The leak that led to memories of milestones

It made me look deeper

I finally had a Saturday off — I woke up without an alarm and made a decision to move nice and slow; and enjoy all the moments in between. A long meditation about being present, incense and music blaring while I pack away laundry. It was overcast, but I planned to hit the beach for a quick cleanse and then head back home to enjoy the rain and chill out before dinner with friends later. I was ready for the day that I intentionally set to be easy and open. I was so chuffed I created that, Murphy’s law had to step in because they wanted part of it too.

I received a call and video footage of water leaking into the studio from the ceiling. The video showed a steady flow of water flowing down the walls, mirrors, cascading down the Cadillac machine, and pooling at the back of the studio. The legs of the Cadillac machine were changing color as it sat in the water.

The drive down to the studio was a bit of a tailspin. I started to cry as I began to imagine the absolute worst. In my head, everything in the studio was damaged and floating out the door. I got a quick reminder of the morning meditation to stay in the moment. The moment was ‘the unknown’ — which was uncomfortable. However, there were no images of the worst there. It was a place where you stay steady and wait for real information to respond to, rather than an assumption to cause unnecessary reactions. That piece of wisdom lasted with me for about 2-minutes.

I somehow forgot how to park when I got to the studio, so I just turned the car off and made my way to the door. I went in and started pushing the equipment aside. Leah came out to help from the treatment room— even though she was the one who called me, I forgot that she was there. The equipment was extremely heavy, so the only way to move it was with determination and another set of hands. The paint on the floor felt soft and started peeling as I stepped on it. That tiny action of the paint peeling slowed everything down mentally. It pulled me into a place where memories were floating and allowed me to reconnect to those moments of tiny milestones.

I remembered when I prayed so hard and saved every penny to get my equipment. It took me 10 years to realize that it was an abundance of fear and not a lack of money that prevented me from biting the bullet to order them.

The wet floors and sticky paint made it difficult to move the machines. It took me back to when the studio floors were just unfinished cement and the constant dust was my main concern. I remembered when I mixed the paint and spent the weekend painting it — I was so excited. I remembered when I had second-hand mats and mismatched mats. I remembered when I ordered my first set of logo printed mats, I remembered when I ordered my first set of foamrollers and bought my Pilates rings at a garage sale. I remembered ordering the cork blocks in bulk and packing them in a barrel in a hotel room.

We moved everything away from the affected areas. By the time we were finished, the building supervisor had arrived, and we went upstairs to help find the source of the leak, plumbing from the upstairs bathroom :/

Back in the studio, I sat at my desk in shock at how easy it was to lose everything and how grateful I was to not have lost anything. I was a little wet, very frustrated, and feeling slightly defeated.

As I sat staring at the lockers, I remembered the weekend I got them. I bought them from a guy in St. Andrew who salvaged them from an old school. They were beat up and very rusty, I bought four :) They turned out to be exactly what I had been looking for to fill the space on the wall. I spent that weekend in my garage, sanding and painting the lockers, the large iron ball light, and my grandmother’s sewing machine stand, then took them to the studio with four old six-foot mirrored cupboard doors from the same guy, who got them from a hotel sale. It was a Saturday morning in the heat of Crop-over season, so everyone was at a breakfast party. My phone kept pinging with pictures and videos. I refused to go because I wanted to work on my lockers, and I had just gotten the keys and early access to the studio the day before.

That’s when it hit. This was the anniversary of moving into this location! Not only did I not celebrate it. I also didn’t remember it :(

That’s when everything started to come together for me. I spend my days being detailed and extremely specific with movement and alignment. Yet, here I was, still vague with my gratitude. Spiritually, gratitude creates movement and alignment.

Everything floated in on that reflection.

Finding the mirrors, paying for them one week at a time, purchasing the wood years later, and having nice frames built. Purchasing one can of paint and mixing it with another tin from my sister’s garage. (6-years later it was impossible to find that shade, I just remembered why). I also remember finding the perfect material in Abeds to add some drama to a big open space. The seamstress looked at me like I was crazy when I gave her the measurements, I referred to it as an ‘industrial-sized’ curtain.

I looked at every item in that studio and remembered each story that came with it, and the joy and excitement I had each time I reached the mark. I started to question why the hell all of this was happening, and it was crystal clear without me even finishing the thought of why.

1. This is how we stay present by being drawn to everything around us.

2. This time of reflection was needed to get specific with my gratitude list. It is not enough to be ‘grateful for everything’. You have to be really specific at times.

3. I have a solid community of good people.

4. That might have been God’s way of saying ‘Don’t get too comfortable Lana, it doesn’t end here.’

My patience has been tested, being closed unexpectedly for 2 weeks. BUT,

• I got to focus on all the things that needed my attention
• the plumbing has been fixed
• a new ceiling is up
• the floors have a fresh coat of paint
• and I’ll go in and service the equipment tomorrow while the studio is getting a good clean.

I am grateful for the memories created with each chapter of our journey together. The random objects acquired with great stories. The lessons learnt through every no, not yet or, closed door. But most importantly, the privellage of having amazing clients who continue to trust me. Thank you for being here, I appreciate you.