What is Mindfulness?

By one definition, mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment.

Yet mindfulness also involves acceptance. Meaning that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judging them-without believing. For instance, that there’s a “right” or ‘’wrong” way to think or feel in a given moment. When I practice mindfulness, my thoughts tune into what I’m sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.

I don’t train client’s much anymore because of my amazing, competent team of Functional Aging Specialists. Also because I MUST be mindful of the things that need to be done to move my business forward. As a result, my day consists of working ON my business with focus and purpose to reach as many people as I can with our unique approach to health and fitness for the de-conditioned and over 50 crowd.

 A Real Treasure

One of the treasures of training clients for years and years is the plethora of ideas that are given me on topics to write to you about. Referred to us by a local physical therapist, a woman recently hired us with a long term experience of chronic pain and as a result was full of fear that this pain would reoccur and could possibly be triggered by exercise.

After consulting with her, it became clear to me the limitation she was primarily dealing with was the fear. I visited with her regarding ways she could be mindful and mostly visited with Jay who would be her trainer. She asked me later if I would consider a workshop on the subject of “mindfulness” and I must say I’m considering it.

Thus I thought I’d write to you a bit about mindfulness first, get your feedback and share some personal hacks that help me to stay in the present moment, mindful of doing the “Next Right Thing”.

My Mindful Practices for you to Takeaway

• Re-hydrating my body upon waking with a full 20 oz. glass of water
• Using Keto//Kreme in my coffee to give my brain the “good” fats it needs to start my day with mental clarity and focus. For more information and where to order https://goo.gl/DTLJRe
• Spending 30 minutes in spiritual study time and I may do this in different ways
  • I consider Richard Rohr my spiritual guide and follow his daily meditations, read from his books or attend his on-line courses. For more information visit https://cac.org/
• Meditating for 20 minutes and have had different practices over the years
  • Christ Centered Prayer is my foundational meditation practice https://goo.gl/Nea6XW centeringprayer.png
  • I have an app on my phone – Centering Prayer. (admittedly I mostly just like the timer and the sound of the Singing Bowl) I still practice the Christ Centered Prayer. Here’s what the app icon looks like
• Working out with 2 good friends 30+ minutes daily for the accountability and fellowship
• Take a daily inventory as needed using another phone app called Sacred Space. I use this to practice an “attitude of gratitude”, journal and self-reflect. For Sacred Space information, go here http://www.sacredspace.ie/
• Silent retreat 3 – 4 times per year to lehb shomea to mostly stop the noise in my head. http://www.lebhshomea.org/ I try not to take anything that adds to my mental mania as I really need to defrag! A few things that I do take with me …
  • My journal to reflect and to add to as things rise
  • Blank art paper to draw (scribble), color and Zen tangle … I can do this for hours when I’m alone.
  • If I read, it’s something from the library that is there. I read Gift of the Red Bird: The Story of a Divine Encounter by Paula D’Arcy last time I retreated.
  • A water bottle and weather appropriate gear because I walk and walk and walk for miles and miles on the numerous trails that are on the property.

I seriously had no idea where this newsletter was going. Please take what you like of the resources that help me to live a more physically, mentally and spiritually balanced life and leave the rest.

Please share my newsletter with your friends. You might just plant a seed in them and get to watch it grow!

Again, I’d love to hear back from you … what do you think of a Mindful Retreat sometime?

I am often blessed with opportunities to speak publicly regarding who I am as a person, what I do professionally as a small business owner, Functional Aging Specialist and published author, why I can help people change for the better and my approach to this. I network in my community, follow-up with phone calls and am passionate about helping others with their health and fitness. For any one or ALL of these reasons, you are now new to my newsletters and perhaps my studio. Welcome!

My desire in writing to you 2-3 times per week is not to annoy but to offer you my experience, strength and hope regarding physical, mental and spiritual wellness. Most all of my newsletters will look something like this ….

• A helpful fitness article and tip (usually motivational) and a great tried and true recipe
• A sharing from me regarding my personal recovery story in relation to the Twelve Steps of AA and in relation to a Higher Power who does for me what I cannot do for myself
• Client success stories
• Awesome promotions and opportunities to “give us a try”

I expect you will take what you like from my sharings and leave the rest. There is an unsubscribe button on every email if anything becomes too much for you or NOT helpful.

All in All

Almost 4 years ago now, I really “hit my bottom” regarding my mental and spiritual wellness and it began affecting me physically. I was struggling in relationship with my loved ones and with recurring shingles, both of which I blamed on external circumstances unwilling to consider what was going on inside of me.

A trusted friend suggested I attend Al-Anon, a 12 Step recovery program for families and friends of Alcoholics. It was in these rooms that I discovered that I was raised in the disease of addiction, married and gave birth to it.

Slowly, as I began to recover, I realized what a wonderful gift this program was. It gave me an understanding of this disease, the tools to change my life, the courage to use them, and a place to talk about my secrets and to hear others share theirs.

When I got to the Twelfth Step, it talked about carrying the message to others. I also took notice of the part about practicing these spiritual principals in ALL my affairs. As in my physical fitness, I came to understand that in living these principles I could carry the message by example and attraction rather than promotion.

My Healthy Reminder

It’s only natural to want to share what works for me with those I love and care about. But when I must share it now, I may be more interested in changing others than in sharing my experience, strength and hope. Like my physical fitness, I must work daily on improving the message my own attitudes convey.

I cannot exercise or eat right for you, only for me. I am powerless over other people, places or things but not over myself. It is a daunting task to radically begin to change, one that I can only do with a “willing” attitude one day at a time and in relationship with my Higher Power.

“We ought not to insist on everyone following in our footsteps, nor to take upon ourselves
to give instructions in spirituality when, perhaps, we do not even know what it is.” ~Teresa of Avila

… and so, it is in my personal sharing with you once a week that I will work my 12^th step by offering to you bits and pieces of my experience, giving credit to the One who gives me strength and with a LOT of hope and trust in the connectedness of all of our hearts!

Call me if you would like to start exercising in a safe and loving environment or just grab a cup of coffee somewhere and visit. 361-549-4604