Kicking it Up a Notch

How often do you really challenge yourself? This could be career, personal or physical challenges, or any combination.Every now and then it's important to raise the bar and surprise yourself and there's never a better time than the present.

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't want my life to be monotone, so I make it a point to look for ways to challenge myself -- physically, intellectually and even spiritually.

To give you an idea, let me share the most recent example of how I have been kicking my fitness level up a notch.

While I've been dabbling in yoga for awhile, I decided the best way for me to stretch myself physically, was to LITERALLY STRETCH myself. I already do a lot of cardio and strength training so this seemed to make a lot of sense. I began taking a yoga class , which was a bit more difficult than I had bargained for. Over the past three months I've pushed the boundaries of my physical abilities to do headstands, handstands and backbends. Aside from the headstand (which I do ocassionally on my own) , I really suprised myself with the other poses. Backbends? Who know at 42 I'd be doing backbends.

Currently the yoga pose called "bird of paradise" is still eluding me. But I am going to keep working on it

My challenge to you: Stretch Yourself - do a little more, work a little harder, GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.....Open yourself to learning and growing beyond what you know today. This will open you to discovering and embracing the opportunities that you attract.

And let me know how it goes...

K

PS At Jazzercise we're kicking off a new format for the month of March called Jazz to the Max. It's a way to take your workout (and your body) to the next level -- so if you're looking for that extra edge email me at khallett@optonline.net for details.

Lt. Daniel visits while on leave

On his very brief visit home, Lt. Daniel Merritt took time to visit the Jazzercise Fitness Center to thank those who participated in Operation Soccer Ball.

Click here to see a clip of his arrival

He spoke of how this initiative has grown in leaps & bounds and has made a difference in the lives of children in Iraq and how it has positively impacted the forging of relationships.

He thanked everyone for their support, especially his Aunt Eleanor (Jazzercise instructor!) who was so instrumental in spreading the word. He assured everyone that his replacement would carry on the work and that his plans were to expand the initiative to South Africa.

To read more about Operation Soccer Ball scroll back to the blog post on October 13, 2008.

And to find out more and how you can help, go to OPERATIONSOCCERBALL.ORG

Detox: Body & Mind

You know when it’s time to clear out clutter and streamline your closets, but what about your body and your mind? Detox seems to be the buzz word these days. It's NOT, however, a solution to weight loss, and there are a lot of sketchy products out there, so beware.

There are lots of ways to simple, healthy ways to "cleanse" by changing a few habits for a week, or even a day.

I recently finished a book called Give it Up: My Year of Learning to Live Better with Less In the book the author, Mary Carlomagno, gave up something different each month for a whole year. She became aware of the role various things like chocolate, alcohol, cell phones, shopping and more played in her life, and she Three detox ideas:

1) Media Cleanse -- consider curtailing (or going cold turkey) from Web surfing, TV watching, newspaper reading, and maybe even emailing. The media has a powerful effect on us and going on a media fast, especially these days, can be a wonderful way to PURGE your mind. Plus, you might be surprised at how you fill that extra time away from Facebook. Perhaps you'll finish knitting that sweater, read a good book, or write an old fashioned letter.

2) Clean Eating- Try a simple detox such as eliminating caffeine, sugar and alcohol and tune in to how you feel. And if you're feeling especially motivated, why not "detox" from processed foods altogether and try eating only whole, natural foods. This is a pure and easy way for physical detoxing, especially considering all the toxins and chemicals we are surrounded by. Plus, this is a safe an healthy approach to cleansing.

3) Finally, if you still need help to make it happen --- consider trying the NutriClean® 7-Day Cleaning System:

The NutriClean® Digestive, Liver and Colon Maintenance System found at www.marketamerica.com/khrfitness is a seven-day, three-step cleansing and detoxification system designed to optimize your digestive tract health by providing select nutrients and botanicals that cleanse and mildly purge the body of accumulated and potential toxins. It is an excellent cleansing tool that should be used twice a year for optimal digestive, liver and colon health and also promotes peristalsis. I am using NutriClean for the second time (tried it last January as well after holiday indulging). It's simple, mild and safe. It's inexpensive, you won't be in the bathroom all day and it tastes pretty good! I challenge you to try one of these cleansing approaches for a week (but even a day or two of 1 or 2 will make a difference!) . Don't fall for lots of gimmicks or expensive products. You can feel refreshed and lighter with simple changes. Be sure to post to let me know how it goes OR if you have another detox idea to share!

Community is part of health

The Annual Think Pink Fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation went without a hitch on Friday night.

We team taught a packed high energy class....

Followed by a beautiful party......

Delicious food & pink drinks.........

Handsome bartenders...............

And a raffle to knock your socks off. ....over sixty gorgeous baskets were donated....

With Tressa as the raffle "MC"................

And a lot of happy winners.......

And plenty of friends to enjoy the evening with.........

A HUGE thank you to EVERYONE who participated and donated, but especially Peggy (below right) & Beth (above center), our hostesses for the event.


The results were not only almost $8,000 raised for the cause, but also a profound sense that health is about more than your workout. Of course being in the fitness field, you'll never hear me advising someone against exercise, but I am continually realizing how much being a part of something bigger than yourself is key to optimal health.

When we become part of a community and surround ourselves with positive people, we clear away the negativity that exists around us and create more room uplifting energy and magical things to happen.

The evening finished with a goose bump performance of "Amazing Grace" by Christine Sinclair.

And as I listened, there was no doubt in my mind, that being part of THIS community is TRULY amazing!



FOR more photos check out my Facebook page...

Happy New Year!

Holiday hoopla is behind us now and it's back to a full work week. Hope your celebration was glorious. My New Year's Eve was quiet and relaxing - a movie marathon with my husband, Thai takeout, good wine and flannel pj;s!


Last night at my prayer group, my friend Lynne mentioned that her family made a list of the top 25 people who most impacted their family (she's got 5 kids!) in 2008....sort of like Time or People's list of most influential people of the year. Now when they see any of these people they are sure to let them know they made the Briody's Top 25 List.



I loved the idea and it got my wheels turning about my own list.



But first I began reflecting back on 2008. I decided to start with my 2008 Highlights.



In no particular order........


1. Finishing all 42 miles of the Five Boro Bike Tour and still being able to walk the next day.


2. Attending Tres Jazz in New Orleans with my mom and Jazzer-pals & the honor of teaching in the East Coast class.


3. Ten glorious days in Aruba with my hubby.


4. Finally resolving the floor issues at the Center and happily dancing on (and loving) our third floor.


5. The Jersey shore with my family and the first overnight babysitting adventure with Landon.


6. Coming out of surgery and seeing my husband waiting.


7. The honor of being one of the entrepreneurs featured in the new book "Sixteen Weeks to Your Dream Business."


8. The 5 pm call from the insurance company


9. A beautiful summer day and group of cool women for our Staff Outing - Accomplice in NYC.


10. Strengthening my faith during not only the "highlight" times, but the tough ones too.

Here's to a year of BOLD OPTIMISM!

Holidays in 2008

This year Tressa & Becky kicked off the holidays with the first-ever Thanksgiving Day class. It was full of energy and fun and we were ready to dig into the stuffing and pumpkin pie. Don't you love their matching camo?
Erika, Eleanor & I followed up the next day with our Annual Turkey Work Off.

The following week I hosted our Holiday Staff Brunch

We enjoyed a tasty menu (see above) and creative Secret Santa gifts, and a game to get to know a few secrets about one another......Beth was the big winner!

Joan opens a festive Secret Santa gift (above) and Pina gets a scarf that is 'so Pina!'

Meg checks out her gift, and Peggy's receives the perfect party gift.

The following day the Rzasa clan took a holiday adventure to NYC to see the Radio City Christmas Show. The tree is looking as beautiful as ever.

The following week we gathered at The Loft for martinis to celebrate
Becky (one of our newest instructors) & the BIG 3-0!

Obviously she didn't enjoy it much.

Many of our Jazzercise friends were on hand to celebrate plus our My Time for Me buddies, Tracy & Andrea (above). As a side note, the following week I went to a great Wine Party at Tracy's where I had the BEST ever mac & cheese. Let me know if you need a good mac & cheese recipe, she was willing to share it.

Pina, Mindy & I pose after working up quite a sweat on the dancefloor.
Mindy, another one of our fabulous instructors, also celebrated her 3-0 milestone this month.

Finally, on a personal note, along with several other holiday gatherings, I was able to spend time with one of my dearest friends, Melissa, on Christmas Eve day who was home from Raleigh before hosting our usual Christmas Eve dinner at our home.

I also made a visit to Princeton to my adorable nephew Landon on Christmas Day (oh and my brother and sister-in-law too of course :)!

It was a blessing to be with our family & dear friends during this special season.

Looking forward to a peaceful and joyful New Year!

29 Day Give

The holidays are always looked upon as the "season of giving". So I thought it would be a great way to begin the New Year with a GIVING challenge, in order to keep the momentum going.

I'm naming January the month for giving!

I have experimented with similar ideas and then I heard about Cami Walker and read her story on her site www.29gifts.org

And that's how it began.

The concept is simple.

"Give one thing away each day for 29 days.
Share your stories about how it impacts your life to focus on giving.

Why? Because to see the world change, we have to do something to change the world.
Plus, the best way to attract abundance into your life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude. Be an important part of the global giving movement that inspires more generosity on our planet. "

The "rules" can be found on Cami's site.

Be sure to register there (I promised her you'd all check out her site and give your feedback).

You'll also find a cool calendar to keep you on track and gift cards to share & inspire others
(hey, there you go -- give someone a gift card/calendar as your 1st "give"). I've already printed mine and am ready to go. I'm planning to start on Jan. 3rd.

Don't forget to post your comments and amazing results here and on www.29gifts.org.

Happy Giving!

Kristen

PS Now isn't this more fun than yet another resolution to lose 10 lbs?!

Celebrate your Success!


This time of year we are busy rushing and doing. Our to do lists become longer and longer and we become focused on DOING rather than BEING.

This week I challenge you to CELEBRATE your SUCCESSES.

How have you improved your health & well being this year?

If you're a Jazzerciser, let us know how you have benefited from Jazzercise.

Have you reduced your stress… lost weight…lowered your cholesterol…??

WE WANT TO KNOW!

Earn a BONUS POINT in our LIVE FIT LIVE GREEN contest when you email me your response at khallett@OPTONLINE.NET by Monday, Dec. 15th.

If you're not a Jazzerciser, I still challenge you to take time to celebrate your success.


You earned it!

Gratitude Challenge

The Gratitude Challenge

Some days it's easier to be appreciative than others, but if you really look, you can find something EVERY day to be grateful for. By acknowledging those blessings (even the smallest ones), you invite more abundance into your life.

I've tried to do it daily...writing down five things in my journal EVERY day that I'm grateful for. I must admit I'm not always consistent about it, and some days it's the most basic things - like that morning cup of coffee, or the fact that my car gets me to work in the morning.

Then at the end of the year, I try to make a list of 100 (yep, that's 100!) things I am grateful for in that year.

That's my challenge to YOU.

Grab your journal, open a fresh Word document, or type it into your Blackberry, whatever works for you.....but begin your GRATITUDE 100 list TODAY.

I will work on mine during my upcoming vacation (hey, there's one already - vacation.....99 to go), and will post it when I return. If you'd like to share, send yours along!

AND.......if you are a Jazzercise customer participating in our Holiday Promotion, you can earn ONE EXTRA BONUS point for your team when you bring your completed list to class by Thanksgiving. We'll add it to our Gratitude Wall (names optional).


Enjoy your attitude of gratitude!

Featured Entrepreneur

I recently had the honor of being featured in the book Sixteen Weeks to Your Dream Business: A Weekly Planner for Entrepreneurial Women By Nada Jones & Michelle Briody published this fall by Mcgraw-Hill.

Here's what Amazon had to say............

Plan the Business You've Always Wanted--One Week at a Time

Whether it's selling products you love, or creating a service you know people need, business start-up experts Nada Jones and Michelle Briody will take you step-by-step through the process of making your business aspirations a reality. From carefully planning out a bullet-proof business model, to marketing your business and finding a customer base, this planner helps you track your progress and nail down all the details that will make your business thrive.

Sixteen Weeks to Your Dream Business gives you

• Tips on researching your industry, competition, and potential customers
• Money management advice—from finding financing to bookkeeping and accounting
• Networking techniques to target new contacts and customers
• Forms, worksheets, and folders for ultimate organization and overall planning
• Valuable Web site links for resources, references, and more

Each chapter features a success from women business owners throughout the country. Yep, that's me on page 178. I guess you'll have to buy the book to see what it says! Check it out on Amazon or go to my web portal to order through Barnes & Noble or Border's AND be rewarded for your purchase.

Operation Soccer Ball

If you haven't heard.......OPERATION SOCCER BALL IS GROWING!

At Jazzercise customers and friends have been contributing to the efforts to assist Lt. Daniel Merritt (nephew of our instructor Eleanor Casale) in his efforts.

Please take a moment to read Lt. Merritt's latest message....and considering helping out.


We just partnered up with kickfornick.org, a program started to honor Nick Cevasco one of America's Finest who gave the ultimate sacrifice here in Iraq, it is another great organization that is helping bring soccer to kids in need. We also just got some hefty donations and many more balls are on the way. Buffalo Wild Wings has just sponsored Operation Soccer Ball and will be encouraging all customers to bring in deflated soccer balls in order to get more balls to the kids here in Iraq. The New England Revolution, also sponsored Operation Soccer ball and has donated hundreds of soccer balls.

This program is working and my platoon has been giving out soccer balls like candy over here in AL KUT. We are building new friendships, showing the Iraqi Police the power of community policing and the beauty of making kids smile "just because". We are sending the right message to the good people of Iraq, America Cares.




I have said this before and I believe this. Operation Soccer Ball has the ability to save lives. My platoon is constantly operating outside the wire, constantly patrolling with the Iraqi Police and training the Iraqi Police; this is what we do and we are great at it. On the flip side we are always exposed to the dangers here in Iraq. Military Police in general are always outside the wire and constantly risking our lives in the hopes to get Iraqi Security Forces where they need to be. We do this so when we leave Iraq, Iraq will be able to stand up on her own.

Operation Soccer Ball brings out the best in people, it creates a safety net for US Soldiers by creating positive relations wherever we go. We train, we fight, we rebuild, and we hand out soccer balls and play with the little ones, we make kids smile. We build friendships and repel the insurgency at the same time. It is hard to understand how handing out soccer balls can save a US soldiers life but try to think outside the box and you can see it as I do. We are spreading the joy of Soccer, building positive relationships, building Multi National cohesion, and providing great examples of community outreach and community policing for the future leaders of Iraq.

I have mentioned all the big sponsors that are getting involved but need to express the importance of individuals who have continued to send me balls.. Thanks so much.. This is where the majority of balls are coming from, individuals. They come in boxes, 1,2,10 at a time and it makes a world of difference to the kids here. This programs has been fueled by individuals who take a small amount of time to donate money to my site or send a box of balls to me over here in Iraq. I thank you all so very much for your generosity..

Please continue the support OSB and please continue to send balls and spread the word.. Check out OPERATIONSOCCERBALL.ORG to see the latest pictures and events. Thank you for helping the kids out over here. Thanks for keeping my soldiers safe...

1LT Daniel H Merritt
1/511th MP CO FOB (Forward Operating Base)
DELTA APO AE 09317
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Summer Staff Outing

It was that time of year again........time for our Summer Staff Outing.

This year our team hit the streets of New York City for an adventure that took us through the South Street Seaport, Chinatown, Little Italy and more!

Armed with a few initial bits of information, we were sent on a mission, aided by clues and mysterious cast members strewn throughout various locations such as street corners, bars, out of the way shops, and seedy alleys.

Pina and I study the map. We look at crazy choreography notes all the time....SURELY we can figure this out!!

Could this be our guy? He had us stumped at first....but sure enough he was our contact at the Brooklyn Bridge.

Yes, that is a large LIVE frog in my bag.

Hey it's New York, anything goes, right? No one even gave us a second look parading around with this little guy.

Tressa and I are determined to decipher our next clue.

How many Jazzercisers does it take to figure out which direction to go?

Maybe they have some secrets under those blue hats??

Fortunately it was a gorgeous day! Good thing we had our comfy shoes on.

We enjoyed a delicious meal afterwards at Angelo's of Mulberry Street followed by amazing deserts (Mindy and I went for the full size chocolate covered cannoli's).

Does it sound like I'm being mysterious? Okay, maybe a bit, but I think it's best if you go check it out for yourself:
Accomplice New York.

You'll be in for a lot of fun and adventure! And if by chance you see an albino midget named Abe holding a lemon -- ask him "How much for a twist, pale little man?"