Archive for the ‘SELF’ Category

by Amber Shadwick

March 23

9:55 am

Friday Fitness: Connecting the Elements with Four Basic Yoga Asanas

As many of you may know, our (H3’s) annual spring Yoga Retreat is just around the corner. In efforts to engage and encourage more yoga into your daily routine, I have decided to make yoga this Fitness Friday’s theme. As the weather begins to shape up, and spring begins to bloom, let’s take our yoga outside and re-connect with the four classical elements.

There are four basic outdoor asanas (postures) that yoga practitioners can easily integrate into their outdoor practice. Each posture and the elements of nature they represent have a corresponding impact on the physical as well as the spiritual body.
For example, earth exercises help to provide a grounding effect on our physical and spiritual body. These postures/exercises help to add more stability. Meanwhile, wind postures/exercises represent the ability to achieve freedom and self expression. These will help to nourish your body. Fire exercises present strength, power and zest. These postures represent the continual effort to meet and achieve goals. And lastly, water postures/exercises are the closing postures in your outdoor asana practice. The element of water represents rejuvenation and calm. As you practice your water asana outdoors, feel the elements of nature like a tide washing through your body. Let the water flood your body with soothing energy. As the water asana helps to calm and sooth, it resulting exceeds past your physical body and into your spiritual body.

(Descriptions below)

Read the rest of this entry.

This entry is filed under Fitness, Healthy Lifestyle, SELF.

by Jeff Ford

March 18

9:00 am

1 Comment

Coaching Corner: Are You Thriving?

Yesterday, I was sent a copy of the book, “Organize your Mind, Organize your Life” co-authored by Margaret Moore (Coach Meg), the leader of ACSM’s WellCoaches Program and Certification. I am very excited to delve into the first Chapter this weekend because, to the simplest effect, Coach Meg knows how to provide perspective. I truly enjoy reading books that provide perspective on self-improvement and novels that provide insights on creating change within my life. I’m honestly not one of those readers that can go fiction because I believe we only have so many hours and years to become our best selves. Also, I believe that we all exhibit such potential in what we can get out of our lives and that when we start to lose sight of that and get complacent with our status, we aren’t truly living.

Along those lines, would you say that you’re currently thriving in your life? Do you know the difference between thriving and happiness? Like happiness, it’s different for each and every one of us, but I believe thriving is more distinct and powerful. As Coach Meg describes it in the video below, thriving is life with a deeper living. For me, thriving has richer meaning from the standpoint that I am getting the most out of my life, my strengths and my capabilities. It’s pushing the limits, doing things that I didn’t even think were possible and inspiring others to create change.

After watching Meg’s clip, post your top three values that allow you to thrive! What sets you on fire? What are your driving forces? What lights up your eyes?

Thriving Jeff…

#1: Making a difference in the lives of others.

#2: Inspiring thru strength, health, and fitness milestones.

#3: Connecting socially and mentally with who I truly am.

Check out my personal blog for more detail on these thrive attributes…

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Bob Wright

March 1

1:17 pm

6 Comments

A Moment Of Peace From Hawaii

Aloha, from Hilton Head. Yes, I am back to the grind (if you call living on Hilton Head and working at H3 the grind). As I mentioned in my last blog, the best thing about returning from vacation is the knowing that I am coming home to a beautiful place and a job I enjoy. I promise that this is the last time I will talk about my trip, but I had to share one more amazing experience that we had with you. On our last day in Maui, we wanted to keep it simple—nothing too strenuous because we were facing the long trip home that evening. So we consulted our excellent guide book, Maui Revealed, for some ideas.

We decided to take a drive along the scenic northwest coast of Maui. The road was described as narrow and windy and we were cautioned to drive slowly and keep our eyes on the road (difficult to do with the incredibly beautiful scenery). Well, we soon found out that narrow meant REALLY narrow, in fact one lane in many places, with one stretch of road being one lane for a whole 1.5 miles. Not only was it narrow, there were many sections without guardrails and sheer cliffs only a few feet away from our tires. The picture below gives you pretty good idea of what road was like.

kahekili one lane no guardrail1 A Moment Of Peace From Hawaii

Kahekili Road

I can tell you that there were times my heart rate was as high as it gets during a vigorous cardio workout. Having said that, when we had the chance to pull off the road, and take in the views on solid ground, it provided one of the most relaxing and calming moments of our time on Hawaii.

Sometimes when things get hectic and the stressors of life begin to pile up, it’s good to take a mental break, stop, close your eyes, and think about something pleasant or calming. It doesn’t make the stress go away but it might help put it in perspective—or least create a temporary reprieve. Here is the picture I am going to see in my mind’s eye the next time I need to take that mental break.

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Lisette Volz

February 23

4:30 pm

3 Comments

Letting Go

As many of you already know, I have been patiently waiting for my house in Columbia, SC to sell so my children and I can get our own place on the island. At least, I thought I was being patient.

I think it’s important to know that my house is adorable — any buyer would be lucky to own it, thus I was certain it would sell in a matter of weeks. I clung to this dysfunctional optimism despite many negative reassurances from anyone and everyone that the idea of my house selling quickly was laughable. Okay, they didn’t come right out and laugh, but their knowing grins were just as irritating.

My house remained on the market month after month and my frustration grew, mostly because I couldn’t reconcile my expectations with the reality. My house was supposed to sell quickly. I was supposed to get close to the asking price. None of that was happening and the kids and I are still living with my parents.

In my “Letting Go” lecture last week I heard myself saying that “An expectation is a premeditated resentment.” Soon after, I realized that my expectations about when and how my house should sell were creating just such resentments. Each month that my house remained on the market my resentments grew.

The notion that expectations are future resentments is applicable to so many aspects of life. How often do we harbor resentments because people don’t do or behave just as we expect? How often do we allow resentments or frustrations from vacations or events that didn’t go exactly as we planned to steal all possible enjoyment? Expectations are often elusive attempts at control. Not until we let go of our need for control can we allow the universe to do its magic which results in a wonderful byproduct, serenity.

Letting go is part of the realization that we can’t control others, and to some extent, outcomes. Letting go is the belief that things are exactly how they should be regardless of whether or not it’s what we wanted. Don’t get me wrong, I realize that last sentence sounds a little too simple and that letting go is not a passive endeavor but rather an active choice – one that can be very difficult to make. However, what a great choice…cling to your rigid expectations and live in caustic resentment or give up your expectations and see where life takes you with fascination and curiosity?

With this reminder, I visited my home in Columbia and had my own little letting go ceremony. I reflected on many joyous memories the house has afforded me through the years — Gabrielle grinning from ear to ear with outstretched arms for me to lift her from her crib; Delany laughing hysterically when I sang the lollipop song; Raucous parties with dear friends, and many more. I was filled with gratitude which transformed my expectations and resulting resentment into a desire for the house to make it into the hands of just the right family, no matter how long that took.

And guess what happened…the universe did its magic two weeks later. My house is under contract! Ah, the joy of letting go.

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Jessica Lynn

February 21

4:54 pm

No Comments

Big Or Small

Every day we are faced with making decisions. What will I have for dinner? Should I get up to exercise in the morning or try and fit it in after work? What preschool should I send my children to? Am I saving enough for retirement? Should I get that preventive diagnostic test – what if they find something wrong with me? Whether it is a financial commitment, a change in your career, committing to the love of your life, or simply an apple or a Snicker’s bar at snack time…we are constantly facing the need to make a decision about something.

Sometimes this seems overwhelming. I know I drive my friends and family crazy with the dreaded “what do you want for dinner?” question. Unless I’m truly craving something, I have a hard time being the one to make the decision because I don’t want to pick something the other person doesn’t really want. You can imagine if I have trouble with this small question, the anxiety some of the larger decisions cause!

That’s why I like to ask myself this one simple question – “Is it Big or Small?” I think it really helps me in two ways: 1) if the answer is small, then it reminds me there is no real harm in making the decision and moving forward either way, and 2) if the answer is big, I work to bring my mind out of the emotion of the decision and try to get a clearer view of the facts, weigh the pros and cons, and make the decision from that mindset rather than the emotional scrambled thoughts that tend to rise so naturally.

So whatever decision you are facing today, just ask yourself, is it Big or Small? Then go from there… and go with passion, confidence and energy… because if you don’t, you truly will not be able to tell if you made the right decision or not because your heart’s not in it. Wishing you all the best in your Big and Small decisions!

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Lisette Volz

January 26

4:36 pm

3 Comments

The Problem with Inspiration

Beware: this blog is going to start with me whining.

I don’t want to write a blog. I’m uninspired. Why do I have to do this? I don’t have time to come up with pearls of wisdom in between lectures, lecture development, consults and consult follow-ups. What am I, Andy Rooney? Blah, Blah, Blah. (Mr. Moore, if you are reading this, please read a little further before deciding whether or not to fire me).

The key word in my whine-fest above is uninspired. Being uninspired is a frequent fact of life. That is why the Tony Robbins and Dale Carnegies of this world have made such a good living. People will happily pay for inspiration and motivation. In fact, if there were a pill I could take that would keep me inspired or motivated, I wouldn’t hesitate to fill that prescription (even if the side effects included an eye twitch and skin irritation).

Since there is no such pill, I put my “big girl panties on” and pulled out some familiar tools that help ignite my inspiration. One of my favorite tools is the simplest of all – reading. I have a plethora of inspirational books on topics ranging from fear, spiritual enlightenment, gratitude, parenting, and emotional insight, just to name a few. They sit by my bed, pile up at my office and sometimes travel with me in the car (not to worry, I rarely drive and read at the same time). I don’t judge myself for not reading them all at once, or all the way through. I have found that just when I decide to pick one up, even if it’s for the briefest of reads, I always hear something that I was meant to hear. In this case – the case of the uninspired bellyaching, I picked up a book about imagining your life without fear. BINGO –inspiration!

My heart started racing as words jumped from the pages, entering my bloodstream with all the stimulation of a cup of espresso followed by a Red Bull. Being Fearless is exactly what I needed to hear. But alas, the very definition of a blog is a “brief diary-like entry on the internet.” I’ve moved way past brief, so my enlightenment about fear will have to wait until my next blog. (A cliff-hanger of sorts).

The point of all this? Inspiration doesn’t just descend on you when needed. It’s not like the proverbial “light bulb going off.” There’s not one switch that turns it on. Inspiration takes work. It takes effort. However, the payoff is amazing. It ignites passion, creates forward movement, and feeds the body, mind and spirit all at once. YUM!

What are your tools for inspiration? Make a list right now of strategies and tools that you use for inspiration to workout, eat right, and stay emotionally healthy. Do they include reading inspiring articles and books? Journaling or connecting with like-minded, goal oriented individuals? How about surfing the internet for new information on your passion (have you discovered Ted.com yet)? Do you collect a list of favorite mantras or moving quotes? Do you keep a list of your achievements readily available as a reminder of how far you’ve travelled on this fantastic journey?

What will you do to stay inspired today? Just waking up doesn’t count. Just going into work doesn’t count. Just working out doesn’t count. Go deeper. Go bolder. Make the effort — Because finding inspiration makes the journey much more interesting and worthwhile.

P.S. Mr. Moore, thank you for making me write this blog. I am grateful to have a career where cultivating inspiration is part of my job description.

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Jessica Lynn

January 24

2:32 pm

No Comments

Focus

These days, mornings are definitely a challenge. Hala, soon to be 3, is a little “slow-moving”, to put it nicely. Whether it is changing her mind about what she wants to wear, resisting brushing her teeth, wanting breakfast before getting dressed or simply just not wanting to do anything just yet… she finds a way to stall. Her knew favorite word (which she can clearly say, but we’re still working on learning the meaning of) is “focus”. Whether it’s a toy that’s out of place, a question she recalls from the previous night (“What’d you have for dinner last night, Mama?”), or something her little sister is doing – her world is full of distractions.

Life can be full of distractions, can’t it? It is so easy to be pulled into conversation, “play” with the newest technology revelation, entertain that mind game in our heads encouraging procrastination, or wallow in feelings caused by a previous situation for far longer than anticipated. Much of our time can be wasted on these unnecessary side turns.

Just think, what if each and every moment of your day was filled with purpose? Don’t get me wrong… “down time” or “play time” can certainly be purposeful, so this wouldn’t be a life without relaxation or fun! How accomplished would you feel? How content? The only moments we are guaranteed are the ones we are living right now. So how can we strive, then, to focus on each moment with purpose?

Start each day with a mental review of your life vision and what you hope to accomplish for the day. A glass full of optimism wouldn’t hurt either.
Practice mindfulness exercises so that you can start each task with a clear and open mind. Be present in the moment. Don’t spend your time worrying on what lies ahead, or gravel in the past. The past is gone, now is here.
Establish a schedule that works with your daily energy flow. Assign “brain tasks” when you feel alert and focused, and plan your physical activity to give oxygen to the brain and stimulate its activity.
Anticipate the need for change. Four years ago my focus was directed mainly on my career, creating a retirement fund, things of that nature… Now, I find myself researching preschools and contributing to 529 plans. Identifying the need to change focus is different than losing focus – they should not be confused.

Take a moment to reflect on the past 5 years and look forward to the next 5… what’s different for you? What can you do today to help you focus on where you want to be five years from now?

Quote from Disney’s “Princess and the Frog”… a bit of advice from Tiana’s father:

Tiana:

Charlotte’s faity tale book said,

if you make a wish on evening star

it shoulda come true.

Tiana’s Daddy:

Hmmh, won’t you wish on that star, sweetheart?

- Yes, you wish and you dream with all your little heart.

But you remember dear Anawet,

that old star can only take you part of a way.

You got to help him with some hard work of your own.

And then…

Yeah you can do anything

you said you mind to.

Just promise your Daddy one thing?

That you’ll never, ever lose sign

what is really important.

from The Princess and The Frog

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Jessica Lynn

January 10

4:38 pm

No Comments

Are You Ready?

This morning I went in for my pre-natal visit, and when my doctor informed me that I would be coming in now every 2 weeks, it suddenly hit me how quickly my due date is approaching! Because I’m a planner by nature, my mind instantly went to, “Oh, my gosh, am I ready, what needs to be done?”

Now, a few hours later, I’m settling into my thoughts. Life has its way of hitting us with the unexpected, doesn’t it? In my case, the event is expected, it’s the timeline that’s out of my hands. No matter how much we prepare, there is always something that comes up that wasn’t in the picture we envisioned. How resilient are you when “life” hits you with a whammy – positive or negative!? Life’s curve balls are things like an injury, illness, divorce… but it can also be a surprise birthday party, a promotion that changes your routine, or, like me, a new little member to your family.

If you can keep a clear understanding of your vision and set forth each day with the mindset to do the best you can do that day to move closer to your vision, that’s really all you can ask of yourself. Of course we all have days when we are ineffective or hinder that progress, but the sooner we can bounce back, the greater chance we have to realize that vision. If we can ask ourselves, before each decision we make, “Will this take me closer or farther from my goal?”, and make the choice that takes us closer at least 7 out of 10 times, resilience is ours.

What’s your vision? Is your path still leading to one that motivates and inspires you? What can you do today to take one step toward that goal? If I could wish one thing for you for 2012… it would be Resilience. Happy 2012!

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Alicea Glover

December 25

9:01 am

1 Comment

Wellness Coaching Coaching Corner Defining Family

I’ve been on Hilton Head Island now just shy of 2 years and to tell you the truth it gets tough being so far from home at times. If I want to visit with my Dad or Grandmother, it’s onlya 19-hour drive or 4-hour plane ride away to make it happen. Quite a haul and with a busy lifestyle, lots of races, I definitely don’t get enough opportunities to head up north. When I’m there though, I fully take advantage.

How do I manage? Straight out of college, no immediate family members in the vicinity, I must get homesick right? Well of course we all miss our families at times, but what really makes someone a member of your family?

According to the Merriam-Webster online Dictionary there are several definitions for family. A group of people who live under one roof, group of common ancestry; however the one I like the most reads as so: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation.

So far from home I think it’s essential to establish a family. The biggest supports we have in our lives don’t just include the environments we set up or the structures we put in place, but the people we surround ourselves with on a daily basis.

Take a good hard look this holiday at the people in your life who’ve contributed to the person you are today. Give only your time to the individuals who’ve impacted you positively and focus not just on your immediate family, but the people outside of your relatives that you wouldn’t go a day without.

For me, this holiday will be spent with my immediate family and for that I am without words, very grateful. On the Island, I am fortunate to have surrounded myself with a group of individuals who truly share the same passions for life as I do. Hilton Head Health Staff and Guests, CrossFit Hilton Head, and my roommates will always be considered family. Who do you consider family this season? Make sure they know how much you care. Tis’ the season!

Happy Holidays.

JeffsFamily Coaching Corner Defining Family

Jeff’s Team at the NH Marathon October 2, 2010

This entry is filed under SELF.

by Lisette Volz

December 20

2:26 pm

2 Comments

When It’s Time to Reboot

A couple of weeks ago I had the mulley-grubs (no, it’s not a strange skin condition or parasite). The mulley-grubs are more like a state — similar to being in a rut. I was cranky for absolutely no significant reason and everything seemed to take more time and effort.

Not one to dwell in the mulley-grubs, I quickly planned a girl’s weekend in Charleston with my best friend. We shopped, danced and laughed. Voila! No more mulley-grubs. It took just a 24-hour routine shake-up to “reboot” and shed the mulley-grubs.

It’s important to take notice of tiny ruts and sprinkle them with magic so they don’t become large ruts or a draining depression. It’s vital to change routines and spice up relationships so the mundane or everyday doesn’t transform into resentments and deprivation… that sense of missing out. It’s easy to slip into martyrdom where our happiness is on the other side of, “If only I had…If only I could…When this happens I’ll be happy.”

Possible cures for the mulley-grubs include an impromptu road-trip. Romance—booking a hotel room for you and your spouse and enjoying room-service (use the element of surprise by booking it at the last minute, in the middle of the work week). Also, try learning a new sport that’s completely out of your comfort zone. In fact, stepping out of your comfort zone is always a great way to challenge the mundane.

Being of service to others is another terrific way to break life’s monotony, as well as wake us from the martyrdom malaise. When we find ourselves helping others less fortunate than us, it quickly transforms that feeling of missing out into gratitude for what we already have.

Chances are that several of your friends are stuck in a rut as well. Get together and collectively decide on a new project, hobby or endeavor you can all do with excitement. Perhaps, it’s a fitness challenge— learning to belly dance or volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Just make sure it’s something you look forward to and leaves you with a smile when you’re done.

Whatever strategy you use to reboot, make sure it’s health-enhancing. Destructive efforts to test the status quo will lead you further into unhealthy emotions and self-loathing. Always use the mulley-grubs as an opportunity to grow or connect.

What will you do today to reboot?

This entry is filed under SELF.

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