Deep Strength

Image description: a beige background with the image of a white skeleton underneath a translucent pink triangle. Over the triangle is the ACM logo, a purple triangle with rainbow outline and vertical white letters spelling “ACM”. Dark brown letters in all capital letters spell, “deep strength.” Below that is dark brown text that says, “Access-Centered Pilates for mental and physical stability,” and at the very bottom left says, “via zoom 5 PM Wednesdays”. Above that is a pink color black with white writing that says, “trauma – informed”
Image description: a beige background with the image of a white skeleton underneath a translucent pink triangle. Over the triangle is the ACM logo, a purple triangle with rainbow outline and vertical white letters spelling “ACM”. Dark brown letters in all capital letters spell, “deep strength.” Below that is dark brown text that says, “Access-Centered Pilates for mental and physical stability,” and at the very bottom left says, “via zoom 5 PM Wednesdays”. Above that is a pink color black with white writing that says, “trauma – informed”

Converting to Workshops: No longer weekly class

Deep Strength is a trauma-informed and Access-Centered Pilates class focusing on deep spine and core stabilization for mental and physical stability. We all have different bodies and frames so there is no one size fits all model—for many of us, the core begins at the bottom of our feet or sitz bones (if we are a wheelchair user and unable to access the soles of our feet) and ends at the roof of our mouths. This is a drop in class and each week we will utilize Pilates methods for strengthening and stabilizing different parts of the core and also learn how they all connect and integrate into one whole: (please ignore whichever body parts you are not able to utilize) our feet, traveling up our legs, our glutes, pelvic floor, our deep abdominal stabilizers, our shoulders, the deep cervical stabilizers/throat, and ending at the roof of our mouth. Some refer to this as our “apple core,” allowing us to utilize our limbs/limb with more ease.

We will be using the “Access-Centered Framework”, which is trauma-informed, intersectional (we work to dismantle oppression and hierarchies at all times), consent-based, and will never expect you to “adapt” to the exercises we offer—we will change the exercise to meet your needs. While we will be offering suggestions to keep your practice as safe as possible, everything we offer is invitational as we believe that you know your bodymind best. We will offer you space to advocate for your needs, and we encourage you and invite you to take up that space.

REGISTRATION

You MUST Register (only once, if you come weekly your attendance is known with prepayment or an email requesting scholarship)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-IlyMs9sUV2-x7NuPhn6wQv4lpQUKbq_KJWq72dixJJx0eg/viewform

ACCESS INFO

• Class will be recorded
• Closed Captioning Provided
• Access needs that can be met day of can be included in the Registration form
• Ideally this will have ASL *and* we don’t have the budget for it—if folks who have access can contribute generously and community members need this, we can do our best. If you are HOV, Deaf/deaf, would like to join, and need ASL, please contact us as soon as possible.
• WILL ALREADY CENTER ACCESS FOR
o low vision, blind/Blind
o wheelchair users
o folks who need to sit, stand, and/or lie down
o neurodivergence,
o mental illness
o chronic pain
o spoonies
o hypermobile and EDS folks
o limited mobility
o inability to use limbs
o asthma
o PTSD
o Etc.

You will get the Zoom Link after registering, it may take a few days. If you do not receive a link by Wednesday at 4:30PM PST please email us.

CLASSES ARE RECORDED and you will receive a link to said recording whether you attend live or not.

We will be using the “Access-Centered Framework”, which is trauma-informed, intersectional (we work to dismantle oppression and hierarchies at all times), consent-based, and will never expect you to “adapt” to the exercises we offer—we will change the exercise to meet your needs. While we will be offering suggestions to keep your practice as safe as possible, everything we offer is invitational as we believe that you know your bodymind best. We will offer you space to advocate for your needs, and we encourage you and invite you to take up that space.

PAYMENT

This ongoing drop-in class is Sliding Scale $20 – $40+ with Partial and Full Scholarship Options

• We highly encourage people (especially white folks) who have financial access to pay as much as they can (perhaps more than $40) to help fund folks who do not have access

• The only way that this model works successfully is when people give what they authentically can, remembering that we are all conditioned in a model of scarcity and that it is often uncomfortable to give in this framework. For people who cannot afford the sliding scale: we will are offering scholarships to low income folks. Priority for BIPOC. Please remember that Jess is very low income and this is her life’s work.

• Please contact Jess via email (accesscenteredmovement@gmail.com) to request a scholarship BRIEFLY explaining your situation.

Please submit your pre-payments to:
PayPal: jess.schles@gmail.com via paypal or
Venmo : @Jess-Dene.
email at accesscenteredmovement@gmail.com if you need to pay another way. No refunds as this will be recorded.

Free for Black and Indigenous folks, if wanted.

Facebook Event

About the Teacher

Jess is a white/Jewish queer disabled femme teacher, healer, and social justice activist. She began practicing yoga and pilates 20 years ago to manage the physical and emotional pain resulting from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Lyme Disease, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, and Complex PTSD. She found, however, that most mainstream classes she attended were not accessible for her needs. Jess continued to practice various movement therapies on her own and, with the support of an EDS literate physical therapist, rehabilitated countless injuries. She now considers herself a leader in offering safe movement for people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other hypermobility disorders. She, along with India Harville and Neve Mazique, created Access-Centered Movement by combining trauma informed language (learned from the Niroga Institute), Disability Justice (a movement started by disabled queer people of color), and her lived experience as a sick and disabled queer.