Hey,
If you're a person of a certain age, cough cough, you may remember Cher's iconic scene from the 1897 movie, Moonstruck. In it, she wakes from a peaceful slumber, exclaiming "Oh my god, this time I was trying to do everything right! I'm marrying your brother!" to Nicholas Cage. A back and forth ensues until he finally says "I'm in love with you." to which she responds:
SNAP OUT OF IT!
The slap is the moment that we remember, but it's actually the 45 seconds that follow where the magic truly happens in the scene. Cage says he loves two things: the opera, and her and implores her to meet him at the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC. She brushes him off, closing the door with a "Yeah, yeah, yeah..." but a few seconds later, her head pokes in, she exhales, and says:
"Where's the Met?"
UGH - SO GOOD! Because it adequately represents an albeit dramatic, interruption to a stress cycle in action as well as what follows. The slap is a moment we respond to because it changes the trajectory of the scene. It expels her anxious energy and ultimately allows her to soften away from the stress and into her feelings for him.
Now while I'm not advocating for violent acts of stress relief or cheating, I AM a huge fan of "surprise" stress interrupters. This week, mine came through in Adobe Acrobat, when Horatio's (my dearly departed Lhasa Poo's) name auto-populated into all of the fields. I had been in the middle of a high stress moment when suddenly that little buddy was everywhere, "snapping me out of it," urging me to take a breath. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. (Thanks Ray Ray!)
When it comes to health, many think it's just about the power of nourishing food, or the right exercise program. While those things remain a vital part of your wellbeing, these days, there is a stronger underlying element in my client work: the ability to be truly present and aware. It's less about the "what" we consume and more about the "how" we experience our lives. Right now, the clients I'm working with are those:
- Who are going through the motions each day without a strong direction.
- Whose weekend glass of wine has escalated into a nightly 2 - 3 and want to make a change.
- Who have never quite found their way back from the upheaval of lockdown in their businesses and lives five years ago.
- Women who are transitioning into what should feel like the prime of their lives, halted by the fear of whether or not their bodies will sustain them through retirement due to chronic illness, fatigue, and genuine world stress.
- Men who are exploring the mental transition to less intense, more sustainable forms of sport and nutrition as they age.
For these people, waiting for a random interruption to their stressors isn't a sustainable strategy. Because, like Cher's Loretta, we can be "doing everything right" on the surface, yet still be caught in patterns of stress and reactivity. What's often missing is that clear awareness that allows us to shift trajectory.
That's why my work is increasingly centered building the internal tools to recognize when we're caught in a cycle and gently guide ourselves back to a more focused place.
As a first step in exploring this for yourself, I've put together a series of quick wins for you. It's a new opt in that asks you to choose which category you most need a quick win in right now and receive a little video + resource from me. Support is often the first step in growing the belief that you can address your stress effectively. We'll talk about the next steps shortly 😉.
Click the link to get your Quick Win:
Now, if you're in a place where you really need to SNAP OUT OF IT, I want to encourage you to book a FREE Insight Session with me. This is the easiest way to receive help and perspective surrounding how you can move forward in a way that IS sustainable and helpful for your wellbeing.
My schedule has openings through mid-June and I'd love to meet with you.
I'm wishing you a restful Sunday and a low-stress week ahead. (Notice I didn't say stress-free because... 2025.)
Living Well With You, Not At You,
Jenna
P.S. If you liked this email, respond back with a 🌕 and what spoke to you - I love hearing when something I wrote (Not a GPT 🤖) hit right!
P.P.S Scroll Down For Upcoming Events Online & In Chicago!
SAVE THE DATE:
Breakfast Club Reformer 5/24/25
Now you can pay for a single class without a membership!
I listened for your request and while it took a moment to build out on the website, now you can book for a single class. You'll have access to just that class for the month on a password protected page on my site (different than the membership page).
May's class is all about visual focus and how it assists our joint health and range of motion - we're going to make some MAGIC in this class - you won't want to miss this one!
Millennium Park Workouts 6/14/25:
I'll be teaching pilates at Millennium Park's FREE workout in the park, sponsored by DCASE in the main pavilion on Saturday, June 14th, at 8am.
Bring your mat, yourself and even a friend! I'll be accompanied by live musicians (my favorite!!) and it's always a great time. Hope to see you there!
Check Out My Vibly Platform
I've just set up a new platform for my coaching sessions and would love your feedback.
Click the link below to check it out and let me know how you like my profile!
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