have the will. I must have been doing something wrong…(guess what! I was!).

Before discussing whether I personally needed more blossom or squeeze I also would like to mention that when I was experiencing significant tightness, I would also have to say that my life was tight as well! The feeling of space was as non existent in my life as it was in my pelvis. There was a time when I was teaching close to 30 fitness related classes a week; 7 of which were intense 60 minute spin classes, in addition to trying to be “super woman” to my family. Currently, although no longer struggling with significant tightness, I still battle with finding space…it’s very challenging for me to simply let go! Even if you do not understand why you believe in something, NEVER GIVE UP trying to understand.

Back to whether I needed more blossom or squeeze…what do you think?:)

For me, I was extremely good at performing both. I could blossom and create much needed space and I could also squeeze and feel integrated at my center. My problem was that I could not perform the 2 actions simultaneously! In isolation of one another I was a pro, but I believe, looking back at my situation, that I was simply too tired from all my other activities to integrate the space and length and sustain the 2 while I moved! I resorted more to squeezing as it held me together, but my squeeze was not supporting my inner space and length that I needed so much in the movement.

How about you? If you were to take a step outside yourself and observe you, what would you see? Maybe you need to practice with a little more blossom to integrate more space? Or perhaps you have plenty of space, but you instead need to share the goodness and streamline your body with a little squeeze to pull to your midline(of course integrating the whole body in that squeeze!) Or if you are like me, maybe you find that you are good at both but sustaining the work is just too much work! Therefore, maybe consider rearranging your life agenda!

 

The bottom line is that we all have our OWN work to do and it is ultimately up to us to figure it out! Take former professional dancers as an example, if there is one thing that they know how to do, it is TO STAND TALL, however from all that squeeze, I know several now that suffer from low back pain from the consistent and persistent “squeeze” they would have to maintain to perfect their art. I would say that they would benefit from a little blossoming! They also have other issues with their hips and knees from all their turn out.

I, myself, was not a trained dancer/ballerina and never had a great baseline postural awareness and long lifted posture. I broke my back when I was 7 and was told to focus on swimming. As a swimmer, although easy for me to stretch my body long….I also could sink and collapse just as easy. I have had to learn to prioritize my length and my space and then work to integrate my squeeze, if you will, without crushing my space that I created. It is possible to be too strong for no good reason! For me in particular, a balance of strength is required to keep me away from the extremes of being a “slinky” or too “squeezed out” that there is no more juice left!

I hope my above reflection will inspire you to NOT GIVE UP if you are currently dealing with an uncomfortable situation yourself and catch yourself questioning whether to blossom or to squeeze. I think its easy for people to blame their ailments on a method (pilates, cross-fit, barre, cycling) or also an individual. However, it is not the fault of the method or individual. Instead it is simply a challenge and a great opportunity for you to dive in and learn something to better your experience with something that you love to do. NEVER GIVE UP!

I strongly believe the Pilates method will do MAGIC and absolutely has the capacity to not only make you feel good, but also to HEAL, TRANSFORM, and create more function! However, one should not expect any magic unless they are also consciously aware of their BIG picture as well as their posture of course! Cues are a simple suggestion to get you in a better position, but you are the one who feels your body and therefore the one who should make the ultimate decision if that cue suits your body as well as how much you should negotiate with it! You have to want to feel better and therefore set yourself up for success! Pilates is WORK and requires one to use their muscles to stabilize their bones and joints so they can create length, and space where they need it most. So go out there and squeeze that blossom out of your buttocks!

Ciao bellas,
Brooke

Jay Grimes, a Pilates elder and my teacher of “the Work,” often says, “Keep your eyes open, mouth shut, and the body will tell you everything you need to know, the body doesn’t lie, people do, the body doesn’t!”

I was recently in LA to perform my second assessment for the program “The Work.” My second assessment was on the mat portion of the Pilates system. I needed to perform the “mat repertoire” in 30 minutes showing the ‘2 way stretch’, ‘my seat connection,’ ‘my back connection,’ in addition to maintaining a flow and a rhythm that allows the movement to integrate. If done well, someone watching would be able to see the wholeness of the work; instead of seeing someone performing many separate exercises. Jay, wants us to use and be able to show how the previous exercise helps us lengthen and deepen into the following exercise and so forth. The back, therefore, would ideally continue to open, lengthen, and find more space and as a result the practitioner, would find more and more freedom in their body.

After completing my assessment I realized I was not as prepared as I should have been. Going into my assessment, I felt a bit anxious and I was ready to get it over with! Reflecting back on my performance I realize that I was not integrating myself fully in the movement, instead, my mind was too busy thinking of the next exercise and how many reps etc I had already completed. I was also too concentrated on hitting certain “ta da” points in my exercises even if that meant I had to sometimes ‘throw’ myself into an exercise just to be sure I hit the ‘ta da!’ Unfortunately, as I now realize, my ‘ta da’s’ were not coming from an integrated and supported place that would reflect what I needed to be showing for my Pilates assessment. Debbie, my teacher, who assessed me saw what I felt and asked me, “Brooke, do you think you could have been more ready for the assessment?” My face turned bright red as I looked right back at her and said “YES!”

Although embarrassed and upset at myself for not committing myself more fully to my work, I know that it is okay for me to ‘fail’ sometimes. Like I was staying in my last post… “Can’t appreciate the sunshine if you never see the rain.”:) I have committed to being more aware in my own practice and thinking of the whole instead of the ‘pieces’ even if that means I do not hit the smaller “ta da’s”; the whole practice should be one big bang!

I know I can go through the movements of Pilates…

Just as I am sure many of us, are talented at going through the motions of our day to day stuff! However, can we also truly stay integrated and ‘squeeze the juice out’ of what and how we do things in our life and show up fully? Maybe even with a BOOM! 🙂

That said, I hope you can all take a deep breath and get your juices flowing with whatever you are up to.

Brooke

 

Dear beautiful friends,

I just completed module 1 (out of 4) of ‘The Work‘ with Jay Grimes and the amazing staff at Vintage Pilates. My husband asked me when I got home, “aren’t you happy to be home?” I said, “well, not really.” Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband and my 2 lovely girls; however, having an opportunity to study the method of Pilates and converse with a like-minded community of people is just so rewarding! My Mother in law asked me what I learned? Now that is a BIG question. I said I needed to reflect as there were so many lessons I experienced over the past week. I am so passionate about the practice of Pilates and how our body can teach us so much about ourselves and who we are. My week was simply full of “play”, self discovery, reflection, and trying to let go of habits that do not serve me well… The more I understand about myself the more empathy and awarenesses I hope to bring to people I am with on a daily basis as well as those I teach.

One lesson I will share with you:
“How do you teach a kid to swing?” Jay asked us. He followed that question by saying, “put the child on a swing and give them a push!” We should move, feel and practice to learn a skill/movement to get good. We do not get good by trying to be perfect. If we correct every imperfection and movement without allowing mistakes to happen how will one ever learn what wrong and right movement feel like? We have to be “bad” before we get good. Do you allow yourself to be bad and make small mistakes? Do you allow those you are with and the ones you may teach to be Bad and make small mistakes? Do you allow yourself and others to move, feel, enjoy the experience for what it is, and trust that we are all perfectly imperfect?
-Having also just recently vacationed on the Big Island of Hawaii I updated my “happy hawaiiawn reggae” music and found a song that complements ‘my lesson’. Its on iTunes, if you want to listen. Want more happy music? I have many fun happy songs, just let me know and I would be happy to share some more:).

“Perfectly imperfect”
– Ryan Hiraoka on itunes.

 

 

Come butta Friends?
(whats’s up)

For me I can say cosi cosi(things are ok).  Lots always going on. Life is such a balancing act. Wow!

As some of you may know I am taking Italian lessons each week at North Seattle community college. It is just the right amount of time (2 hours/week) to challenge me but also a nice break from my weekly routine. Although I am not very savvy when it comes to language, it is quite fun (sometime just funny) to try to speak the language. I really enjoy listening to my Italian teacher talk and also enjoy learning about the cultural differences between Italy and the rest of Europe as well as the US. One difference that my teacher hit on last week was that here in the US (as a generalization) we tend not to be honest with ourselves and when communicating with others we seem to fear the truth and think it would be rude to bother people with our problems. On the contrary, in Italy, my teacher says that it would be offensive to lie and not tell it as it is. “Italians speak the truth!” This is so true and thinking about it makes me smile every time…

As you and I both know, the truth is sometimes hard to handle, however, I do strive to live as the Italians live. I know sometimes it’s easy to just leave the truth for another day…but why? What good will that bring to you? Will it inspire change and growth? HMMMM:)

Last but not least, my teacher also says, the the Italians only do things that bring them JOY.

With that said, I hope you have many people, activities, routines, that bring you JOY …

Ciao Friends!

I hope you are well and having an adventurous summer. My family just spent some time walking the Amalfi coast in Italy. That was quite a beautiful and breathtaking adventure! Now we are finding our way back into our routine of working, doing the dishes, swim meets, etc. No matter where you are, it’s always an adventure!

I wanted to touch base with an IMPORTANT UPDATE for the Roots Down Revival Retreat. As I mentioned in my Retreat Announcement, I have been traveling to the Big Island ever since I can remember. I thought it would be so special to share this beautiful and healing place with you!

Here is the major change: I will no longer be including the hotel as part of the package deal. I have not had enough commitments and Le Bureau, unfortunately, will not be able to front the money for the cost of the hotel to reserve the rooms! Due to this change the cost has been significantly reduced from $1950 to $650.

If you are considering the retreat I would recommend staying at the Hotel I had initially reserved, The Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. This Hotel is a great choice and I would highly recommend that you contact them as soon as possible. The hotel is newly renovated and the location of the hotel is PERFECT. It is located where I will hold the yoga and Pilates mat classes, in addition to being situated right next to the Kailua-Kona Pier where you will have the option to swim.

Another good option is the Royal Kona Resort, where the Luau will be. This hotel is walking distance to the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel and Pier. It also has a great bar for watching the sunset and having “pu-pu’s.”

You may also choose to use other options like VRBO or Air BnB.

Please email me if you are interested in learning more!
Ciao,
Brooke