Body Soiree

We must learn how to live in the space of inner peace in our everyday lives. This takes consistent, conscious effort because I know so many black women are hurting and sad, and we don't easily express our heartache or show our wounds.  Susan L. Taylor I have peace. I told a total stranger on Twitter that I was going to write about how to have inner - peace. Because getting it isn't easy. It takes work! It takes dedication and a willingness to walk away from anything and anyone that will not take your peace seriously. The question is always "How do I gain and keep my peace?" But the real question is: What are you willing to do to get peace? Seriously! Who and what are you willing to give up to have peace? I can only speak as a Black Woman. It's who I am. And what I know is that as  African-Americans we have been inundated with trauma. Day after day, story after story, through film, books, etc. trauma is disseminated and consumed. Trauma, in regards t...

  "Friendly reminder: You control only yourself..." One of the hardest things I had to learn, was that people do what they want. It doesn't matter if they know that what they want is a detriment to their health, mental and physical. I was very naive to the game.  As a Personal Trainer, I had to learn this lesson. As a Mother, I had to learn this lesson.  As a FW(Former Wife)I had to learn this lesson.  It's hard seeing someone you care about hit their head against that figurative brick wall.  You try to save them... you can't. You give advice... they ignore it. You try to steer them in the right direction... they resent you for it. You see the wall. You know this isn't going to end well for them... they also know it isn't going to end well for them.  What do you do? Here comes the real hard part: Sit down and be quiet.  Yes, sit down and let this go. "We don't walk away to teach people a lesson.  We walk away because we finally learned...

  "You get in life what you have the courage to ask for." Ms. Winfrey I was frustrated.  I was burned out.  It was time to wipe the slate clean. I was scared.  As any entrepreneur knows and understands unless we have clients we don't eat.  Well, I think all business owners know this!  But what if you start to lose the joy you once had?  What if you just aren't attracting the type of clients that actually want change?  It is time to have a sit-down with yourself. Go over what you deem as important to your career. What will make you happy? And what is it that you want exactly?  "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." Dr. King This is where things get scary.  I sat down with myself after a very disappointing Personal Training session. The questions I asked myself were not easy: 1. Do you still love what you do? 2. If you do, then why are you attracting people that don...

 When I became a Personal Trainer, I did not know what that entailed.   I understood my role as a Fitness Coach: 1. Assess 2. Set goals. 3. Write Program Designs, etc.  That I got! It might sound weird, but I didn't know about the emotional side of Personal Training?  Well, call me weird. Because I was very naive.  There is something about exercising that brings out all of the emotional baggage.  Personal trainers are a "safe space" for a lot of people. Who knew? I didn't! Then I started to remember moments from my own fitness journey. Way before I knew anything about Personal trainers or personal training.  I did it on my own. I also remember sometimes crying while working out.  Feeling frustrated, with myself or with life in general.  The highs that I felt when I reached a new goal. The fear I felt when I thought I couldn't reach a goal! I am sure a few people on the walking trail thought I was a bit crazy... yeah, I woul...

  "It's not about the weight... I said this to a client once and got cursed out.  Now mind you, I don't usually take it personally when people go off on me. Not that it happens often. (Thank goodness!)  But I know, for the most part, it has nothing to do with me. They are venting, so vent.  But weight, like religion and politics, is a very personal conversation. Most people avoid talking about it. Most people also don't want to hear your opinion.  Talking about weight and weight management is my business. You might be asking yourself "Why would someone hire a Personal Trainer and then curse them out for talking about weight -loss?" Make it make sense. I will! I know what it feels like to be overweight. Society is not kind to overweight people. Be it, family or strangers, folks feel they have the right to give unsolicited "advice" or say the cruelest things to overweight people. I have, throughout my lifetime, experienced both.  So by the...

  "Do you want to be famous? Or infamous?" Obviously, I was very naive. I didn't know that so much sex went on at the gym. Especially between Personal Trainers and their clients. The number is higher than I thought, and so is the risk. I am clutching my invisible pearls.  Why?  If you are a Trainer and you are asking me why? We have some work to do.  Let's go: Watch Your Brand! 1. It is unethical. We won't even get into the moral aspect of this(for those that have them.) We are focusing on the money. Do we not like making money? Do you think if you get caught diddling Daddy or Mama Warbucks wife,  daughter, or son, they might be a bit peeved?  They tell a friend, and the friend tells a friend. See where this goes? Now you are the infamous Diddling PT. That money train crashes and burns.  2. Integrity-less Bear with me for a moment. Sometimes, we train people that are in bad places mentally. Divorce, strained marriage, I could go on. You, th...