Back to basics

For over twenty five years I've had back issues.  Sometimes it's been pretty bad!

It was a series of unfortunate mishaps from a few cheerleading stunts gone astray (thought those guys were supposed to CATCH you!), to a bad sledding accident that landed me in the hospital (the call no mother wants to get after sending their kid off to school, however I'm proud to say I was, in fact, wearing clean underwear just like mom always warned.)

My first job out of college was a desk job and at times I could barely stay in my seat. I often had the feeling of wanting to crawl out of my skin.

I saw sports doctors, orthopedists, chiropractors, and endured multiple tests.  I was told it's just something I'll have to live with.

Despite the pain, I decided to join my mother at Jazzercise.  Though I had always been active, Jazzercise classes included a specific strength training section complete with targeted ab work.  Lo and behold...it worked! The stronger the abs, the better the back.

I learned a few lessons through that experience.

• Don't settle for "you'll just have to live with it."   Keep looking for solutions.

• Keep moving in whatever way you can.  It was hard for me to keep it low impact when I started as a Jazzercise customer, the music just made me want to jump up and shake my groove thang (whatever that is.)

• Listen to your body and heed the signs when it's time to slow down (as well as to pick up the pace) I'm not going to let anything keep me from living fully and staying active.

Lately this problem has reared it's ugly head in a big way.  I know if I'm patient, the solution will come and I'll be sure to be grateful for being pain free (funny how you don't think much about it UNTIL there's a problem).

In the meantime, I can walk through my Jazzercise classes, make sure I don't over do it, visit my awesome soft tissues chiropractor, do a little extra yoga, and wear clean underwear - just in case.

Creating white space

For a gal who talks about balance on the radio and makes a living of inspiring women to better help, sometimes I have trouble creating white space in my own life.  But as they say, we often teach what we most need to learn, and in theory I love the concept.

For the past twenty years I have rarely had a weekday evening free on a regular basis.  Initially I was teaching Jazzercise twice a week and going to Graduate School the other two evenings.  After collecting my Masters Degree, my schedule evolved into four nights a week of Jazzercise either on stage or at the desk.  Eventually I replaced some of the Jazzercise evenings with coaching clients facilitating a nutrition program, attending networking events to build my business, and whatever else came my way.

Then about a year or two ago, after twenty years,  I finally freed myself of working Thursday evenings.  Wow was that liberating.  I hardly knew what to do with myself, by that time 'must see t.v.' on Thursdays was a thing of the past. 

So I ended up filling most of my Thursday nights meeting friends for drinks or dinner, taking other classes, going to fundraisers, you name it.

How refreshing it was to find myself with a rare free night last night.  White space in my calendar. Aaaah!

I came home to find my hubby had picked up the flowers in the above pic ('cause it's Thursday, he said) and prepared one of our favorite 'ploughman' dinners, fruit, nuts, cheese, bread. This is our go to dinner when we want something simple, relatively healthy, and extremely easy to clean up.  We enjoyed it on the patio over drinks and conversation. 

After dinner I slipped into the bathtub with a bunch of magazines and a DIY mask of Greek yogurt, honey and almond oil (yes, I'm getting obsessed with making both natural cleaning and beauty products at home, but it's oh so fun!).  

Enjoying the white space was just as liberating as freeing up my Thursdays. It sure feels good, and I will not wait so long before I 'schedule' more of it.

 When was the last time you saw some white space in your calendar?  I highly recommend it!

The only thing I can think of to say...

The last week was exhausting and exhilarating.

Our lives can easily become jam packed and we move through on automatic pilot, going straight to the next event leaving only a pile of dirty laundry in our wake.

While trying to mediate this morning, my mind wandered to recap the week and let experiences sink in. I did not want to zoom ahead this week without a chance to reflect and appreciate.

So I thought I'd share some of the highlights from last week:

• The enthusiasm and excitement as the Yale Ghana group assembled for the first time for a day of planning. Can't wait to let this adventure unfold.
• A text from Annie K. that was JUST what I needed to hear (and read over & over!)
• A very special conversation with an associate that made my whole week. :)
• Three great radio show guests, especially the privilege of interviewing Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Missett, a visionary with passion.
• The listeners at FTNS who brought the win to A Matter of Balance after only seven weeks on air. I'm unbelievably humbled at the results.
• My customers, especially those at the five Jazzercise classes and one yoga class I taught this week, they energize me on even the toughest days.
• The generous invitation from Beth McCarthy to attend the DVCC luncheon and hear Meredith Baxter speak about courage and hope. I am inspired.
• The daily emails from Liz & Melissa who are an immovable, indescribable support system.
• The phone call and encouragement from Judi (not the Jazzer Judi) to keep me on track.
• My videographer Alan Mack, his sidekick Kobi, who made my first day of filming for eHow fun and easy (well except for the zillion push ups). I can definitely say I've made a new friend.
• The sweet Kimberly Colletto and folks at BreakThru Fitness who generously lent their space for filming. Kim and her clients touched me with their kind words and made me feel like I actually knew what I was doing.
• The sassy ladies who came to Latin Night not just to shimmy, but to shine, and associate Terri Vanech who captured it as beautifully as only she can in her prolific blog post.
• The Checkered Flag team who welcomed five new members and took on the 42 miles of the NYC Five Boro Bike Tour with as much laughter as determination.

When you take time to reflect, no matter what transpired over the week, there is always some goodness to be found.

The only thing I can think of to say is thank you.

We're a "Must Do"

As a perennial list maker, I get very excited about lists, especially those that challenge me to take action. Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Six Ways to Blast Belly Fat, Eight Steps to Spiritual Enlighlment, Ten Power Foods.....you get the picture, I'm on it!

So it was a great honor to learn that my business made Stamford Magazine's list of 50 Reasons We Love Our City:  Things You Must See, Must Do, Must Eat.   

Our Jazzercise classes are a Must Do!

That, as my dad would have said, is a no brainer!  We all need exercise every day, so why not choose something that's effective AND fun.  I mean who wants to be bored to death schlepping along on the treadmill?

And what serendipitous timing with our Semi Annual Sale January 7-9th when you can join for NO $$$.  

No Joining Fee, 

No payment for January.  

Just dance, and sweat, and sing along to PitBull and......

 

Put it on your list today.....or better yet,  just DO it!  

What are you waiting for?  You've got 49 other things on the list to tackle!