This, Not That

One of the tools we use at Circle and Spoke to help you bring play, presence and pause to your ride & life

Author

Ellen Oshinsky
June 24, 2024

Okay, so two, two Mondays ago, I headed out on a bike ride without a destination.

Do you ever do that?

I had this strong desire to go climb a hill.

So, I just followed my impulses, doing one of my more spontaneous, yet structured rides, which I call: “Ride This, Not That”

I rode with clarity on the “THIS”—I’m biking hills—.  

The actual destination wasn’t clear. 

I stayed in the moment and I found the hills.

I don’t love riding on major roads and my “NOT THAT” was just that.

I wasn’t biking on a major road. So, when I came up to a busy road, I turned around and found a different way forward. 

Funny how sometimes turning around is the way forward. 

So in the midst of turning around, I found myself biking through the American University campus, which was gloriously empty on a Monday morning in June.

And as I rode through the quad, I realized I was about to ride past the campus labyrinth. 

Ever since I was introduced to walking labyrinths in my late 20s, I have sought them out and sometimes they find me, like that day. 

I pumped the brakes and hopped off my bike. This combo of biking all these hills to pumping the brakes, had my heart pumping and open. 

I’ve walked this particular American University labyrinth many times. Yet this time the plaque at its entrance really hit home. I needed both the movement and time to ponder and look inward.

The beautiful plaque that greeted my labyrinth walk.

I entered the labyrinth slowly and step by step, I shed some tender tears that had been on my heart the whole ride, but hadn’t yet found a pause point to be shed.

As I curved around the labyrinth stone path, my focus turned from the tears to gratitude to the sounds of the surrounding oaks and the feeling of the breeze on my skin. I arrived at the center and then turned around repeating the steps I took in.  

Sometimes turning around is the way forward.

I exited the labyrinth, hopped back on my bike and returned home. 

Recharged, Renewed, My heart open and grateful. 

I started that ride that day, with spontaneity and playfulness guiding my ride.

✅ My “Ride This”: 🗻 ride those hills

❌ My “Not That”: 🛣️ don’t ride busy major roads

That clarity and playfulness was a gift. It led me to that destination I needed to arrive at:

Space to feel my strength as I climbed and cried to feel a sense of my wholeness. 

Circle and Spoke is here because we believe that we can shift gears through bringing together rest, reflection, community and movement. 

Last week we celebrated the summer solstice with the release of our free guide: "Pumping Your Brakes: 4 ways to bring Pause, Play & Presence to your Rides and Life."

And the rave reviews from guide and our 40 minutes together is making me blush🤩🤩🤩

In the words of one gal who joined our release party last week:

I think it's really innovative and entrepreneurial what you are doing. While coaching is not new, the way you are doing it and showing up to encourage other people to show up in their own lives is important. I appreciate you taking the time and energy to introduce us to these approaches to pause and appreciate.

Aren’t you curious what we shared???

“Ride This, Not That” is in the guide with 3 other fun tools to play with. 

I’d love to share this free guide with you. Just fill out this 25 second form and I’ll send it your way 😉 

Or be a lil ol’ fashioned and copy this link into your browser— https://bit.ly/pumpingyourbrakes

Wheels up,

Ellen

PS- TWO SPOTS LEFT! 

If you're an outdoorsy woman who is ready to slow down, then join us for an escape where you are going to come away with new friendships and nourishing time in nature to feel more grounded in a supportive community of active gals. 

Pedal, Paddle and Pause: A Great Escape on Sunday, 7/14 from 9:30am- 5:00pm in Harpers Ferry, WV!