Rooted Sea

Discoveries from my weekend pop-up Reiki office: I absolutely love working alongside other practitioners. At times there were five or six of us all working in the room together. Massage, facials, Thai massage, sound healing... Glancing up and seeing the love going into each treatment was inspirational. I've always worked solo, looking forward to doing more of this sort of thing going forward.

And again and again I just keep discovering how much I love doing this work.

Thank you so much for welcoming me, and for connecting us!

Feeling like a rockstar at the Berkshire yoga festival (have I ever had a VIP badge before?! Everyone should have one of these. Go make yourself one! They make you feel so... Important!)

Absolutely gorgeous here, ready for a weekend of reiki, singing, dancing, and probably even some yoga 😄

You are beautiful.

I'm too shy to tell this to the people walking by me on the beach, so I'm going to tell you. Because it's true. All of you. The wrinkles, the cellulite, the limp, the shy way you slump your shoulders, everything. You are perfect. Believe it. Take it in.

💗

Those huge green plants that suddenly appear beside streams, and farmers market creme brulee and nettles (not pictured). I ❤️ spring.

I'd love to see any of y'all in the Boston area on Saturday for this, it's going to be really sweet and nourishing

what are you doing on this rainy Saturday? If you're in the Boston area, I'll be doing some joy-hunting, wanna join me?

Joyful Practices for Spring Equinox on Sat, 3/23/24 4:00 PM from Coolidge Yoga Joyful Practices for Spring Equinox with Frances Idlebrook Saturday, March 23rd (4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.) $40 “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel...

Hi all, I'm coming back a rich-to-the-brim couple of weeks of Watsu training in Costa Rica, wanted to share a little glimpse!

(Watsu is a form of aquatic bodywork born from bringing elements of zen shiatsu into warm water. It’s nourishing, healing, re-birthing…)

Filled with gratitude, for my teachers, classmates, for the water, for all of the staff at El Tucano who nurtured us and were nurtured by us in Watsu sessions…

And the floating graduation ceremony was like none I’ve ever encountered, pure magic.

You're allowed. It's official.

How's it feel?

Sending love

I celebrated the solstice in brookline - twice - with really sweet, meaningful gatherings. And now in maine, where the sun sets half an hour earlier. Seems there's still a bit farther into the darkness to go.

Winter Solstice Fire Circle this Sunday:
Connection, listening inward, releasing, preparing for the journey back to the light. Reiki, tea, chocolate.

https://www.union.fit/events/coolidge-yoga-winter-solstice-fire-circle/performances/zyap8aqj

Gratitude workshop tomorrow! 😁🙏🍂🎉

Here's something cool: turns out you also get the cool gratitude benefits (physical, psychological, emotional...) from receiving gratitude, or even just witnessing it!

So next time someone says thank you, don't just brush it off, take it in! And, what happens if you start to have a radar for gratitude in the world around you? Where do you see appreciation? How does it affect you?

(thank you for this sweet moment, and for generally being a beautiful person ❤️)

Gratitude Part 5:

Make yourself a cup of tea, hot chocolate, lemonade, whatever you love. And before you take the first sip, hold it in your hands, and whisper to it, "thank you."

And then drink, and feel.

Gratitude part 4:

"Gratitude is the key to happiness. When gratitude is practiced regularly and from the heart, it leads to a richer, fuller, and more complete life.” Oprah Winfrey

And that’s the thing - it’s a practice. If you’re not feeling grateful all the time, you’re not doing it wrong! It’s a muscle we can strengthen. It gets easier, really!

If you want to start practicing, here’s an idea to try: set a timer on your phone - it could be once a day or twice an hour, up to you. And when you hear the bell, pause what you’re doing, take a full breath, and notice something - anything - that you’re grateful for (if you feel stuck, you can always try, “I’m grateful for this moment.” And notice how you feel. (And let me know, I’d love to hear!)

And if you’d like to join me and others who value practicing gratitude, I’d love to see you this Saturday for Gratitude Bathing with Coolidge Yoga https://www.union.fit/events/coolidge-yoga-gratitude-bathing/performances/vaylffxj.

Thank you for being you.

Gratitude Part 3

“… when someone asks me why I cry so often, I say, “For the same reason I laugh so often — because I’m paying attention.”…” Glennon Doyle

Gratitude. Joy. Bliss. Connection.

if you’re not feeling these things right now, this weekend, this holiday season… you’re not doing anything wrong.

You’re just doing an excellent job of being a human. Pretty wild, rich experience, huh?

And from this human place, is there an opportunity to notice and appreciate how incredible it is to be alive and feeling intensely? While still feeling the pain, grief, shame, or whatever the experience might be?

Welcoming everything sometimes ironically opens up a tiny window to gratitude. It may even be a gateway to connection, and all the rest.

What’s your experience?

Photos: Aeric Meredith-Goujon

Cool gratitude fact: Feeling grateful has been demonstrated to expand creativity!

When we’re stuck in a problem, creativity can lead us to finding solutions that wouldn’t appear in a year of hours forcing ourselves to sit still and think seriously (with those little frowns on our foreheads).

So my invitation here is to let yourself dream for a moment - if we all leaned into deep appreciation for all there is to love, and that sparked more creativity, what might be possible in your life? In the world? (no points deducted for impracticality 🐳🦄)

(If you’d love to learn new practices, games, and techniques for expanding gratitude in your life, I’d love to see you at my Gratitude Bathing workshop coming up at Coolidge Yoga. Growing with the support of community is powerful and fun! https://www.union.fit/events/coolidge-yoga-gratitude-bathing/performances/vaylffxj )

Hi friends! For a while now I've been mainly posting my professional stuff on instagram. I'm adding this because I'd love to share it with all of you, but want it to be something you can opt into or not, with consent.

My intention here is to post things that will nourish or somehow support your well-being, and also share about workshops or One-on-one offerings I have going on, with an emphasis on transparency, authenticity, and service.

I always love hearing from you.

Love, Frances

Hi beauties,

I’m exploring gratitude - what scientists have discovered, what wise people have said, what the challenges are in diving into it deeply. It’s the season - not because of a day on the calendar, but because in the higher northern latitudes it’s getting colder and darker, and gratitude can boost your immune system, strengthen your relationships, and lift your spirits, helping you thrive this winter 🦋

So here’s what I’m thinking: these next couple of weeks, I’ll regularly share a something - a fun fact, a journal prompt, an insight or inquiry - to bring you along on my journey. Because I would love for you to experience the benefits of cultivating more gratitude in your life.

I’ll also be sharing ways to go further in the exploration - in an upcoming workshop and in private sessions - if you feel the pull.

Here’s question to start off with - what are the first 5 things that come to your mind to be thankful for? I’d love to hear.

, ,

Photo credit: Aeric Meredith-Goujon