Yesterday marked the beginning of the Chinese New Year.

Now, I'm clearly not Asian, and it's honestly not something I'd paid much attention to in the past. But with 2026 coming on like a house on fire (democracy on fire?) a mere 6 weeks in, I think we could all do with another New Year's reset. So hey, why not?

I'm not one to put stock in horoscopes, Chinese or otherwise. But the power of symbols? I can get down with that.

Last year was the year of the snake - which I remember only because I bought my first pair of Doc Martens on a trip to LA and they happened to be a special "Year of the Snake" edition. Apparently, 2025 was a year of shedding your skin and preparing for transformation.

"Fire Horse" already sounds much more appealing, doesn't it? I'm probably completely mangling the concept, but given the power of the image, I'm just going to run with this. Just the term made me feel like the energy shifted!

So according to my pal-slash-nemesis Google, the year of the Fire Horse "is a rare, 60-year cycle event symbolizing intense energy, passion, rapid transformation, and independence" and "... a high-energy period favoring those who are proactive, confident, and willing to take risks, often resulting in significant life changes."

Sounds like we're in for an exciting year rife with potential for transformation!

Here's a fiery image for illustration:

Or, if you'd like the year a little less fiery (and who could blame you):

Again, quoting Google:

How to Utilize the Year of the Fire Horse:

• Embrace Change: It is a strong time for personal reinvention and breaking free from old, limiting patterns.

• Be Decisive: The energy rewards those who move forward with courage rather than waiting.

• Manage Impulsivity: Due to the high intensity, it is important to stay grounded to avoid unnecessary conflict or rash, reckless decisions.
  

That can work on a lot of levels, but this is a Pilates studio, so let's stick with that for the moment:

• Have the courage to break out of old patterns and explore movement (Pilates! and walking! and weights! and hiking! and running! and whatever else tickles your fancy!)

• Embrace it decisively - like any other pursuit, dipping your toe in for three minutes isn't going to cut it. Develop a consistent practice.

• Instead of impulsively jumping into something that promises a quick fix, pick a program and stick with it (x private sessions and x group classes a week, x online classes and x days of walking a week, etc.)

Whatever you choose to do with it, I hope you find good energy this year - I've decided to go full steam ahead with Pilates (more on what I've been up to in the next newsletter) and community. With the new reformers and some upskilling on the online class part on my side, I'm really enjoying adding in-person and online group classes (and energy) to the schedule to make Pilates more accessible to people from all walks of life.

Thanks for being along for the ride - it's the best with us all on board!