Daily Motivation

Most people who know me know that I am a pretty direct person and I value honesty and transparency.  I came across a quote yesterday that I think is really powerful and it has been on my mind since I read it.  "If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got".  It's seems like such a simple statement but I can't even describe the impact it has had on me.  I know in the past this statement has been made to me in some shape or form from many people in my life - to my brother and sister who I know are reading this and saying....I told you that a long time ago....I get it now.  It's not that I didn't want to take your advice when you said it to me the first time in whatever way you said it to me - I think I just needed to hear it/read it from someone who I didn't have an emotional connection to.  It also helps that I am making a conscious effort to take charge and steer my life in the direction I want it to go.

Ok....enough of the deep stuff!  I received a funny email from a friend not too long ago and I thought you would all enjoy it so here it is:

"Dear God, my prayer for 2011 is for a fat bank account & a thin body.  Please don't mix these up like you did last year"  AMEN!

Blazing a Trail

Well I did it!  I made it through 2 hot yoga classes without any major incidents.  I'm sure at some point in the past I probably thought that yoga was just a bunch of light stretching.....not so I have found!  Hot yoga is a pretty intense workout......it's like doing an intense stretch while standing in the middle of a tropical rain forest at high noon!  More than once I had to take a knee but after 90 minutes I have to say I felt really good (and really sweaty).  I'm not sure I'm going to become a die hard yoga follower but I am going to incorporate yoga (hot or mainstream) into my life.  For those of you reading this and thinking of giving hot yoga a try I will offer some tips:

1. It's really hot in there - when they say dress like you are going to the beach they mean it!
2. Freeze your water bottle - the room is about 40 degrees and by the end of your 90 minute session your water is about the same temperature.  I froze my water bottle the second time and my water was nice and cool throughout the class.
3. Don't forget your towel - you are gonna sweat like you have never  sweat before.
4. Get there early and try to score a spot in one of the back 2 rows near the door - anytime the door is opened during class you get a short burst of cool air over you that is heavenly

Those are all of the tips I have been able to get so far in my short time doing hot yoga.  My next adventure is Zumba.  We will see if I have the coordination and stamina to make it work.  Take care everyone and have a beautiful day........Namaste

Getting Started

Most people make New Years Resolutions and hit them hard on January 1st, 2nd or 3rd.....by about this time of the month they are either fully committed to their resolutions or are starting to fizzle out.  The LOA Challenge has given me the motivation to forge ahead with my plan for wellness but it has also enabled me to be more thoughtful than I have been in the past.

Instead of saying - I'm going to lose weight this year - I'm coming at it from a different angle.  This year I'm going to focus on my life and on being the healthiest, happiest and best person I can.  Now I know that may sound a bit trite but hey what I have done in the past hasn't really been all that effective so it's time to take a different approach.  I'm making a conscious effort to put my life in the direction I want it to be in and to do that I have realized that I have to make me the priority this year.  And that's exactly what I am doing. 

So how does one do this you may ask.....well the first thing I have done and it's probably been the most challenging for me since I have been very career focused to date - I'm leaving work at work.  I'm turning off the blackberry when I get home and making a concerted effort not to check emails or voicemail until I return to work the next day.  It's been a good thing for me and I am finding I have time in the evenings now to focus on myself.  I'm delving into some self-help books (watch for my book reviews as I finish them).  I started taking piano lessons (and I kick myself for quitting lessons when I was younger).  I'm also taking some photography classes - it's something that I really enjoy and honestly would do for a living if I wasn't a nurse.  I'm trying new workouts....my first hot yoga class is tomorrow - here's hoping I don't pass out in the class.  I'm certain that there will be bumps and snags along the way but that's why they call it a challenge and if I have learned one thing about myself over the years.....I'm not one to shy away from a challenge!

It's going to be an exciting year I think and I'm really excited to see where the journey takes me.  Stay tuned.....