I've been seeing a few people and getting used to conducting sessions in French. In certain ways it reminds me of when I did my Pilates apprenticeship back in 1998-1999. At that time, in addition to learning to teach, I had to get the hang of pacing sessions, and I had to come up with imagery and cues that were mine and authentic. That came gradually until eventually the words came effortlessly and my clients "got it". Now I'm creating an entirely new vocabulary, with the same object...conveying fine details and nuances that can make a world of difference in how someone uses their body and feels. I love what I do, and I feel grateful that I am able to share it with others.
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I am excited to announce that Accès Pilates will soon have an elegantly designed logo to go along with the feel of the new studio. Watch out for the new logo being unveiled shortly.
Also soon, a special delivery of Indian fabric to complete the decor inside the studio. Should be beautiful once it is all done! Grand opening is just around the corner. Preparing to introduce myself to this upper corner of gorgeous Provence. Well, I have a session this morning. It is an exchange, but it will give me a feel for moving around in my new Pilates Studio. (And starting to get the hang of teaching Pilates in French.) After 14 years of using English to describe the body in action, my tongue and mind need some help shifting gears! [addendum April 19: session went well. It is a good thing that I have a chance to practice because, I need help tweaking my visualization and imagery cues...they don't translate easily. Note to self: must learn anatomy terminology in French, ASAP] The town of Manosque is popping with color right now. In fact, right outside my studio is a beautiful tree, a Japanese Cherry, I was informed. It had these huge pink double flowers that look like they're made of crepe paper. Actually, all of Provence is bursting with color. This is the reward for surviving the winter.
The plants are in, the schedule is posted. Now I need to work on promoting and getting clients. I have a difficult enough time touting my work in English, this should be interesting in French. Plans are in the works for an open house, I have flyers that I made that need to be printed, and I've bought some nice stationary with which I'll hand write notes/invitations to professionals in the alternative health field. Any other ideas?
Même que j'ai quel-que petits choses à faire, le studio Accès Pilates est prêt à vous recevoir!
There are still little things to do here and there, but Accès Pilates studio is ready to welcome you! Just spoke with the landscape designer who will help construct the living wall (mur vegetal)that I'll have in one corner (un coin) of the studio...I am so excited (Je suis tellement excitée). I'm going to the plant store on Friday (Je vais aller à Botanic vendredi) and will begin gathering plant specimen. I feel butterflies in my stomach when I think about what the studio will eventually be like. All good things take their due time (Toutes les bonnes choses prennent du temps), that has been my modus operandi throughout the transition. Wow! Well the combo unit is in the studio. It sure does not take up very much space. Got out most of the rest of the debris from the take down. Now I will put in plants and art and try to make it feel alive!
Today I will go to Avignon for the first time. There I will register the business, I hope, unless I run into more red tape, which I do not anticipate ;) Can anyone tell me why when I enter Pilates Manosque in various search engines, my website does not come up? And when I enter the business name acces pilates, the site does not come up on bing Woohoo!!! Carpet is down, we just need to empty out last bit of stuff and move in the equipment. I am so happy! There will still be odds and ends that need to be done, but this is a huge milestone that has been passed.
Next up will be printing out brochures, flyers and promo material and getting my name out there! This is it, we're approaching the completion. We'll put down the carpet/moquette this week-end and put in the equipment on hand!!! Keep fingers crossed that weather remains gorgeous.
The walls are so warm and makes the room feel so inviting. It is true that as the light filters in it enhances the color. It makes me feel like the end of the day at the beach, you know when you are just so relaxed, warmed from the inside out and the pre-sunset colors have begun to streak the sky. Today I have a meeting which will help decided under which structure I will open my studio. There have been so many little surprises along the way. The biggest issue seems to be that I do not fit neatly into any category, because I am a citizen here, but I have spent my whole life as a citizen of the US. So I have no history here, I don't know how things work. But little by little I am learning!
WALLS: The color turned out to be very tame and instead of a warm orange they wound up a warm pinkish. I think it will be so relaxing in the summer when the sunlight is streaming in at the end of the day! All we have left to do is put in the carpet and set up the studio! I wanted to be open already, but I am accepting this waiting period as a life lesson. One wall is complete with the badigeon treatment. Going in today to continue working and see how the pigment settled.
I love the fact that doing the walls with a whitewash - that has color :) will not only save money, but it is a substance that is a natural mold inhibitor, allows the walls to breathe, and the people within the walls too! There are no harsh volatile oils to irritate lungs and eyes. Speaking of eyes...when we first got the space, the walls were painted an almost neon orange and yellow. It was a major affront to the system and made you feel like jumping out of your skin.Maybe acceptable colors for a pizza parlor, but definitely not for a serene Pilates studio. |
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