I typically do not write about my day to day experiences because…well,….my life is simply not that exciting! Plus, what may really spark my fire may not spark yours. Yet, on this occasion, I do have a personal experience I would like to share with you simply because it was one of those 'light bulb' moments and what I have learned may also help you on your journey.
One of my daughter's is presently in college studying to be a holistic nurse. She has put the pedal to the metal when it comes to nutrition and taking care of one's self. As I sit and write, I can hear the thump, thud, and ka-bam's coming from her upstairs bedroom as she practices her yoga poses. "God", I pray to myself, "just don't let her break her neck!" Our diets have changed as well as our exercise levels thanks to the nurse in training…I think… as I sit here feeling a new sore muscle I didn't even realize existed!
A couple of days ago, my daughter kept begging and begging me to go to a Body Flow class at our gym. While my immediate response was, "No, I'm too busy", the look on her face said far more than her words ever could. She doesn't like going to classes alone and she really, really wanted me to go so, I caved and said, "Okay". If you are anything like me, getting up and out is the hardest part. Once you're there, the rest is a breeze.
As I walked into the Body Flow class which is a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates, I was anxious to get going and get this thing over with so I could get home and back to work. What happened shortly thereafter was my 'light bulb' moment. Actually, it was more like a slow moving energy field than a 'moment'. When our instructor came into the room and dimmed the lights, a sense of calm and well-being swept over my mind and body. As soon as the music started and we began, I continued to have a persistent feeling at the forefront of my brain that this instructor was special.
Jenny Steffenilla, the instructor, was very well versed in the workings of the body and how the tai chi and yoga affects both our inner and outer beings. A very petite, soft spoken, personable woman, whom I later learned to be a single mom raising two small children. I was drawn to her not simply for the knowledge she could impart but, more to learn about her as a person. Yes, I'm weird that way….I like to know what makes people tick! The pivotal moment of deciding to engage in a personal conversation with Jenny came at the end of class. As we were taking the time to relax and come back into our breath, she made a statement that resonated with me because I use it quite often with my clients; "What is it that you need to let go of today?" The key word in that statement, for me, was "today". Not giving thoughts to the past or future but what can you let go of today. This is important to take note of because we only know that we have today…in the here and now. What we do with our knowledge, power, thoughts and feelings only matters for the time we have right now. Are we holding onto any negative feelings? Are we angry or frustrated with someone over, in the grand scheme of things, something silly? Have we told those we care about how much they mean to us? Are we blocking positivity and abundance to come into our lives by holding onto negativity? These are just a few questions I would like you to ask yourself the next time you hit the gym or even spend some of your time working out at home. Are you feeling the fitness both inside and out? It is not enough for us to simply work our bodies to exhaustion…we must work fully on our emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical needs in order to fulfill that which we are here to do and to be at peace with ourselves.
Both Jenny and my daughter gave me a gift that evening. I thanked my daughter for her persistence. Jenny gave me the gift of accepting what was at the time and the gift to remind myself that each day should be lived to the fullest no matter how hectic our minds get. Take the time to not only exercise and feel the fitness in your physical body but, your emotional and spiritual sides as well. Your life will thank you for it!
One of my daughter's is presently in college studying to be a holistic nurse. She has put the pedal to the metal when it comes to nutrition and taking care of one's self. As I sit and write, I can hear the thump, thud, and ka-bam's coming from her upstairs bedroom as she practices her yoga poses. "God", I pray to myself, "just don't let her break her neck!" Our diets have changed as well as our exercise levels thanks to the nurse in training…I think… as I sit here feeling a new sore muscle I didn't even realize existed!
A couple of days ago, my daughter kept begging and begging me to go to a Body Flow class at our gym. While my immediate response was, "No, I'm too busy", the look on her face said far more than her words ever could. She doesn't like going to classes alone and she really, really wanted me to go so, I caved and said, "Okay". If you are anything like me, getting up and out is the hardest part. Once you're there, the rest is a breeze.
As I walked into the Body Flow class which is a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates, I was anxious to get going and get this thing over with so I could get home and back to work. What happened shortly thereafter was my 'light bulb' moment. Actually, it was more like a slow moving energy field than a 'moment'. When our instructor came into the room and dimmed the lights, a sense of calm and well-being swept over my mind and body. As soon as the music started and we began, I continued to have a persistent feeling at the forefront of my brain that this instructor was special.
Jenny Steffenilla, the instructor, was very well versed in the workings of the body and how the tai chi and yoga affects both our inner and outer beings. A very petite, soft spoken, personable woman, whom I later learned to be a single mom raising two small children. I was drawn to her not simply for the knowledge she could impart but, more to learn about her as a person. Yes, I'm weird that way….I like to know what makes people tick! The pivotal moment of deciding to engage in a personal conversation with Jenny came at the end of class. As we were taking the time to relax and come back into our breath, she made a statement that resonated with me because I use it quite often with my clients; "What is it that you need to let go of today?" The key word in that statement, for me, was "today". Not giving thoughts to the past or future but what can you let go of today. This is important to take note of because we only know that we have today…in the here and now. What we do with our knowledge, power, thoughts and feelings only matters for the time we have right now. Are we holding onto any negative feelings? Are we angry or frustrated with someone over, in the grand scheme of things, something silly? Have we told those we care about how much they mean to us? Are we blocking positivity and abundance to come into our lives by holding onto negativity? These are just a few questions I would like you to ask yourself the next time you hit the gym or even spend some of your time working out at home. Are you feeling the fitness both inside and out? It is not enough for us to simply work our bodies to exhaustion…we must work fully on our emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical needs in order to fulfill that which we are here to do and to be at peace with ourselves.
Both Jenny and my daughter gave me a gift that evening. I thanked my daughter for her persistence. Jenny gave me the gift of accepting what was at the time and the gift to remind myself that each day should be lived to the fullest no matter how hectic our minds get. Take the time to not only exercise and feel the fitness in your physical body but, your emotional and spiritual sides as well. Your life will thank you for it!