Metaphysical Pilates Community

Anxiety: "Inside-Out" and "Outside-In," Part 1

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:38:16 GMT

Our culture regards anxiety as a failure, something to hide, to wish into nonexistence. Take a pill, turn on the TV, scroll through social media. Ignore it, bury it, run from it. But there is a better way. Our anxiety can teach us something if we are willing to listen.

In this blog, we will explore two ways to approach anxiety: inside-out and outside-in. The inside-out approach asks us to engage with anxiety by delving into our inner world — our thoughts, memories, and internal narratives. The outside-in approach asks us to engage anxiety as it manifests in our bodies and through bodily practices.

"Inside-Out"

Anxiety is a symptom of being stuck in survival mode: seeing the world as dangerous and threatening. Unable to feel safe and connected to ourselves or others, we scan our environment for threats, sometimes seeing them where they don't actually exist. This view of the world is often learned through traumatic experiences.

Anxiety is also a surface-level emotion, often masking the deep, painful emotions we've gotten used to ignoring. When we approach anxiety without judgment, with curiosity and self-compassion, we open a window into our subconscious. We create an opportunity to know ourselves and to heal a deeper wound.

The next time you feel a pang of anxiety, pause. Practice stillness. Tune into your inner world. Observe your worried thoughts without attaching to them. Ask yourself, “What emotion underlies my anxiety,” or “Does my anxiety have a narrative?”

To use an example: perhaps you feel anxious about your job. The “I'm nervous about an upcoming performance review” is the surface-level anxiety. But delve a little deeper. Do you fear failure because you were told as a child that performance defined your worth? Have you internalized the belief that failure makes you worthless?

Remember too, that not all anxiety is bad. Anxiety pushes us to get out of bed in the morning, to get to work on time, to prepare for a test or presentation, to perform at our best. But when everyday anxieties get compounded with deeper, unprocessed traumas, they can feel overwhelmingly heavy and burdensome.

Regardless of what wounds, emotions, or beliefs prompt your anxiety, you now have the power to rewrite your narrative. Prioritize the inner work, and give yourself space to feel and process your emotions. Slowly but surely, build a belief system that better serves you.

In next month's blog, we will explore "Outside-In:" how anxiety manifests in our bodies, and how we can use bodily practices to heal.

With sincerity and grace,
Ashley, Instructor and Marketing Liaison

Source: The Wisdom of Anxiety by Sheryl Paul

Entering the Year of the Fire Horse

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:34:29 GMT

On February 17, we enter the Lunar Year of the Fire Horse - shedding the skin of the Snake and stepping into a year that does not circle back.

What follows is a conversation between the Snake and the Fire Horse. Between shedding and ignition. Between who we were and who we are becoming.

“I want to go back.”

You can’t.

“Why?”

Because you’ve seen the mechanism.

You’ve seen how the thought was installed.

How the fear was rehearsed.

How the loyalty was conditioned.

You can’t unknow choreography once you’ve watched it from above.

Silence.

“It felt safer before.”

Sedation often does.

“I didn’t have to think.”

No.

You only had to react.

“And now?”

Now reaction burns.

Now the old sentences don’t sit in your mouth the same way.

They taste manufactured.

They taste assigned.

“I feel like I’m losing myself.”

You are losing versions.

Versions built for belonging.

Versions built for outrage.

Versions built for applause.

They cannot survive scrutiny.

“I’m afraid of standing alone.”

You won’t be alone.

But there will be fewer masks breathing.

Fewer slogans disguised as thoughts.

Fewer reflexes calling themselves morals.

Fewer identities crowding your spine.

Awareness is subtraction.

The interior thins.

The noise evacuates.

And what remains does not argue.

It observes.

“It feels final.”

It is.

Shedding is not symbolic.

It is biological.

Skin once shed cannot be reattached.

And the fire that follows -

it is not celebration.

It is direction.

It does not flicker for approval.

It does not warm the old structures.

It consumes what cannot withstand clarity.

The horse does not circle back to its stall.

It runs.

Forward is not a choice now.

It is the only geometry available.

You will not go back.

Not because you are brave.

But because you have seen.

And seeing

is irreversible.

May the Year of the Fire Horse move you forward with clarity and strength.

Gratefully,
Gloria Santiago
Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

Building Emotional Strength

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 23:22:13 GMT

Every new year, people resolve to spend more time and effort on physical training to achieve fit bodies. Physical strength is certainly a worthwhile goal. But emotional strength, though less glamorized, is equally important.

When it comes to building resilient emotions, we can use the analogy of physical training. Signing up for a fitness class may bring up feelings of anxiety. We expect to sweat, feel our muscles burn, and become fatigued. But we also know that consistent training will make our bodies stronger, more resilient, more flexible, and better able to serve us.

Life is essentially a training ground for our emotions; it provides endless challenges-- opportunities to build our emotional "muscles".

How do you design an emotional training program? First observe where you need more emotional fortitude, or capacity to endure emotional distress and discomfort. When a difficult circumstance confronts you, be realistic and specific about what you can expect, how it will challenge you, and how you usually react.

Then, focus on changing your internal narrative. Instead of defaulting to established patterns that don't serve you, imagine how your higher self would respond: "I know this will be uncomfortable, maybe even distressing, but I am strong enough to take it." Think about the tools you have at your disposal: breathing regulation, mantras, body-awareness meditation, self-calming techniques, and practicing stillness. Imagine how you will feel at the end of the experience, having successfully regulated your emotions, thoughts, and actions. Seeing your courage and emotional maturity.

Just like physical training, building emotional strength doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, consistency, self-awareness, and self-compassion. But if you stay in touch with your desire and aspiration, you will progress toward your goal.

With sincerity and grace,
Ashley, Instructor and Marketing Liaison

Seeing Clearly at the End of 2025

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 22:07:45 GMT

As we enter the final month of 2025, I find myself looking back through the lens of a year that felt both heavy and illuminating. December is my birthday month and with age—and with experience—I’ve realized how long I moved through life without seeing clearly. I viewed the world through a blurred lens, guided not by my own truth but by thin threads of stories woven by others. Stories passed down, repeated, inherited, and often shaped by people who were also trying to see through their own fog.

But this year, something shifted.

The veil lifted just enough for me to recognize what has long been wrong with the world—not just the noise, the division, the unrest, but the deeper fracture beneath it. We have been taught to see ourselves as separate: separated by parties, race, gender, religion, borders, and beliefs. We were conditioned to define ourselves by difference before we ever understood our sameness.

And yet, beneath it all, something truer has always existed.

What unites every supposed separateness—political, racial, cultural, spiritual—is our shared humanity.

A single, beating thread that lives in all of us.

An awakened source remembering itself.

This year has shown me that clarity isn’t just a personal revelation—it’s a collective one. When one person begins to see clearly, even a little, it softens the space around them. It creates room for truth, for compassion, for recognition. It reminds us that we are not strangers at war, but souls momentarily forgetting that we are made of the same breath, the same longing, the same light.

As 2025 comes to a close, I’m choosing to step into the new year with clearer eyes—eyes that see beyond the stories spun for us, and toward the deeper truth that has always been waiting to be remembered:

We belong to each other.

We are one humanity.

And when we awaken, we awaken together.

Gratefully yours,

Gloria Santiago, Owner

Remember Their Humanity

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 22:45:12 GMT

Dehumanization never begins with violence - it begins with a word, a joke, a label, a story told one too many times until faces turn into categories and hearts grow numb. It starts small, when we say they’re all the same, when we forget names, stories, and eyes. Watch for it - when people are called animals, threats, or problems to be solved. That’s the language that dims compassion. But most who repeat it are not monsters - they’re afraid, searching for someone to blame.

Fear makes the world smaller, but empathy opens it again. So when you hear the language of less-than, pause. Ask a question. Tell a story. Remind the room we’re talking about people. Because every time we defend another’s humanity, we protect our own, and that is how light stays alive in the world.

Gratefully yours,
Gloria Santiago, Owner

The One Behind the Many

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 22:09:01 GMT

The names of faith—Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism—are but veils, stories we tell to understand the many faces of the same divine essence. They are not people, but parables—reflections of the virtues, struggles, and awakenings that dwell within every heart. Each path speaks the language of the soul in its own dialect: devotion, discipline, remembrance, doubt, or surrender. Yet behind these names, there are no separate beings—only one spirit seeking to know itself through countless mirrors. The labels are fiction, but the truths they point to are eternal, echoing through the chambers of our collective being. For it is not the religions that live, but humanity itself—the one true individual through whom all these stories breathe and take form.

Gratefully yours,

Gloria Santiago, Owner

Rewiring Your Brain: Neurons, Neural Pathways, and Neuroplasticity, Part 2

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 22:02:39 GMT

As we recall from last month’s blog, the neural framework for our instinctual thoughts, feelings, and actions forms during our early childhood, based on interactions with our primary caretakers. If our physical or emotional needs were neglected, our child self experienced pain and fear. In an effort to protect ourselves, we learned to respond to threats by becoming combative (fighting), running away (fleeing), trying to appease (fawning), or withdrawing into ourselves (freezing).

Because our brains find safety in familiarity, our adult selves continue to interpret our experiences in this established framework. Seeing the world as hostile, we become locked in survival mode, a state that prevents us from feeling inner peace, happiness, or connection to others.

The encouraging news is that our brains are wonderfully adaptable: we can forge new connections in our brains, a concept termed neuroplasticity. Instead of feeling fearful and threatened, we can create safety and security through our daily choices. These choices create new neural pathways in our brains.

The first step is becoming aware of our inner world. We do this by creating space to non-judgmentally observe our instinctual habits. Once we become aware of our subconscious, we can question the beliefs that drive us. The point is not to invalidate our hurt inner child, but to comfort and assure them that they are seen, loved, and safe. In a sense, we become the friend or parent that our child self needed.

The comforting words and phrases that we tell ourselves are called affirmations, or mantras. Simply choose the affirmations that resonate most deeply. Here are a few examples:

I am safe and loved, regardless of how I feel.
I am worthy of love and connection.
I am the creator of my reality.
I am connected to my body and comfortable residing in it.
I am aware of my inner world and able to express my feelings in a healthy way.
I am in touch with my needs and able to meet them.
I am comfortable asking for support from others.

The power of affirmations is that they fire new neural connections in our brains. With intentionality, repetition, and time, these connections can become deeply etched into our brains, creating a new set of instincts, a new subconscious. We can imagine neural pathways like a trail through a forest. The more we walk the new path, the smoother and wider it becomes. The old paths become rough and overgrown, making it easier and easier to choose the new path.

Source: How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera.

With sincerity and grace,
Ashley Edewaard
Instructor and Marketing Liaison

The Reality You Perceive Is the Reality You Create: Neurons, Neural Pathways, and Neuroplasticity, Part 1

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:23:59 GMT

When we are born, our nervous system is underdeveloped. The vast majority of our neutral pathways are forged during infancy and early childhood.

What is a neural pathway? Quite simply, neurons are brain cells, and pathways are lines of communication between these cells. When specific connections are made repeatedly, they create the architecture of our brain–our instinctual thoughts, emotions, and reactions.

Our interactions with our earliest caretakers largely determine our brain’s architecture. If we grew up in a stressful environment, where our physical or emotional needs were not met, our brains went into survival mode. We saw the world as unsafe and full of threats (hypervigilance). A nervous system in survival mode is dysregulated, making it difficult to feel peace or connect with others. Because the brain finds safety in familiarity, we continue in hypervigilance as adults, often perceiving threats that don't exist.

Individuals respond differently when they feel unsafe. Some become aggressive. Others withdraw, shut down, or appease. Regardless of HOW we respond, we instinctually follow our established pattern, even when it does not serve us, because (we think) it keeps us safe.

All this information might leave you feeling discouraged. After all, we have no control of the environment we grew up in. But that’s not the end of the story. Your brain is incredibly adaptable. You are capable of forming new neural connections, a concept termed neuroplasticity. We can literally rewire our brain, creating connections that serve us better!

This is not an easy process; it takes deliberate effort and time. We will explore the “how” of rewiring our brain in next month's blog.

Source: How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera.

With sincerity and grace,

Ashley Edewaard

Instructor and Marketing Liaison

Psychological Mechanism is an Established Pattern of Thought & Feeling

gloria@metaphysicalpilates.com (Gloria Santiago) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 13:02:35 GMT

The emotional life of many is essentially prejudiced. If your pattern of thinking is inferior, you are bound to behave in a reactionary manner of critical remarks by others. If you establish trust in your own good judgment, then another person’s critical remarks will not awaken any emotional response in you, except pity towards the one criticizing you, for you know they have no control within their individual mind. A sound mind is as stable as a rock, for it is wise and amenable. Wisdom is far more precious than any luxuries and is to be desired far more than gold. For such a mind draws confidence from what one knows and not from its programming. No one man is king, because wisdom is the real king, enthroned in human consciousness on earth.

The average person’s reaction towards politics, race, and religion is determined by a subconscious emotional prejudgment of the past and not by the conscious hour of the present. Conditioned thinking determines one’s reaction. The responses we make as individuals towards popular prejudice or propaganda depend on the type of person we are within ourselves.

Can you learn, unlearn, and relearn? Would you rather think for yourself or have the world think for you?

Gratefully,
Gloria Santiago
Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

True Resistance Acts Now

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 01:44:43 GMT

The current state of the world can no longer be ignored. As we view breaking news broadcast after breaking news broadcast, read headline after headline, and doomscroll endlessly, it's quite easy to be engulfed in fear, rage, sadness, and helplessness.

We give more power to circumstances than we do to our ability to change and modify those circumstances. It is the change within ourselves that matters. A deficient mind cannot change until it hears the message of its higher self.

First and foremost, remember that being informed is important. Take the time to research all sides of an issue you're passionate about. Dive into traditional print media. Limit your time on social media, and when you do scroll, make sure what you are looking at is honest, well-informed, and created by humans. Engage with content from independent journalists and local/independent organizations. Try not to overconsume. Only repost or share information once you have confirmed its accuracy and validity.

Beyond self-education, the most important, most crucial, and most radical step you can take in bettering the world around you is to get involved in your local community. Power in numbers starts with community. Support starts with community. Uplifting and protecting all walks of life starts with community. By bettering your community, you can create a ripple effect that has the power to change the world.

What does getting involved look like? Register for a library card. Volunteer at a local non-profit. Recycle. Build a community garden. Compost. Show up at City Hall to advocate for local issues. Connect with your local representatives. Register to vote. Have respectful, meaningful conversations with all sides of the spectrum. Host a charity drive. Shop local. Clean up litter. Adopt or foster. Buy things second-hand. Start a club. Attend community events. Watch local broadcast stations. Visit nursing homes. Volunteer at local hospitals. Get vaccinated. Donate to mutual aid funds. Tip in cash. Support union workers. Plant something. Bike, walk, or take public transit. Thank your postal workers. Become a prison pen pal. Know your rights. Know your neighbors' rights. The list goes on and on.

Now, I am in no way saying this will solve everything. Our world and the systems that have come to work within it are broken beyond repair, but we are not. We as a population are stronger and more determined than ever before. By working together in small, but deeply meaningful change, we can replace the current systems and create the world we so desperately wish to thrive within. Change starts with you, change is possible, and change is needed, now.

with peace + love, one final time,

Mia Hamilton

Former Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Know Yourself

Wed, 14 May 2025 19:15:49 GMT

Many of us are familiar with the maxim “Know yourself.” Although this ancient phrase can be interpreted in many ways, I suggest we look at it in terms of self-awareness, or a better knowledge of our Self.

Our culture encourages us to constantly judge ourselves. We are told that we are incomplete, that we need any number of things to be happy, attractive, desirable, or successful. We constantly compare ourselves to others, and find ourselves falling short. The mantra “know yourself” encourages us to step away from this unrelenting judgement and instead to observe ourselves.

When we observe and immediately judge, we create a wall, an end point. But when we withhold judgment, we create space for stillness, curiosity, and reflection. In this space, we can look for the “why” behind what we observe, and uncover patterns in our behavior. This is where we grow in self-knowledge. We can also choose to react to ourselves with gentleness and compassion, rather than condemnation.

If you want to improve your self-knowledge, I recommend that you practice Vipassana meditation. Vipassana can be translated as “seeing things as they truly are.” This form of ancient Buddhist meditation encourages you to turn your gaze inward and observe yourself. During practice, begin by observing your breath. Then focus on your thoughts, bodily sensations, emotions, and feelings. If you find yourself becoming distracted, observe the distraction, then return to your breath. Over time, you will learn not to react to every thought or feeling. You will find stillness in observation and reflection. You will create room for curiosity, and you can choose to extend compassion and grace toward yourself.

With sincerity & grace,

Ashley, Instructor and Marketer at Metaphysical Pilates.

The Duality of Hope

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 15:05:58 GMT

If your social media feed is anything like mine, you have probably noticed an attempt by ordinary people worldwide to define this moment in history. A tectonic shift is happening here in the U.S. and around the globe. We feel a change coming, but we can’t put our finger on it. The future seems like an opaque window. Is it a change for good or a change for bad? Is this struggle that we face a defining moment? If so, what are the forces at play? Is this left vs. right, democracy vs. fascism, rich vs. poor, morality vs. immorality, or good vs. evil?

I have spent months agonizing over this, and what I have come up with is that this is a struggle between hopelessness and hopefulness. The hopeful wants to fight for what is right in economy, identity, survival, and/or human rights. They believe in a better future. On the other hand, the hopeless see no light at the end of the tunnel; they have succumbed to their circumstances and only care about what affects them personally. I subscribe to the ideology that the best way to predict the future is to invent it. I am an optimist at heart and believe that billions of souls are out there just like me. I realize that the hopeless also have billions that feel just like them. That is the eternal struggle. Are our best days behind us like an image in our rearview mirror, or do we fight for that better future? I know the camp I am in.

Sincerely,

Arman Razavi

Friend of Metaphysical Pilates

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” - Alan Kay

April 2025

Universal Energy

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:06:22 GMT

Our existence is multifaceted. Since the past and future exist only in the mind, we simultaneously exist as all three versions of ourselves (past, present, and future) in the present moment. This may be hard to comprehend at first glance, but this idea has been explained time and time again, just in a context we don't immediately apply to ourselves.

When considering traditional religion, we think of a divine being who exists beyond the confines of time and space. This divine being is all-knowing and all-powerful. They create the past, the present, and the future and dictate all that was, is, and will be. This divine being is known by many names throughout a wide variety of religious practices. Yet, what if I told you, that this divine being, the one who is worshiped, praised, and exalted by millions of individuals each day, has been within them all along?

God, or whatever you may know the divine being as, is not a person, spirit, or figure, but a thing. This thing is energy, better known as life-force energy. To better deep dive into this concept, I want to turn to Anita Moorjani , whose clear and powerful words provide an excellent description:

"... although I've been using the words Universal energy , know that I can just as easily say chi, prana , or ki . The words mean "life-force energy" in Mandarin, Hindi, and Japanese, respectively... once we describe the energy with a different word- such as Source, God, Krishna, Buddha , or whatever- it can be difficult for some of us to see beyond the name. These words mean different things to different people and also seem to impose form upon the infinite. There are often certain expectations attached to these labels, and many of them keep us locked in duality so that we view this energy as an entity separate from us. But Universal energy, like our pure state of consciousness, needs to remain limitless and formless so that it can become one with us and create healing, magic, and miracles... we're all connected to this Universal energy; we're all One with it. Each of us has this magnificent, magical life force coursing through every single cell. It's not some external entity, but rather a state of being- an internal phenomenon. It's inside, outside, and all around. It doesn't matter what race, religion, culture, or belief system we belong to. We're connected to it just being alive- in fact, we are this universal current. We don't have to do anything, be anything, prove anything to access it. We're all magnificent, powerful beings, and we all have access to it because it and we are one and the same. " - Anita Moorjani, Dying to Be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing (145-146)

Many of us have been taught that the one true way to inner peace is to follow the rules and regulations of religion, but if the peace is inner, why would an external concept be the answer? To truly find inner peace, we must go inside ourselves, to the Universal energy within. The one true way to enlightenment is to come to know, respect, and strengthen our inner life-force energy. By doing this, we will begin to understand our true purpose and better connect with the world around us.

Throughout history, people have defined and redefined the divine spirit that creates the self. We now have the tools and knowledge to not just define this spirit but truly understand it. The world is waking up. As we begin to realize that the divine has been within us all along, we can finally meet our higher purpose and our higher self.

with peace + love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates
"Between God and the soul there is no between."

March 2025

And The Winner Is...

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 18:09:50 GMT

We crave meaning. In life, we strive to do something that leaves an impact on this world, something that gives us a purpose. People are rewarded for doing this daily. Whether its a promotion at work, a good academic grade, or an award from a prestigious institution, people are continuously recognized for the work they do. Is that what gives their work meaning, though? Is our life only valuable if it is recognized by someone else?

As a society, we tend to seek validation for our purpose through tangible acknowledgments because we have been preconditioned to believe that what we accomplish means nothing without reward. This is entirely incorrect. Think about the things that give you meaning and fuel your purpose. Do these need to have a ribbon, trophy, or golden seal to make your life worth living? Must your children come with a medal? Are your hobbies approved with certificates? We find meaning in many things constantly without them being awarded so why hold ourselves to the same impossible standard?

Don Miguel Ruiz touches on this concept in his own special way in The Four Agreements . When he states, "don't take anything personally," we roll our eyes and think back to the repetitive phrase offered to us as children as a shield against our elementary school bully. Ruiz, though, goes deeper. Don't take anything personally, negative or positive. The way people view us depends solely on their current state of being, which is known to fluctuate. If someone is being unkind, it is because the current moment is causing them discomfort. If someone is being kind, it is because the current moment is causing them joy. This is a paraphrasing of Ruiz's point but the core message still stands. Do not take anything personally. Only you can decide your fate.

Finding true meaning in life comes from creating energy within ourselves and within our external environment that has a positive impact. Whether it is acknowledged in this lifetime or not, constantly seeking reward will only leave you unfulfilled, such as Sisyphus pushing the boulder up the hill for eternity. Your value does not stem from external recognition but from recognition of self. You create meaning. You create yourself.

with peace + love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." -Aristotle

February 2025

The Answer

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 20:04:50 GMT

There are countless testaments of "the answer." "The answer" is how we are supposed to live to achieve happiness, peace, enlightenment, or whatever you believe you need to be fully present in this lifetime. So many spiritual thought leaders have an answer: The Four Agreements by don Miguel Ruiz, The Kybalion by the Hermetics, The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene, The Power of Now and A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, the list goes on and on. There are endless beliefs, virtues, values, principles, agreements, and laws on how to live our lives to their fullest capacity. Yet, what happens when you've been dealt a bad hand from the start?

Life comes with obstacles and challenges, as this is part of what defines it. Houselessness, war, addiction, starvation, poverty, violence, abuse, mental and physical illness, debt, hatred, genocide, rejection; so many awful things plague our lives as we navigate our path to enlightenment. Some we face from the day we enter this world, and some come as we grow and evolve; either way, they cause strife, anger, discomfort, and melancholy. So, in looking at these countless teachings, the harsh duality of reality comes to fruition: will a silly little saying or motto help? Can "being impeccable with your word" (Ruiz) instantly erase years of built-up financial debt? Will understanding the "Law of Role-Playing" (Greene) cure your terminal illness? Can knowing that "The all is mind, the universe is mental" (Hermetics) end genocidal wars? The short answer here, which many refuse to admit, is no. Understanding and accepting these teachings will not immediately alleviate every problem you've faced during your time on this planet. Contrary to what you may believe, this isn't a negative conclusion. It is freeing.

One of the most powerful talents we can practice in life is acknowledging and accepting our shadows. This acknowledgment brings our darkness into the light, allowing us to heal and make peace with difficult situations on a mental level. On a physical level, this allows us to face our challenges head-on with full power and confidence. When I say "accept" your shadows, I do not mean accept them as the end all be all. Accepting your shadows means allowing them to be a part of you, a 'you' that is ready to evolve. You cannot heal a wound you continue to ignore. We are beings of duality. To fully embrace our light, we must find balance in our darkness.

So, if these teachings do not work miracles, why not just accept our dark parts, fix our problems, and move forward as is? If you were stranded in the middle of the woods with nothing but the clothes on your back and somehow managed to get a cut on your leg, what would you do? There are many answers. You could panic, you could give up, you could start working to heal it; you cannot control the fact that you got a cut on your leg, but you can control how you react to it. While you cannot instantly heal your wound with magic powers, you can begin to search the area for tools. Maybe you remove your jacket and use it as a band-aid; maybe this situation motivates you to work harder to find an escape from the forest, or maybe you have wilderness survival skills on hand to help in the current scenario. Your reaction is based on your inherent knowledge. The more tools you have, tangible or not, to confront the situation, the more at ease you will be fighting the challenge. By absorbing these spiritual teachings, you may not find instant relief, but you will have the power to handle what comes your way more effectively.

Many are discouraged by their shortcomings and ailments. Many see the teachings of spiritual thought leaders as a mockery, personally offended that someone could look at their painful life and try to propose such a simple solution. They fail to realize that they have had the solution, "the answer," all along. The solution is within you. The solution IS you. These teachings exist solely to grow and strengthen the warrior that lives inside you. They act as tools and weapons to assist in daily combat against negative outcomes. YOU control your reaction. YOU acknowledge your shadows. YOU embrace your power. YOU bring about your inner peace.

Thought is power, and our words are magic. Our thoughts and beliefs affect our spirit, which in turn affects our mind and physical being. Understanding the seeds planted by those who have journeyed ahead of us and being able to utilize them in a way that benefits our unique scenarios and mental being is the key to enlightenment. You are the key to achieving your highest self. You are life.

with peace + love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

“Your word is the power that you have to create.” - don Miguel Ruiz

January 2025

Authenticity as a Universal Language

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 05:15:32 GMT

Was the first language perhaps Storytelling? Spiritual psychology was first learned in stories to teach us how to think constructively. With Christmas approaching, it is celebrated as a time of spiritual reflection and gratitude for the birth of Jesus. Many believe that Jesus's birth was the "incarnation" when God became human, and to be human is to be empathetic. [Empathy is a foundation of human connection, and it helps us build relationships, understand others, and create a safe space for communication. It can also motivate us to help others and relieve their suffering.]

Thought creates a feeling, feeling creates a reaction, and reaction creates the effect of its thought. Do not conform and allow the world to think for you. Think constructively so that you may know your highest self, which is your authentic self.

“Do you know what was the most powerful frequency these researchers measured leaving the human body? Authenticity. Researchers said it was 4,000 times more powerful than love!” (Bloom)

To think constructively is to believe with your conscience. Consciousness creates a feeling, the feeling creates a reaction, and the reaction creates the authentic frequency effect in the ability to understand and share the feelings of others and to develop the building block of morality as we evolve to care for all beings.

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

“All conformity to the actions of others is a form of fear.”

December 2024

The Wasp as a Metaphor

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:58:59 GMT

The universe has a special way of ensuring its wisdom penetrates our lives. Whether through synchronicities, physical signs or symbols, or needed conversations with mentors, the messages meant for us will reach us no matter how hard we attempt to ignore them. Observing, listening to, and acting on the wisdom we receive is crucial to evolving into our highest state of being.

My message from a more evolved Mia came in the form of a pesky little wasp. I was blessed with a new roommate in my college apartment as a tiny wasp made my bedroom its home. Thus, a week-long Cold War began as neither I nor the wasp made the first move. I knew this wasp was a problem and that allowing it to stay would put me at risk of being stung, yet I ignored it and went about my busy, 20-something life. That was, until the fateful night of the attack. As I prepared to indulge in Halloween festivities, the wasp finally made its move. By hiding in my cowboy boots, the wasp was able to attack my finger with a sting when I least expected it. The wasp had won the war. My problem had flourished from a minor nuisance into a significant pain in the finger. But then, it hit me. This was a metaphor for something far greater than just a bug problem.

I have a habit of burying my shadows. I move forward and do so quickly in hopes of creating new, beautiful things that can correct the mistakes and grievances of my past self. I tend to ignore the 'leaky faucets" in my life until they become a 'flooded kitchen.' As the pain of the wasp sting subsided, I was overtaken by clarity: this wasp was sent as a message I could not ignore, and the message was clear. Act now. Stop pushing tasks aside for later and do them in the present. Take care of the shadows, or the wasps, in your life when they appear instead of waiting to get stung.

Gloria Santiago has another metaphor that is quite perfect here. If you and I were in a dark room, and I immediately shined a bright flashlight in your face, you would instantly be blinded and unable to see. The flashlight would not illuminate the room but further, darken your vision from the actual reality you are to face. On the other hand, if I were to take you to a dark room and allow your eyes to adjust to the setting and find the light from within, you would eventually be able to perceive the reality in front of you. Ignoring the signs, the shadows, and our highest selves deter us from the path to evolution. By accepting their presence, facing them head-on, and giving ourselves the time to heal and grow into our present reality, we can speed-track our personal growth journeys and become our highest selves.

Listen to the universe. Embrace your darkness. Find the light from within. And if you get stung by a wasp, baking soda and philosophical thinking are fantastic remedies for the pain.

With peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

"One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious" - Carl Jung

November 2024

Knowledge is Power

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 18:51:38 GMT

To know is a privilege. Our knowledge guides us through hardship, success, and mundane moments. Our understanding of life and society deeply intertwines everything we do. Knowledge is "acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight." To know is to see the truth. Seeing the truth is essential to evolving into your highest self. This feels quite vague, but knowledge is an endless principle. One is capable of acquiring knowledge about almost anything in life. Knowledge is what gives us power.

One of the most crucial attributes of knowledge is the authenticity of it. When seeking knowledge, gaining insight from multiple verified sources is important. This will allow you to fully expand your mind with truthful information, which in turn will accelerate your evolution process. In this sense, consider evolution as your brain "leveling up." For example, let us consider the art of Pilates. If you are in pursuit of evolving as a Pilates student, it is important to build your knowledge on the practice. You will interact with key sources, such as Joseph Pilates's original teachings, your local Pilates studio, or a certified health and wellness coach. This gathering of intel will help you grow as a Pilates student and enhance your practice. Another critical attribute of knowledge is its duality. When seeking knowledge, looking at topics from all sides is very important. Whether you agree with what is being presented or not, it is very important to understand the facts being presented. This practice can help you enhance your holistic understanding, better position yourself on why you agree/disagree, and make informed decisions. You may also be surprised by how full-circle many highly debated issues are.

As a key value of Metaphysical Pilates, knowledge enhances everything we do, in and out of the studio. In a time of division, we encourage our community to stay informed. Diving into the factual evidence of the major distresses occurring in our world is an important first step in arriving at a peaceful and productive solution. However, more is needed; we strongly encourage our community to take action with the knowledge they hold. Register to vote today at vote.org and ensure the knowledge you have had the privilege of gathering makes a positive difference in our world.

Remember, knowledge is not just power; it's a responsibility. Use it wisely, and it will guide you to your highest self.

With peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

"Genuine spiritual knowledge lies not in wonderful and mysterious thoughts but in actual spiritual experience through the union of the believer's life with truth." - Watchman Nee.

October 2024

The Leader Follows the Follower

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:13:06 GMT

Labels belong to products, not people. Who would you be if you weren’t attached to an ideology? Humans adopt the ongoing belief in who they think they are according to family, traditions, society, religion, and political affiliations. Who would you become if you allowed yourself to follow your moral compass, bliss, dreams, and desires? Are your thoughts your own, or do you belong to many regurgitated ideologies that make you think you’re superior or inferior to others? Are you treating others in ways that you wish to be treated? If thought is the creator of all things, are you not the creator of your thoughts? Or have you given up your god-like power to worship another and adopt their false ideologies as your own?

The seven most diminishing words of mankind are, " We have always done it this way."

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

"Spiritual awakening happens the moment you realize you are not your thoughts." -Eckhart Tolle

September 2024

Find Strength Now!

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 19:52:32 GMT

The human spirit is a miraculous thing. We are inherently created to achieve incredible feats, proven repeatedly as Olympians win gold medals and refugees survive unimaginable war-torn conditions. Yet, it can still be difficult to leave your bed in the morning. As we journey through life, we often meet times when our mental doubts overpower our physical strength. These times showcase just how important mindset is. Our thoughts rule our existence and thoughts of doubt will lead to unnecessary failure. When I hit these rough patches, I have found strength in looking back on when I overcame my negative mindset.

By understanding that you were capable of succeeding in the past, you will be able to push yourself the extra mile now. By feeding yourself cold hard proof of your strength and determination, you can reignite that mindset in the present. I tend to use this a lot in my own life. Recently, I moved into my new college apartment on the second floor of a building with broken elevators. Carrying enough boxes to fill four cars up two flights of stairs was truly a test of my strength. While at first I was flooded with anger, disappointment, and a bit of fear, I was reminded of a time abroad in Milan, Italy. A friend and I visited this stunning city and greatly underestimated the size of it. This led to a grueling 60,000-step journey to find a place to eat dinner during the two hours of the day most restaurants are closed. I survived both challenges, though, and I came out stronger. I probably even tapped into a former moment of strength to achieve the Milan hike. My point in all of this is that, as humans, we continuously survive unimaginable feats and we still doubt ourselves as we face the ones to come. This opens up an opportunity to reach into our higher state of being.

Gloria Santiago , the owner and founder of Metaphysical Pilates, uses an incredible method to combat discouragement when entertaining hard tasks. While doing a Pilates class at the studio, Gloria instructed me to complete a particularly hard set of movements. As she began to sense my struggle, Gloria asked me to look into the mirror and see my higher self. She explained that this higher self had already accomplished this challenge and that by tapping into her, I could absorb her strength and perseverance. I went on to push through three more sets.

These two methods create an unstoppable and powerful force: belief in the present. By conducting the marriage between the strength of what you've been through and the evolution of your future self, you will find a mindset that is guaranteed to carry you through any challenge of the present. Past and future as concepts of time only exist in the mind. The present is the only time that physically exists at any moment. If the past and future are already solely in the mind, why not enable them to nourish and evolve the mindset? Instead of allowing regret of the past and fear of the future to overtake your being, find gratitude in what you've experienced and excitement in what is to come to fully rework your mindset into one that is equipped for the present you desire.

with peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

"The personal life deeply lived always expands into truths beyond itself." - Anais Nin

August 2024

Is It Ego Death Or the Rebirth of the Highest Self?

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 18:18:56 GMT

Mindset plays a crucial role in how we exist. The way we think guides every decision we make. With a mindset of struggle, pessimism, and defeat comes a life filled with negativity. A mindset of perseverance, optimism, and achievement leads to a life of positivity. Now, this is easier said than done. We would all love to think positive, happy, nourishing thoughts all the time, yet we tend to battle with internal demons that feign the illusion of being out of our control. This assumption can be detrimental to our overall wellness.

Eckhart Tolle explains this concept as Ego vs. Universal Intelligence. This is the idea that our negative thoughts and feelings stem from our "false self, " our Ego. This "Ego" entity thrives on negativity, hatred, anger, and unawareness. When we are plagued with anxiety, depression, and other negative mindsets, that is the Ego dominating us. The Ego is a surface-level mindset formed through negative experiences, interactions, and thoughts. It is an addict that relies on negativity to stay alive and present in our lives. Through a shift in mindset, though, it is possible to release ourselves from the tight grasp of Ego.

Universal Intelligence comes from deep within our spirit. This entity gives us the power to form our life paths, fulfill our life purpose, and evolve into our highest selves. By releasing our Ego, we can reach this state of Universal Intelligence and fully immerse ourselves in all that is good and meant to be. Of course, you are probably wondering how one releases the Ego. You become aware of it.

Entities that live an existence fueled by fear, anger, and despair are weakest when recognized as what they truly are: cowardly beings petrified of self-awareness. By being truly present and aware of oneself, one can face the darker parts of being head-on while embracing the light from within. The fast track to Universal Intelligence is seeing the Ego for what it is and draining it of its power.

Understanding that our self-doubt, self-hatred, and despair stem from the Ego allows us to release those false beliefs and redirect our mindset to one in line with Universal Intelligence. We are all capable of evolution once we see through the shadows.

with peace and love,
Mia Hamilton
Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

"The witnessing presence is the only thing from which the ego can be recognized." - Eckhart Tolle

July 2024

Don't Trust the Process, Trust Yourself

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 18:18:22 GMT

Trust is something that is earned. Similar to respect, we begin to trust people once they show us they are worthy of it. Trust can be gained in a variety of ways. Whether that is through correct action, the "vouching for" of others, or simply through intuition, we begin to trust others once we sense they are safe, capable of keeping promises, or simply just energetically compatible with us. Trust is something we hold instinctively as in primal times, trusting the wrong person, the wrong wild creature, or the wrong bush of berries could be lethal. When considering trust as something we earn, why do so many of us find it so hard to trust ourselves?

To trust oneself, one must fully believe they are capable of fulfilling their needs and desires. Now, realistically, if you were incapable of doing this would you even be alive today? The trust we hold within our subconscious to keep ourselves alive is purely instinctual. We work to expedite recovery with self-care and healing remedies when we are sick, we ensure our basic needs are met each day, and we avoid potentially dangerous situations when possible, yet, after a lifetime of successful survival, why do we still find it so hard to trust that we hold the best intentions for ourselves?

In writing this I feel it is important to note that I have also found it hard to fully trust myself. I am a human who makes mistakes, who hurts my own feelings, who is clouded with self-doubt and mental turmoil. I (incorrectly) think to myself, as many others have, that I am incapable of change, incapable of growth, and incapable of moving past my toughest obstacles. Yet, somehow, in the end, I always make it through. It was not until recently that I finally cracked the code: trust yourself, not the process.

A phrase we hear time and time again as metaphysical thought and spirituality blossoms throughout internet culture is to simply "trust the process." I believe this opens the mind to a false sense of security from this invisible "process" as the mind scrambles to attach to something that does not exist. When we hear "trust the process," we instantly begin to see our life path as this out-of-reach, preset sequence that we do not take part in. The reality is that you are the creator of your life path, your world, and the future you will one day exist in. Letting go of the process and re-establishing that trust and confidence in your inner being is the key to acquiring all that you desire. Your actions, your thoughts, and your existence are completely determined and controlled by you. By putting your trust in your own abilities, releasing self-doubt, and ceasing the habit of projecting anger and disappointment onto the "process," the world will go beyond your fingertips and into your hands.

Once you find it in yourself to fully trust yourself, the world will find it within itself to trust you.

I am beyond grateful to be back in the Metaphysical Pilates world. Thank you for your kindness, joy, and acceptance, always.

with peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Director of Metaphysical Pilates

"You are the creator of your own reality." - Esther Hicks

June 2024

The Transformative Power of Anger

Mon, 20 May 2024 18:17:37 GMT

"We often experience anger when denied rights or faced with insults, disrespect, injustice, or exploitation. Anger serves as an internal guidance system that indicates something is not quite right and that someone has treated us unjustly or unfairly. On a global level, standing up for a lack of fairness can prevent people from taking advantage of others. This type of anger can bring about positive change in society. Anger serves as a social and personal value indicator and regulator. It is activated when our values are not in harmony with our situation. Accordingly, it makes us aware of our deep-seated beliefs and what we stand for."

Moshe Ratson, MBA, MS, LMFT, psychotherapist and executive coach

Anger is an emotion that can direct us toward our awakening, which celebrates reason, the power by which humans improve their condition toward the greater goals of rational humanity. Our purpose as a species is to evolve; we question repetitive cycles as we evolve. Does this serve us as a whole or only a few? As we begin to question, our intuition heightens from within and reawakens our moral compass. What is intuition? Intuition is the ability to understand or know something without needing to think about it; it's a feeling that shows us this ability. As we evolve, we discover that reincarnation exists because we have adopted the outdated stories of the dead as if they were our own. Still, it is also an opportunity to reflect and improve. Anger is not always negative, as anger makes us aware of injustice. The revelation is an uncovering, revealing what was previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. Yes, anger can be viewed as darkness, which is not always bad. Everyone wants to seek the light, yet would you not be blinded by the light if I were to shine a light into your eyes? And yet, would your eyes not adjust to the darkness if I were to put you into a dark room? Remember that the light is found from within and not from without. May your anger appeal to your sense of humanity and bring to light a radical change towards our values as evolved beings.

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

"Through the results of your activity, you have shown me your mind."

May 2024

Thread of Humanity: Embracing Authenticity

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 18:16:56 GMT

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."

- Chief Seattle, Duwamish

What a strange existence it must be to live in the imaginations of other people. The inner struggle of being human is the pull between wanting to be authentic and the need to be accepted. We fear that if I allow myself to be authentic, then I will not be accepted, and therefore we sacrifice our authenticity to be accepted in the imaginations of others. How odd it is to live in a culture where inauthenticity is rewarded, as it creates a diseased construct of the mind.

Our purpose as humans is to evolve and this evolution of the mind can and will create a life of humanity for all beings in the midst of struggle. Emotion is an authentic spirit driven by love that wishes to manifest itself into action. The collective power of humanity can be very impactful when we are in the service of the people in the world who are less fortunate, for we are all interconnected in this woven thread of life.

Gratefully,
Gloria Santiago
Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

“Through the results of your activity, you have shown me your mind.”

March 2024

Intuition Is Your Soul

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 19:16:02 GMT

Intuition is your inner knowing. That whisper of a thought that comes to you out of "nowhere." That gut feeling helps you go in a certain direction. An inner compass, that if you listen, it will always bring you back to your center. I believe that the whisper is my higher self guiding me in this game called life.

I have noticed that if I listen to the chatter of the outside world - I am left feeling lost, confused, overwhelmed, and sometimes helpless. But when I am alone and silence the noise and set an intention, I become centered and find my flow. Every experience is here to teach us more about ourselves. Be grateful for the good and the bad as we are all here to evolve, for we are light beings having a human experience.

Karla Juarez ,

Metaphysical Pilates Instructor

February 2024

I Am My Beliefs

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 19:14:48 GMT

"All who are born into the world embrace the limiting beliefs of ignorance." Ervin Seale

New Year’s denotes a new beginning, and to embrace new opportunities. Many make resolutions in the pursuit of leading a better life, but unfortunately most fail in committing to the changes they wish to achieve because most are unwilling to detach themselves from outdated and limiting beliefs.

What are beliefs? Beliefs are like the gods you worship. They are outdated tales that belong to the dead, yet they have been adopted as gospel in the present day. If you wish to create a new beginning, then you must know how to think for yourself. When you know how to think for yourself, then you have learned to not worship any idea or belief that is outside of you. True wisdom is not found outside of you, but from within.

You want a new beginning? Then don’t embrace outdated and limiting beliefs of ignorance. Whatever we acknowledge to have power over us becomes our god. Self-knowledge is on the other side of these illusions. The property of self-motivation and self-government can be quite peculiar to man. Learn, unlearn and relearn the meaning of life and its purpose. All the life of mankind is a conscious attempt to break the seals and read the wisdom that is imprisoned within.

Gratefully,
Gloria Santiago
Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

January 2024

A Love Letter to the Metaphysical Pilates Community

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:14:02 GMT

Growth is odd. It is uncomfortable, refreshing, needed, and simply a part of our journeys to reach our highest selves. In a book I read just a short time ago, 21 Days to Explore Your Past Lives by Denise Linn, I came across a new definition of karma. Linn explains karma as a way to better understand the experiences of those you are blissfully unaware of. For example, if you seem to be facing a terrible skin rash in this life, you may have spent a past life shaming people suffering from leprosy. In this definition, Linn, whether she intends to or not, describes karma as growth. Karma and growth alike are neither inherently bad nor good, yet both initiate a shift in one's life to better understand their purpose and presence. To this day, I am unsure what beautiful collection of karma placed me at the door of the Metaphysical Pilates Community.

I have had the honor of working as a marker for the Metaphysical Pilates studio for a little over two and a half years. Joining this project, freshly out of high school with no real professional experience and little understanding of Pilates or spirituality, was like taking a leap out of an airplane to skydive solo. I was excited, terrified, and in awe of the world I was so graciously welcomed into. To this day, I do not have words to explain this experience sufficiently. Working with this studio, with Gloria, with all of you, has been a dream in the waking realm. I have been met with so much kindness, so much wisdom, and expedited growth within my personal, professional, and spiritual lives. This community will hold such a deep, cherished part of my heart for eternity to come.

It is bittersweet to say that as of 2024, my time as a marketer for Metaphysical Pilates will reach its end. As I shift into the role of a dedicated community member, I will spend time traveling across Europe during my semester in Florence, Italy, graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in marketing/film studies/business analytics, and simply continuing to grow with each of you from a new perspective. The love I hold in my heart for this brand, this community, and Gloria will grow with me as I reach new levels of my highest self.

Thank you, to all within our community, for watching me grow. I love you.

with peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Liason of Metaphysical Pilates

"What a caterpillar calls the end of the world we call a butterfly.” - Eckhart Tolle

December 2023

A Word on Trauma

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 19:11:12 GMT

Trauma is an experience on several different levels that resides within us down to the cellular level. It keeps us stuck in survival mode where our focus and energy is to fight off unseen enemies. We learn to not trust others because if we do, we become vulnerable and to be vulnerable (from the mindset of a traumatized person) is viewed as a weakness, and that is why some people will choose violence over peace because they think violence is strength. Trauma builds walls of skepticism, judgments, suspicion, doubt, and any other negative name that is the direct cousin of fear. We exacerbate our traumatic experiences to justify our behavior as "justice" when in fact it is unjust and faithless. We as a species are more alike than we are different but it is our judgments about each other that creates a division in thinking that we are superior over another being. Trauma is the greatest threat to our national well-being and it is the largest public health crisis we face worldwide. In order to have world peace, we must have peace within ourselves. There are holistic and very effective methods in treating trauma, such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and reprocessing Therapy (EMDR).

There have been over thirty studies which have shown a positive outcome. Some studies showed that 84-90% of single-event trauma victims no longer had PTSD symptoms after three ninety-minute EMDR sessions. Another study showed a 100% success rate for single-event trauma victims. Another study showed success with 77% of multiple trauma victims after six fifty-minute sessions." - The Trauma Center

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

"Everyone who is healing their old trauma and learning to live beyond the past is part of the solution." -Young Pueblo

November 2023

Shifting Consciousness

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 18:07:35 GMT

All of human existence is not created equal. While each individual exists as a conscious being, all exist at varying levels of consciousness. Our one true purpose in life is to reach peak enlightenment, or simply our highest, most conscious selves. This journey to ultimate consciousness spans beyond our perceivable ideas of time and space. As we seek to evolve and shift into our highest possible energy, we subconsciously shift across this scale of consciousness.

The scale of consciousness is not a linear path. Starting at shame and ending with enlightenment, this written scale lays out the energetic shift between fear and love as these innate human feelings are key in shifting from a contracted to an expanded mind. This scale, though, was created to be perceived by the Ego, the "I". To summarize Eckhart Tolle's teachings in A New Earth, the most common mind we encounter is the Ego. This is the voice in your head that says "I am this" or "I am that." "The ego isn't wrong; it's just unconscious" (45). Your conscious mind goes beyond these simple self-perceptions, it is all-knowing and communicative beyond words. To be conscious is to be present, to observe the internal dialogue between thought and feeling, and to have full awareness of your existence on an energetic level. To reach ultimate consciousness, one must simply be fully present not only in the current moment but in their own consciousness.

Shifting energy is simply a part of the human experience. Whether it is taking place consciously or subconsciously, we are constantly shifting through varying energies. When you laugh with a loved one, you are shifting between your love for them, the deep joy of the joke, and the security of the energy around you all at once. When you grieve a lost loved one, you are shifting between the ache of their parting, the love you held for them, and the guilt of lost time and regrets all at once. In practice, we shift through this energy with our Ego as we think "I am so happy to be here in this moment" or "I am at fault for not reaching out sooner." The conscious mind, though, sees this beyond the "I."

Consciousness is key to enlightenment. To be truly conscious, one must be present within themselves beyond thought.

with peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Liason of Metaphysical Pilates

"Non-reaction to the ego in others is one of the most effective ways not only of going beyond ego in yourself but also of dissolving the collective human ego." - Eckhart Tolle

October 2023

True Sacred Marriage is Between the Mind and Body

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 18:06:47 GMT

“The best guru is found in you. Gee, you are you.” - Alan Cohen

As a Metaphysical Pilates Instructor, I emphasize that Father is thought, the Creator of all ideas, and that Mother is feeling, the mood of all things, and that true sacred marriage is between the mind and body. Thought is immaterial energy and energy must express itself into form. Spiritually we are taught that “thy shalt not commit adultery.” Committing adultery means that if your thoughts flirt with the ideas of self-doubt or any other fear-driven thought, one is not honoring the sacred marriage between mind and body. What happens to your mood and/or feeling when you have a great idea? Does your body not feel excited, passionate, driven, and motivated towards your ideal goal? If Father is thought, the Creator of all things would that not mean you are your own God? You have two minds, the mind of consciousness that thinks constructively and the subconscious mind that cannot think constructively. So pay attention to your body’s feelings and allow for consciousness to step in to think constructively. The body isn’t the cause of your thoughts, it is a result of your thoughts.”

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

"Original sin is simply an error of perception." - Alan Cohen

September 2023

Find Peace Now!

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Sun, 20 Aug 2023 18:05:53 GMT

“Life stops for nothing. Whether that is convenient for us or not, life will continue to move forward no matter what our current state of being is. Craving a moment of stillness reminds us that we are only human and that rest is essential to our well-being. Yet, why is it that life in our society has reached a point where a moment to breathe feels mythical? We constantly push ourselves to our absolute limit in pursuit of building our dreams into reality, reaching our highest potential, and creating a space that helps our successors exceed our own triumphs. We spend so much time working towards a world where our mental and spiritual well-being is honored and nourished that we forget to do just that: nourish and honor ourselves.

Writing this piece feels like branding "HYPOCRITE" onto my chest. I am the poster child for overpacking my life. I am a major believer in experiencing every single beautiful opportunity life has to offer and I am well aware that I am not alone in this venture. The biggest misunderstanding in all of this is that taking a moment to recharge is separate from deep diving into the whirlwind that is life. Quiet moments hold just as much power as grand, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Something we tend to forget is that we're still breathing in the depths of chaos. Breath is the key to recharging the mind, body, and spirit. Breath is a constant. Finding peace does not have to mean taking a day away from the world to dive into self-care and solitude, although this is incredibly wonderful. Finding peace is locking eyes with the one you love in the middle of a loud celebration and exhaling together. Finding peace is taking a deep breath to ground yourself while having a difficult conversation. Finding peace is breathing out a laugh as you hear children rampaging through the kitchen, exploring a world that is so new to them.

with peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Liason at Metaphysical Pilates

"In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you."

August 2023

Breaking the Angry Habit

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 18:04:01 GMT

“You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.” - Buddha

We can all agree that irrational anger ends in sorrow and remorse. Anger is a vicious cause that human nature creates. If one cannot control their anger, outside circumstances will always control them. The way to control your anger is in the way you think of the circumstance, and the way that you think of the circumstance is to think constructively. To think constructively is a matter of choice, which then brings us to our habits. Habits are functions of the subconscious mind; it is the reaction to your repetitive thoughts and actions. Every person has the power of choice, but once we repeatedly exercise that choice, it no longer becomes a choice as it is consumed by the compulsion of that habit. Your own mood is the only master you have.

“The inside always controls the outside and your inside is always determined by what you think, and what you think is a matter of choice.” - Dr. Seale

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilate

"Anger is nothing more than an outward expression of inner disconnect."

July 2023

The Seeker Versus The Found

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 18:03:05 GMT

We are all inherently seekers. From the age of hunter-gatherers to the new age concept of "finding ourselves" we are forever searching for a missing piece of our being. We live in a society that is plagued with material cravings and illusionary standards and as long as we continue to seek out these fleeting gratifications, we will never be indeed at peace. In this time and space, I want to give you a somewhat alarming piece of advice, stop seeking outwardly. To seek outwardly for answers is to strive for and focus on the future constantly. To seek outwardly is to infinitely compare where we are in this moment to where we were in the past. To seek outwardly is to overlook the one key element guaranteed to fulfill every waking need: our higher selves.

Everything we could ever need or want is in the present moment. If we wholeheartedly accept and believe that what we desire is within us, it shall be. Happiness will not present itself as a twenty-dollar bill found on the street or a compliment from a friend on a new hairstyle, but in the gratitude we hold for the experiences we have. Materials, in all matters of the word, are just things. They are human creations brought about through thought. By this logic, if you find peace of mind in your thoughts, those thoughts will by default materialize into all that you have ever desired. Thinking positively and constructively is actively bringing your deepest wishes and desires to life.

To seek outwardly means you are lost. To seek outwardly means to want more, to never be satisfied, and to take most things for granted. By ceasing your journey of constant seeking in the material world around you, you will begin to realize that all you have ever sought out is where it has always been: in your own mind, in your own heart, and in your highest possible self.

with peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Liason at Metaphysical Pilates

“Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it.”

June 2023

The Power of Thought

Sat, 20 May 2023 18:02:08 GMT

We cannot change nature, but we can change the nature of our being. Thought is the secret of all attainment. Your thought is the cause, and your experience is the effect. Few people know how to think constructively because most people dwell on selfish and egotistical purposes which is infantile thinking and brings about inevitable defeat. The law of growth is a trained and constructive mind, which is mature and understands that everything is connected and serves a purpose that is vibrationally transactional. Life’s responsibilities will continue to make its demands on us, and by constructive thinking and changing the direction of your thought will force you to become the person you are meant to be. Existence itself demands that we must move forward and to do so, one must have a higher estimation of his or herself. To solve any problem is to change your relationship about it. You must do something within yourself first instead of trying to change the people or conditions around you. People think that things happen to them because of circumstances and conditions, but it is false concepts and an underestimation of self that creates one’s misery. Think constructively through your limitations and sadness so that you can see your way out. When the mind’s vision is high, the feeling within you will design an action of movement of free-flowing, imaginative genius. Successful people do not judge their future by their past, or limit their estimation of self, for they are always willing to adventure and try. We are not bound to our circumstances if one understands that there is a higher element of constructive thinking and/or consciousness within his or herself. For the mind can modify and change all conditions.

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilate

“There is nothing you cannot be, do, or have.”

May 2023

Inner Workings of the Human Experience

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 17:59:29 GMT

Time is a creation of our own understanding. Cultural and generational misunderstandings have led us to believe in an invisible pressure that pushes us to conform to a set way of life. As individuals, we set a timeframe for ourselves: when to graduate, when to get the promotion, when to get married, when to have kids, and even when to pass on. We see our time here as a set of tasks to accomplish in order to lead a successful life. Does success come from the milestones society pushes or from the joy we find in truly indulging in our own individual human experience?

To reach your highest self, inner peace is the key. The last place to find said peace is in the stressful hustle and bustle of a job or marriage you do not find joy in. The truest form of human experience is to simply be. To exist and accept the current moment as is. To become aware of the beauty that lives in the current moment.

We, as humans, are incredibly complex beings. I strongly believe that if someone were to look into my brain, it would reveal a system similar to a pocket watch, a delicate yet complex system of gears working to piece together each intentional thought and meaningful feeling I experience. This system is too profound to be so caught up in a life that does not truly serve my purpose.

From my soul to yours, do not seek out your purpose. Live your life as you feel it is meant to be lived and your purpose will find you.

With peace, love, and gratitude,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Liason at Metaphysical Pilates

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life.”

April 2023

Love By Definition

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 18:55:54 GMT

One, four letter word does little justice for the deep way we feel towards others and ourselves. When considering the idea of love, I feel it is best to turn to the Greeks.

The Greek language contains eight separate words for this complicated human concept. Eros is for physical love. Philia is for affectionate love. Agape is for sacrificial love. Storge is for familial love. Mania is for obsessive love. Ludus is for playful, noncommittal love. Pragma is for practical love. Philautia is for self-love. To connect with our higher sense of being, we must practice each of these simultaneously.

To be in love is to be fully present. Whether that love is for a partner, a parental figure, or for yourself, holding such a deep connection requires us to appreciate exactly what is happening in the present moment. Each of the Greeks' eight versions of love works deep into our consciousness as we find love for ourselves or the world around us. Love comes in many forms, and by accepting and appreciating each of them, we are able to fully experience life.

With peace and love,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing Liason for Metaphysical Pilates

“To love someone is to identify with them.”

February 2023

To Begin Again

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 18:54:13 GMT

New Year, New You? Well, that depends on what thoughts you meditate on.

Your only creative power is your consciousness and it is relative to your environment. If you wish to evolve in the New Year, know that the only competition you have is in your own mind. It is between your idea of success and your idea of failure. According to your belief, so it shall be done unto you. An evolving person understands the relationship between thoughts and experiences and learns to think more constructively while keeping their emotions in order. If you're angry, direct it at your weakness, your ignorance, or any negative thought and feeling that prevents you from evolving, but do not direct it at people or blame circumstances. Your consciousness is more than equipped to win the battles of life.

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

“Today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

January 2023

A Look Into the Soul

miamhamilton2265@gmail.com (Mia Hamilton) — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 18:51:56 GMT

Hello, Community! My name is Mia Hamilton and I am the Marketing Liaison for Metaphysical Pilates. As a twenty-year-old college student at such a pivotal moment in my life, it is hard to focus on just one venture. Metaphysical Pilates came to me during a point of major change. I had just graduated high school, just changed my major to marketing, and just started my venture into spirituality. There is one common theme throughout these actions: "just." I had "just" done things, something that implies taking an action in the current moment. It represents staying in the present.

In The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle writes, "Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life." One way I have learned to do this is through movement and breathwork. No matter what crazy challenge or commitment I take on, I can always return to my breath. When blending my breath with the physical motions I am taking, I can gain control of myself, my situation, and the next action I will take. This simple act, a core practice at Metaphysical Pilates, is the key to staying on the path I have been destined to take. Through the connection of mind, body, and spirit I can find balance in the unstable, peace in the chaos, and joy in the obstacles.

Metaphysical Pilates offers a variety of practices that help center the individual while strengthening the body, mind, and spirit. It is through this practice that I feel, one can fully be at peace with oneself and find pure gratitude for existence. Existing in the present is the best way to fully experience life. The only thing that will ever be guaranteed in the present moment is the breath. Find it then move forward.

With peace, love, and gratitude always,

Mia Hamilton

Marketing - Metaphysical Pilates

"Breathe in the future, breathe out the past."

December 2022

Introduction

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 18:46:22 GMT

Greetings! My name is Gloria Santiago, and I am the creator of Metaphysical Pilates. Metaphysical Pilates is a sacred space where you learn how to connect your mind and body in a meditative and constructive way during each methodical movement. At Metaphysical Pilates, we emphasize the importance of breath work during each of our Pilates routines. Breath shapes the mind and body as it allows us to be presently aware. In knowing how to control your body correctly – you must learn how to breathe correctly. Breath is the first act of life as well as the last.

All We Are Is What We Know. Is this statement not true for us all? Once we realize this truth, it allows our minds to want to learn more, for we are a naturally curious species as well as creators. At Metaphysical Pilates, we emphasize that the mind is the master, and the body is its servant, yet there are those of us who live in opposition to this truth and are therefore living in disharmony. Societal and worldly thinking destroys creativity as it does not come from you. A mind that does not know itself, wanders outside itself. Here at Metaphysical Pilates, we emphasize that Father is thought (the Creator), Mother is emotion (feeling), and its result is either harmony or disharmony. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.”

Implanted in your mind you have wonder and genius hidden within you, develop it constructively and in time you will discover the greatness of your being. We are not the results of circumstances; we are the products of what we meditate on. What your mind often returns to becomes your destiny and your fate.

I am grateful you have chosen to be a part of this wondrous and beyond-ordinary community.

Gratefully,

Gloria Santiago

Owner of Metaphysical Pilates

“I am my health and my health is what I am.”

November 2022