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Change is in the Air!

April 12, 2018 By MairinNo Comments

Spring is here! Or at least that’s what it says on the calendar… While it may not be feeling like spring outside in my neck of the woods, I’ve definitely been connecting with the energy of the season – of growth, of renewal and change. Over the past few months, there’s been a lot going on at Five Winds – Performance & Wellness Coaching. New projects have come my way and I’ve also been buckling down, working hard on finishing some current projects to get them out to you soon. All this activity is also bringing about a few changes to this blog space and how I communicate with you. Read on to catch all the details! ... Biggest News! The biggest project I’ve been working on is finishing my Post-Performance Recovery E-book, which will be available in Fall 2018! Yay! I’m so excited that the book will be out there soon! I started this project almost 2 years ago and it has been quite a journey to get...

Spotlights & Insights, Vol.6 – February 2018

February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 By MairinNo Comments

Hi Friends! So we’ve come to the end of the month and with it, the end of the Olympics. As I slowly begin to return to my normal sleep schedule, I’ve found myself reflecting on the Games and the lessons they’ve left with me. Over the past two weeks of competition, I’ve watched both triumphs and misses – many athletes peaking at the right time to have the performance of their life, and others feeling off on what seems like exactly the wrong day. Elite level athletes know that both these outcomes are possible in an intense competition situation, but their ability to handle both the thrill of the win or the devastation of the loss comes from having a strong and dedicated team behind them. It’s about having people there who help them prepare – physically, mentally and emotionally – for the for all the ups and downs they may experience, and having people to help them rebalance and reset after a competition...

Spotlights & Insights, Vol.5 – January 2018

January 31, 2018 By MairinNo Comments

Hi Friends! Welcome to the January edition of Spotlights & Insights, my monthly wrap-up of the best resources I’ve come across this month on performing and wellness. I’ve been playing around with the format of these post for the past few months, and while you may not notice anything different, I’ve been trying to make this space little more fun and casual – easier for me to get my thoughts out there and easier for you to find the resources you need. Much of this has grown out of a re-examination of what I value about this blog and also what materials, exercises and resources I hope are of value to you as a reader. For me, this has meant removing some of the pressure I felt from having to stick to a format that wasn’t working for me anymore. It was removing much of the joy I have in writing and blogging and replacing it with a lot of unnecessary stress –...

Special Holiday Edition: Spotlights & Insights – December 2017

December 29, 2017December 14, 2017 By MairinNo Comments

Do you hear that? It’s the New Year approaching! While this monthly wrap-up post is usually filled with new ideas, updates and helpful links, I thought this month called for something different. As the dust settles on another holiday season, and we prepare to turn the calendar page to a new year in just a few days, it’s important to find some space to appreciate all you have and all the year has brought you. For some of us, the year may have been one of progress and growth, of discovering new opportunities or connecting with new people. But mixed in with all that, there were likely moments of sadness and struggle, where unexpected events brought challenges to your life that perhaps you’re still working through. It’s easy at this time of year, on the threshold of the New Year, to get stuck on those challenging memories. This is often what happens to us when we’re feeling drained and low on energy – usually...

Spotlights & Insights, Vol. 3 – November 2017

November 30, 2017November 29, 2017 By MairinNo Comments

Spotlights & Insights, Vol. 3 – November 2017 The leaves are off the trees, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and the holiday season is upon us - even if the weather this week in southern Ontario was 15C! November has been a busy month of finding inspiration, searching out new ideas and stoking the creative fires. I’ve collected some amazing resources to help you keep your creative spark burning brightly in the winter months to come. And if you’re feeling the holiday jitters already starting to creep in – don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Find out more in my Updates & News section. Let’s dive in! ???? My November “Aha!” – Shake It Up! Whether you’re an artist, athlete, teacher, speaker or entrepreneur creativity is essential to your success. Your ability to see things differently and to experiment with things that have never been done before is what makes you good at what you do. And keeping your creative spark alive and burning is an important part...

Spotlights & Insights, Vol.2 – October 2017

October 27, 2017October 26, 2017 By MairinNo Comments

Spotlights & Insights, Vol.2 – October 2017 October has flown by and I can’t believe we’re already here at the last Friday of the month. This month has been a doozy – from the news, to social media, to personal struggles, I know many of us have been left with our heads spinning; feeling anxious, sad and questioning ourselves and the world we live in. But through all this, there have also been great moments of solidarity, of encouragement, and of coming together to stand up for what’s right in the world. I have been a grateful witness to many deep acts of kindness and compassion this month and reflecting on those moments has also been important. So has you process and recover from all this and look to next month, here are some thoughts, insights and links for you on your journey – to help you stay strong, connected and resilient. Let’s dive in. ???? My October “Aha!” – Resilience: Ongoing and Growing I have always...

Spotlights & Insights, Vol. 1 – September 2017

September 29, 2017September 28, 2017 By MairinNo Comments

Spotlights & Insights, Vol. 1 - September, 2017 Welcome to the first issue of Spotlights & Insights - a new monthly feature on the Five Winds blog! Here, I’ll share with you the best links, resources and stories I’ve come across this month on the topic of Performance & Wellness. I’ve also included updates on Five Winds and my top insight this month from my work as a Performance & Wellness coach. It’ll be quick, fun and inspiring! So mark your calendar for the last Friday of the month, and subscribe to the blog below or in the sidebar to make sure you don’t miss an issues. Let’s dive in. ???? My September “Aha!” – Truth: It’s who you are. “Telling the truth is not just what you say, it’s how you show up. It’s being the truth.” – India.Arie I posted this quote on Facebook a few days ago, and I think it sums up pretty well what I’ve been thinking about this month. I’ve been inspired lately by so...

Where in the World is Mairin this Summer?

June 28, 2017June 27, 2017 By MairinNo Comments

Well, it’s true! Summer is finally upon us. Yay! The sun (and even the rain), the long days and all the plants in bloom having been calling me outdoors every chance I get. Weekend hiking and road trips have been refreshing, and the chance to work on my back patio has helped me stay focused during the week, even though all I really want to do is run off to the beach (can you relate?). ;) In the midst of all this wanderlust, there’s been a lot of activity at Five Winds! Recently, an article of mine, Leaving Troubling Characters on the Stage, was published in Intermission Magazine. This article has been several months in the making and features interviews with a psychotherapist and professor on the psychology of performing and post-performance recovery. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, click here. I’m also excited to be taking my Five Winds work out on the road! I’ll be presenting and teaching...

Onstage Zen: My Recent Feature in Elephant Journal!

June 5, 2017June 5, 2017 By MairinNo Comments

Exciting news! Yesterday, an article of mine on meditation and performing was featured on Elephant Journal. Yay! This piece was a bit of a personal one, exploring one of the main reasons I've struggled so much as a performer for most of my adult life. But beyond the struggle, it also talks about one of the biggest game-changers in my life over the past few years: meditation. If you've been reading my blog or following my work, it's probably no surprise to you that I love meditation and that I see it as an important (if not fundamental) tool for performers. But I didn't always feel that way. In fact, for a large part of my life, I didn't think that I would ever be able to meditate. In order to be a meditator, I thought you had to be a certain "type" of person: an already zen, quiet and undramatic person (in my mind, not a performer). But all this changed for...

Updates: Workshops, E-Books, Design and More!

April 6, 2017 By MairinNo Comments

Wow! It’s been about two months since the launch of this blog and website, and a lot has been happening at Five Winds! Between writing blog posts, I’ve been working hard at moving forward a bunch of other projects. Busy (but also fun) times! So in light of this, I thought it would be a good idea to update you on what I’ve been up to. So check it out below! There’s even some things for you to participate in too. :) Workshop: Earth, Water, Sun – Restorative Yoga for Spring First off, I’m excited to announce that I will be offering a restorative yoga workshop at Gerrard Art Space in May. Come relax with me in this beautiful gallery and community space. If you haven’t had the chance to practice while surrounded by a collection of stunning visual art, I highly recommend it! There's a maximum of 10 participants, so if you’re interested, sign up early! Sunday, May 7, 2017 7:00pm – 9:00pm Gerrard...