How on Earth is it already July 2024?! I usually view this time as the heart of summer, fully invested in summer travels and adventures. But this year, I seem to be more focused on the six month mark of the year. I'm sure it is because we are just now over the six month landmark since our apartment building fire. That brought up quite a lot of emotions as we pushed for our neighbors to receive an extension on their temporary housing (and we won that fight!). It makes me feel like WHERE has the time gone as it feels like it happened yesterday. Yet, it also goes to show how quickly time does fly and why it is so important to focus on the NOW. They say it can take anywhere between 18 days and 8 months to build a habit. With six months left of the year, that means it is not too late to build the habits you want to help you achieve your goals. May this be our community push to focus on the present and go one step at a time to build good habits that set us up for the type of success we want. And it's not too late to register to vote! https://vote.gov/ This month, 20% of our proceeds will be contributed to Coalition for the Homeless. The Coalition for the Homeless is the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless individuals and families. They believe that affordable housing, sufficient food and the chance to work for a living wage are fundamental rights in a civilized society. Since their inception in 1981, the Coalition has worked through litigation, public education and direct services to ensure that these goals are realized. The Coalition’s effectiveness derives from their unique role as both an advocacy and direct service organization. Their programs, shelter monitoring and grassroots organizing enable them to meet homeless people where they are – giving voice and hope to the most marginalized among us. Their advocacy is informed by the very real daily struggles of our homeless neighbors, and seeks practical, humane and cost-effective long-term solutions proven to work. Because every New Yorker deserves a home. For more than 40 years, the Coalition for the Homeless has developed and implemented humane, cost-effective strategies to end mass homelessness in New York City. Their model programs represent solutions that can dramatically reduce the homeless population and prevent homelessness among those most at risk. Every day, their 11 frontline programs help more than 3,500 men, women and children survive immediate crises and put them on the path to long-term stability. They witness firsthand the challenges they face and shape their services to best meet their needs, providing emergency food and clothing, eviction prevention, crisis services, permanent housing, job training and special programs for homeless youth. Their renowned advocacy tirelessly fights for investments in proven, cost-effective housing-based solutions to mass homelessness. Their first legal victory, Callahan v. Carey, established the right to shelter for homeless adult men — a crucial first step in our subsequent victories on behalf of homeless women and children. Since then, the Coalition has won a string of legal actions including securing medically appropriate housing for people living with HIV/AIDS and ensuring the right to vote for Americans without homes. The Coalition is a vocal and invaluable city and statewide resource for homeless people, at-risk populations, other advocates and service providers, policymakers and the public at large. They have earned the reputation as the most credible source of information on homelessness, its causes, and solutions. To learn more about their amazing work, visit their website: https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/
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There is always something special about the change of seasons. This particular seasonal change, it feels for me as though I am coming out of a fog. The sunshine, the clear blue skies, the contrast of the bright flowers blooming against their crisp green leaves feels reviving as if I am Dorothy going from the black and white of Kansas to the bright and inviting land of Oz. And for me, that is also reinvigorating my sense of joy. So, my hope is that this is a season of JOY for all of us. With all the tragedy, fear, heartache, polarizing negative that is around us, may we constantly fight for our collective JOY this season. And what better way to do that than to celebrate PRIDE month. Happy Pride, my friends! This month, 20% of our proceeds goes to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the philanthropic heart of Broadway, helping people across the country and across the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance. They are one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theater community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $300 million for essential services for people living with HIV/AIDS, struggling with COVID-19 and facing other critical illnesses in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the single largest financial supporter of the essential social service programs at the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts. They also award annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS began as two separate organizations. Equity Fights AIDS was founded in October 1987 by the Council of Actors’ Equity Association. Money raised through the efforts of Equity theater companies across the country was specifically earmarked for The Actors Fund’s HIV/AIDS Initiative. Broadway Cares was founded in February 1988 by members of The Producers’ Group. Money raised was awarded to AIDS service organizations nationwide, including Equity Fights AIDS. In May 1992, Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Cares merged to become Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The Board of Trustees of this newly established nonprofit fundraising organization assumed the missions of the previously separate organizations. Unlike most other nonprofit, grant-making organizations, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS must raise every dollar of our philanthropic budget each year in order to fulfill our mission. In turn, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS works hard to ensure that the money they raise is spent carefully and wisely on programs where these hard-earned funds can have the maximum possible impact. Their Mission Statement:
To learn more about their incredibly organization, visit their website: https://broadwaycares.org/ I have had so many clients recently talk to me about their frustration with the ups and downs of their health journey. As soon as one finally feels back on track and in a good groove, life throws you a wrench and all forward movement stops. I hate to break it to you, but that's life. Rather than only focusing on the happy times when we are going strong in our good groove, we have to work on our resiliency and adaptability. Knocked off your routine for 3 days? A week? A month? 6 months? A year? All is not lost, you can get back to it. Is it harder to get back the longer you off? Of course. But the more we practice that resiliency, getting back to taking care of ourselves quicker after a set back, the more often we will feel like we are in a good groove and actually sticking to it this time. So, let's get to it. Whether you are someone who needs the start of a new week or a new month to create good habits for yourself, let's all take today to get back to what you and your body needs. Cheering you on as always, my friend. This month, 20% of our proceeds goes to World Central Kitchen. There are certain organizations that are on my list for multiple contributions throughout the year, and World Central Kitchen is one of those. In 2010, Chef José Andrés, ready to use his culinary knowledge and talent to help, headed to Haiti following a devastating earthquake. It wasn’t just about feeding people in need—it was about listening, learning, and cooking side by side with the people impacted by the crisis. This is the real meaning of comfort food, and it’s the core value that José, along with his wife Patricia, used at the center of founding World Central Kitchen. For seven years after José founded World Central Kitchen, the organization would focus on resilience programs, investing in longer-term solutions around food in the Caribbean and Central America. With roots in Haiti, WCK began a Clean Cooking program to support communities’ transition away from cooking over dangerous open wood- and coal-fueled fires. After several years, José and WCK built and opened École des Chefs, a culinary school in Port-au-Prince under the direction of Mi-Sol Chevallier—one of Haiti’s most respected chefs. WCK teams have served meals to people recovering from crisis every single day. Hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions took the team across the world, growing in knowledge and capacity with each crisis. Initially responding to just natural disasters, WCK quickly expanded the definition of disasters to which we respond—providing nourishing meals for refugees arriving at the US border after fleeing violence and extreme poverty, Venezuelan families lacking access to food in their own neighborhoods, heroic hospital staff working nonstop in the uncertainty of a global pandemic, and Ukrainian families living through an unthinkable invasion and the constant threat of attack. All of this work is made possible by working with communities wherever WCK teams go—over and over again, WCK sees the best of humanity show up in the worst of times.Over the years, José and WCK teams have continued to learn, adapt, and build responses unique to each situation and community. We have, at times, made long-term commitments in food systems following disasters. Their Food Producer Network ran for five years supporting small food producers in Puerto Rico, The Bahamas, Guatemala, and the USVIs. While cooking hot meals with locally sourced ingredients from Field Kitchens has traditionally been their goal and focus in times of crisis, sometimes fresh produce boxes or meal kits for families to cook themselves are a better fit. Partnering with local restaurants looking to help their neighbors allows us to get meals ready immediately. During their response to the Covid-19 pandemic, meals that were cooked, cooled, and could be reheated by families safely at home met the unique need of the time. The WCK approach is that they should always work with urgency, listen to communities, and adapt—all virtues that guide their work. World Central Kitchen teams across the world remain deeply committed to serving delicious, chef-prepared meals to people with the dignity they deserve. As the climate-crisis worsens and disasters become not only larger, but more frequent, they'll continue to be there—and I hope you’ll join them. As José likes to say, “everyone is a part of World Central Kitchen, they may just not know it yet!” To learn more about their incredible work, please visit their website: https://wck.org/ Adam and I started Q1 of 2024 without a home and so much uncertainty. I am excited to share that I am starting Q2 with some exciting news - I am now the Associate Manager of Pilates Education at the Equinox Pilates Training Institute. I am so excited to continue to develop curriculum and mentor the next generous of Pilates instructors. With that said, this is still such a passion project of mine and now that we are more grounded in our new home, stay tuned for some new content on the way while we still give generously to organizations doing good in the world. So with that said, let's keep moving, friends! As always, I am so grateful for your continual support. This month, 20% of our proceeds goes to Earth Day. The first Earth Day in 1970 mobilized millions of Americans from all walks of life to birth the modern environmental movement. Since then, Earth Day has evolved into the largest civic event on Earth, activating billions across 192 countries to safeguard our planet and fight for a brighter future. EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in their commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040. Their theme, Planet vs. Plastics, calls to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, rapidly phase out all single use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion. Join them as they build a plastic-free planet for generations to come! Some of their acheivements:
Some of their initiatives:
To learn more about how you can make a difference this Earth Day, visit their website: https://www.earthday.org/ So, let's do it. Name it - what's your excuse? And no, I don't just mean working out. What's your excuse from holding you back from what you want? We all have some kind of goal we want: a better pre-bedtime routine, waking up in time for breakfast before work, more steps in the day, one hour for yourself in the week, finally booking that doctor's check up or acupuncture session, tackling that part of your to-do list that seems to continually get ignored, achieving a run goal, a weight goal ... the list goes on and on. Sometimes, naming the goal out loud is the hardest part because our goals seem too basic or subtle that it's not worth naming them. But take it from me who has truly a whole new take on the little things in life - name it. I can't tell you how good it feels to finally make my own breakfast again, to return to my lunch walks with Zoey, to have a yoga mat again. But I had to name for myself that these were important goals that I needed to have back in my routine to feel good again and to feel home again. These small acts can be so empowering. So, get to it. Name your goal. Name your excuse. And then, go get it done. 20% of this month's proceeds will go to the Association for Size Diversity and Health. The Association for Size Diversity and Health affirms a holistic definition of health, which cannot be characterized as the absence of physical or mental illness, limitation or disease. Rather, health exists on a continuum that varies with time and circumstance for each individual. Health should be conceived as a resource or capacity available to all regardless of health condition or ability level, and not as an outcome or objective of living. Pursuing health is neither a moral imperative nor an individual obligation, and health status should never be used to judge, oppress or determine the value of an individual. Centering this definition of health, The Health at Every Size (HAES) Principles and framework are a continuously evolving alternative to the weight-centered approach to treating clients and patients of all sizes. The Principles promote health equity, support ending weight discrimination, and improve access to quality healthcare regardless of size. The Principles are: 1) Weight Inclusivity, 2) Health Enhancement, 3) Eating for Well-Being, 4) Respectful Care, and 5) Life-Enhancing Movement. As a non-profit organization with an international membership committed to the practice of Health at Every Size, ASDAH envisions a world that celebrate bodies of all shapes and sizes, in which body weight is no longer a source of discrimination and where oppressed communities have equal access to the resources and practices that support health and well being. They provide education on weight-centered bias, advocate for change at an international level, and connect like-minded people around the globe to create a world in which weight is no longer a source of discrimination. To learn more about what they do and join, visit their website: https://asdah.org/ I cannot believe it is February already! First and foremost, I will update you that Adam, Zoey and I are doing well, all things considered. We have a new home, and we are slowly, very slowly, picking up the pieces and moving forward each day. And it really is thanks to the amazing supportive community around us, so thank you tremendously for all you have done for us. I have certainly learned a lot about grief and what it does to your body on many levels. And while "self-care" always feels like a bit of a privileged word to me, there really is something to be said for what it means to truly take care of yourself: cooking a meal, washing your face, brushing your teeth, taking a long shower, feeling "put together" or the effort of getting ready for the day, quality sleep, moving your body - I took a lot of these for granted prior to this experience. JVN on the latest season of Queer Eye says that the act of taking care of yourself is beauty. And they are right. It's not about the result of it - how your hair looks, how your make up looks, how your body looks in an outfit. But the act of showing up for yourself and taking care of you, inside and out, is an act of love that is so important and really can change how you show up for others. So this month, I hope you will focus one area of "self-care" where you can improve. And approach it from that idea that if you take care of you, you will then be ready to take care of others around you. As always, sending all my love and good health to you and yours. This month, 20% of our proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation. In memory of my cousin Jon Schwengel who passed away last week, I would like to share the work of the Michael J. Fox Parkinson Foundation. They are dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. They identify and fund projects most vital to patients, spearhead solutions around seemingly intractable field-wide challenges, coordinate and streamline efforts of multiple, often disparate, teams, and do whatever it takes to drive faster knowledge turns for the benefit of every life touched by PD. Their core values are optimism, tenacity, collaboration, boldness, adaptability and curiosity in problem-solving to work on behalf of the 6 million people worldwide living with Parkinson's. "We aspire to go out of business. We deliberately hold no endowment or excessive financial reserves. We act with urgency, typically deploying funds raised within a few months for the fastest possible impact." Some of their achievements so far: - 20 early-stage therapeutic programs, which have attracted follow-on funding from venture capital, pharmaceutical or government funders for continuing development - sponsored scores of clinical trials in partnership with academic and industry teams; currently, more than 15 disease-modifying interventions are in clinical trials - Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative has built the most robust dataset and biosample library in the history of Parkinson's research using brain scans (MRI, DaTscan), biosample analysis (spinal fluid protein levels) and intensive "omics" investigations (whole genome and RNA sequencing) from 1500 volunteers and researched over 1.7 million times since the launch in 2010 - Fox Insight, an online clinical study, has galvanized people with Parkinson's and their families to take an active role in research by sharing their lived experience; since 2017, more than 48,000 people have raised their hand to become citizen scientists to power PD research To learn more about their current work and needs, please visit their website: https://www.michaeljfox.org/ I had every intention of writing a HAPPY NEW YEAR newsletter to be sent out January 1st, but I unfortunately need to share a personal update instead. On Wednesday, December 20th, our apartment building caught fire. It began on our floor, and I was thankfully home, so I was able to get myself and Zoey out safely. And the best news is all residents were able to evacuate safely, so no casualties. Due to the winds and nature of the fire, it became a 5 alarm fire with 198 firefighters fighting for almost 5 hours to get it out. They believe the fire began due to illegal use of a blowtorch during construction of an empty apartment on our floor. Our building has been full vacate order ever since the fire. We still have not been let back into the building as it is deemed unsafe for the top floor where we live. Thanks to our doggy webcam and what we could see on it, we believe we were spared from the flames, but the firemen used our apartment to fight the fire, so the water damage will be quite extensive. We will be lucky if we can retrieve anything from the apartment. We have mourned and grieved significantly since the fire as this was our first home together and our home for 8.5 years. We've lived in two apartments in the building and cherish our community in the building as well as all their pets. Zoey is extremely beloved in our building and so well taken care of with pets, treats and playdates. To see our home and sense of comfort and safety taken away is a new level of hurt I have not experienced and wouldn't wish on anyone. So many of you have reached out and want to help. We already have received such immense help - many selfless friends have offered us temporary shelter, home cooked meals, clothing and toiletries and financial assistance for future needs. We know that many in our building are not near as privileged as we are. Our goal throughout this process has been to make sure the needs of our neighbors are taken care of as much as ours. With that in mind, I am going to share several GoFundMe links below. One is for the whole building as well as for individual families who we are close with, one being our neighbor directly on our floor in our old apartment who truly have nothing left as the flames destroyed everything they own. I will share ours as well, but please consider contributing to the funds of families in our building. They need help more than we do. I will be sure to donate 20% of proceeds from January's Pilates On Demand to those families directly. If you haven't already, you also can sign up for my platform and take my On Demand classes. I will do my best to update with new classes as I can. But know there are 150 classes there, so you will be well taken care of in my absence. Thank you all again for your support. I hope you know that I am so ready to support you should you ever need. We have no idea how we will ever repay all of you, but we certainly will do our best to pay it forward and continue to advocate for all those in need. All our love and wishing you the healthiest, happiest and safest new year, - Sarah, Adam and Zoey December is always the time of year for reflection and gratitude. Looking back on this year, I am so proud of some big milestones that I achieved in my career this year. I am endlessly thankful for the health and love of my inner circle. And I am continuously awed by the support of our community around us - most importantly you. I am so grateful for your support - whether reading my emails, checking in on us via text, following us on social media, taking sessions with me or subscribing to Pilates On Demand - you are part of our "ensemble" and we are wishing you and yours the healthiest and happiest holiday season yet. This month, 20% of our proceeds goes to GrowNYC. Currently, City Council of New York will cut funding for composting on January 1st. DSNY has opted to slash all $7 million in funding to community composting services including LES Ecology Center, Big Reuse and more. That also includes GrowNYC, which means no more food scrap drop off at farmers markets. Of the three bin options that are currently available, the Orange Bins are rarely if ever turned into finished compost. They are turned into "engineered bioslurry," releasing harmful methane. The Brown Bins that are curbside for residents are also not being turned into compost. They are combined with sewage and burned into forms of energy that power local homes, and if not used there, they go to the landfill. The Green Bins are the best option - used by GrowNYC, Big Reuse, Nurture BK and LES Ecology Center. These are your community compost options and are your best bet to ensure your waste actually turns into true compost, used for street trees, parks and public lands with no greenhouse gases released. STEPS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE CHANGE: 1) Sign the GrowNYC petition. 2) Reach out to your council member. 3) Join the rally on November 30th. *Thank you to SustainableSABS for the above information. GrowNYC was originally created in 1970 as the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC). Born out of the spirit of the first Earth Day, CENYC was initially a policy-based organization, writing comprehensive reports about quality of life issues like air quality, traffic, and noise. Our city has changed a lot since then and so have we. Today, GrowNYC is a leading 501(3)(c) environmental nonprofit in NYC - helping more than 3 million New Yorkers by providing essential sustainability services and taking action to make NYC a truly livable city. One where every New Yorker can enjoy a healthier, more sustainable life. Their mission is to empower all New Yorkers with equitable access to fresh, locally grown food, neighborhood green spaces, opportunities to reduce waste, and care for the environment. They envision a New York City where fresh, nutritious food is ensured as a basic human right. Where our foodshed is protected and local farmers prosper. Where all have access to places to gather and grow. Where they handle our waste responsibly. And where all New Yorkers, especially those with frontline identities*, are empowered to enact their vision of a thriving community. *“Frontline identities” includes but is not limited to BIPOC, queer, those with disabilities, and new immigrants Some of their programs include: Food Access and Agriculture - their network of Greenmarket farmers markets, Farmstands, along with their Food Hub ensures that all New Yorkers have access to the freshest, healthiest local food. Zero Waste - They blanket the five boroughs with resources like textile and food scrap collection, Stop 'N' Swaps, and free training to make waste reduction easy for all. Green Space - They build and support community and school gardens, providing construction expertise, technical assistance, green infrastructure support, school garden grants, and more. Education - They foster future environmental stewards by providing 70,000 children and adults each year with programs that provide meaningful interactions with the natural environment. To learn more about their outstanding work and contribute more to their work, visit their website: https://www.grownyc.org/ There is no question that there is a lot weighing on our shoulders these days. The heartache, the grief, the extreme turmoil and distress, the anger, the frustration, the helplessness. It all weighs on our nervous system and on our bodies. Rather than sitting in the despair and helplessness, I challenge you to move your bodies and give thanks for all your body is capable of. Even if you feel like you are at your worst physical fitness, or you don't have enough time, or you simply ache and have no idea how to get up, I challenge you to get up and move, even for 5 minutes, and give thanks. Because moving your body gives you energy and settles your nervous system so that you can move forward in your day and bring peace to you and those around you. Wishing you and your families peace and good health this season. This month, 20% of our proceeds goes to Save the Children. "The first casualty of war is innocence." Save the Children was the first global movement for children, boldly declaring that children have rights. They have championed the rights of 2.3 billion children around the world. Founded in 1919, they work in over 100 countries, doing whatever it takes - every day and in times of crisis - to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. They have the capability of putting world-class health professionals in areas of crisis anywhere in the world within 72 hours. And they don't go into communities, carry out a project, and then move on. They consult with children, their families, community leaders and local councils to understand all issues and barriers, then they develop programs that address these. They safeguard children and build trust so that their programs are successful and bring about real change. In 2022 alone, Save the Children programs and partners helped 118 million children in 116 countries become healthier, safer and better educated. 250,000 children in 23 US states received over 5 million meals. 9 million children accessed quality education - including more than 4.5 million girls. 4.6 million mothers and 16 million children improved their nutrition. They helped 3.8 million children live a life free from violence. And they responded to 107 emergencies in more than 70 countries. They believe that every child deserves a future. And because of that, they are working with both Israeli and Palestinian children by immediately dispersing $1 million from their Children's Emergency Fund to urgently respond to children's needs. To learn more about their life saving work, please visit their website: https://www.savethechildren.org/ I've been reflecting a lot this month on self accountability. My schedule has had a pretty significant shift recently with all the different hats that I wear, and I keep thinking that I'll eventually get the swing of it and be able to work back in my good habits of cooking more, moving daily, getting that solid bedtime routine down. But I've not been holding myself accountable to the fact that I am actively choosing to not make time for me and for the habits I need to practice while also adjusting to the new schedule. That's not to say things won't shift and time will appear, but it's important to accept the choices you are making and priorities and habits you have built and make an active effort to build the habits you want to incorporate into your busy life. And what better way to work on that than the start of a new month! I challenge you to pick one habit you want to build that would help take care of yourself and hold yourself accountable to it. I highly recommend letting your habit be adding some of my Pilates classes into your week. You have almost 150 videos to choose from. So let's get to it! This month, 20% of our proceeds goes to the Environmental Defense Fund. Guided by science and economics, and committed to climate justice, EDF works in the places, on the projects and with the people that can make the biggest difference. Their goals: 1) stabilize the climate, 2) strengthen people and nature's ability to thrive and c) support people's health. They're tackling the biggest issues and striving for maximum impact to ensure a clean energy transition, healthy communities and the ability of people and nature to thrive. Some of their initiatives include energy transition, natural solutions, sustainable fishing, hydrogen, clean air, methane, agriculture and safe chemicals. They bring together people from all sides and draw from deep expertise to tackle environmental issues from every angle such as scientific evidence and applying that evidence to identify the most effective solutions, economic sustainability and using economic forces to protect our environment, powerful partnerships and creating alliances across a wide range of allies, climate justice and building a more equitable home on this planet that we share, strong advocacy and shaping public policy and taking legal action, and finally a commitment to diversity and making transformative change for diversity, equity and inclusion. To learn more about their incredible work, visit their website: https://www.edf.org/ |
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