Noticing what is already there...

Another year is almost ending, and that means another chance to reflect on what I have learned and if my intention is still aligned with my choices. In 2025, the word playful took the spotlight. Not only in the context of my sessions, but also in the workshops I took to keep learning and be inspired by physical education teachers who are passionate about changing our very busy, tired, and distracted kind of society. I resonate with this so much because, at this point in my profession, the business leans towards narrower views. It places high value on interior design, machines, or props. Or idolizes historical narratives as the authentic path to take making being an authority figure the goal. All this using a word that takes many meanings, like Pilates, Movement, or Yoga. The urge for quick self-improvement and the loss of skills to research, even though we have new technological advances like AI, are not making my profession easier to navigate. Neither is the need for people to "feel that they did something" without being interested in sensing what it actually was.

I realized that maintaining habits that foster clear intentions and value human relationships attracts the right people. This understanding freed me from the pressure of achieving large numbers in sessions or courses. I came up to this moment of acceptance where less is more. The following description of with whom and how I spend a work's week day exemplifies my priorities. At this stage, my aim is less about making students dependent on my services and more about encouraging them to spend time learning something valuable about themselves.

WHAT'S ALREADY THERE?

7:00 The invisible acts of love and kindness. I have breakfast with my husband. He wakes up a bit earlier than me and prepares the coffee and yogurt for both of us while I get ready. We watch the news and discuss about how did we sleep, and plans ahead. Before I am leaving I sit 10 min. in meditation mode.

8:00 Nurturing mutual trust. I'm on my way to the studio and the tram deviates and when I was expecting to reach 15 min. before, I arrived 3 min. after the starting hour. But thanks to the trust and with direct communication, a dear student opens the studio a bit before my arrival. She helps me to prepare the space and without any rush or scent of stress we start our session.

9:00 Playfulness mindset. A strength and conditioning class with gymnastic rings, that actually can be fun and creative, is possible. And thanks to Movement Practice Vienna's group of teachers and students, we are making space for anyone to rediscover what is movement and understanding like an adult with a wondering mindset.

10:15 Philosophize about life. After class, as usual since summer, we go for a "quick coffee" that becomes often at least one hour of sharing stories, ideas, plans, past experiences or debate about cultural or social topics. A window to learn from other perspectives, backgrounds is always open.

12:00 There is order in randomness. I am back home after errands  for lunch and undwind before the next class. I take at least 45 min. of my own practice and recap the plan about the next sessions. Check messages, reply e-mails, mix house chores.

16:00 Variation and quick adaptation, that is the constant. Time for my 30 minutes one on one via zoom. Starting the session with "how are your energy levels today?" since 2022. We still meet, she from Trondheim, me in Vienna. We continue besides sickness, work schedule or holidays, accepting and rescheduling as a sustainable routine. We send each other postcards from our yearly trips and appreciate our effort to connect.

17:00 A space to spread my view. It's time for the Panda Atelier, a place I have chosen for the moment to gather people that is interested in learning more about moving through my lenses.  Women that started to notice something positive in themselves happening in my sessions. Committed people that sneakily find time or periods of time to join. The class value is balanced between the accessible, clean and open space, and the personal attention-teachers time invested in education. It's an opportunity to appreciate the effort of making time to learn or unlearn what the body and mindset can do through experience of discomfort and enjoyment entangled.

18:30-22:00 Slowdown and rest deep. Time to prep dinner, the kind I used to like to do in Mexico, some new recipe or that takes longer to cook. I call my parents or send them a pic of what I am about to eat. My husband is back and as he opens the door we dance a little bit while I have a catchy tune to cook. After talked about our day, we watch a serie, read together and zzz...

CULTIVATION OF RELATIONSHIPS

Bottomline, the quality and depth of conversations during and after sessions with students, friends, loved ones is my most valuable treasure. With more distractive habits, the pauses to interact in person are more relevant to practice. Thank you all of you that spent as little as an hour and as much as months or the full year with me. And I hope you also notice those invisible treasures in your daily life. Looking forward to discover which word will domain the 2026.