Vacation Balance

It is just as important to rest, as it is to exercise!

I've had a wonderful vacation.

I worked very hard at doing absolutely nothing but relaxing.

Some people take vacation from work to site see and whirl through guided tours of this and that. I am the one who stays parked on the beach with a good book and some snacks for the entire day, only to look forward to doing it again the next day!

Though I did not make it to a beach this passed week, I read a few books. I wrote poetry. I did soul collage (this involves cutting images out of magazines that impress or speak to you in some way and assembling them on a card to form a new image. For me it is a form of art therapy.)

I worked in my gardens for hours. I made delicious gluten free treats and ate them all.

Most importantly, I stayed home 90% of the time and fell back in love with my sacred space in the woods.

I slept and slept and slept and dreamt about how I can do more of this over the summer.

Happy first day of summer.

See you in class tomorrow.
Beth

Vacation Post

I will be on vacation for one week after today's classes. I want to thank all of my students for an amazing Spring session. In the picture, above you can see a heart on my shirt if you look closely. I truly love what I do and I love my students but we all need time off occasionally.

After ten weeks of fitness, one thing remains very clear to me: the 'over fifty' crowd has received the message that exercise is not optional but necessary for health and balance in our lives.

Two of my students sent me pictures yesterday of their vacation on the beach. They were excited to show me that they kept up their yoga routines by the water. They looked so young and vibrant!  I love seeing photos of you being active outside of class. We must remember that exercise is what allows us to keep doing the activities that we love. Bravo!

I also want to thank those students who danced up a storm at my end of the session line dance party on the weekend. We certainly had a great evening.

I will not see you at the closing BBQ. I am giving myself the entire week off to rest up and create new programs for our summer training.

Have a wonderful week. I will start writing new posts again on June 20th.

See you soon,
Beth

Yes to Women's Circles!

If you are a woman and have not had the chance to be a part of a women's circle, I highly recommend that you give it a try.

I am currently involved with one circle and it has been one of the best experiences of my life. My only regret is that I did not learn about it sooner. Meeting these women actually resulted in me joining two other creative groups. It is so refreshing to step out of our comfort zone and meet new people.

Women from all ages and backgrounds make up my circle. Which has been very eye opening for me personally.

The idea is to gather together and share our stories. This is not a typical tea group where everyone talks over one another or people break off into groups to chat. We start with a short greeting time, enjoying some refreshments together and then the circle forms.

We take turns talking about whatever is on our minds. No one can offer advice or interrupt us while we are speaking. While it is our turn, we are holding the stone and when we are done we pass it along to the next person. At the end, the stone is placed in the middle and someone may pick it up again if they feel the need to continue a thread of conversation, however you must ask permission to offer advice to someone in the circle. The whole point is to express ourselves.

It may sound a bit odd but it is a very moving experience. Too often, when we are speaking with our friends or family, we are planning what we will say to them when they finish speaking, instead of actually listening. In this situation we are simply holding space for the speaker and because you cannot comment, you are actually listening and really taking in what is being said. It is amazing how much you hear, when you actually listen!

It is wonderful to speak from the heart and not worry about what someone is going to offer as advice. Instead of only playing situations and problems out in our minds, we can vent our feelings in a safe space and then let them go. No judgement.

The most important lesson that I have learned from this group is that it does not matter how old or young you are or how much money you have, we share the same stories. Too often we feel like we are the only one on the planet going through a situation and that if we only had this or that, things would be better.

I hear and see parts of my life in all of the stories that are told at every circle. I have learned that my experience is not unique and that we should never feel alone.

I had never tried anything like this before. I only knew one lady casually before jumping into this experience. It was a bit terrifying at first but I am so glad that I gave it a try.

'Our greatest life, lives on the other side of our fears.'

Have a wonderful day everyone.
Beth

Help A Senior!

I teach a chair muscle conditioning class in which we often sit to lift our weights but we also use the chair for balance during the standing exercises. Despite the use of the chair, my students work very hard and they are fit!

A funny thing happened last week that is still making me laugh and smile.

The building that I work in has an extensive children's program and there was an event for parents and their kids taking place beside my fitness room. I had left the room for a minute while the students were setting up their chairs and when I returned to sit down and get started, I noticed that there were several chairs set up but not in use in the middle of the room.

Whenever I notice an empty chair it concerns me, as it means that someone may have left in distress but ten or so empty chairs is bizarre to say the least! I asked everyone what was going on?

The students started to laugh and explain that a young man, who was waiting in the hallway for the other program, came into our class and began setting up chairs at random. He had been watching my students take chairs off of the dolly and of course he saw that there was a need and he jumped in for the rescue. It was clear that he was trying to help and he had no idea that this was a fitness class.

We took a few minutes to giggle and then praise the young man for jumping in to the aid of seniors but I had to ask my very fit crowd how often this happens to them in their daily lives? How often does someone younger offer to help them lift or carry something? Does this bother them?

What came out of the conversation was the message that they are not insulted when anyone offers assistance. Some seniors mentioned that it does not happen often enough, so when it does they are very grateful and they make certain to thank the person properly.

It doesn't really matter if someone is helping you because they think you are 'too old' or 'too young' to handle something.

What matters most is that people are offering to help one another.

This was a refreshing moment last week. Too often we are rushing and walking right by people in need. Taking a moment to smile and offer a hand to another human being makes everyone feel wonderful.

We need to do more of this!

Have a great day everyone.
Beth

Last Class?

One of my small group personal training classes is ending today, for the summer.  The students are understandably worried about this interruption in their fitness training, as I have never taken such a long break before but I see it differently.

Most of the clients that I work with have been with me for many, many years and as a result, their bodies can get used to my style of training. This particular class is very fit, however change is still beneficial. This will force them to try new classes and new experiences, which will ultimately lead to improvement all around.

Remember that the most important fitness rule is to keep moving but if you are always 'moving' in the same way, injuries can develop. I see it as an opportunity for them to develop different skills (perhaps through a new sport), meet new teachers and participants.

We tend to get into 'fitness ruts' and stick to only what we are good at. If you are one of my students, you have learned safe training techniques, that you can take into any fitness activity.

Remember to keep your body in alignment no matter the activity. Posture first!
Remember to gauge the intensity of the workout through your breath.
Listen to any pain signals your body may give you and discuss them with your teacher/trainer.
Preview the class before attending, if you can, and see what it entails.
Do not let anyone push you beyond your limit if it makes you uncomfortable or if it feels unsafe.

I will miss this particular group of people very much but in order to be an effective trainer, I also need to give myself a break occasionally.

Happy training!!!

See you soon,
Beth

Don't Look For Perfection Here.

I am not perfect.

I have never claimed to be perfect.

In fact, I have waited in the shadows, letting other people go ahead of me, feeling that they were the perfect one.

Then it occurred to me, that I could just be me. Flawed but full of good intentions to share. I will never be all things to all people, so there will always be critics. My time is now. None of us should let the fear of what others may think of us, stop us from living our lives.

Instead of watching life pass me by, I have jumped in full throttle this passed year. I have listened to my heart. I have found myself in weird situations and succeeded in turning things around to my advantage. I did not run for cover and hide in the face of challenge.

I am making mistakes every single day but guess what? That is where the joy is. I laugh more now than ever before. Putting my unique spin on classes, dances, food and entertainment. What are you good at? Find ways to spend as much time as possible doing what you love. When you do, you will find happiness.

In living my life, instead of dreaming my life from the sidelines, I have met others who are doing the same. We attract exactly what we need, when we need it.

We wake up each morning with the chance to take our first steps toward the life that we want.

Will you try?

Beth