Hello beautiful,

"Die Liebe, und das Leben, und die Freiheit, und der Dom..." translated to, "Love, and life, and freedom, and the (Koelner Dom) cathedral..." goes one of the catchy Karneval songs that's been on repeat in my head since the fabulous festivities in which I was lucky to take part.

The text of this song is a toast to all the good things in life, and I appreciate that tolerance and appreciation for love, freedom, and togetherness are a part of the culture of the city. Also political critique, as showcased every year in the big Rosenmontag parade, the traditional culmination of Koeln Karneval/Cologne Carnival, whose floats display searing commentary.

One such float that struck me this year (photo below) depicts a grinning member of the Taliban in front of a woman wearing a burqa trapped behind bars, with the following caption: "So schuetzen wir die Rechte unserer Frauen" or "That's how we protect the rights of our women." Chilling to see how more regimes seem to be headed in that direction, and all the more important to keep up the fight for human rights!

We watched the WDR broadcast from the comfort of our couch, having celebrated at a variety of parties over the session and weekend. How lucky and unusual to have a sunny, blue-skied, almost warm last Karneval weekend, the first days of March, yet important not to take our privilege for granted and stay active in defense of democracy.

Karnival may now be over, making way for the season of Lent and Ramadan, reflection and fresh beginnings, but the necessity for activism and community continues with opportunities coming up this very weekend for International Women's Day and much more to come:

​Read the Accelerate Action - Celebrate International Women's Day with A Blythe Coach article here​

My other creations, recommendations, and questions for you are:

Viewing:

• ​International Women's Day 2025 #AccelerateAction Statement - A Blythe Coach supports gender equity Video on YouTube: this year's theme is Accelerate Action for Gender Equality, and collaborators have been invited to make a statement and strike the #AccelerateAction pose to show solidarity, so here I am! More goodies next week for this special day...

Listening:

• Busted out my Spring Sensations Dance Playlist on YouTube: the Sun is shining, flowers are blooming, it's time
• "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles, amen!
• Getting excited for International Women's Day with this Song​

Reading:

• I finished The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag: A Flavia de Luce Novel (#2) by Alan Bradley and will continue reading this series of macabre murder mysteries with a pre-teen heroine
• ​Would you downgrade your Smartphone to a Dumb Phone? from the New York Times

Practicing:

• ​Ballet Barre Mini - 15 Minute No-Instruction/Dance-Along Session for IWD 2025 & every day! Video on YouTube is offered in honor of International Women's Day 2025, but is a great way to dance every day of the year! In this video I demonstrate a typical start to my contemporary ballet classes, or a brief conditioning barre sequence for days with limited time to dance. These combinations are offered without instruction as a dance-along for students who have practiced with me previously in-studio or online or otherwise have ballet experience. In the cards I have linked videos with instruction for each movement.
• ​4 movements to deal with (political) stress and anxiety from @jonathanmead on Instagram
• ​14 completely free things to do this weekend from The Every Girl: I am on board with them all, and will definitely be doing #s 12 & 13 (See my Mini Barre Video above and one2one Institut open house among other IWD events!)

Practicing Together LIVE / Adult Movement Classes this week:

• In-Studio Adult Beginner Ballet, 6-7:00pm CET Mondays, Tanzschule Tanzraum Nippes, Cologne, Germany creates a strong, body-friendly, and graceful foundation for dance (German)
• Online Yogalicious Gentle Yoga. 7-8:00pm CET Tuesdays (8-9:00am HI) provides a delicious mindful movement feast which balances strength, balance and coordination for mind, body, and spirit adaptable to all levels and conditions (English)
• Online Balletlicious Gentle Adaptive Ballet Barre+, 7:30-8:30am CET Wednesdays, consists of mostly barre with a little dancey centre work, building a strong, body-friendly, and graceful foundation for dance at home or anywhere in the world (English)

Inquiring:

• Where are you marching to this month?
• Will you move with me?
• How can we accelerate action for gender equity?
• What are you celebrating?

Gladly share your response to the questions above or provide other updates by replying to this email or on social media if you are active there.

Thank you for reading, for being, and for dancing with me, in spirit or in fact. Take care of yourself and keep moving mindfully!

Love, Blythe

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

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