Tag Archives: inspiration

Apr25

On recognizing opportunity and never looking back.

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On recognizing opportunity and never looking back.

One year ago, my sister Jess and I stepped into barre n9ne studio for our very first class…

…and we’ve never looked back.

Two weeks later, we won the barre n9ne 60 day challenge.

…and we’ve never looked back.

There’s something to be said for not looking back. For reflecting on the past, but looking forward. For taking and recognizing a huge opportunity and making it your own.

It doesn’t have to be a fitness-related opportunity (of course). It can be anything you set your mind to, any goal, any passion. It is sometimes easier to step into a challenge, get through it, and then be done with it, and move on to the next.

Can you imagine if I had done that with the 60 day challenge? Finished in July 2011 and left it at that? I would have lost out on one of the biggest opportunities and blessings in my life. An opportunity to finally hit that ‘reach goal’ that I never even dreamed was possible. To gain confidence, kick the self-image battling, shape my body into something I am proud of, and finally attain my goal of teaching something I am passionate about. To push myself out of my comfort zone...for an entire year, and reap the rewards ten-fold.

This is my call to you: is there something you are facing, a challenge, a goal, a new chapter in your life and you hesitate because you’re afraid? Or think you aren’t capable? Or think it’s too scary or too much of a risk? Well, guess what…it’s not. Life is meant for risk-taking, otherwise, what are we doing with our lives, except trudging through it day by day.

My life looks so incredibly different today than it did a year ago. And this is why.

The first step is to recognize the opportunity.

Identify it AS an opportunity, not a risk, a threat, an insurmountable challenge.

Make it your own.

And never look back.

Apr16

What never gets old.

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What never gets old.

when someone ‘gets’ how amazing a barre workout is, the first time they experience a class. (hello this girl and this one too!)

when they look over and immediately ‘get’ what it means to ‘embrace’ the shake at the barre, to allow it to happen (because that’s ultimately proof that your muscles are going to failure, that they’re changing, working, and leaning!).

talking to others that also take barre classes, near and far, small studios and bigger chains, that, when you say ‘oh, you have taken barre classes too?’ and you get that knowing nod, that smile spreads across their face and you just ‘get’ it.

It never gets old.

that feeling after taking a class, focusing on proper form, alignment, the shake, the resistance and light weight training, and walking away feeling…euphoric. Every muscle worked. Every part of you feeling incredible.

it may sound borderline dramatic, but to those that have taken a class, even just one, just ‘gets’ what I mean. 

and on the first day of the second studio opening for barre n9ne, experiencing some new clients feeling the shake for the first time, and seeing them whisper to each other, wondering if it’s ‘good’ or bad, and then seeing their excited feedback after class...is incredible. 

teaching class on Saturday (my first in several weeks), and seeing the sweat pour down, hearing the mutters of ‘another set?!’ is the best feeling. it means its working. and I am helping others achieve their goals. 

It never gets old. 

Coming upon a year of taking classes, then training to become an instructor, and now reaching the point where I am teaching regularly, it’s just an incredible feeling. To see the progress of the studio, of the expanding list of clients and successes, and now to be such a part of it, is simply amazing.

What never gets old is doing something you love, helping others achieve their goals, and being part of a community of barre-a-holics that ‘get’ how phenomenal a workout it is, and how it perfectly complements something like running, and how much it conditions and strengthens in seemingly subtle ways.

Mar23

(more) things I’m loving Friday!

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(more) things I’m loving Friday!

I’ve done a few of these ‘things I’m loving’ Friday posts and figured since I have a little collection of favorite things in my brain at present, I’d share them with ya. I always find these types of posts to give a great tidbit or two when I read others who have written similarly-themed posts! TGIF friends!!!!

(more) things I’m loving Friday!

  • my barre n9ne playlist for my next class teaching (Sunday at 4:30!!): here’s a sampling of fun tunage I plan to play: Bon, Bon/Pitbull, Turn up the Music/Chris Brown, Pass at Me f. Pitbull/Timbaland, Rockstar101/Rhianna (LOVE this one), Wild Ones/Flo Rida f. Sia, On the Dancefloor/David Guetta (f. will.i.am), Where Them Girls At f. Nicki Minaj/David Guetta, Flo Rida (sensing a theme here?!)
  • Sparkling water in a wine glass. Seriously, try it. It just tastes fancy. and tricks my eye into thinking it’s *really* wine on days I am not drinking actual wine (for a girl that talks a lot about wine, I swear I really only have it on weekends and one night during the week!)
  • Sleeping with the windows open and birds chirping. BEST way to wake up. Ever.
  • New sneakers!! Scored a great pair of Saucony ProGrid Ride 4s last night at a local running store (got fitted for high arches, helps I do believe!).  Which leads me to the next favorite thing…
  • an AWESOME run with my sis today!! We did 7 miles and I haven’t done 7 in almost a month, so while I was a little nervous at first (why, no idea, it’s my sister for goodness sakes!), we had a pretty near-perfect run and the sneakers felt great! (still riding a runner high as we speak)
  • Skinny cow ice cream…and even better? Banana ‘mock’ ice cream. My friend Steph made this concoction: frozen banana, couple of chocolate chips, tsp of peanut butter, blend together, voila! SO GOOD! I did half of that with half cup of vanilla ice cream last night and it was utter perfection.
  • Friends that ‘get’ me. I feel surrounded by those that care about me and that I care about back, both ‘IRL’ and virtually. Feeling supported and liked is such a great feeling to give and reciprocate, isn’t it? (had to end with one sappy one…hehe).

See? awesome #rundate pic! I'm on the right, FYI (lol)

On that note, I am off to finish off this workday strong and enjoy a fun-filled weekend, rounded out by teaching at barre n9ne…what could be better than that? Cheers!

Feb28

My why.

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My why.

One of Tina’s posts recently got me thinking about why I do what I do. Why I consider myself somewhat of an overachiever, why I feel like I always want to make goals and continuously work on self-improvement, both physically and mentally. It boils down to…

My Why.

Knowing the why behind what I do is what motivates me.

But also knowing how I feel after I accomplish something is what motivates me. Beyond the why. It’s the how.

Knowing how I feel after I’ve reached a goal, or observed self-improvement, whether it be a physical improvement (my run challenge, for example) or a mental one (my recent work trip that took me out of my comfort zone) or even a quasi-mental and physical one (training to be barre n9ne certified!). It all comes back to knowing who I am and what works for me in terms of change, growth and challenging myself.

But why do I do it? Why do I constantly challenge myself? Because it is truly what I am passionate about. When it comes to physical challenges and fitness, I love how I feel after I have sweated through a workout. Or realized that my flexibility is improving through begrudgingly stretching 1-2 times a day. Or finding my a-ha moment when it comes to mind-body connection during a particular ab exercise.

And the eating? I’ve honestly never felt better than when I eat for fuel rather than for fun. Eating is still fun for me – a-ha – but in a different way. Rather than eating a huge piece of cake and while sure, that may taste good, I would argue that a Dove ‘promises’ chocolate tastes just as good, if not better, with a cup of tea, coffee or yes, even a glass of wine. I’d much prefer a glass of wine and a piece of chocolate over a piece of cake. It might be a trade-off to some, to pass up the cake, but I know me. And I know my body. And I know that I will feel better and just as, if not more, satisfied with that combination. (On the flip-side of that, I am still learning to balance watching what I eat, and choosing healthy options over having days where I just want to throw caution to the wind and eat and drink more than normal. It’s a struggle, I won’t lie, sometimes. More on that later…)

And finally, the mental challenges. I consider myself somewhat of an overachiever…not a surprise, I am sure. But this overachiever status really came to light in the last few years. As I was forced to face things that scared me, that I wanted to run from, but that I had to conquer just by nature of what it was. Divorce. Something that wasn’t my choice. That pushed me out of my comfort zone. But it was also what started to teach me things I never thought I’d face or want to willingly face, either. And ever since that time, it’s like I’ve made a deal with myself. To never settle. To never slide into complacency.

My why.

…To challenge myself. Not for sake of challenging myself, but for betterment and learning.

…To focus on being the best ‘me’ I can be. Mentally, physically, emotionally. A better sister, lover, daughter, aunt, friend. 

…To maintain the life that I have built for myself. Not settling. Not sliding into complacency. Not doing to do or eating to eat. Doing with intention and purpose.

…To love myself, with flaws and with areas I struggle with. And know that facing my weaknesses will only make me stronger.

…My why. 

What is your ‘why?‘ (thank you Tina, for such an inspiring and thought-provoking post!)

Feb10

Learnings and inspirations via Pinterest

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Learnings and inspirations via Pinterest

I’ve been slowly collecting a variety of pins on my pinterest boards and am always amazed at how inspired I am by then and how much I actually learn by reading a few simple words. Whenever I need a quick dose of perspective or to slap myself back into reality, whether it be a worry, stress, fear or frustration, I read one of these suckers and bam, back to reality, like whoa. (and it sure boosts the running and barre n9ne hurts-so-good motivation, too!).

So I thought I’d include a few of my latest favorites on this fabulous Friday for a little dose of inspiration, perspective, and hopefully, a smile. Enjoy!

The next time I try to run before I walk, I will remember this one. It will come in handy as barre n9ne training gets heavily underway this weekend!

 

This one needs zero explanation. Zero.

A universal truth I never would have learned, had I not gotten divorced. I absolutely believe this 100%. Don't settle.

This screams my realization that I used to 'go halfway and then stop.' No more. Commit and you will see results.

Because I never thought I was a runner. I am a runner because I run. And I <3 it.

Failure isn't bad...failure means learning and trying again.

Live a drama-free life. This is my mantra.

I strive for this. The first instinct is to run from the challenge, from living boldly. This is my reminder.

Make time. For you. For love. For friends. And a little more again for you.