Blythe Stephens, Author at A Blythe Coach

Author: Blythe Stephens

Healthy Habit-Building

MY HABITS HISTORY Having been a personal growth/development/organization/productivity nerd for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been enthusiastic about new goals and healthy habits, but I’ve struggled to keep them going over time. Beyond the basics of brushing and flossing my teeth, preventive medical care, drinking water, getting enough sleep, a fairly nutritious […]

End-of-2020 Reflections

First of all, however long you’ve been tuned in, reading, watching, dancing along, etc. I want to THANK YOU so much for being here this year as I started this blog here on my new website, as well as the A Blythe Coach YouTube Channel and Podcast, and offered classes online for the first time! […]

The Gifts of Winter – Holiday Viewing, Listening, & Treats

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 28. November 2020
Categories In Creative Living, Reflective Practice

“Winter is a table set with ice and starlight. Winter dark tends to warm light: fire and candle; winter cold to hugs and huddles; winter want to gifts and sharing; winter danger to visions, plans, and common endeavoring–and the zest of narrow escapes; winter tedium to merry-making.” – From the poem “Winter” by Greta Crosby I […]

8 (or 9) Ballet Body Positions/Orientations: relating to space, stage and audience

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 22. November 2020
Categories In Dance

“Let us first deal with the new space we are going to journey into and occupy so as to not see it as a void and empty area, but a distinctly flavored environment.” The Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique** Last week I talked about the five positions of the feet and spatial intent, and today we’re, diving […]

Ballet & Modern Dance Foot Positions & Spatial Intent

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 13. November 2020
Categories In Dance

“After the in-place alignment, the teacher reviewed the plié and relevé series. The dancers performed the movements radiating out into the dimensions of the room or stage and projected them through the forward wall and out into the imagined audience and further out to the back of the auditorium. Open pliés were pressed out into […]

Santosha in the Midst of Suspense : Contentment Regardless of Circumstance

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 6. November 2020
Categories In Creative Living, Mindful Movement

“By contentment, supreme joy is gained.” – The Yoga Sutra 2:42 “Well, religion does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have.” – The Bible 1 Timothy 6:6 In my last blog, I talked about anatomical dimensions and spatial planes, and I will resume the discussion of the element of Space in dance […]

The Body in Space – anatomical dimensions, planes, and posture in dance & life

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 26. October 2020
Categories In Dance
3 Comments on The Body in Space – anatomical dimensions, planes, and posture in dance & life

“To understand the concepts of balance and counterbalance through posture and placement, it is helpful to identify (1) each of the three body planes, which link two of the three dimensions of height, width, and depth, (2) the center of gravity, (3) the central vertical axis, and (4) the base of support.” – Rory Foster, […]

Stability & Aplomb: Integrity in Action

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 16. October 2020
Categories In Creative Living, Dance, Mindful Movement

Elements of Dance: The Body, Core “Definite stability is achieved only when the dancer realizes and feels the colossal part the back plays in aplomb. The stem of aplomb is the spine. The dancer should learn to feel and control her spine through observation of muscular sensations in the region of the back during various […]

Care & Actualization of the Self

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 9. October 2020
Categories In Creative Living, Dance, Mindful Movement

During my training with Accomplishment Coaching, I read the wonderful book There is Nothing Wrong with You: Going Beyond Self-Hate, a compassionate process for learning to accept yourself exactly as you are, in which spiritual teacher Cheri Huber states: “The simplest example is that if self-hate is hating my body, it doesn’t matter what I […]

Élancer – Swiftly Darting in Ballet + Life

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 1. October 2020
Categories In Creative Living, Dance, Mindful Movement
2 Comments on Élancer – Swiftly Darting in Ballet + Life

“With care, and skill, and cunning art, She parried Time’s malicious dart, And kept the years at bay, Till passion entered in her heart and aged her in a day!”– Ella Wheeler Wilcox Seven Basic Movements of Ballet This week we have been exploring the theme of darting as part of my series on the 7 Basic Movements […]