Body Soiree

“It is not as much about who you used to be, as it is  about who you choose to be.” ― Sanhita Baruah  The New Year is upon us and with that comes the New Years Resolution. What are your hopes and dreams for this new year? Sometimes it's hard to figure out. Most of us go for the same things: Good health, getting fit, eating right, etc. And those things are great! But have you thought about the "smaller" things? The things that make our everyday run smoother? It's amazing when we take a moment to ponder and really meditate on what we need physically, mentally and spiritually, how our list will grow. So I sat and pondered and created a Hope list for you. Print this and post it somewhere to remind yourself of all that's possible if you so choose.  I hope that you allow yourself peace. I hope that you allow yourself good food. I hope you allow yourself good coffee or tea. I hope that you choose happiness above drama. I hope that you take the ti...

"We need never be ashamed of our tears." Charles Dickens Growing up I was made to feel ashamed of my tears. Often called 'dramatic' or the Black Marilyn Monroe, I took to hiding my tears. As a kid this is a really hard thing to do! Children are or should be so much more connected to their feelings than adults. But when you are told to stop crying, even when you feel hurt or your feelings are minimized and mocked, you build interior and exterior walls. You might even start discounting or second guessing your own feelings. If you are doing this to yourself, I am here to tell you that you have the right to feel...everything!  Have a heart that never hardens... Charles Dickens I used to date a man that was uncomfortable with my tears. If and when I would cry, he would leave the room. No soft touch he would give me or a reassuring word. He would just... leave. It would only make me cry harder. I learned to hide my tears or sadness to please him, just like my child...

I am a prideful person. I have never denied it and I have learned, through trial and error, to ask for help. To write about it is even harder! But I had a one-woman intervention and this is part of my "therapy." As some of you know, at least the ones that follow my blogs, this past Summer was an eye-opener. My health was out of control and the pain my body was, sometimes still is in, was something I couldn't control...or so I thought. To be a Fitness Professional, to be a Woman that is used to being able to move and lift at will, my body IS my business. How does this happen? And how do I stop this? I am not going to go into the lurid details of all of my symptoms. This isn't a blog for me to gripe. This is all about me trying to help someone, anyone who might be in pain right now. Steps to help all of us lessen our pain. Here is my disclaimer: This is not a cure for getting rid of the swelling. What I do for myself, might NOT help you. Any autoimmune disorder needs to...

I heard a story the other day that made my hair stand on end(that says a lot seeing that my hair stands on end anyway!) My hair on end and anger growing, I listened to this story told to me from a young lady that I have known for some time regarding how she was hurt by a Personal Trainer. Hurt how? I asked.  She responded by telling me this Trainer's training style: If you say the exercise is hurting you, they respond by saying "PUSH THROUGH!" You say it is really hurting your back, they say "NO PAIN! NO GAIN!" Really? She told me a few more things that were upsetting and I apologized to her for all of us Trainers that try and leave our ego's at the door. Here is the deal everyone, and I need you to remember this: Exercise, though sometimes difficult to get through, is done to make you feel better! Hiring a Personal Trainer is a smart and honest move for people that understand they aren't going to go the distance on their own. So I wonder: Why hire some...