As part of my birthday celebration this year I decided to indulge in sharing, in no particular order, these incomplete, unjustified, and unsolicited pieces of advice!

The bite-sized nuggets come from a wide variety of influences from family and mentors to thinkers and celebrities and my own observations and beliefs. Usually careful to cite sources, provide context and justification, as well as practical applications, in this case I've cast all that aside. Instead, I've just compiled, willy-nilly, some of what I consider to be the most important lessons I've learned so far. Some might be thought trite, some are redundant, and there are certainly important lessons I've failed to include.

Concepts here are also included in my work so far here on the blog, in my classes and coaching, online on YouTube and social media. Some will bear elaboration in future offerings and I'd love to know what peaks your interest.

• Which of these lessons resonate for you?
• What important lessons have you learned so far in your life?
• What words of wisdom have you learned from family, friends, mentors, study?
• What do you want to learn more about?

More resources for further exploration linked in the companion blog article.

You're always more than welcome to reach out to me via email or on Instagram​ @ablythecoac​​h​ and I'm grateful we're connected.

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach

helping multi-passionate creatives

dance through their difficulties

Perhaps you enjoy my offerings in-studio or online and would like to know in what ways we might further collaborate, or you are interested in supporting me in expanding what I can provide for your befit and that of others.

Whether your interests lie in mindful movement, dance, coaching, education, or personal growth, I've got something for you, and you've also got oodles of potential ways to support me in return :) Glad that you are here with me to savor any and all of these ways to create and connect!

This podcast shares ten ways for us to potentially work together or for you to help support my work. The associated Blog Article/Show Notes includes all the links and resources I mention, from completely free and low-commitment offerings, to higher-cost, -commitment, and -value contributions.

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 and/or sample class.

Questions for Reflection

• What ways to work together resonate most with you?
• What is the next step?
• How did you hear about my work or in what capacity have we worked together?
• Have we danced or practiced mindful movement together, or would you like to try it out?
• Have you been coached? 
• What area of your life would you like to transform?
• Who do you know who could benefit from my offerings?

Thank you for taking the time to consider creative ways we might support one another. Let's keep in touch, and never hesitate to let me know if I can be of service!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

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
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

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.

Hello, this is Blythe Stephens of A Blythe Coach: dance education and coaching to move through life with balance, grace, and power. This podcast includes bite-sized insights on ballet, dance, yoga, well-being, creativity, and joy! This is the fourth part of a series about being present in the body and living mindfully. Today’s topic is exciting, because we get to take that inner awareness out into the world!

If you haven’t yet heard the sections on Grounding, Centering, and Orienting, you may wish to go back and check out those episodes as well. Here I’ll discuss how to get into a creative state of being, so you can shine your light and share your gifts with the world. As dancers and yogis, we practice these principles in an embodied way, but no matter your skills or art, you do create. Of course my discussion here is just the tip of the iceberg- truly this introduction is just a tiny taste of the philosophy behind my work, and it draws on many sources.

In the podcast I talk about a couple valuable tools to blast through creative blocks:

• The Clearing Exercise - I first started using this tool when I was training as a personal coach with Accomplishment Coaching and it is a quick and effective daily power booster
  
• Morning Pages (from The Artist’s Way), or another free-writing practice that allows the intellect free reign, making way for creative inspiration
  

What creative action have you been avoiding due to fear and excuses? Take one small step towards it today!

I invite you to clear away the blocks that stand in the way of your creativity. To sign up to work the Clearing Exercise with me personally, to join a yoga or dance class, and for many more free tools, visit my website at www.ablythecoach.com

This is the third part of a series about being present in the body, which is beneficial to our physical training, dancing, and quality of life. If you haven’t yet heard the sections on Grounding and Centering you may wish to go back and check out those episodes as well. I’ll briefly discuss how to find a Oriented state of being, becoming present in the space in which we find ourselves and aware of the opportunities in the present moment.

Having found a grounded state supported by the floor below us, and a centered state connected to our core strength, the next stage is to get oriented, aware, and curious about our surroundings. Here we seek perspective, exploring different ways of seeing and learning about reality. We use the five senses to investigate, expanding our experience to include the world around us.

In The Living Gita, Sri Swami Satchidananda states that from a yogic perspective, “The body also in a way is outside you. The real you is just simply you--an isolated ‘I.’ All that you have or possess is part of the outside world, part of nature.” Therefore, we are capable of impartially observing the workings of the body and our surroundings, and then responding powerfully.

In yoga and dance, we look around the space, experimenting with positions of the body, levels, viewpoints, pathways, and means of moving and traveling. From the stability of the earth and a strong center, we are able to become mobile, reaching out into a larger experience of existence. Here we experiment with how things work, including the body and the objects around us. We experience trial and error, test hypotheses, and seek knowledge and wisdom through our experience. Here lie our raw materials, the stuff we will later use to convey grace, strength, and emotion.

“Orienting is about knowing where you are in space, which helps you to create a connection with what is real in the present moment. To orient, look around the space that you are in. Use all of your senses to take in what you see, smell and hear the way a dog would when it first enters into a new space.” Jay Fields, Teaching People, Not Poses Fields suggests that “As you hold the pose, look around the room and orient yourself to the present moment.”

• Today, I invite you to simply notice what is so in your environment from a neutral standpoint. What is present? What is missing? (or absent) Only once this is established can we move with clarity toward what is next.
  
• In yoga and dance class, practice observing the details of your perceptions and sensations. Don’t dwell on what you did wrong in the past or the anxieties you have for the future, but keep bringing yourself back to your experience of this moment.
  
• What possibilities might being present in your body create?
  

Thanks for joining me in this brief discussion of the power of an oriented state of being! Coming up soon I’ll share about using these tools to unleash your creativity! For more free tools and community, come visit me at www.ablythecoach.com

Hello, this is Blythe Stephens: A Blythe Coach dance education and life coaching to move you through life with balance, grace, and power. Today I want to share a foundational awareness that can transform our dancing and our lives. I’m talking about how to get into a grounded state of being.

All of our dance technique, conditioning, and yoga work does develop both body and mind, but no matter how physically fit we become, we won’t truly have a strong foundation (and therefore strong performance), without attending to our underlying state of being in real time. This is the ultimate foundation for our work, so let’s look at HOW we’re showing up and the impact on our dancing and quality of life.

Have you noticed on days when you’re preoccupied with your thoughts and distracted from feeling your body’s connection to the floor, that your equilibrium feels off and you struggle to balance? For me, balancing goes best when I am relaxed yet engaged and fully aware of my connection to the floor, sensing the support I receive.

Feeling gravity, noticing where my weight falls as well as where I lift up against it’s pull, helps me come into the present moment and just play with my movement. Equipoise becomes almost effortless.

In the book Teaching People, Not Poses Jay Fields states, “Grounding is about feeling supported in your body, as opposed to the floaty, diffused feeling you get when you’re not grounded. To feel grounded, put your attention into what supports you--your feet on the ground, your butt on your chair. Try to give your weight to what supports you, or imagine sending roots down into the ground.”

I like this image of rootedness like a tree or a plant reaching down into the earth and spreading out. An alternative image that I also enjoy, is to imagine pouring your weight like pancake batter onto the griddle. The batter slowly spreads across the surface in all directions, solidifying as it cooks. A delicious visual, and I encourage you to come up with whatever mental picture serves you!

I invite you to be present in your body, aware of your base of support, and grounded as you practice foot and ankle exercises as well as when you come to standing for dance class or to move into your daily life. Care for any discomfort, be mindful of your needs, get support from others as needed. Notice what is supporting you, right now. Mindfulness is an ongoing practice, so don’t beat yourself up when you fail to do this perfectly.

Bonus grounding practices: set a daily reminder on your phone to check in with that which supports you by feeling your feet or the seat beneath you in that moment. You may also wish to consider all of your resources, reflect on and write about who and what supports you, and go ahead and ask for the support you need.

I hope this helps you to find your foundation and a grounded state of being. Stay tuned for further ideas to take into your dancing practice and the world!

DISCLAIMER: Although the exercises I recommend are suitable for dancers at a beginning through advanced level, and I do my best to keep things moderate and safe, please consult your healthcare practitioner before beginning any health or fitness regimen! Always be responsible for your body's well-being while exercising- if you get injured, that will take time out of your dancing and moving, and we don't want that if it can be avoided.

www.ablythecoach.com

Facebook Page: A Blythe Coach

Hello, this is Blythe Stephens of A Blythe Coach: dance education & coaching to move through life with balance, grace, & power. My podcast includes bite-sized insights on ballet, dance, yoga, well-being, creativity, and joy. Today I’ll briefly discuss how to find a centered state of being, recruiting our inner resources to act powerfully.

When we are centered, we sense our internal strength and the support of our respiration. We can become aware of our own thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. We are clear of mind, able to be in our personal power, courageous, at cause, and responsible.

Centering is finding the connection to and strength of the core of who we are, including our physical core strength and all of our internal resources, courage, and power. In the yogic system, the center is associated with the third chakra, a place of action, creativity, gut feeling, and self-definition. In ballet and other dance forms, core engagement is crucial to our poise, balance, and power, and yoga also involves pranayama or breath control practices.

In the book Teaching People, Not Poses, Jay Fields states that  “Centering is having a sense of personal power and control over your life. To center, consciously put your attention on connecting to the center of your body, to your core strength. I like to imagine being able to gather all the parts of myself and all of my energy back to my center and take a moment to feel my strength.”

I invite you to feel centered in your body as you practice core and conditioning work, as you practice yoga or dance, as you perform onstage, and in your daily life.

“Draw your attention to your center and see if you can feel strength there.”

For my favorite exercises to tap into your core strength, subscribe to the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel and sample videos including “Planking Pleasures,” “Oh Wow, Cat/Cow!” and “Plush Paralleleves.”

I also find Dandapani’s energy-gathering meditation to be a supportive practice in the pursuit of a centered state, and I will continue to share tools that help connect to core strength and courage. To find many more free resources, visit my website, www.ablythecoach.com

Please, Thank You, I’m Sorry.
I love you.
Help, Thanks, Wow.
Hallelujah.

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

• What language speaks to you?
• What is your favorite word or affirmation?
• Which words do you find yourself repeating when you need strength, courage, or solace?
• Are there words which you’d like to stop saying to yourself?
• How would you like to transform your self-talk?
• What do you want to create that could be supported by a prayer, motto, or powerful words?

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
Creator of A Blythe Coach: helping multi-passionate creatives
dance through their difficulties and take leaps of faith

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.

• What is the intention of your stretching/flexibility practice?
• What are your flexibility goals?
• Why do you have these goals, or what purpose do they serve?
• What tools serve your stretching practice?
• Where would you like to learn to be more flexible in life?

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
they/she
Creator of A Blythe Coach: helping multi-passionate creatives
dance through their difficulties and take leaps of faith

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:
https://dogged-maker-9006.ck.page/405f54afe1 

Can't wait to dance together :)

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties
and take leaps of faith into fulfillment 

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.”
- Physical Therapist Kelli Barton Schneider @electricedgemovement

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

• Have you been coached?
• What value do you see in the coaching container?
• What area of your life would you like to transform?
• Who do you know who could benefit from coaching?
• What might extraordinary clarity and support provide in your life?

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
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

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
Yoga Teacher Training with yogaloft
_Real Happiness_ by Sharon Salzberg
_Teaching People Not Poses_ by Mark Stevens
_Chakras and Self Care_ by Ambi Kavanagh  

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties
and take leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga, & dance education  

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
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties
and take leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga, & dance education  

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.

• Recommended Props & Tools depending on preference and access: Colors, Elements, Stones, Aromatherapy/Essential Oils, Tea, Journal; involving all the senses, or practice without any tools required
• Come into a comfortable position--seated, reclining, or standing--that is rooted/anchored, evenly distributed, and stable
• Options for hand/arm positions, holding crystals
• Gently close or softly focus the eyes
• Imagine a flame burning at your center, casting yellow and orange light, your breath fueling your central fire, sending energy out into the world, emanating from your core
• Continue breathing calmly and naturally, or join me in Ujjayi Pranayama with a slight closure to the throat, like a straw on the inhalation, and fogging a mirror on the exhalation, such that you hear an ocean-like sound (or continue to breathe normally and notice how the core expands and shrinks with each cycle)
• Take a few slow and mindful breaths in this way, then return to breathing naturally

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

• I need/want/act
• I know who I am
• I honor and embrace my true self.
• I am confident in who I am.
• I am confident in my ability to create what I desire.
• I believe I am worthy of my desires.
• I have the strength and energy to pursue my passions.
• Creativity flows through me.
• Joy flows through me.
• Abundance flows through me.

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

• What is the core of my being?
• What are my strengths?
• What are my core values?
• What are my core beliefs?
• Where are my actions in alignment with my core strengths, values, and beliefs, and where am I out of alignment?

Other resources mentioned (full show notes will be up on the blog soon):
Concentrated Core Conditioning YouTube Playlist for more physical core integration and strength exercises
Get Grounded Stabilizing Meditation YouTube Video for if you’re feeling a bit flighty or uprooted

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties and
take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life
Music: “Glacier” by Patrick Patrikios on YouTube

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
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties and
take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

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
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties and
take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

Last October I tried out my first Inktober Drawing Challenge, and in January I've kept sketching going on a weekly basis. Drawing and visual arts is really a whole other way of being creative than my usual dancing and yet also very relevant to the enterprise of shape, shaping and space in my dance and movement practices as well.

I got a lot of value out of the challenge of producing 31 drawing studies in in as many days. It was also super inspiring to see the works of, and connect on social media with, “real” illustrators and other visual artists. Great to be influenced by new works and creators!

As November passed, I witnessed those who participated in the latest round of NaNoWriMo at work on their books, some ultimately "winning" the 50,000-words-in-30-days challenge. In 2019 I took on the challenge to write a novel in a month myself, not “winning” the challenge, but coming closer than ever before with a 18,600-word partial novella.

This podcast and the show notes blog article below include a sampling of challenges I have enjoyed, learned from, and hosted in the past which have led to valuable insights and in some cases lasting positive change.

​Access the Charming Chosen Challenges​ Show Notes Article here

Personally, I'm always on the lookout for fun and motivating challenges in different areas where I'd like to learn and grow.

Questions for Reflection

• What sorts of challenges have you participated in previously and what was your experience? Did you experience lasting growth?
• What challenge would be the most supportive for you going forward?
• Which skills and habits are you working on currently?
• What tends to prevent you from taking on or succeeding at challenges?

Let’s connect by email or on Instagram @ablythecoach, I would love to hear your perspective!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

Inspired by an article about a pair of friends who write and send each other a Haiku poem each day, I toyed with the idea of writing such a tiny poem daily in 2021. Then, I just started doing it, filling post-it notes and my journal with haiku and reaching 365 poems in all.

During the year of Haiku writing, I shared my work weekly on my personal blog, and I've included links each to the individual blogs in the show notes blog post up on my website.

More than anything, I sought the creative experience of daily short-form creative writing, just building a consistent poetic practice, trying to describe a time and place, people and things I appreciate, value, am curious about, or wonder at. The creative process generated insights for me personally, and I feel I improved as a writer and poet through this structure.

In reviewing the poems, it's interesting to see that few major themes are emerging, with a lot of them being about important people in my life such as family members, friends, lovers, even a few strangers. The natural world, weather, and seasons were a biggie, as well as animals, pets and wild, travel and adventure, politics and current events, spiritual and philosophical ideas I was chewing on, Tarot, Yoga, my identity, lots and lots of prayers and gratitude celebrations, declarations, questions, and some sad expressions of grief. Also food, family, and some about food AND Family, reading, the process of inspiration and creating in writing as well as dance.

I share insights from the challenge and read selected poems in this podcast, and even more up on the blog.

I will combine reflective practice, meditation, and creativity with powerful coaching tools and embodiment practices in my free upcoming 5-Day Dance Through Any Difficulty Coaching Challenge, which I’m offering during International Coaching Week May 16-22. In just minutes a day, you can dance with me through whatever obstacle you may be facing right now, and you will be well-equipped to navigate all future breakdowns and difficulties to the joyful multipassionate life you dream of leading.

• What do your reflective/journaling, meditative, and artistic practices involve currently?
• Which area(s) could use a boost to create the life you want and solve the problems you currently face?
• What tiny habit would you enjoy picking up?
• What do you want to create?

Let’s connect by email on Instagram @ablythecoach, I would love to hear your perspective!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties and
take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

Hello beauties, happy Spring!   

This is a gentle 20-minute seated/chair yoga practice to bring you into the present moment, stretch, refresh, relax, and invigorate anytime of year.  I narrate this short practice entirely in the sitting position in a chair, although it can also be done seated on the floor or standing.   

Come connect with me between podcasts on IG @ablythecoach!  

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
@ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties and take leaps of faith into fulfillment
through coaching, yoga, & dance education
Music: “Mer-Ka-Ba” by Jesse Gallagher  

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.

My creative morning ritual, the details of which I shared in last week’s blog and Podcast 081, keeps me present to my Essence and Purpose and that which is most important to me to lead a fulfilled and joyful life. The whole process helps me to clear mental clutter, judgment, fear, and concerns whether they be petty or profound.

While writing my Creative Morning Ritual blog, I realized that the sacred time I spend preparing for my day is as much about what I avoid doing as the actions that I take. That is, in order for me to focus and get into the head space I require, there are activities that I save for when my ritual is complete, later in the day, or that I skip altogether.

The key is focusing on what’s important to me, and eliminating the rest. It is a never-ending process of growth, reiteration, and starting over.

Consider what you can remove from your own morning to make space to add something more important to you, I bet you can find just a bit more room to be present to yourself and your highest priorities!

The following (which I elaborate on somewhat in the audio and on the blog) are some of the things that I avoid early in the day to make space for a meaningful ritual:

1. Snoozing
2. Notifications, social media, computer, email, news, or input from sources not carefully curated by me
3. Complicated grooming or dressing routines
4. Running around to gather what I will wear/use/bring that day
5. Participating in diet culture, weighing myself, restricted eating, using exercise in a punitive way
6. Negative self-talk and beating myself up about things I have no control over

• What do your days require of you?
• What will you omit from your morning to make space for your own creative ritual?

Let’s connect by email or on Instagram @ablythecoach, I would love to hear your perspective!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

Here I discuss one of the keys to my life of creativity and fulfillment, my morning ritual, which I have developed over the past few years. 

It all started with a daily yoga practice and has grown to include practices that facilitate physical, mental, and spiritual well being and abundant creativity.  When I complete these actions on a daily basis, I develop clarity and momentum, feel inspired and strong, experience less pain, and am able to coach, dance, teach, write, and engage with ideas and people in a well-grounded and present way.  

Just because these are the activities that feed my creative spirit doesn't mean they are right for everybody, and I understand that taking this amount of time in the morning is a privilege, but I intend this exploration an invitation for you to tweak or design your own ritual, even if it's just 5 minutes to be with yourself and prepare for the day.

• What does your morning ritual include?
• What small habit could you add to inspire your day?

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life
@ablythecoach

Do you ever feel distracted, floaty, overwhelmed, or disconnected? Creating a stable, grounded, foundation is the first step in building a supportive yoga practice, dancing posture, and well-designed yet flexible life.  

This brief meditation is a repeatable practice to bring a sense of stability, mindfulness, and relaxation into your life, developing a solid foundation for better performance and enjoyment of the present moment.  

You may practice seated (on the floor, a cushion, or chair) or standing, focusing on the connection between feet or seat/points of contact and that which is supporting you.

Stay tuned for more tools to ground, center, orient, create, and relate! I'd love to connect with you on Instagram @ablythecoach and full show notes will also be available on the blog at ablythecoach.com

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com & @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties,
taking leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga, & dance education
Background meditation music: “Satya Yuga” by Jesse Gallagher on YouTube

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.

“It’s that idea that we’re cultivating this field, which is our body, for all of these practices which then bring us home. And then we have creativity… we’re not locked down, we’re flow, we have confidence, we have things that we can’t get other ways.” - Agi Fry

I’m thrilled to introduce you to my guest on the podcast today, one of my favorite and most influential yoga teachers, Agi Fry! Agi is the creator of Agi Ageless Living and I first came to Agi’s Gentle Yoga classes in Honolulu while injured. Gentle Yoga included many senior citizens and folks with assorted injuries and physical limitations. What struck me was how she was able to provide many effective modifications and variations to yoga poses, meeting participants where they were at while providing support and a great deal of challenge for all.

I grew stronger and more balanced through her classes, was able to keep dancing and teaching (and riding a motorcycle…), and was inspired to pursue my long-time desire to do a yoga teacher training once I moved to Germany in large part due to Agi’s influence. She has an intuitive way of knowing what students need, and also skill in seeing what they are capable beyond their fear and current challenges or perceived limits.

A lifelong learner, Agi is always deepening her knowledge and experience and passing it along to students, most recently her online hub is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/agisagelessliving/ You can also direct questions, inquire about her Somatics Booklet, or get a link for a free class with Agi by email at info@agisagelessliving.com

We talk about what brought her to yoga and her lineage of teachers, using it as a tool to balance the nervous system, relax, and heal, student-centered pedagogy, putting things “on” rather than bringing them forth from the inside, recovering from pain and trauma, somatic solutions, her flight from the Hungarian revolution as a child, balancing multiple responsibilities and interests, bucket lists, and more.

For my highlights from the conversation, links discussed, and more free resources, come visit me on the blog at ablythecoach.com!

Blythe C. Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst, she/they
A Blythe Coach: helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties
& take leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga, & dance education

I’m so excited to introduce you to my guest on the podcast today, my good friend, fellow dance educator and UNCSA alumnus as well as physical comedian, actor, writer, musician, super-talented and wonderful guy Matthew Donnell! This conversation is just packed with nuggets of wisdom for dancers and all creative people.

We talk about the highs and lows of being a multi-passionate jack-of-all-trades, his highlights as a professional ballet dancer, how to fall down and get back up again, the importance of révérence, character dance, and learning a variety of techniques in addition to ballet training, developing character in dancers and human beings, serving our communities, helping dancers find their voice, and we assert that all people are valuable!

"Two things in my career that I will loudly proclaim that I am proud of and one is that fall, and the other one is the successful unionization of Kansas City Ballet and making the call to get that ball rolling because ... we ensured that they would have a great contract for the history of that company and that helped those dancers start learning to have a voice for themselves ... Managers and directors want to have the best product. Dancers want to have the best product, where's the disconnect? If you can put a mechanism in place that allows both parties to work together, that's so important ... I try to teach students that, too. That's why my class doesn't go over. I end my class on time ... I want the dancers to learn that their time is valuable." - Matthew Donnell

Thanks again for listening, definitely check out Matthew’s website matthewdonnell.com as well as his current teaching with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. For my highlights from the conversation, links discussed, and more free resources, come visit me on the blog at ablythecoach.com

Blythe C. Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst, she/they
A Blythe Coach: helping multi-passionate creatives dance through their difficulties
& take leaps of faith into fulfillment through coaching, yoga, & dance education

This year has had its share of challenges, both personal and collective, starting for me with two funerals in January, continuing with ongoing pandemic and not being able to visit home, my girlfriend’s knee injury and surgery and more.

Despite circumstances, it’s been a joyful and accomplished year. I celebrated 40 years on Earth, was granted a 2-year work visa in Germany, and grew as an educator and person.

I think it’s important to look back and celebrate my wins, strategizing what’s missing, what I can let go, and what I will re-commit to creating in terms of my habits, action steps, plans and milestones to foster my success in designing a creative and bountiful 2022.

Lots more resources for reflection, planning, and exquisite self-care linked in the blog version of this podcast.

Questions for Reflection

• What are your wins from 2021?
• What support do you need to design a creative and extraordinary 2022?
• What are you willing to simply let go?

Let me know by email from my website, or on the Facebook Page!

Blythe C. Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

“Every holiday season, throughout the land, Mirlitons, Candy Canes, and other treats bounce briskly through The Nutcracker’s Kingdom of the Sweets.” (_The Ballet Companion_ p.158)  

“The Nutcracker” ballet is such an epic part of Christmastime, and though I can’t possibly provide an exhaustive account of such a dancing phenomenon, I’d like to share some of the history and my own fascination with the music, dancing, costumes, and magical story.   Hopefully it sparks a bit of your own childlike wonder, dreams, and fantasies as well as your grown-up appreciation of music, storytelling, and the art of dance. 

“The Nutcracker is a Christmas holiday favorite and the most popular ballet in America. There are more than 2,000 performances of it every year around the country. You will probably have a chance to see it someday–and maybe even dance in it yourself, since it has a lot of roles for young dancers.” (_A Child's Introduction to Ballet_ p.47)  

I share insights from George Balanchine on "The Nutcracker," the literature origins of the story, authors ETA Hoffmann and Alexandre Dumas, The Dance Channel's "History of the Nutcracker Ballet" video on YouTube, psychological elements in Barishnikov's "Nutcracker," themes of vengeance, Matthew Donnell's _The Boy with the Patch_ children's book about Drosselmeier's story, the ballet's debut in 1892 at the Mariinsky Theatre, Petipa and Ivanov, Tchaikovsky, Sadler's Wells, Ballet Russe, San Francisco Ballet, NYCB... 

Here are some music favorites, and those I use in creative dance interpretations of the story are included in the'Nutcracker' Story for Creative Dance playlist on Spotify:

Scene 1: Overture, Party Scene, Children's Dance
Scene 2: Godfather Drosselmeier's arrival, Dolls dance
Scene 3:  All go to bed, Battle Scene, Marie/Clara's role in winning
Scene 4: Snowy Forest, Waltz of the Snowflakes
Scene 5: Kingdom of the Sweets, Sugarplum Fairy/Pas de Deux, Waltz of the Flowers, Arabian, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Mirlitons/Marzipan, Mother Ginger/Polichinelles/Candy Canes divertissements.
Scene 6: Marie's return home, Finale 

For a full ballet or dance class, I have arranged tracks from the ballet in my “Nutcracker” Ballet Class playlist 

Questions for reflection:
What versions of “The Nutcracker” have you seen? Which is your favorite?
Have you performed in “The Nutcracker” ballet or other wintertime productions?
What holiday traditions will you enjoy this year?
What music fills you with the spirit of the season?  

More resources will linked in the blog :)  

Thanks for listening and happy holidays!  

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com @ablythecoach
move through life with balance, grace, & power  

Mona "Kia’ikai" Iguchi is a Dietician working in eating disorder recovery, an adult ballet dancer, and nonbinary (they/them pronouns). They were also a ballet student of mine at the University of Hawai'i!   

Here in episode 75, we discuss Kai's experience with eating disorders and advice on creating safe spaces that are accepting of all bodies and gender expressions in dance and society.  

TW: Trigger Warning due to talk of disordered eating behaviors   

Full notes, key takeaways, and links at ablythecoach.com/abc-blog/ 

Nonbinary-friendly and diverse ballet companies:
Ballez (NYC)
Black Sheep Ballet (virtual)
Contretemps Ballet (Chicago)
Ballet 22 (Oakland)

Dance-friendly anti-diet nutritionists:
DDD Center for Recovery
Pointe Nutrition
MS Nutrition

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: move through life with balance, grace, & power

Doesn't it feel good to do a thorough clear-out at the beginning of a new chapter in your life? Our physical, mental, digital, and analog systems can all use a periodic audit to make sure we are on track to live the life we intend.

The following methods bring order to chaos, help me reflect, plan, memory-keep, and create. However, your process and system are bound to look differently and I share this only as a brainstorm of ideas that I hope will inspire your own journey of discovery.

Here's what I've been doing during the transition from 2022 into 2023 to look back in reflection, assess my current needs, and look forward to project the future. It is wintery indeed in Cologne this year, so it really feels like the right time to snuggle up in a cozy and organized space to reflect, journal, and dream.

For full show notes and links, check out the accompanying blog article here.

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of A Blythe Coach: dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

Welcome to Part 1 of my mini-series on Dancing Body Acceptance! Today I'm so excited to welcome Dietician Fumi Somehara to the A Blythe Coach Podcast.   

Fumi shares practical ideas for dancers, dance educators, and community members to foster a nurturing approach to body image and well-being. I was so refreshed by Fumi's compassionate and intersectional approach and hope you find value in our conversation.  

Resources and key takeaways from our conversation will also be up on the blog at ablythecoach.com/abc-blog

Resource links:

• DDD's Resource page: https://dddcfr.com.au/;
• Poodle Science;
• Diverse Dancers Australia;
• Arts Wellbeing Collective;
• One Dance UK

Blythe Stephens, MFA she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
move through life with balance, grace, & power  

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.

“Anticipation–or apprehension–of a challenging featured step can make it easy to overlook the simpler step leading into it. Glissade, coupé, pas de bourré, chassé, balancé, failli, pas couru, and tombé often precede something flashier. Done neatly and correctly, connecting steps add elegance to your dancing and provide the preparation you need to launch what comes next; done carelessly they dull your polish and undermine the propulsion needed for elevation and ballon. Imagine trying to perform grand jeté from a stationary position. The successful timing and coordination of grand jeté or any difficult jump depends on the rhythm, the momentum, and especially the final plié of the connecting step that comes first.” Eliza Gaynor Minden on Connecting Steps (The Ballet Companion p.169)

Satisfying Connecting Steps in Ballet Technique YouTube Playlist

Thanks for listening! I'll share these and even more resources on the companion blog at ablythecoach.com/blog

Please tell me about your experience and challenges with connecting steps and what you’d like to see more of in the future. 

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
move through life with balance, grace, & power

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.

Moving into the chilly and dark time of year here in the northern hemisphere, I like to get cozy and comfy, and also to bring some wonderful warmth from the inside out with yummy dance and movement warm-up exercises.

As I age, it becomes more and more important to properly prepare for dancing and teaching, and it takes a little time and loving care to find ease and range of movement, as well as manage pain and stiffness.

At any age, it is critical to properly warm up before we undertake larger movements and stretches in order to prevent injury.

In this podcast and in the accompanying blog on ablythecoach.com (which will also include all of the links to videos and articles mentioned here!), I'll start with a couple of precautions, and then describe a healthy approach to warming up by warming bigger to smaller muscle groups, gradually building range of motion to promote the flow of synovial fluid, breathing and circulation, specifically targeting muscles for the type of movement we will be performing, and focusing our concentration.

• What’s your favorite way to warm up your body and get going for dance and other activities?
• For what sort of choreography or athletic pursuit are you preparing your body?
• What are your current dancing/fitness/athletic goals?
• What movements or practices just plain make you feel good?

I hope you luxuriate in all of these wonderful warm-ups that are appropriate for you! Please tell me about your experience and personal challenges by email or a DM on social media, @ablythecoach on FB & IG.

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
move through life with balance, grace, & power

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.

"What's going to give you your life force, that energy, that mindset to be able to Be in life, embracing things like pain, circumstances, and events?" - Jolynne Anderson

Welcome to the A Blythe Coach Podcast Episode 71! I am so excited to introduce you to my guest today, Jolynne Anderson, who was my original life coach and continues to be an inspiring person of possibility.

Jolynne is Power, Play, Compassion, Joy, Wisdom, and Leader!  She is a BREAKTHROUGH coach who is a Personal Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation since 2009.  She is passionate about supporting people who want to make a difference in the world to reclaim their personal power to give them access to TRUE fulfillment, joy, and adventure. She supports people to be passionate creators and leaders in their own lives and relationships. 

She is a leader coach and trainer at Accomplishment Coaching, which is accredited by the International Coach Federation and has a reputation for being one of the finest coach training programs in the world, you can find them at www.accomplishmentcoaching.com

Jolynne is Certified in Conversational Intelligence™, which is based in Neuro-Science, a method that supports individuals and organizations by teaching and coaching on how to have difficult conversations, create trust and evoke innovation with amazing relationships and exponential growth.

She has coached and trained many clients and organizations, including: the United Nations (UN) World Population Fund, Microsoft, Nike, Canadian government, Cayman Island Government , State government, Professional Golfers, Stay at Home Moms.

“Each person’s music is different.” - Jolynne Anderson

In this podcast and in the companion YouTube Video (which includes chapter time stamps if you want to find particular topics in our conversation) and Blog, Jolynne and I discuss coaching creatives, transformation, daily rituals that set us up to win, joyful movement and how music feeds her soul, recovering from perfectionism, dancing with life, tapping into the wisdom within, true potential, advising versus transformation, relationship coaching, compassionate communication, expectations, trusting intuition, listening...and more! Jolynne shares her own experience hiring a coach, dealing with mysterious illness, and coaching clients with Fibromyalgia and other health challenges.

"If it's not your own creation and your own exploration and expanding your thinking and possibility... you're just going for the next thing, the next person to give advice, like external people have all the answers." - Jolynne Anderson

Jolynne also recommends how to find the right coach for you:

• Interview 3 coaches
• Consult Accomplishment Coaching or the International Coach Federation for lists of credentialed coaches
• Trust your gut

"We have the power to create what we want." - Jolynne Anderson

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
move through life with balance, grace, & power

Practicing the fluid upper body movements of ballet and creating lines with the arms, head, and body to beautiful music is one of my favorite elements of classical dancing. The way arm and upper body movements harmonize with those of the legs, the relationship to spatial geometry, and the range of expression available makes my heart sing.

This article and video series is focused on descriptions of the Port de Bras (“carriage of the arms” or arm movement exercises) of the Cecchetti Technique of Classical Ballet, and I have an upcoming series on Port de Bras from the Russian Technique as well, plus lots more fun with arm movements, ballet steps and choreography to come.

All of the videos I mention, as well as future Port de Bras and upper-body movements, are included in my Arm Artistry Playlist on YouTube.

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
move through life with balance, grace, & power

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.

In October around Halloween time, I like to teach the story of “Hansel and Gretel” in my dance classes, or as I like to think of it, “Gretel and Hansel.” Alphabetically it follows and arguably, Gretel is the real hero of the tale since she uses her wits and bravery to save them from the witch.  

Including a range of expression and emotional content, beautiful music, natural and supernatural characters, it is rich with possibilities for dance improvisation, choreography, and education.

This story fits in well with witch dances and other spooky themes like ghosts, bats, cats, etc. and can be related to dreaming and courage in "Cinderella" (for which I also have a podcast, video, and blog), the Land of Sweets and Clara/Marie’s bravery in “The Nutcracker" (coming soon!) and tie in music appreciation from the opera and other sources.

• What is your favorite spooky Halloween tale?
• Have you told the story of Hansel & Gretel? If so, what is your take on it?
• What early storytelling, music, and movement experiences impacted you?
• How will you celebrate Halloween and Autumn this year?

Send me a message with your responses on social media @ablythecoach, I would love to hear from you :)

Blythe Stephens, MFA she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
move through life with balance, grace, & power  

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.

I’m bringing you a ballet concept today that is so fun to watch and also to do, batterie or beats of the legs in classical ballet, which we do as we advance our jumping technique and performance practice. Batterie is a fun and exciting addition to our ballet variations, petit, and grand allegro. It captures the exuberance, joy, and power of certain characters and situations and celebrates the balletic love of flight and virtuosity.

“Beats, the general French for which is batterie, are steps in which one leg is beaten against the other. Beats bring into ballet the element of brilliance, virtuosity, and therefore the execution of them does not allow any carelessness, approximation or simplification, or they would lose their raison d'être." - Russian ballet pedagogue Agrippina Vaganova

Building on a foundation of ballet jumping technique (including foot and leg strengthening, core work, Dance Warmup, Ballet Barre training, and basic beats like Plucky Petit Battement and jumps like Saucy Prances & Sautés), today we're breaking down airborne balletic beats, such as changement, royale, échappé, jeté, and assemblé battu, and entrechats trois (3), quatre (4), cinq (5), six, etc.

I reference the books _Basic Principles of Classical Ballet_ by Agrippina Vaganova, _The Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet: Theory and Technique_ by Cyril W. Beaumont & Stanislas Idzikowski, & _The Ballet Companion_ by Eliza Gaynor Minden.

Stay tuned on the blog for the companion article, video, and more resources!

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: ablythecoach.com
move through life with balance, grace, & power

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.

"Do not fear mistakes--there are none." - Miles Davis

Let’s talk about failure, yay! Myself, I have faced many situations that could be treated as failures in my life: jobs I wanted and didn’t get, unsuccessful business endeavors, and two divorces! There have definitely been discouraging times and big obstacles, mistakes and accidents. Just the other week I fell in ballet class (thankfully this time, it didn’t hurt at all)!

Of course, I’ve had lots of successes, brilliant triumphs, and have experienced tons of love and support and abundance in my life, too, but that’s not what we’re talking about today. No, here I want to get into how to deal with making mistakes, facing failure, embarrassment, and discouragement, and finding the courage to keep on with our dancing, learning and growing, creative practice, professional dreams, and quest for a happy, fulfilled life!

What follows here can’t possibly be exhaustive, but comprises some of the best resources I know to help with frustration at our human mistakes and imperfections. I hope you have compassion for your failings and others', jump up, brush yourself off, and keep creating!

Some suggested structures for overcoming fear of failure and mistake-making include:

• Self-Compassion
• Meditation
• Writing & Reflective Practices
• Take a class
• Learn a language
• Make art
• Therapy
• Travel & Exploration

Looking for more from me on related topics? Listen to Podcasts 009: Resilience and 008: Persistence or the following blogs:

• Goal-Setting for Dancers
• Powerful Portfolios to Catalyze Action
• Healthy Habit-Building
• Meditation Practice Challenge
• Seeking Sweet Sleep
• Rest & Recovery Rocks My World

Blythe C. Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

“How do you like to go up in a swing,
  Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
  Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
  Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
  Over the countryside–

Till I look down on the garden green,
  Down on the roof so brown–
Up in the air I go flying again,
  Up in the air and down!”                   - Robert Louis Stevenson

"There are swings that are released down into gravity and swings that are released outward into centripetal and centrifugal trajectories. Gravity is a natural force, as is one of its outcomes: momentum. Gravity is in constant operation. The dancer must practice restraint rather than effort when he deals with this principle. In swings he sends the effort downward by releasing it. Gravity creates the downward pull. The resulting energy is the momentum derived from the release. One releases into gravity and one rides the momentum." (The Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique p.144)

Imagery, the Physical Forces involved, and Dance Movement Techniques of SWINGING! That’s what we’re exploring today in episode 66!

You can try a few types of legs swings with me in the videos “Sweet Leg Swings” (reclining on the floor) & “Sizzling Standing Leg Swings” and I'll be including many more resources in the blog at ablythecoach.com

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach:
move through life with balance, grace, & power

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.

Cinderella be
courageous and kind always
winning the kingdom

One of the world’s most classic, iconic and ubiquitous tales, the “Cinderella” ballet can provide an entrée to universal themes and concepts useful in life and interdisciplinary topics within and beyond dance.

I especially enjoy teaching and revisiting “Cinderella” in the fall, what with the theme of harvesting the fruits of her actions, the supernatural elements, and the presence of pumpkins with which to make a magical coach in some versions of the story.

Teaching fairytales in ballet classes with all ages teaches virtues, storytelling and expression, musicality, technique, movement skills, and choreographic repertory, ballet history, appreciation, and criticism. They are a rich source of exploration and learning!

In this episode I experimented with recording it as a video (as I did for my interview in Podcast 50), then editing as audio for the pod and video (with illustrations) on YouTube. Further resources will be included in the companion blog article on ablythecoach.com 

Books

• A Child's Introduction to Ballet by Laura Lee
• Balanchine’s Complete Stories of the Great Ballets by George Balanchine and Francis Mason
• The Ballet Companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden
• Favorite Ballets Coloring Book by Brenda Sneathen Mattox
• How to...Ballet by Jane Hackett
• Mein Buch der Schoensten Maerchen Illustrated by Verena Koertig

Website: Comparison of Grimm and Perrault versions of Cinderella

Music Playlists

• “Cinderella” Fairytale Ballet Story for Children / Creative Movement
• Prokofiev Cinderella Ballet (full)

YouTube Playlist: Ballet Stories

Blogs

• Adaptive Adult Summer Dance Intensive
• Roses Have Thorns: Time, Love, & Mortality in “Sleeping Beauty” …

Questions for Reflection

• What about the "Cinderella" story resonates for you? What rubs you the wrong way?
• What version of the story, ballet, or music is your favorite?
• What variation or choreography from the "Cinderella" ballet do you want to learn or create?
• What stories do you teach or revisit in the fall or seasonally?
• How are you celebrating the transition to Autumn?

Stay tuned on my YouTube Channel and Blog for more about living a luscious life!!

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

2022 was a tumultuous year for me personally and for all of us globally. I lost a beloved uncle and great-aunt, recovered from COVID, and watched as war broke out between Russia and the Ukraine, with unrest and natural disaster in other parts of the world as well. We all faced our own struggles.

I was privileged to also enjoy a mostly peaceful and creative life, and learned through new experiences and encounters a variety of media.

Personal highlights included outstanding live dance performances, in particular a new work from The Royal Ballet, “Like Water for Chocolate,” and a classic from Pina Bausch, “Orpheus und Eurydike.” My in-studio students had the opportunity to perform in an abbreviated “Swan Lake” and participate in an exam, I practiced yoga and ballet together with devoted students online and in-studio, and released a signature coaching program.

The ability to travel home to Hawai’i as well as to the UK and on regional getaways, time with family, friends, and my love were also memories that I am deeply grateful for.

Perhaps you’d also be interested in some of my favorite sources of inspiration, education, and entertainment from the year past. Some were newly-released over the course of 2022, others were simply new-to-me and recommendable. Even if no one else cares what I liked, this should be a fun reference for future me to see what I was into back in 2022 😉

I would love to hear what you especially got benefit or enjoyment from in the last 12 months, and if you’ve heard of or enjoyed anything from my list as well. Let me know on Instagram @ablythecoach or by email, I am always looking for positive and inspiring inputs.

For the full text/show notes for this audio, here is the accompanying blog article. 

• What is on your “to be read” list this season?
• Which media sources do you find most enriching?
• What do you want to learn?
• What makes you curious?
• What creations will you make and share?

I would be delighted to hear from you via email or on Instagram @ablythecoach

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
they/them or she/her
Creator of  A Blythe Coach : dance through your difficulties
and take leaps of faith into a joyful, fulfilling life

Natarajana / King Dancer / Lord of the Dance Pose, more commonly referred to simply as “Dancer,” is an iconic and challenging yoga pose that invites us to discover our own courage and compassion.

Shiva-as-Nataraj is classically depicted standing atop a mischievous gnome as he dances and plays a drum. A cobra winds around Shiva’s neck, his dreadlocks swirl around his head, a ring of fire encircles him, a flame also burns in the palm of his hand.

Dancer is a standing one-legged balancing shape, where one foot is lifted behind us,  grasped by the hand as we tip forward and reach the other arm forward. It can be a very confronting but rewarding pose and today on the podcast, on the blog, and in the accompanying YouTube video I provide some variations and modifications to help you find dancer pose that allows you to experience all of its benefits.

I’m Blythe Stephens, and that’s what we’re exploring today in episode 64 of the A Blythe Coach Podcast providing weekly dance education & coaching to move through life with balance, grace, & power!

• What yoga poses or movements do you find especially challenging?
• What emotions come up for you in these times of challenge?
• What modifications or variations can help you access the potential benefits of these poses?
• How can I support your practice?

Stay tuned on my YouTube Channel and Blog for more about living a luscious life!!

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

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.

Sources

Myths of the Asanas: The Stories at the Heart of the Yoga Tradition by Alanna Kaivalya, Shiva Rea, and Manorama
Every Body Yoga: Let Go of Fear, Get On the Mat, Love Your Body by Jessamyn Stanley
Teaching Yoga: Essential Foundations and Techniques by Mark Stephens and Mariel Hemmingway
Yoga Where You Are: Customize Your Practice for Your Body and Your Life by Dianne Bondy, Kat Heagberg, and Jes Baker

Forget, may we not,
how we cared for our fellows
hopeful aftermath

That’s a haiku I wrote this weekend in honor of 20th anniversary of September 11th. The catchphrase adopted by many is “never forget” and I was considering what it is important that we remember when we reflect on that horrific day.

Sadly many brave souls, firefighters, EMTs and such, lost their lives that day, in addition to the civilians who worked or did business in the towers. In that moment, America (and arguably the world) mourned together, but also rose to the task of helping all the victims, those hurt and those left behind.

As Mr. Rogers famously advised, we also “looked for the helpers,” and they indeed showed up, in force. The way that citizens rushed to help in any way they could made an impression never to be forgotten. 

My friend Olivia Mead (@ladyboss_olivia) from NCSA was so profoundly affected that she would go on to found Yoga for First Responders (@yogaforfirstresponders), training thousands of EMTs, firefighters, etc. in skills to help cope with the stress, trauma, and demands of their jobs as well as instructing yoga teachers in how to do the same. 

I found this article featuring ways we can contribute to our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic particularly inspiring and practical as we look back on that day and forward into how we can help now.

I believe that we are called to remember the preciousness and uncertainty of our time on Earth. We owe it to ourselves to do purposeful, passionate work (whether that takes the form of paid work in our career or job or the way we serve in our personal lives), to appreciate what we have, move joyfully, love ourselves and one another.

For me, this includes sharing dance and yoga and supporting students and clients in living extraordinary and fulfilled lives. What does it mean to you?

Stay tuned on my YouTube Channel and Blog for more about living a luscious life!!

Blythe Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyzing Dance Educator & Coach
she/her or they/them
Founder of A Blythe Coach: move through life with balance, grace, & power

What fosters energy and youthful enthusiasm in your life? What rituals help you wake up and maintain mindful presence? I’m Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst, and that’s what I’m exploring today in episode 62 of the A Blythe Coach Podcast, which provides weekly dance education & coaching to move through life with balance, grace, & power!

Recently, students of mine shared experiences of insomnia, and I researched yoga poses, taught sequences on the theme, and compiled those and other natural approaches into the Seeking Sweet Sleep: Yogic Insomnia Solutions blog. Of course, we’re all unique and have different needs, so it’s important to listen to our bodies and continue to learn more and share ideas. Before taking my August content pause, I also wrote about making the most of time off in the Rest & Recovery Rocks My World blog, and both of these areas of self-care affect our energy levels and enjoyment of life.

In researching yoga practices to promote healthy energy, the following themes emerged in terms of types of practices, flows, and poses: Sun Salutations: Sun Salutations A & B; Kundalini Yoga Exercises: : Rib Spirals/Sufi Circles/Coffee Grinders; Balances: Eagle, Warrior III, Half-Moon, Crow, Side Crow - Good Space Yoga, Firefly; Backbends/Heart Openers: Upward-Facing Dog, Camel, Bridge - Buoyant Bridges, Wild Thing, Wheel, Fish, Inverted Staff; & Gentle Inversions: Legs-Up-the-Wall Cycle.

My new "Yoga for Energy" video mini-series includes: Floor-Based Yoga for Energy - 45 Minute seated, kneeling, & reclining; Standing Yoga for Energy - 25 Minute hands-free; Arm Balance Yoga for Energy - 30 Minute. 

These practices and more can be found on the Yogalicious and Beautiful Breathing - Yoga Pranayama playlists on the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel.

What helps you wake up, feel vibrant, creative and focused?

Stay tuned here and on my YouTube Channel and Blog for more about living a luscious life!!

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Founder of A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching move through life with balance, grace, & power

In addition to stressing the importance of making time (and patience) for ballet practice, in her book The Ballet Companion Eliza Gaynor Minden recommends that aspiring dancers also “make time for rest,” specifically stating that, “Professional dancers generally take one day off a week. Allow yourself at least this much rest. Your body needs it.” (The Ballet Companion)

Of course, this recommended minimum applies not only to dancers but to all humans! Life coach Talane Meidaner insists that, “You need a day to do whatever you want with no plans, no list of things to do, no scheduled brunches, no lunches--a day to be totally free and spontaneous, to rest, to play, to honor your spiritual self.” (Coach Yourself to Success)

Are you about due for a little break like I am? Today in episode 61 I am exploring the importance of time off and ways to build it into our lives on a regular basis. If you are here with me in real time, it's the last week of July, we are just completing the fourth and final week of my first “Adaptive Adult Summer Dance Intensive,” and are certainly due for some well-deserved rest!

Listen to the podcast and read my companion blog to learn more about Self-Care & Sharpening the Saw, Getting 8 Hours of Quality Sleep nightly, Taking Naps, Sacred Evenings Off, At Least One Day Off per week, Regular Longer Holidays, vacations and retreats, Maximizing Your Downtime, and what NOT to take a break from. 

Then let me know:

What helps you rest, recover, and rejuvenate?
Do you take regular sacred evenings off, a full unscheduled day per week, and vacations?

Stay tuned on my YouTube Channel and Blog for more about living a luscious life!!

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

I have definitely been feeling the effects of my personal Summer Dance Intensive since week one and am feeling noticeably more stable, secure, and fit to dance. It’s amazing how minimal effort each day can yield noticeable gains in strength and stability, flexibility and range of motion, and general well-being.

Week four is all about continuing the work we’ve started, finishing strong, and getting complete on our efforts so far. We are fostering a Creative State of Being and connecting with the Element of Air, setting up to keep your practice going after the “Intensive” is complete with a well-rounded conditioning and cross-training routine that requires a very small commitment of time. You can continue to add different movements slowly as well as take full-length classes with me online or through other teachers and live studios.

Recommended Viewing: Paris Opera Ballet’s “Cendrillon;” Criticism: Use the Be a Dance Critic tool to analyze your viewing of “Cendrillon” or another dance work; Listening: Finding a Creative State of Being and Finding a Related State of Being, and Acknowledgement, Révérence, & Namaste; Repertory: we will continue to learn the “Queen of the Dryads” variation; Improvisation: “Egg” exercise from Twyla Tharp or other; Composition: translations of  “Queen of the Dryads” variation or other

Daily “Menu” for Week 4 and going forward: A foot/ankle conditioner to get grounded (Ankle ABC’s, Towel Toes, or Plush Paralleleves) or do a full yoga practice, or do self-massage + A core activator to get centered (Planking Pleasures, Beatific Boats, Oh Wow! Cat-Cow) or do a full dance warmup or do a micro-workout + An axial (leg and/or arm) movement or dance step* to get oriented or have a stretching session or do a full ballet barre or dance class AND/OR Learn Repertory/Improvise/Compose to get creative AND/OR Watch/Describe/Analyze/Critique or Collaborate to get related.

[More info & links in Blog]

Blythe C. Stephens, MFA, Bliss Catalyst
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power
A Blythe Coach on Facebook & Instagram

Welcome back for week 2 out of 4 in my first-ever “Adaptive Adult Summer Dance Intensive” If you would like to immerse yourself in dance or yoga this summer and don’t have the chance to attend such an extensive workshop in-person, I’m offering this program as an at-home online option that can flexibly meet your needs. Because of its virtual nature, you don’t have to participate synchronously in real-time, so you can also start the program anytime!

Today in episode 059, I am outlining the second week of a month-long summer dance program, so go back and listen to episode 058 and read the accompanying blog for the full scoop!

This July, I am presenting weekly suggested programs to develop body and mind, providing a complement or bridge to online or in-studio practice. You can tailor the program to your needs, with anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours per day! 

Have fun customizing your program for your experience, skills, and lifestyle, and please let me know what questions you have and how I can best serve you! I would also be happy to work with you individually to help design and execute your ideal training program.

Also new this week is my 45-minute Floor-Based Yoga for Energy practice, great if you’re needing more pep in your step to get dancing!

I am going “Live” every weekday on social media to practice the day’s movements together and answer your questions, so join me there for more fun and support :)

Meanwhile, I would like to know:

• How do you cultivate energy, wakefulness, and presence?
• What physical skill and what mental skill are you developing this week?
• How can I serve you?

Send me an email at blythe@ablythecoach.com or come visit me at the A Blythe Coach Facebook Page to respond, I love hearing from you!

A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power
A Blythe Coach on Facebook & Instagram
Convertkit Commerce Unlimited Online Monthly Ballet & Yoga Classes

Flexible & Adaptive Summer Dance Training Online and In-Person

Summer can be a fruitful time to advance our craft, with warm weather and time off from school or (sometimes) work to focus on developing dancing strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, skills, & repertory. Even famous ballet pedagogue Agrippina Vaganova remarked on the particular value of working on your ballet technique in the summer months.

Back in the day, I enjoyed summer ballet “intensives” with the Nashville Ballet and my home studio, the West Hawaii Dance Academy. Until I departed for ballet conservatory study at North Carolina School of the Arts, these were unique opportunities to dive deeper and gain exposure in the profession. Later I would teach dance camps and accelerated summer university courses, and I’m always blown away by how much growth and improvement can occur in a short, concentrated timespan!

But not everyone has the time or money to invest in extensive training... I’d like to offer an at-home online option that can flexibly meet your needs. Because of its virtual nature, you don’t have to participate synchronously in real-time, so you can also start the program anytime!

During July, I will present weekly suggested programs to develop body and mind, providing a complement or bridge to online or in-studio practice. You can tailor the program to your needs, with anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours per day!

5-15 Minutes per day follow the video plan (full Week 1 details will be on the blog and social media) for dance conditioning to keep you in shape as a complement to light training in other areas, good for those who are strapped for time, but want to return to dance classes in the Fall or at some later time. 

1.5+ Hours per day: follow the videos daily and also take a yoga or dance class 2-6 times a week. 

3+ Hours per day: One dance and/or yoga class and the training videos daily, also watching recommended performance repertory, opportunity to learn to perform ballet variations, create choreography, and write dance criticism.

Have fun customizing your program for your experience, skills, and lifestyle, and please let me know what questions you have and how I can best serve you via email or book a consultation HERE!

In order to start strong, establish your goals and find the right program for you, I recommend that you start by completing the Client/Student Profile & Intended Results Google Form. This can be a reflective tool for you, as well as help me tailor content to fit your needs. For more information on Goal Setting for Dancers, you may also consult my blog by that name.

Let me know what your dream “Summer Dance Intensive” looks like, your dancing and movement needs, and how I can support you in adapting a training program to achieve your goals!

Blythe C. Stephens
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

It’s unbelievable, but we are 6 months into 2021, and I relish reflecting on half a year of learning and growth at the same time that I celebrate my birthday. Looking back and celebrating my wins in Quarter 1 & 2, strategizing what’s missing, what I can let go, and what I will re-commit to creating habits, action steps, and milestones to foster.

Today in episode 57, I’m sharing an update on my results from the first half of the year and planning for success in the next 6 months, and this is a follow-up on my declarations at the beginning of the year, 2021 Theme, Goals, & Vision Blog & Podcast 032: Theme, Vision, & Project Planning for 2021 as well as the monthly themes I have chosen, projects, and key habits to develop.

Related resources on self-awareness, learning, and growth:

• Goal-Setting for Dancers Blog
• Powerful Portfolios to Catalyze Action Blog
• Healthy Habit-Building Blog
• Reflective Practice Through Journaling Blog
• Meditation Practice Challenge Blog
• Seeking Sweet Sleep Blog
• Persistence Podcast
• Resilience Podcast

What goals and projects did you decide upon in January, and where are they now? What will you continue, re-commit to, or strategize to succeed in? What are you willing to simply let go?

Let me know by email from my website, or on the Facebook Page!

Blythe C. Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

Like an exhilarating ride on a rollercoaster, or if you prefer, a wave, as dancers we ascend and descend, sink, scoop, and rise, following or leaving a pathway in space. It can be quite a thrill even at a low level of risk!

Our clarity about the described pathway in space, whether it be an scooping undercurve or arcing overcurve, affects our accuracy in performing dance steps and the impression given by choreographic expression. Here in episode 56, we’ll delve into two specific pathways that we often travel in space, so-called undercurves and overcurves.

“Undercurve” and “Overcurve” are terms mostly used in movement description (i.e. Laban Movement Analysis) and modern dance, but I also use them in teaching ballet technique because they clarify the path the steps travel through space and the concepts are applicable to all movement forms. Whether sliding, stepping, or jumping, every movement that transfers weight, travelling from one place to another, will either remain at the same level or change levels, often following an over-curving or under-curving pathway in space.

As modern dance innovators Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis distinguish in The Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique: "Remember that in the undercurve, the transfer of weight is always in low level. In the overcurve, the transfer is always in high level."

Examples from Ballet

Under-curving Chassé: “to chase,” as in a cat-and-mouse game between the two feet

Over-curving Pas de Chat: "step of the cat," a catlike leap 

Further Ballet & Dance practice videos:

• Amazing Undercurves 
• Powerful Pliés 
• Plush Paralleleves
• Centre Tendu, Temps Lié & Body Directions 
• Ebullient Battement & Passé 
• Saucy Prances & Sautés

I hope you enjoyed exploring the concepts of undercurves and overcurves in ballet and dance today, as well as practicing the steps of Chassé, Pas de Chat, and more. Let me know whether you prefer an under- or over-curving pathway while dancing or observing dance in performance!

Stay tuned on my Blog for the latest ballet-liciousness :)

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach:
move through life with balance, grace, & power

As my birthday falls in June (this year is an especially notable one), I like to reflect at this time of year, considering the last year in my life as well as the 6 months since the official New Year, celebrating my accomplishments, and plotting my next steps to progress with my priorities.

We are enjoying the longest days of sunlight of the year here in Cologne, the harvest of the season, and for many, a time of rest, recovery, and recreation before the start of another school year. Maybe we have more space and time to reflect while taking a break from our usual responsibilities. Or perhaps we can take a moment to reflect even in hectic times, to appreciate our progress and plot our course.

Today in episode 055, I’m waxing enthusiastic on reflective journaling practices in dance, yoga, meditation, relationships, life & creativity.

Other blogs and videos on related topics of self-awareness, learning, and growth include:

• Goal-Setting for Dancers Blog
• Powerful Portfolios to Catalyze Action Blog & Video
• Healthy Habit-Building Blog & Video
• Meditation Practice Challenge Blog
• Seeking Sweet Sleep Blog
• “Bullet Journal 2021 plan-with-me and walk-through” Video
  

Drawing is great, too! Visual note-taking strategies have been proven effective for learning. There is support for physically writing this as an analog practice, but if that absolutely doesn’t work for you for some reason, then try recording as voice-to-text, or typing, or whatever seems to work best for the way that you process information and learn. We are all individuals, and need to seek out our own best reflective practices.

The questions we ask ourselves are important to the answers we will come up with, so let me know which of the recommended prompts or ideas you try out and how they work for you. I am planning future blogs on further provocative, “Socratic,” coaching (clearing & other tools), and wisdom-access questions for fruitful inquiry.

Meanwhile, get out your journal of choice and record your responses (then take a picture and share with me for acknowledgement and celebration!) to the questions below:

• What issue are you currently facing that could use some written processing?
• What important topics or projects that you are up to deserve some reflection in this moment?
• What will you commit to in terms of journaling or reflective practice this week?
  

Blythe Stephens, MFA
she/her or they/them
A Blythe Coach: Dance Education & Coaching
move through life with balance, grace, & power

Distinguishing our life’s Purpose can provide a compass “True North” that guides all actions and decision making to accomplish/Be what you are on earth for.

Another metaphor for your "Why" is that of taking a birds' eye view of life in order to ask if what we are creating and doing is aligned with who we are or want to Be in the world.

In “real time” here in the Northern Hemisphere we are experiencing fall and are near the time of Halloween and many other traditional days of the dead, opportunities to reflect on beloved ancestors and others, our own harvest blessings, and prepare for the darkest days of the year.

We are invited now, and at all times, to ask ourselves:

“What light will I bring?”

You are invited to consider your ultimate life purpose as well as your purpose for each project you undertake and action step you make. In this podcast and in the accompanying blog on ablythecoach.com, I share 5 tips for finding and using your Purpose or Why, questions for reflection, and in the blog I also have links to further resources for learning. 

Reflection Questions

• What light do you bring to the world?
• What is your Purpose?
• In what ways are your actions aligned with your Purpose? Where are they out of alignment?
• How will you be reminded to be present to your Purpose/Why?
• What structures will you put in place to evaluate potential actions and decisions according to your larger Purpose?

Let’s connect by email or on Instagram @ablythecoach - I would love to hear your perspective and assist in choreographing your next leap of faith!

Blythe Stephens, MFA & Bliss Catalyst
she/her or they/them
Creator of A Blythe Coach @ablythecoach
helping multi-passionate creatives
dance through their difficulties