Watching Star Wars With a 6yr Old

This week is loaded. Lots of big things are coming up that usually swallow me up, where I can go into an obsessive state of pushing and prepping, like a squirrel that slowly goes nuts while collecting nuts. This time I did something different. This time I decided to just "not." "Not" go into soldiering mode where I'm too busy for rest. "Not" lose myself in the tiny minuscule details where I forget to see the whole point. More importantly, this time I decided "not" to bury my face behind a screen so I can notice the little face behind it. When I looked at that little face, she asked for "a show." So we watched a show together. The "show" she wanted to watch was Star Wars. That's right, the first Star Wars from 1977.

You see, this coming weekend is my fourth retreat I'm hosting, our Bon Vivant in St. Edwards State Park. As always, it's going to be a hug to all the senses. Gorgeous views, cathartic movement, the sweetest souls around you, beautiful food, lots of laughing, melting into a massage table... repeat. Filling your system with all the best life has to offer. It started back in 2022. At that time, it was less of an action and more of a reaction. We were all just feeding a craving. We had been hunkered down, quarantined, and behind a screen for way too long. So after two years of virtual workouts, we decided to finally plan a live, in-the-flesh retreat, where we could get our vaccines and spend the weekend together. The demand for a Pilates experience in a gorgeous lodge on the water, for the biggest wellness sleepover, was explosive.

The next one was still riding off that momentum and was also very successful. However, now heading into the fourth, behind my optimistic, glazed-over eyes, there's inevitably some pressure. How do I keep chasing and top the last one? Look, I'm no Pharrell or multi-platinum-winning music producer, but I do get this little rewarding high right after a retreat. Then this sneaky thing can happen after you're off one success and are heading into your next project. Busta Rhymes said it best, "The thing that happens after you get success is everybody got an opinion on how you should do things and what you should do. That's when everyone comes in with the 'shoulda,' 'coulda,' 'woulda.'"

I definitely have to watch out for this. I want to hear it all out, take all the feedback and notes I've ever received. The inside of my head is just caked in sticky notes, and I want to address all of them. Some good notes, some unnecessary, some counter other opinions so they just cancel each other out. This is where the obsessive prep comes in—staying up all night obsessing over details, trying to address the "shoulda, coulda, wouldas." Contingency planning for catering snafus, lost swag, and the off chance of alien abduction. This time I decided to just "not."

Instead, the week leading up, I was on the couch every night with my family, with my laptop closed, watching the original Star Wars. My husband and I felt like we were watching it for the first time; there's so much we didn't remember! First of all, we didn't know Yoda isn't even introduced yet. R2D2 is also the most underrated hero of that whole first movie; he's the main character. C3P0 and R2D2 might also be my favorite Hollywood friendship. C3P0 will put his gleaming golden limbs on the line to protect his little friend. Noemie's favorite character, Obi-Wan Kenobi, which she pronounces "Onebi-Wan-Kenobe," is such a legend that everyone calls him by a different nickname. He's like the 2Pac of the Jedi world, with so much street cred and having lived so many lives, no one knew if he was alive or not. By the way, the special effects on the very first Star Wars... it HOLDS UP! They are good!

Per usual, a vintage classic is helping me find a sense of calm and clarity heading into real-life events. What I realized is this non-prep was the best prep of all. Much like how the Jedi Force is about maintaining cosmic balance, that's exactly what I'm trying to tap into. Right now I'm like Luke Skywalker being chased by Darth Vader and his Star Fighters. The only Rebel fighter left to get one shot to destroy the Death Star. Luke hears Obi-Wan's voice say, "Use the Force, Luke. Let go, Luke." So he switched off his targeting computer, kind of like when Obi-Wan blinded him during lightsaber training, to be more intuitive and cancel out noises. Turning off my laptop and silencing noise is like the blindfold to prepare for this upcoming retreat.

This week, let's know when to put the work in, and then after a certain point, trust in the work. Let go after a certain point, cancel out noises, and maintain cosmic balance. If you're coming into the studio, I'll guide you like your "Obi-Wan Kenobi." Train you blindfolded on shaky bosus, no spring carriages, chairs, and sliders, so you can harness the power of the Force outside the studio. If you are joining me this weekend at St. Edwards, I will be your wise Yoda leading you to rest, reset, and lead by example. You have to quiet your system first to harness your power. Seeing it's my fourth retreat, let the "fourth" be with us.

Excited to make your bodies sweat, smile, and find the force within you.

XO, Celeste

Favorite one liners watching Star Wars with a 6 year old:

Chewbacca did his sasquatch sounding wail for the 5th time, during a really suspenseful scene:

Noemie: "That dog is SO annoying."

Not even 15 minutes in, quick shot of Darth Vadar after the Rebel Alliance attacked Luke's uncle and aunt.

Noemie: "That's probably Luke's dad."

In the last scene, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca walk up to receive their award for protecting their galaxy, defeating the Imperial Military, and saving Princess Leia.

Noemie: "Why is that dog there?"