Joy in motion! The arm movements felt SO good after doing a class yesterday that had some P&P (planks & push-ups).

My main comments are quotes from this class:

“You’re not on stage- you’re at a sleepover. And it’s nothing but joy and freedom!”

And ending meditation which included: “Remember that when we get to this mat, it is never ever to shrink or to be small. It is never to be demure or perfect. It is never to be quiet; that’s not the purpose (if that shows up in moments that’s wonderful). But our goal here is to live in all the colors, to be alive and awake, and strong and seen, and to give that same grace to those around us.”

Yesss Marnie! 🩵

Joyful celebration (also with the emotional feels toward our cool down stretches). Signature class with the series we expect and the magic of muscle engagement throughout. Jump options in the beginning with a bouncy cardio dance, weighted arm dance (not too long so don’t hold back), freestyle dance opportunities especially in upper body with pulsing legs, and barre work focusing on one side then the other with combo resets in between (at times facing away from device). We are briefly kneeling after the barre (not long enough to where I needed the ball for helping my knees but that’s an option), then incorporating our movement ball between thighs for P&P, then we are tummy up and ball is under hips (which granted me access to have the straightest lifted leg during those scissor-ish leg movements where I usually have my hands under my lower back but cannot fully straighten my skyward leg), and then rolling the ball from under foot to under calf (ball under one foot for wiggly hip bridge dancing was more challenging than I expected but still fun). The choreography down on the mat combines legs and crunches; a lot of leg movements where they are both in motion but doing different things. The slight forward bend of one shoulder toward opposite hip brings the heat to our obliques. Total full body; total presence; total joy and celebration! Class is left an hour, but the video is longer as we celebrate after the closing meditation.

Mary Ellen, thank you for sharing and being vulnerable. Grief- ugggh. She’s a doozy, so powerful, so encompassing at times, sometimes a gentle presence along side of us and sometimes it wraps us in an all-consuming bear hug.

Do you have anything of your parents to wrap around you? A sweater, coat, blanket? If your spiritual beliefs align with this, would you invite them to visit you in your dreams and help you remember these visits? Invite them to show you how present they remain with you, in a sign that makes sense to you? Make some of their favorite foods or do something in their honor. What would they say to Mary Ellen as a little child that you could repeat to yourself now? What would they say to grown up you? What do you WISH was said between you all; can you make space for speaking that to them or writing it to them?

And please continue to connect. With them and the love they share with you (ongoing). Connect with us. Connect with kind hearts around you. Do in their honor and know how absolutely proud of you they are. The heaviness of grief means we need to tend to ourselves and nest, and then balance it with engagement with other living things (if people are too much, I get it, so can that be with animals, plants, nature?).

Grief remains, as our love and connections do. It is painfully beautiful. You are not alone, but this particular journey is yours. And that’s ok if it doesn’t match what the rest of us describe as our grief journeys.

Hmmm… want to throw out some days/times you might do a class from the catalog? Maybe we can align with you and do a class, or the same one, at the same time and connect from one mat to another. And definitely shout out when you are present at a Live class so that is also known. You are cherished; you have been and you continue to be. Sitting with you, in your feelings of loneliness, and gently nearby.

Yay!! We’re glad you are here! As the comments before me suggest, those guides and “Challenge” boards of classes can be helpful.

If you scroll to the very beginning, classes work sequentially in the sense that Marnie often references the class before, saying things like “we did that work on our posture muscles last class so we are open for this move today.” Yet your personal progression may be moving from 20-30 minute classes to 45-60 minute classes. There is no right or wrong way, but I understand wondering where to begin.

Each class offers modification options. Marnie will show one way, then say “or you can do it like this” and will remind us one way is not better or “more advanced,” it is just different. Listening to your body and focusing on ‘proper’ form guidance Marnie gives is my main advice. For example, I continue to quiet my opinionated mind that wants to raise a leg higher like I see Marnie do, but I have to remind myself it’s more effective to maintain level hips and straight leg and raise it less high rather than allowing my alignment to become undone just for a higher leg lift. Hope that makes sense. Proper form keeps the movement safe and truly works the muscles deeper.

As there are so many classes, you can ask a number generator (or friend) to give you a number between 1 - 540 and do the class that has that number. As you get into it, you may find you are craving a specific class, such as a cardio dance to let go and shake off stuff, or an arms class to work those muscles, or abdominals/core. You may crave the Healing Hips classes (so lovely for calming especially around your cycle) or a floor flow class. Can’t wait to hear your new favorites as you go! Thanks for being here with us. 😊

Yay Kathy! We’re glad you’re here and congrats on bringing an entire human into this world! I agree with comments before me and we have so many fabulous mommas around.

While some classes are themed, I find just about any M/BODY class engages full body muscles. We engage our core strength and pelvic floor strength a bunch. Please tune into your body and listen to Marnie’s words- those form notes may seem minor but ‘proper’ form helps us activate and engage all the muscles properly. There are so many cues and guidance for modifications and options; the best is when we listen to our body and see what helps us engage rather than let our silly egos determine the modification. I prefer to do classes in front of a mirror so I can check alignment visually and not just by feeling my hips are even or my chest is up.

Choosing classes marked as “low impact” can help you get the sweat and heat via anaerobic movements and have more pulses than jumps. That might be your sweet spot for the first few weeks or months. You’re in your own space; feel free to wear a big old pad for any possible leaks with jumps or bounces and pee before class (pause and use restroom if you need!). Maybe also explore some of the classes under the “Pregnancy” section; while you can lay on your back and such now, it may offer mindful guidance about modifications that are gentler on the abdominal muscles that all stretched and shifted in the magical ways they do during pregnancy. Your balance may feel different after all you’ve experienced too.

Any time in the mat is great; I agree with starting with 20 minute classes. I rely on those when short on time and I often am still working up a sweat, breathing much more deeply, etc. Every class in the catalog has a description from M/BODY and lists the equipment needed, and also includes comments from people who have done the class and that may help you choose a class or at least know what you’re about to experience.

We’re glad you (and your fam) are here!

Tried and true classic for quick fire-y abs. 🔥 

Quick-paced, no equipment, bouncy class that felt challenging to return to several years later. Don't sleep on these classics earlier in the M/BODY catalog!

Upbeat class where 45 minutes fly by to a great playlist. Choreography includes a lot of crossing center line (in front of course but also crossing our center behind us, such as the kneeling curtsy move), and our posture feels like a focus (soft and open heart/strong back). Cardio dance is bouncy, arm dance is strengthening with weights, and Movement ball can be squeezed in between thighs at the barre, support our knees in some kneeling moves, and is under foot/calf while laying down on the mat tummy skyward. The barre choreography combos were fun and required brain engagement for me. Have space for wide second facing your barre (feet mat width or wider) and further to each side for a tabletop side kick. Felt full-body engagement with front abdominal muscle work included. No P&Ps in this class (unless you consider tabletop position with one leg dancing to be plank-adjacent, but my lack of quiet cussing means I do not).

Happy Birthday, Molly G!

So exciting! Post a sweatpant pic, momma!

Alyssa, thank you for sharing and how awful to go through this physical pain journey and process of healing. I hope your chosen path works for you, but perhaps it’s good to know surgery is a backup plan IF necessary. We are here with you, so making things known helps us know when to rally around and lift each other up. Whether you need an organ to go (appendixes are overrated, right?) or whether you need community and reminders to soften your heart and strengthen your back as you recover from spinal/nerve injuries, speak up and we show up. This community is a living, breathing, pulsing realm of safety and support and I am so grateful to be here with you and with others. I know I don’t always check/keep up with the Community Board or group chats, but when I do it’s this awe-inspiring reminder of what is here to tap into and give and receive. Sending you all the love and healing and being seen and supported, whether that’s comfortable or not, to you!