How do you manage to be a wife, entrepreneur, athlete, philanthropist, etc… and doing everything else, like having friends or doing stuff just for you?
I don’t have a magic pill or a secret weapon. What I do have is a huge drive and lots of goals and ambitions so I have found ways to manage my time accordingly to get in all the things I want to do done!
Here are some things that have helped me “do it all.”
We always find time for things that are important to us. So be honest with yourself, if you want something bad enough you’ll figure out a way, otherwise you’ll figure out an excuse.
Everything I do, every minute I spend is my choice. I often don’t think of things as “having to do them” but rather “I get to do them.” The truth is, you don’t have to do anything. What you choose to spend your time on is your choice. I think about what’s important to me and what it will take to accomplish it and I will budget my time accordingly.
You don’t need more time, you just need to manage yourself, your attention and your energy more effectively. For instance, I am much more productive in the morning than in the afternoon so I plan my day’s activities accordingly; based on the energy they take. More time = more time to waste.
Don’t get caught us with “there’s not enough time” or “I need more hours in the day”. Limited time is actually a blessing. I think it helps us, in fact, get more done. Limited time helps remind us of what is important. We all have limited time to live on earth, but I believe that should give us more reason to learn… to work… to play…to experience.
I think the biggest key to success it getting up early. It’s important to wake up and seize the day. I start my day at 4am. It’s my FAVORITE time of day, it’s dark and quiet and it’s just me. I walk the dogs, workout, then have my breakfast and coffee. I’ve taken care of myself so I am more prepared to take care of others.
Make a commitment and stick with it. A strong commitment turns our desires into a strong action. We too often spend time on things that either have no value to us or our goals and we end up spreading ourselves so thin. If what you’re doing doesn’t match your goals, don’t do it.
Be true to yourself & ditch the guilt! Making time for things that matter to you, means saying no to pretty much everything else. That means you’re going to say no to good things too and saying no means you’re going to disappoint people, but it happens and that’s ok. Disappointing people feel awful. And yet… you can trust other people to handle their own feelings. You’re going to disappoint people, but you are also going to be true to who you were made to be.
Ten years ago, I was twenty-eight. I was married, living in Boston, and working in Brookline Public School. Such as in life, there were good times and bad. Over the last decade, my life has changed pretty dramatically. After having cancerous cells removed from my cervix and leaning I could never have kids, I was deeply depressed. Then finding out my dad and stepmom had terminal cancer, I found myself in a pretty dark and scary place. Now years later, I did climb out of the hole I was in and can say that I have truly learned to appreciate and love my life. Those dark times taught me that life is fragile. We do not know how long we have. I try to live every day to the fullest, strive to work hard and train hard, to be kind, give back, and hopefully inspire people along the way. I want to leave my mark on this world so that when I look back at my life, I can say that I gave it my all, that I helped as many people as I could, making a difference in their lives through my actions and words.
This decade was both good and bad. There were times when I felt like I was drowning and others when I felt invincible. Looking back and reflecting about the last decade has given me a chance to look back and see how far I’ve come. It’s given me a chance to learn some real and valuable sh*t. I’d like to share some of what I’ve learned with you.
Don’t be afraid to follow your heart and do what makes you truly happy.
In today’s society, we are told what to do, what to think, almost brainwashed a little. For a long time, I felt I had to follow the norm and live by what I believed to be society’s standards- you go to college, you get a job, you get married, you have kids, you die…
I was afraid to follow my dreams or even admit I had any. I was afraid to be different, to go against the grain, to stand out… well, now I say screw that. I live by my rules. I discovered over the last decade that fitness was a passion of mine. I was so distraught about the idea of not being able to have kids that I thought I was less of a woman, I was unworthy of love, I was tainted goods. I told my husband to divorce me. Then one day, a friend brought me to my first yoga class. I always say yoga saved my life and it did… it helped open new doors. Yoga has taught me to love myself, and it helped show me that I was so much more and stronger than I ever imagined. After finding yoga, I developed my love for physical fitness. Almost 5 years ago, I quit my job in education to pursue a career in the fitness industry and opened my own yoga studio- Empower Yoga. Was it easy? HELL no!! Worth it? Absolutely!! I can honestly say that I am living my best life and while being a business owner is hard, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am happy and thriving and so incredibly grateful for my life. It has been so much more than I ever could have imagined.
Don’t be afraid to fail. You have to live your life.
Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from living your best life. Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.
Resilience is the secret ingredient to success. If you can figure out how to stay the course and get back in the game after failure, you’ll go places and live your dreams. The truth is, most successful people have spent almost as much time down for the count than they do in the fight itself. For example, Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times before he created the light bulb.
The lesson to learn from all successful people’s stories is if you haven’t failed, you are not reaching high enough. You’re not stretching yourself. Playing it safe sounds easier at first glance, but it’s a mirage and will NEVER get you to where you want to be. If you are going places, failure is just part of the deal. You can fix failure, but you can’t fix the things you never tried. So stop playing it safe and get in the game!
My favorite quote is: Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” This is where the magic happens. You may fail, but so be it… You have to learn to fail in order to learn to be great.
Don’t take rejection personally.
Repeat after me… Rejection is not an expression of self-worth. I’ve experienced a lot of rejection over the last ten years- personally and professionally. Rejection just means that there is something better out there for you. It’s redirecting you down the right path. Trust that the Universe has a plan and it knows what it is doing.
Be grateful for where you are now while striving to reach new goals.
Live in the moment every day. Be grateful for where you are and what you have NOW. While I believe goals and ambitions are important, what’s also important is appreciating the things in your life and the people in your life that are here NOW. Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting more and more, we forget what’s important and often what is in front of us. We need to be satisfied with what we have in this very, singular moment.
Work out for your insides & not your outsides.
“Change happens from the inside out. Not the other way around.”
I have always struggled with my weight and appearance. I suffer from body dysmorphia and have battled eating disorders for years. I’ve compared myself to other people and never felt like I matched up or was worthy. I felt like if I had or did certain things that I would be happy. But what I discovered was that my outward appearance or circumstances still didn’t make me happy. I had to stop comparing myself to others and learn to love myself first.
What you manifest, you become.
Personal manifesting is unreal. If we take the time to visualize the way we want our life to be, truly write it all down, draw pictures of things we want to create and set the scene for our lives, THINGS HAPPEN. It sounds crazy, but it truly works. Think about your vision and goals for the future. Say them to yourself, talk about it to others, release it into the Universe and watch as things start to happen and appear.
You are not that important to most people.
I mean this kindly & honestly. PEOPLE AREN’T THINKING ABOUT YOU OR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AS MUCH AS YOU THINK THEY ARE. I struggled to learn this, especially growing up. Like most teens and young adults, you want to be “cool” and to fit in. We are always so concerned about what others think of us. We try to present ourselves in the best way (I mean look at most of the stuff people post on social media), we are afraid to be vulnerable or different. We are afraid that if we don’t have our lives figured out by a certain point that people won’t take us seriously or we are less than. Stop trying to get people to like you. Honestly, no one cares if you’re not married, don’t have kids, gained ten pounds. The right people are going to like you no matter what and the others don’t matter. But what matters most is that you like yourself!
No one has everything figured out.
We are all doing our best. We are constantly changing and evolving. It’s ok to not know what you want to do when you grow up. Believe me, I’m 38 and I’m still unsure sometimes. It’s ok to now have life planned out and figured out. Enjoy the process of becoming.
It’s easy to create vision boards and write down your goals.
It’s easy to stand in front of a mirror and declare affirmations.
But… in order to be successful and meet your full potential, you need to put in the work.
Mental toughness will help!
What is mental toughness?
Mental toughness is the ability to resist, manage and overcome doubts, worries, concerns, and circumstances that prevent you from succeeding and excelling at a task or towards an objective or a performance outcome that you set out to achieve.
Physical fitness gets a lot of attention, but I believe mental fitness/toughness is equally important. Your body will only achieve what your mind believes. Having a healthy and strong mind will allow you to handle the challenges and opportunities that life throws at you.
To gain better mental focus and strength and to reach your goals you need to do a few things…
Write down your goals.
YOU set these goals. Goals keep you focused on what’s next, and writing them down keeps you on track. Don’t let anybody else tell you what your goals should be.
Choose things out of reach.
Don’t just think about what is “realistic.” The problem with realistic thinking is that it’s usually based on what others think is possible. They don’t know your potential. Whenever you start a task with a mind toward the potential outcome, you will limit the actions required to accomplish that goal.
Tolerate discomfort for a greater purpose.
Discomfort can lead people to take unhealthy shortcuts. Rather than deal with a problem, people may ignore it altogether, walk away, or reach for something that provides immediate emotional relief, i.e eating, drinking, scrolling through social media, watching TV, etc… short-term solutions can often create bigger long-term problems. It’s important to practice tolerating discomfort by reminding yourself of the bigger picture. Don’t try to escape it. The more you tolerate discomfort, the more confidence you’ll have in your ability to do difficult things and the more you will succeed.
Do one hard thing every day.
You won’t improve by accident. Purposely challenge yourself. Of course, what’s challenging to you might not be to someone else, so you need to analyze your comfort zone and then pick something slightly outside your zone and take one small step every day. Push yourself to become a little better today than you were the day before.
Always do one more.
The next time you think you can’t do something, prove yourself wrong. Commit to always doing one more. Your mind will want to quit long before your body needs to give up. So prove to yourself that you’re more capable than you give yourself credit for, and over time, your brain will stop underestimating your potential.
Strive to fulfill your purpose.
It’s hard to stay the course unless you know your overall purpose. Write out a clear and concise mission statement about what you want to accomplish in life and then start to work towards it every day. When you’re struggling to take the next step, remind yourself why it’s important to keep going. Focus on your daily objectives, but make sure the steps you’re taking will get you to your larger goal in the long run.
Take action.
Go beyond what’s normal or typical for you. Push beyond your limits until one day the unusual activity is not so unusual, but a habit for you and part of your routine. Big goals require big actions. In order to reach your full potential, you must take huge steps and actions towards completing your goal. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
Stay persistent and NEVER quit.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. The ability to persist on your path regardless of setbacks, unexpected events, bad news, and resistance to continue firmly in your purpose in spite of conditions is a trait common to those who are successful. Reaching your fullest potential requires you to be persistent; there are no quitters here.
In all, work hard and never limit your potential success and never limit what you will do to create and keep that success. Have monster goals and continue to attack them hard EVERY DAY! Remember that people who are highly successful continue to work, produce and create long after they’ve flourished.
For most people, Savasana is the easiest pose to get into, but the hardest pose to stay in. As a result some people bolt out of class early and skip it all together. But, Savasan is honestly, the best part of class. It’s the reward for all your hard work.
Why is Savasana so hard?
Savasana means total relaxation. It is a chance for your body to absorb your practice. It’s a way to rejuvenate your body and mind. Most people find Savasana so difficult because they have a hard time lying still, closing their eyes, and quitting their minds. So instead of trying to relax into the pose, they avoid it.
Here are some tips to help you in Savasana.
How To Do Savasana Properly:
Spread the legs one to two feet apart, the toes are turned outwards, the heels facing each other, a comfortable distance apart.
Bring the arms a little away from the body, palms turned upward.
Relax the whole body. Letting go of any tension you may be holding onto.
Close the eyes and focus the attention on the body, breathing normally.
Bring your attention slowly to each body part and try to relax them one at a time.
5 Tips For A Successful Savasana
Close your eyes.
Allow your body to melt into the mat.
Keep the mind focused on relaxing. As thoughts come to your minds eye, acknowledge them, but then let them go.
Avoid moving the body, as even the slightest movement will use many muscles and increase the nerve impulses.
Practice, practice, practice. It’s not easy, but it’s totally worth it. Don’t give up.
Why you should Savasana
Here are some benefits:
Improved self-confidence.
Improved concentration.
Increased energy levels and in general productivity.
Improvement in concentration and in memory.
Relaxes your whole body.
Releases stress, fatigue, depression and tension.
Helps insomnia.
Decreased fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.
Calms the mind and improves mental health, i.e anxiety
Stimulates blood circulation.
So I challenge you, next time you feel like skipping Savasana, dont… no matter how busy you may be. Indulge yourself in those 5 or so minutes at the end of your practice and you will reap the benefits, I promise you.
If you’ve ever said the words “there aren’t enough hours in the day,” you’re not alone. While there’s no doubt that most of us have our plates full with work, family, friends, etc… studies show that we’re not quite as busy as we think we are.
Life is about priorities and making time for the things you want and need. It’s important to take care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so it’s critical to take care of YOU. To do all the things you need to do and to do them well, you need to stop, breathe and give yourself a break. So if you’ve been wanting to try yoga for a while, but you just can’t seem to find the time, think again. Now is your chance to stop what you’re doing and discover all of yoga’s amazing benefits so you can start to feel better. When we feel good, our lives feel much more manageable.
Here are a few ways yoga can help:
Yoga is a great way to work the body.
Yoga helps increase flexibility, improves muscle tone and strength, and helps develop better posture. It’ll make you feel strong, empowered and renewed. Perhaps giving you a sense of confidence that wasn’t there before.
Yoga helps you stay present.
Life seems to be filled with those never-ending to-do lists. We quickly move form one thing to the next, which makes it hard for us to be present in any given moment. Well yoga can help that. Yoga takes you into the present moment, the only place where life exists. Spending a few minutes on your mat will help you stay in the moment and teach you to be more present in the flow of life.
Yoga helps you stay grounded and balanced.
When you’re spending more than 8 hours a day at the office, staying grounded is tough. It can seem like your entire life is and endless cycle of work, eat, & sleep. Yoga can help bring more balance into your life and remind you about what’s important. There is more to life than just working! Take time to feel centered and enjoy what’s happening around you.
Yoga helps you destress.
Yoga helps decrease the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Yoga provides a nurturing space and quiet time to stop for a moment, relax and reflect upon our daily routine and priorities. Stress is a part of our human nature, but we can go to yoga to balance it out. With yoga, you can begin to tap into that constant source of inner happiness so you can spend less time being bogged down and more time doing the things you love.
Yoga helps you sleep better.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, stress is highly correlated with sleep problems, and lack of sleep makes you more stressed out. So if your lifestyle is making it difficult for you to sleep, maybe yoga can help. With more sleep you’ll be more rested and ready for the day!
Yoga creates harmony between you and the world around you.
A regular yoga practice centres you and keeps you balanced. What yoga can teach you is to let go of things that no longer serve you. Being present and being ok with it, no matter what the particular moment reveals. It gives you confidence and realisation that you can actually achieve more than you think but without aggravation, unnecessary struggle and stress.
There’s a new trend floating around Facebook being referred to as- Then and Now, The 10 Year Challenge, Aging Challenge, or Puberty Challenge. The premise is simple- users upload their first Facebook profile picture and their most recent one side-by-side to see how much they have changed and what type of transformation has occurred over the years.
Some people have had issues with this challenge and were upset that the focus appeared to be primarily about one’s looks. However, I took it as an opportunity to reflect on my life and how far I’ve come over the last ten years, as well as how FB has helped to change my life and grow my business.
Facebook launched in 2004. When FB first started I was not a huge fan. I had no desire or interest in it and to be quite honest didn’t really believe it would be around as long as it has. In fact, I didnt even create an account until 2008, almost 4 years later.
Now, I have to say that FB and social media has become a big part of my life- both personally and professionally.
The rise of social media and networking has made it faster and easier to access information around the world and communicate with one another. Whether through a simple tweet, post on Instagram or a status update on Facebook, we can instantly be made aware of different issues around the world.
For many, especially business owners, social media has moved from a “nice to have” to a “must have”.
FB in particular is a great tool to help you communicate and connect with friends, share your story or opinion and as a business, connect and engage with customers, provide great customer service by responding to customers in real time, and a great tool to help hire new employees.
I have no doubt social media is changing and will continue to change our society. This change is permanent and upcoming generations won’t even know a world where social media does not exist. While social media has its advantages and disadvantages (like everything else) it’s up to the user to decide how he/she will use it.
Just like with the challenge- is it about looks or an opportunity to see how far you’ve come and share your dreams and goals for the future?
I am grateful to have FB and particularly like looking through my memories and photos. Gone are the bulky photo albums from my past to digital albums online. What a great way to document one’s life and legacy.
For the Then to Now Challenge- I uploaded my two photos and what I see is a girl who was more fearful to try new things, content with the status quo, stuck in a job she didn’t like, and not very athletic… to a woman who doesn’t back down, quit her job to pursue her dreams and open her own business, competed in several athletic events (even a full Ironman in July 2018), and tries to live each day to the fullest without any regrets.
Thank you FB for giving me this opportunity to reflect, for storing and saving my photos and memories, and for helping me to stay connected to those around me.
Today is my birthday. Believe it or not, I am 37 years old!!!
Sometimes I stop and wonder how I got to be this age and where the time has gone. I remember when I was a kid and thought that people in their 30’s were old and over the hill… lol
Now it’s dawned on me that I am in my late 30s. But I am much too young to be 37, right? I mean I don’t feel 37. But what does feeling 37 really mean? I have no idea. All I know is that I feel better now than I did in my twenties. I am fitter, healthier, and so much happier in my personal and professional life. I feel positive about life and excited to see all that my future holds!
I can say that my thirties have proven to be, so far, the most fulfilling, enriching, meaningful and life-enhancing decade of my life. Not only have I found more peace and love within and for myself, but I also found the courage to change careers, open a business and make fitness my full time gig. I started running, swimming, and completing in numerous endurance events around the world, traveling to over 10 countries. I’ve started on this brand new and exciting journey that has completely rejuvenated me and I could not feel more proud, excited, and grateful. I think that I have found my calling and purpose in life, and have to say that when you find it, magical things happen.
I know that I am a very lucky lady and feel truly blessed. I wake up every day and thank god for my life. And as I take a moment to reflect on the last 37 years here are some words of advice that I have to offer.
A few words of wisdom from this 37 year old- (in no particular order)
1. Stop wasting or wishing your life away. It’s time to stop existing and start living!
Hate your job? Find a new one.
Want to run a marathon? Do it!
Want to visit another country? Charge it and go.
You’re not getting any younger and tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so live today.
2. Stop getting in your own way! You are the only one stopping you from living the life you want and the life you have imagined. Things may get tough and when it does, you can give up or you can continue to preserve and follow our dreams. It is up to YOU!
3. Don’t work too hard. There is more to life than your job. Spend time with family and friends, take time to travel and explore, just be present and live in the moment.
4. Let go of negativity- people, things, whatever it may be. Don’t allow others to bring you down or hold you back. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, support you, and inspire you.
5. Try something new. Ten years ago, I never thought I had a runner’s body and I was deathly afraid of the water, but now I run marathons and compete in triathlons. I’ve realized that I am capable of so much more than I gave myself credit for. So try something new, step outside your comfort zone, you may surprise yourself.
6. Take time for you every day. Go for a walk, run, yoga class, read… whatever it may be, remember to care for yourself and do things that fill your cup.
7. Love yourself and be kind to yourself. Stop with the negativity and putting yourself down. Stop hating yourself for everything you aren’t and start loving yourself for everything you are. You are special and have many things to offer this world. Believe in you!
8. Pain is temporary. Stop allowing yourself to be hindered by it. When you hit rock bottom, you feel like you are never going to be able to crawl out from that hole… but that’s not true. Bad things may happen but you cannot let them define you or have a lasting impact on your life. Learn from the pain you endure, but then let it go.
9. Karma is real. I’ve seen it happen personally and for friends. If you give more, you’ll get more. The energy you put out is what you get back, so be good & do good.
10. Gratitude is the key to happiness. It’s powerful and it works! Always be grateful for what you have; no matter how bad things seem, there’s always someone who has it worse. “Gratitude is an attitude!”
We are powerful manifesting beings, but since we have 50,000-70,000 unconscious thoughts per day, of which about 80% are negative, we’re not always manifesting the best things into our lives.
We need to remember that each thought we have, creates an energy flow within and around us. This energy attracts similar energy. So if you’re thinking, “I suck,” then your energy kinda sucks, and you’ll attract sucky experiences.
The opposite is true when you think positive thoughts like, “I rock” you exude an energy of confidence and therefore will attract greater experiences into your life. Each thought you have informs your energy and your energy manifests into your experiences . . . Your thoughts and energy create your reality.
Law of Attraction is the belief that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, people can bring or manifest positive or negative experiences into their life. The law of attraction is not a magic wand, but with positive thinking, we can shift our feeling state to attract more of what we want. Because our brains store negative experiences, we have to consciously and regularly build the positive mental muscle. We all have layers and layers of limiting beliefs and fears that block our ability to think more positively, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be done. It won’t happen overnight, but in time, we can shift our mindset from one of negative, to more positive.
In order to become a master at manifesting with the law of attraction, we have to begin to rewire our brains and start replacing negative thought patterns with more positive, empowering patterns.
As we head into the New Year, this is a perfect opportunity to begin the rewiring process. Begin to think about what it is you want to manifest into your life and start to take the steps below in order to help make it happen.
Start today, clearing all that blocks you from believing in your greatness.
Ways to Manifest Your Desires
By implementing these daily positive practices into your lives, you will start to shift and raise your energetic vibration that will produce good experiences and results!
Notice your thoughts and clear space in your mind.
Begin by paying attention to what you focus on and observing your thoughts. Do you pay attention to what’s going right, or what’s going wrong? When you’re working on manifesting your dreams, obstacles and challenges will arise, but when you focus on what’s right, you increase your energetic vibration. Clear away any negative beliefs you have, these get in the way of your happiness and prevent you from believing in your greatness. Know that the universe shows up for you in many ways- if you lose your job or end a bad relationship, while these things may seem tough at first, there are lessons to be learned and new and better opportunities that await you.
Write down your goals and connect to your “why.”
Write down your goals or create a vision board. Doing so will not only help you get clear, but will help you create positive steps towards your dreams. Connecting to your “why” means connecting to the feeling that achieving the goal will give you. When we connect to the “why,” we raise our vibration and become magnets for attracting the people, circumstances, etc. that will help us achieve our goal.
Visualize what it will look like when you achieve your dreams.
Hang your vision board in a place you can see it every day and/or read your written goals first thing in the morning and before going to bed at night; then take a few minutes each day to visualize and connect with the feeling of achieving your dreams. Get it into your subconscious mind! The more you feel the feeling of what you desire, the more you believe it is on the way.
Chill- the Universe has your back!
In order to manifest your desires into form, you gotta chill out! Stop waiting around with anxiety for your dream to happen and know what you desire is on the way. Trust that the Universe has a plan for you. You can’t always control the timing of when things come- so stay calm, relaxed, and remember that the Universe has your back! In time, what you desire will come through fruition.
Stay committed to happiness.
Trust that you’re exactly where you need to be. If life starts to feel chaotic or just plain overwhelming, sometimes you just need to surrender and learn to trust that things will work out. When one door closes, another door opens.
Practice breathing.
Practice breathing from the belly, not the chest. This type of breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system which helps produce a sense of relaxation and contentment which allows us to be calm and clear.
Move your body.
Negative emotions get stuck and stored in our bodies on a cellular level. Moving is one way to release stress and negative energy. Perhaps practice yoga, go for a walk, dance, etc… Just work on releasing that stuck energy and clearing space for what the Universe has in store for you.
Keep a gratitude journal.
Gratitude is one of the simplest ways to raise our vibration. When we recognize our great fortune and appreciate all our blessings, it automatically puts us in a “feel-good” energetic vibration.
Stay committed to the goal of feeling good first and attracting good stuff second. Continue to remind yourself that when you feel good you will energetically attract goodness into your life. Be patient and stay strong. Trust that what you desire is on the way!
You have to do hard things to be happy in life. And doing the hard things is a skill to be honed. At the basic level, it’s the ability to overcome distractions and get the right things done, even if you don’t want to in that moment. Doing hard things is a sacrifice and one that may not offer immediate satisfaction. However, you need to trust that those hard things are going to help get you where you want to be. And in order to excel, live your dreams and be your best, you need to do the things no one else is willing to do. The things others can’t do for you. The things that make you question how much longer you can hold on and push forward. That’s when you know you’re on the right path. If your dreams don’t frighten, they arent big enough.
When I wanted to open a yoga studio, everyone thought I was crazy. They asked, how are you going to pull that off? Do you have enough money? Why leave a good and stable job in education, a pension? But I didn’t care what other people said, I new what was right for me and trusted that the Universe had my back.
Was opening a business easy? Absolutely not. Was it scary at times? Definitely. It’s hard to quit a job and move forward into the unknown. I spent 2 years in limbo wondering what the hell had I done. However, I was able to figure it out, because if there is a will there’s a way. Things weren’t and still aren’t perfect, I have challenges like anyone else, but I embrace each challenge in stride and continue on my path, unwilling to give up or back down. The hard things are what lead you to where you are meant to be, you just have to be willing to take the risk, have patience, and faith that it will all work out.
Those hard things in life are what define us. Taking the risk and doing hard things is the difference between existing and living… between knowing our path and walking our path. It’s the difference between an average life and the living the life of our dreams, filled with success and happiness.
Most people avoid the hard things, they procrastinate, make excuses or pretend like they somehow don’t apply to their life or situation. However, the truth is that ordinary people can achieve immense success and happiness if they are willing to step out of their comfort zones and do the hard things that others don’t have the courage, drive or determination to do.
I dare you to stop sitting back and watching your life happen and take control. Start doing those hard things TODAY. I guarantee, you will be amazed at how strong and remarkable you really are and just how amazing your life can be.
For the month of November, Empower Yoga students and friends have been participating in a Planksgiving Challenge. It is 30 days of giving thanks and planks. No prizes are awarded, it’s more about having fun, creating community, challenging ourselves and of course giving thanks! Each day our plank holds get a little bit longer. We started with a 20 second plank and are working our way to a 3 minute hold on November 30th.
Planksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! Planking is not only a really great way to activate and strengthen your core, but a great way to work your whole body!
Are you ready to jump into our #Planksgiving Challenge? Don’t worry if you find it too difficult to hold, you can plank as long as you can and break it up into smaller parts. Try to hold a few more seconds each day! Remember to stay aware of your form- it’s quality, not quantity that counts. Challenge yourself, but not to the point of injury.
Why you should be thankful for the plank:
No equipment needed
Improves your posture
Promotes a flat belly
Works more than just your core
Reduces back pain
Burns calories
Builds strength
You can do them anywhere
How to safely do a plank:
Start out lying on your stomach with your hands flat on the floor, directly below your shoulders
Have your legs out straight and toes curled under
Press your hands into the floor, squeeze your core, and come up into a straight arm plank position
Don’t allow your hips to sag or your butt to come up
Think about squeezing your core and drawing your belly button in towards your spine, and pressing your hands into the floor the entire time
Try to keep your head and neck in line with the rest of your spine
You can do most of these on your forearms, too, just place your elbows directly underneath your shoulders!
