empowerment

I took my experiences of the dots and spots to a new level.
Today in Pennsylvania, we had our primary election, and I was thinking how small I am just one person choosing to vote.

I then imagined each person as a tiny dot with a spark of light inside the dot. I began to feel better so much so that a real sense of power surged through my senses. I felt it, I internally heard it, I tasted the passion of power, but; the power felt good. Maybe more like a feeling of peace with a sense of real empowerment. I am in some small way making a difference.

I think I do this as I skate using the dots and spots as teaching tools. I am getting a real sense that the dots and spots go way beyond the ‘skating’ ‘world’.

Maybe this is how we can heal the world. One dot, one person, at a time.

Monday Skating Experience With Hank

I had an interesting experience today as I skated with my 88 year young friend, Hank.

I already mentioned about balancing on the edge of life, and how I use blades as a metaphor for life.

This morning as I was talking with Hank before we stepped on the ice about the blades, and the dots and spots on the blades, we both started feeling incredible subtle, tiny movements in our blades.

We both are aware of the dots and spots as I have been experimenting with Hank with these ideas for several years. He loves it, and says his balance improves each time he skates.

It is amazing how a dot or a spot on a blade can be so small and somehow create so much power through gentleness and flow. Flow and gentleness rather than friction or fear.

To me; balance is an ongoing adventure and is never static.

I would appreciate any feedback, and any comments would be welcome since I feel so sure about the idea of dots and spots could expand into many facets of life.

Skating, any sport, occupational therapy, physical therapy, injury prevention and pain management due to the subtle ways I work with
the dots and spots.

Balancing On The Edge Of Life

This morning as I was pondering about balance, I started to feel something really incredible as I stroked, trying to feel my dots on my blades.

I do the Braille Blade exercises for my skating improvement. I started really sensing the dots turning into spots, all the time staying really comfortable, and feeling so good about flowing and starting to really feel gliding on the ice.

I have been skating since 1968, and first put my skates on the year Peggy Fleming won her gold metal. Peggy Fleming as well as many other famous skaters inspire me still, and keep my dream alive.

My dream is to be the best skater, who happens to be blind and stretch myself to skate smoother, better, faster, more powerful but stay gentle and true to the dots and spots I use to guide me on and off of the ice.

So; this morning as I was sensing balance on the edge and playing with the dots and spots on my blades, I became aware of something really interesting.

I have heard other great skaters mention follow and feel the flow of your edges. Feel the edge and trust the edge.

Well; I really started to get an idea of what they were talking about, and; more than the idea, I really felt something incredible!

To me; balance no longer has to stay static or stuck. Moving through a transition; like stepping from one foot to the other as I stroke on the ice, move off of the ice as well can be more fluid, but no more static.

Transitions could be a thing I can move through and I do not have to get stuck in a transition.

Now; if this is true; then; could or can I apply this concept to my life in general? Can I use this idea and feel of balancing being not a static thing, but a dynamic action or ongoing experience on and off of the ice? Can I use this flow and ease with no static to move me through any transition in my life whether it be a career change, skating on the ice, letting go of a relationship that doesn’t work anymore or anything for that matter.

Just a thought. Let me know what you think and how you feel about this post

On The Edge

Hi, my name is Stash Serafin

I am a figure skater, with 40 years of skating experience. I have had the honor of sharing my interesting life with skaters from beginners to professional coaches.

I want to share some new and exciting ideas with you.

I thought of the title On the Edge as a metaphor for skating. Skating, to me represents life that has flow rather than friction. Friction to me; represents fear. On the ice, the blades when they are fearful represent friction and friction feels hard to move through; especially when I am afraid of moving.

Adults love to experience the gentleness of the blade as it learns how to glide with ease and kindness across the ice with effortless motion. Endless flow is what skaters are after, and I have a few tips and tricks that can assist you in your journey; even if you’re not a skater.

• Injury Prevention

The number one fear in my humble opinion in adult living is the fear of falling, and this fear of falling prevents many adults from benefiting from the real art of skating, which I feel is flow, gliding, easily and effortlessly on or off the ice.

• Sensing Our Feet

My adult skaters always are interested in how the feet work on the ice. They almost have an obsession about feet placement. Where should my feet go? Where should my arms go? Why is this important you ask?

Once adults get a sense of how their feet work, the rest of the body seems to somehow come along for the experience. The feet never lie. Relaxed feet allow for gentle, kind and sensitive skating.

I use a technique I developed called Braille Blade Experience. Braille is to a blind person is like seeing is for the sited. Blind people read Braille with the fingers, and I somehow got the idea to use the blades as Braille, having invisible, but very sensitive sensations to Braille my way on and off the ice.

The interesting thing that happened is the entire body somehow became aware of the Braille method which lead me to experiment with Braille Blade Exercises with my adult skaters who instantly fell in love with the method of Braille Blades.

I then got the concept of Blades and beyond which is the real theme of On The Edge.

As I incorporate the skills I use on the ice to be open minded enough to sense skating through a new dimension, this experience also transfers itself off of the ice in every aspect of my life.

Walking, running, moving in a grocery store, walking with a sighted guide, exercising easily without much effort, and more.

Folks who do not skate can learn these skills easily and without much effort. The only trick is to be open minded enough to try something that takes very little effort, but the trick is; you need to be extremely gentle and kind with yourself, and this gentle and kind awareness can be taught to anyone.

In my experience, adults and not just adult skaters seem to appreciate new and innovative experiences.

• Feeling

My experience has been that adults, whether you skate or not have a desire to feel first.

In Our Book

You Can’t Get It, Because You Already Got It,

Stash Serafin and Ruth Anne Wood

Mention Feel First, and Form Follows.

Adults seem to somehow click into this idea and once this happens, they take off with this idea and they actually integrate it into their daily living skills as they move easier, freer, and have more flow.

The Feel First, and Form Follows allows you to become attention oriented instead of merely unconsciously moving throughout your life with more ease, dignity, and diplomacy with your body.