Real Talk This Week + Calf Technique

Nov 11, 2022

Dear Buddies,

I’m going to really level with you today. I have massive resistance to writing these newsletters to you, and I honestly realized it while plunking down just now, in front of my laptop to do it. I’ve been sitting here for like 40 minutes trying to figure out some exciting thing to write you.

So I’m thinking about it and wondering why that is. Come, dissect with me. Let’s learn something about ourselves today:

At first glance at this resistance I am assuming it’s because I don’t want to bother you. I don’t want to be another annoying email you delete, as I delete marketing emails several times daily in my own inbox (except for the ones that come from Hayley Ebersole—those are dope).

But then I counter that with the fact that you like these. I send free Release Techniques in them, and the occasional toddler photo or anecdote. And, they’re brief. What’s not to love about all that.

So really, it comes down to the pressure to be sensational somehow. Like, I should have something thought provoking to share that I’ve been noodling on, or some new, jazzy project that applies to you, or something other than a simple “here’s what we’re rolling and why.”

The truth is, I am NOT sensational. I am simple, and so are my offerings.

And maybe there is something really nice about that, actually. My 1:1 work creates a lot of physical tension within my body, which will totally translate to high cortisol levels if I don’t manage that tension. It will also cause aches and pain within my body that I cannot ignore.

My 3.5 year old son, Atticus, has been off and on home sick for like, 6 weeks now. The stress and shuffle of my husband Trevor and I managing the balance between going to work and staying home has been stressful and seemingly constant.

I sometimes wonder if I stay calm, with low cortisol levels despite all that, because I use my foam roller to manage my tension and stress, and I do it a lot—as needed. Maybe my foam roller is the reason why I’m simple, non-sensational, non-reactive. Maybe it doesn’t mean I have nothing cool or exciting to offer you, but I can offer you the opposite.

Let’s be simple, let’s be calm, let’s give and receive with ease. This week I give you the calf roll.

This is a muscle group that takes a beating no matter what you do day-to-day. Seriously--if you're sitting a lot, then you've got circulation issues. If you're walking/standing a lot, then your calves are constantly working out.

Increasing the blood flow and relaxing the fascia of your calves will turbocharge your circulation and end up relaxing the fascia all the way up your back, too. You'll have more energy in general because your blood is flowing to your heart more efficiently and you will be surprised how much tension you can find in there. So get in there with me today and know that you can get ITZ (in the zone) and stay way longer than the 5 minutes.

Rolling the calves is my "full disclosure moment" (John Oliver, anyone?) because I, full disclosure, literally find it so boring. That's right--the crazy foam rolling lady doesn't like to roll a thing. However, I end up doing it almost every week in the full rolling classes—released here on Patreon—because my live class participants always, always request it. And for that, and them, I am grateful. I always, always need it. :)

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Also on that second thing that you like about these emails, here’s a Halloween special. Can you guess what this theme is? (hint: I made Trevor dress up as a pirate, but I will spare him the embarrassment of posting his photo ;)

(yup-it’s a very homemade rainbow octopus costume) <3

With love and gratitude!

Maggie V

Release Technique - empowerment through self massage

Real Talk This Week + Calf Technique

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