Each sunrise is a new beginning; a chance to start over, to create new opportunities.
Each sunset; a chance to reflect, to celebrate your wins or say goodbye to your losses.
Each day a chance to be the best you can be.
Wake up with positive intentions.
Fall asleep with gratitude.
The benefits of child’s pose:
Releases tension in the back, shoulders and chest.
Recommended if you have dizziness or fatigue.
Helps alleviate stress and anxiety.
Flexes the body’s internal organs and keeps them supple.
It lengthens and stretches the spine.
Relieves neck and lower back pain when performed with the head and torso supported.
It gently stretches the hips, thighs and ankles.
Normalizes circulation throughout the body.
It stretches muscles, tendons and ligaments in the knee.
Calms the mind and body.
Encourages strong and steady breathing.
Open your eyes wide enough to notice all the beauty around you.
Open your ears wide enough to take the time to really listen.
Open your mouth to share kind words with others.
Open your mind to endless possibilities.
Today I was inspired in class by an 78 year old man joining the gym “before his body gave up” – his words not mine.
I inspired and helped a young overweight girl who gets bullied for her weight, by helping her set small and achievable goals.
I overheard an amazingly flexible yogi telling someone how great she thinks I am while all the while I watch her in my classes in complete awe and admiration as she inspires me to push myself further.
At the end of the class I went up to my 78year old smiling participant and congratulated him on doing so well, and thanked him for smiling throughout the entire class.
He thanked me for teaching him that the mind is more powerful than the body, and he now feels more determined than ever to keep practicing and moving.
What a truly amazing man!
Earlier in the week, my friend took on a new client; a 93 year old lady who wants to keep active!
She inspired my friend greatly and without even meeting her, she has already inspired me.
You are never too old to be an inspiration to others!
A breathing and meditation coach explained to me at the end of class that my explanations of the breath and meditation were beautiful and told me I had a gift.
Today I really believe that I do, I believe my gift was given to me the second I started following my heart, the minute I started doing what I love.
The moment I thought less about myself and more about others.
That gift keeps giving to me each and every time I help someone to achieve a little more, to find a little calmness, a little more happiness and self-empowerment.
True inspiration is found, when you realize that you are never too young or too old to learn from others, that you should always be the best person you can be as you never know who you are inspiring.
Most great things in your life won’t happen by chance, they will happen by choice.
I saw this sign at some markets on the weekend, and I have been thinking about choices ever since.
Everything we do in life is a choice.
Happiness, dedication, the will to succeed.
You can choose to feel great simply by changing your mindset, habits, situation.
You can choose to feel great on the inside by eating well, and choosing positive thoughts over negative ones.
You can choose to feel great on the outside by exercising, looking after your skin.
You can choose greatness.
Choose to be a winner or a quitter.
Choose whether you surround yourself with negative or positive people.
Choose greatness.
Everything is a choice!
Often when we are not getting the results we seek, we simply need to change our perspective and shift our focus.
This morning I did just this, I left an uncooperative computer inside and sat outside for ten minutes to regroup.
A coffee, an entertaining magazine, sunlight on my skin and a slice of delicious pumpkin bread later, I had re-focused.
My computer stopped being stubborn, more likely my head was just clear enough to focus…..
Ten minutes was all I needed (granted at times we need a little more) but suddenly my entire perspective had changed.
Sometimes it’s important to stop and wonder if you are actually insane.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Sometimes we simply need to find that ten minutes of down time, to stop, to breathe, to think and find clarity.
Find your rainbow through the clouds.
As I type I am sitting in a newly created zen room in my house, a place to exercise, a place to work, a place just for me.
I listen to music, I look out at my frangipani trees, a light breeze is blowing in through the windows, and I think about my life. I am currently working on some business plans, this morning I taught a fitness class.
I am doing what I love and I am loving what I do.
As I have said before, it isn’t always easy, yet if you love what you do, the obstacles suddenly become challenges rather than threats or annoyances, and every goal achieved however small is a huge win.
If you are not doing what you love or loving what you do, ask yourself why.
Is it fear?
Fear can be overcome.
Fear of ridicule, fear of failure, all thoughts in your mind, all can be changed.
Trust yourself, believe in yourself, love yourself enough to do what you love and then spend every waking minute loving what you do.
Don’t you owe it to yourself to be happy, then share that happiness with your partner, your colleagues, your parents, your friends, your kids.
Whatever you want to achieve, whether in your career, relationships or fitness, you must know clearly what you want.
What is your desired outcome?
Visualize it with absolute clarity.
Then set a plan on achieving it.
Then ask yourself honestly is your plan realistic.
With less than 2 months to go before Xmas, losing half your body weight is probably not a realistic goal.
Losing a few kilos and increasing the amount of push ups you can do probably is.
Do you think the Romans woke up one day and decided to build an amazing city tomorrow.
Every worthwhile dream and goal is worth working hard for.
Don’t put the extra pressure on yourself to achieve everything all at once (I am guilty of doing this a million times).
It’s not worth it though.
Enjoy your journey, you are working hard, why not savour each moment along the way.
Set mini realistic goals, and then celebrate each and every milestone.
