That time when our Winter Olympics inspired Valentine’s surprise turned out more like the Summer Olympics…
Reader, last week we had an amazing Valentine surprise planned for our kids.
My husband and I had expected to watch our kids navigate a scavenger hunt complete with marshmallows, hot chocolate packets, a thermos of hot water, fresh baked cookies, and scarves and gloves, ending with a surprise outdoor ice skating trip.
Brilliant idea – of course, Chat GPT was on board for the adventure by helping us come up with the clues.
The Olympics are about inspiration and our kids were buying to an accessible sport they’d never tried.
Iowa in February is usually about as Frozen as the queen of Arendelle…IYKYK.
And when it does warm up, it doesn’t last long.
Not in 2026 friends.🔥
What we weren’t expecting was 60°+ weather.
We had to pivot real fast.
And that pivot meant s’mores by the campfire, jumping on the trampoline, and sitting outside until well after sunset.
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The fact of the matter is, our systems weren’t quite ready for that abrupt pivot into Spring, or False Spring as the pros call it. We actually need the gradual rhythm of gently warming and re-freezing at the right time of the year.
When it doesn’t happen, and nature is tricked by its own self, it runs the risk of not being able to produce its full bloom.
Kind of like us as humans.
When we try to do too much, too fast or too soon, we burn out.
And the only way to come back from that is recovery, which takes longer than simply moving with your rhythms from the start.
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This is one of the things Rhythms Retreats help you embody.
The real spring is just around the corner, and although it has a bubbly energy, jumping in without intention could leave you drained by summer.
So what’s your plan for moving into spring this year?
Not the to-do list.
Not the goals.
But the rhythm.
This threshold between winter and spring, between rest and action, is exactly what the Awakening into Action Spring Rhythms Retreat is designed to support. Not rushing forward, but listening for what’s ready to bloom.
If this speaks to you, you can learn more and register now.
For now, simply notice what’s stirring.
Cheers,
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Love guides my actions and words.
Others see this quality within me, and it has a ripple effect.
WANT TO JOIN US FOR CLASS OR WORK WITH ME?
Register for studio classes here.
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Studio Classes:
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SATURDAY – Yoga + Breath Work
8:30 AM • All Levels Welcome
This class is generally blend of a flow-based practice and a restorative/yin practice.
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Group & Individual Sessions:
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE – Personalized Group Stress Resilience Training
TBD • At your location or at the studio
In these sessions I guide groups through practical, embodied practices—like breath work, mindfulness, gentle movement, and/or emotional awareness—to build stress resilience. Each session offers simple, effective tools to help participants reset, regulate, and respond with greater calm and clarity in everyday life.
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Special Events:
SATURDAY, MAR 21 – Awakening into Action Spring Retreat
9:00 AM • Dan-D Farms • All levels
A gentle emergence from winter. You’ll awaken your energy, clear mental clutter, and reconnect with the sense of possibility that lives inside you.
Learn more and register here.
THURSDAY, MAR 12 – Breathe & Blossom
6:00 PM • Cordova Park Classroom
1378 Highway G-28, Otley IA 50214
Join MCCD and Cairn Yoga and Wellness for an evening of snowflakes and grounding yoga practice.
Begin the evening with an introduction to the White Pine tree, exploring its key characteristics, ecological role, and traditional uses.
Sample a pine-based tea as a sensory way to connect with the tree.
Gather by the fireplace for a gentle, grounding yoga practice inspired by the strength and steadiness of trees.
Registration required by February 10, 2026 at 4PM.
Please bring a mat or blanket to practice on. Other yoga props will be provided.
This event is part of the Nature & Yoga Fireside Series. We will have a new topic each session. Join us for as many sessions as you would like. The fee is $25 per class; each class has its own registration.
Learn more and register here.
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