Outside resources + offerings
while social distancing
Outside of The Retreat Space, there are so many amazing offerings of creativity and connection out there during this incredibly challenging time. Here is a beginning list from Quinn, which will keep growing. Check back often! To submit something, email theretreatspaceinfo@gmail.com.
Coping + Mindfulness
Resources for Coping
Psych Alive has several articles for this challenging time, including how to cope with the emotional stress.
Clearing Fear and Density Meditation
This is an incredibly powerful guided recording to release fear from your body during these unprecedented times. It is a new offering from Jaime Fleres, my talented soul sister and a contributor with The Retreat Space.
Deep Relaxation Meditation
Kristine Backes, friend and facilitator of The Retreat Space, recorded this beautiful 14-minute meditation for deep relaxation. I love hearing the Montana birds chirping in the background.
Daily Online Mindfulness Practice
This is an amazing resource from my local Center for Mindfulness and Compassion in Cambridge, MA. It is a collective of wonderful practitioners devoted to mental wellness and overall wellbeing. These daily community practices include grounding exercises, mindful movement, and support for parents.
Facing Fear with Compassion
A gentle talk about fear from Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic and Eat, Pray, Love.
Get moving
Trillfit dance cardio classes
I’m obsessed with Trillfit’s free online hip-hop cardio dance classes (both live and recorded). Owned by Heather White, Trillfit is an inclusive, super fun new studio in Boston.
Afro Flow Yoga virtual classes
One of my favorite movement experiences is Afro Flow Yoga, a unique class style developed by Bostonian powerhouse Leslie Salmon Jones and her husband Jeff Jones. Jeff provides live music and drumming in concert with Leslie’s guidance in a soulful flow. There is deep community and communion with our bodies. You’ve got to try it!
Support a small yoga studio
Be.Yoga in Somerville, MA is a small, local woman-run studio offering live, online classes. If you have the means, please support this great little studio by attending a class.
Alvin Ailey Masterclass
I’m missing my dance studio so much. For experienced dancers or those who might want a challenge, check out this recorded masterclass by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
PopSugar Fitness Classes
I prefer to support smaller studios, but PopSugar has a huge library of fitness videos if you can’t find what you're looking for.
Deep healing
Virtual breathwork groups
Tara Jones has been part of my Boston care team for years, as a massage therapist and now a breathwork facilitator. I’m thrilled that Tara is now offering virtual breathwork healing groups to help you get deep into your body and clear emotional debris. Because her main source of income is massage therapy (which can’t be done virtually!), I appreciate you supporting her during this time.
Aid for artists
Resources from Arts Ready
This is the most comprehensive list of resources I can find for artists, performers, and cultural organizations. It has information about the economic and legal impact in the arts, as well as a list of emergency funding opportunities for artists.
New England Foundation for the Arts
Resources for arts and cultural organizations in New England.
Freelance Artist Resources
This is an aggregated list of free resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to individual artists of all disciplines. It also contains a link to a recording of a panel speaking to the hardships of the individual artist community.
Boston’s Artist’s Relief Fund
Donate to or apply for aid with the City of Boston’s Artist’s Relief Fund.
Boston Music Maker Relief Fund
The Boston Music Maker Relief Fund is collecting donations and accepting relief applications for musicians with lost income due to cancelled performances.
How to Live-Stream a Performance
A free webinar for musicians and artists led by Laura Escudé on how to put together quality live-streaming experiences from your home or studio.
Support for Parents
Not being perfect parents is exactly what your kids need
Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach on letting children express their feelings of fear and discomfort, and how being imperfect parents is exactly what your kids need you to model right now. And an idea to have a set family meeting time for each person to voice their worries.
Virtual art school for kids
Deb’s virtual art school for kids meets live on facebook on weekdays at 2pm EST with show and tell on Zoom Fridays at 3pm EST. So great!
Draw Together with Wendy MacNaughton
Oh my goodness, I love Wendy MacNaughton. She is offering free daily art classes for kids Monday-Friday at 1pm EST on Instagram Live (they stay up for 24 hours on her Stories). My favorite part is looking through her Stories to see all the kids’ drawings.
Uplifting things
Mask-making
Creators all over the world are rallying to sew masks for hospital workers in face of a critical shortage.
Italy sings
Italians singing from their balconies while isolated in lockdown.
50 ways to be ridiculously generous
This wonderful list by Alexandra Franzen is not from the COVID-era, but I love it.
Virtual animal therapy
Ten places you can watch animals on livestream.
Creativity
Mandala coloring
Kripalu is sharing a free printable coloring book filled with mandalas. Mandala coloring is relaxing for your nervous system and stimulates creativity.
Do a Tiny Project
Writer Alexandra Franzen is so creative and calming. I love her movement of tiny projects. We should all pause from our day to complete a tiny, low-stress, bite-sized creative project. Here are some ideas. (Also join her email list)
Resource Pages
Marie Forleo
Business maven and amazing human, Marie Forleo, has a great blog post with her resources for mental health, working from home, and inspiration.
Freelancing Females
A compilation of COVID-19 resources for freelancers, including remote working opportunities and work-from-home tips.