Body Soiree

  "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...

"Stay strong and remember that you are loved." Or be weak and know that you are loved. Cry and know that you are loved.  Be wrong and know that you are loved. And if you have a good friend that speaks the truth to you, straight, no chaser, you really are loved.  The big question is: Do you see the love around you?  Have you ever taken the time to think back and realize that you were never alone?  Those people were placed in your life to love you. The Love is There... We are wired to love. It is our greatest asset as humans. Embrace it! It doesn't make you weak to want love. Wherever love finds you, accept it.  Open yourself to it. I am not talking about romantic love! But...Okay.  This can apply. But this goes so much deeper than that. The love you feel for yourself will be the love you attract. From everyone.  "Love yourself as much as you want to be loved" We focus so much on who doesn't love us, that we miss all who  do . We also ...

"Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!"   Marcus Garvey Colorism Colorism is seen around the World. African-American's aren't the creators of this sickness, but some of us are willing participants in the spreading of this illness, so there's that. I can only write about this from the standpoint of an African-American Woman...it's what I am.  I won't get into how colorism began, that's too long a history. Nor will I discuss who helps this sickness along. Why? Because they are sick! And I won't give them any attention on my, small that it may be, platform. This Blog is a loving preventative! not a finger pointer. I love being Black. I always have. I, like most African-Americans, come from a family that is diverse in our "shading." Meaning we have the very, very light to the very, very dark on both sides, paternal and maternal. It wasn't a "thing" in my families. We, a...

 "In learning, you will teach, and in teaching, you will learn." Phil Collins It's wonderful doing what you love to do for a living. It is exciting and fulfilling. You know what's even better? Knowing that you don't know everything and being willing to ask for guidance. This is what we call "Emotional maturity." I can't express how much confidence you will gain, in any profession, when you ask for help from someone you feel is top tier in your field. None of us knows it all and asking for help doesn't mean you don't know anything, it means that you are willing to learn. I speak from experience and ditches stepped over because I listened. Let me explain.  "You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself." Galileo Galilei I knew nothing about Personal Training.  All I knew was that I loved to exercise and I was great at sweating. But man! I loved it! I was one of three Registrars at the lo...