Think about it for a moment. Your body’s whole purpose is to be a home for your spirit, a frame for intentional movement, a space for your life-sustaining organs, a daily companion for your soul. A vital resting place at the end of the day and a launch pad at the beginning, it’s what we do between the waking and the sleeping that greatly determines how well our body lives. Your essence—your energy-- is the meaning for it’s existence, and it will do everything it can to protect you, to support, energize, heal, rejuvenate and strengthen you from the inside out.. If this isn’t a beautiful expression of Love, I don’t know what is!
Sunset on the Ocean, Cape San Blas Sometimes, after an intense day, sleep just doesn’t come. Unwinding mentally so you can rest involves unwinding physical tension. Begin with your feet. Take a deep breath in thru the nose and hold it while you stretch your toes wide apart. Then exhale thru the mouth and relax. Now squeeze your toes as if you were making fists with your feet and hold, hold, hold your breath. exhale as you relax your toes. Then lift your leg 2 inches off the bed and squeeze your leg muscles; exhale and drop your leg. Move to the other leg. Makes fists with your hands, lift your arms 2 inches off the bed; exhale deeply as you drop your arms. Lift your legs and your arms and squeeze your belly, then exhale and release. Finally, squeeze your face like a prune and, on a big exhale, let go. Sink into your mattress….
I have learned over the years to return the love my body has for me, to express my gratitude .for its constant attention, whether I am awake or asleep (because our bodies are always “on”). I have learned how to feed it healthy foods that won’t hinder it’s ability to help keep me well,, how to pamper it with self-care habits that keep it relaxed, strong and limber, when to give it rest and when to put it to work, what it needs to feel joyful and content, how to shield it from worry and anxiety—and when I can’t do that, how to help it manage the negative energy that comes my way, whether I like it or not. Above all, I’ve learned how not to repeat the destructive path that I was on as a young woman who didn’t know any better than to push herself beyond her limits and gauge my body’s worth by the opinions of others and my own very narrow view of life. I do all of this imperfectly of course, but my strong will is joined at the hip to live a life filled with vibrancy and purpose!
Sunrise on the Bay, Cape San Blas Ahhh… It’s easier to respond to whatever the day may bring if we spend a moment centering ourselves. Start with 3 gentle breaths in and out of the belly. Then bring your hands to your center chest and imagine taking a long, long breathe in from the soles of your feet through the top of your head, intersecting in the heart. Exhale slowly and deeply through the mouth and feel your ribs soften downward under your hands. Do 2 minutes of this and mediate on how you want to respond to people and situations today. Speak a prayer of thankfulness and ask for guidance—notice a feeling of focus and ease!
Your body is in love with you! What will you do to return the love? This affair is meant for a lifetime and it deserves your attention, nurturing and a clear vision for it’s future, one that is sustainable and brilliant!
When mindful awareness, focused breathing, strengthening and lengthening of joints and muscles, intentional balance and alignment and personal commitment come together for my Personal Training clients, they are on their way to a whole new health paradigm. This is how I train, this is how I coach, and this is how someone’s courage to try something new truly changes their life. I would love to help you find that sweet spot!—contact me and let’s start a conversation about your unique needs and how you want to love your body back. (P.S. I have some great specials this summer on training packages of 10 and there’s no time like the present to create a better future)
Be Well! Carol
Find more info about my Personal Training and Health Coaching programs here!
My precious daughter Savannah and me, Cape San Blas—our happy place! We’ll be there again this September for my birthday and I can’t wait!
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