5 Ways to Feed Your Spirit!

At the end of the day and not to get morbid, but at the end of your life...it is ALL about relationships and the connections you made while living.  I'm (hopefully) not nearing the end yet, but I can tell you, as I approach my 30th birthday, the moments that re-enter my mind on the daily are the ones with friends & family.  The moments where I grow, where I was scared and where I did it any way.

Let your love for community, spirit and self be one.

BUT HOW DO I FEED MY SPIRIT, SELF & COMMUNITY?

Here are 5 Ways:

1. Connect or reconnect with people who energize and lift you up!

2. Go to your favorite class and let the teacher know how much you treasure them.

3. Walk in nature, outside the gym and breathe in all the oxygen from the trees and fresh air.  It's seriously like drinking a cup of coffee!

4. Do something you LOVE!  For you.  No one else.

5. Pick up a good book and share it.

Bottom line, do something you love, talk about it & press repeat.

Are you scared to succeed?

Are you willing to take the steps to succeed or do you fold right before you reach the gold?  I've failed so many times it is unbelievable, and there are moments when nothing but doubt has a hold on my heart and soul.  But I take a deep breath and say, "If I can just get through today."

Working from home, trying to establish myself as a health coach in Seattle has its pleasures and pains.  As any small business owner will tell you.  There are moments I feel like giving up and working for some big corporation, reveling in the paid vacation and benefits, but than I start thinking about my freedom.  The results in my life come from what I put in every day.  So there is only me, myself and I who controls my success.  I am willing.  I am working on patience.  I am in control of my destiny.

Who controls yours?

This Maya Angelou Quote Stuck Out the Most!

"Never make someone a priority when all you are to them is an option."

- Maya Angelou

I could not agree more.  A woman wise enough to see the beauty in life.  She had a way of making the most profound statements in the simplest words.  A woman who said, deal with the problem and move on gracefully.

It might be all the sunshine we've been receiving in the Great Northwest, but I've found myself reflecting on all the gifts life has offered.  I don't believe in luck, unless you win the lottery.  But I do believe when hard work and preparation meet opportunity AND you accept, that is when life truly begins.  At least a phase of it.

My aunt said, "Whatever you do, don't get stuck...Keep on trying new things, move forward, but don't get stuck wondering what you should be doing.  Don't stop until you find it."  I LOVE THAT.  This was in response to me telling her I felt stuck.

Does it ever seem like when 3/4's of your life is going right, there's still that 1/4 holding you back?  Or making you feel like, "When is that going to happen?"  It's the damn phases of life.

In my early twenties it was the career & friendship category that thrived and the messy relationship that never found the recipe to success.

I'm finding in my late twenties, I have the relationship, the family and deep rooted solid friendships and now it's the career!  I've come to one realization and that is, that I don't want a boss.  I want to create a life I love, a job I love and a job that FULLY supports me in every way.  I LOVE being a Health Coach & Yoga Instructor, so I'm going to devote myself and give the extra oomph to excel in the fitness, nutrition and wellness world.  At least I know the direction...right?  

What is it for you?  Are you stuck somewhere?  OR are you feeling balanced?  If so, give yourself a pat on the back.  Finding balance in all facets of life is I think, the most difficult.  Maybe it's easy for you.  That is AWESOME.  Don't question it, just go with it.

So to all the fellow, "I'm stuck in this part of my life..."  You've got a friend in me. :)

Ayurvedic Event in Seattle!

Sign up HERE!

I am honored to be a part of this trifecta of health, wellness and friendship!  This is a CAN'T MISS EVENT!  & best of all, cost covers the snacks served!  Eat for the season!

Photo Speak with Yoga!

3 Questions to Ask Yourself

Phases of Life.  We go through so many!  Some phases we think, "why the hell did I have that hair color for 5 years?"  Another phase has us wondering, "why didn't I take that job?"  One phase asks us, "Why did I do that?"  It's the phase of regret.  Then comes the final phase, "the last breath."  And that final phase puts everything into perspective.  The things that matter start to become crystal clear and the little things that bothered us become non-existent.

What phase of life are you in?  The "try everything once" phase?  The "I gotta get my shit together" phase?  Or how about the "what am I doing with my life" phase?  Right now I'm in the "grieving" phase.  Someone close to me is on his last phase.  Family is gathered around him and he is taking long and deep breaths as he squeezes hands and tries with all his might to wrinkle his lips into a half smile.  A gesture to let people know he feels their presence.

Death reminds us that life is short.  And that you should try everything until you find something that sticks.  Living your life with purpose will make it meaningful.  But you can't find someone else's purpose and make it your own.  You can't emulate someone else's passion.  You must find what makes you come alive.  What doesn't feel like work to you?  What do you look forward to?  There are a million jobs out there and a million to create.  So either find one that is already established or invent one.

If you haven't found your purpose yet, keep looking!  Nothing is worse than sitting still and waiting for your dream job.  Word to the wise, waiting for your dream job is pointless.  You must go get it.  And don't worry if you are working a job you can't stand, there are other jobs, put in your time, find a new one and move on!  But don't stop.  Stop only when you've reached your goal...and then keep going.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. Who's job do I want to have?
2.  Who do I admire most and what do they do?
3. Who do I need to talk to in order to make my dreams come true?

This is the starting phase.  So get going!

10 Observations after AdvoCare's 10 day cleanse...

YES!  These are the food + supplements we had on the cleanse.  Proof that clean food tastes good!!!

My boyfriend + I just completed AdvoCare's 10 Day Cleanse.  It is recommended to do one every 90 days, this is because we get lazy, we start thinking that chips and salsa are a food group and our workouts slack in the summertime..."IT'S SO HOT!  I SHOULD STAY INSIDE AND DRINK THIS MARGARITA."  WRONG!

I am a rep for Quest Bar.  This means, I sometimes get free boxes of bars shipped to my house.  This also means that a time or two, Quest Bars were used to replace meals.  There might've been a time when I ate 4 in one day....whoops.  SH*T HAPPENS.

I decided to do my third cleanse because I felt less energetic, my sleep lacked quality and my skin wasn't as glowy.  The cleanse forced me to drink almost a gallon of water a day, up my protein and veggies and eliminate the chips and salsa, quest bars and booze for 10 days.

Here's what I've observed:
1. My body loves water.
2. My skin looks glowy when I don't stuff my face with chips.
3.  I am sleeping 8 hours a night.
4. Muscles are beginning to say hello in the mirror.
5. My energy starts at 6:30am and goes until 10:30pm.
6.  I've done more fun activities around Seattle, because no happy hours/no drinking/no meals out.
7. My yoga teaching skills have improved because of the new energy.
8.  I lost some inches.  Didn't measure but my jeans tell me the truth.
9. I want people to feel this good.
10. Balance is key.

advocare.com/130231382 I will help you order your 10 day cleanse.  Stop wishing, start doing.

How do you decide when to go for it?

IN A NUTSHELL:

• Yoga Instructor teaching a minimum of 8 weekly classes at 3 different studios and gyms in Seattle.
• Health Coach helping 3-5 clients per month balance.  Our sessions are on the phone or in person, if local to Seattle.
• Founder of walkntalkwellness, a small group health coaching program for women, including: yoga, walks, hikes and balanced life talks.
• Director of Marketing at Fruition Yoga & Wellness, promoting corporate yoga programs, teacher training and special events at the studio and designing marketing materials, updating social media and much more.
• Independent Distributor for AdvoCare helping men and women reach their health, wellness and financial goals.
• Blog writer.  Photo uploader.  Paleoish eater.  Former sugar addict.  Soul talk craver. & much more.

Here I am, offering tips and istening skills to women and men across the world who are trying to find more balance in their lives.  I've come to realize that when I coach others, I see my struggles within them.  It is so much easier to connect the dots in their lives than in my own.  That is why I admire people who go out on their own and create something wonderful with their lives.  I'm not talking about people who go out on their own, I'm talking everybody.

I think of my Mom who works at Newport High School and has been a listening ear to students for over a decade.  Or my Dad who is a civil engineer, making transportation decisions, like bridges, stable enough to drive over.  My Sister who is almost 25 and slowly figuring out what she wants to do.  (Remember 25)?  One word: Confusion.  I think of my brother who is in a Master's program to be a Counselor.  Helping people like you and me figure out their lives.

My Sister in Law who is working as a Barista making drinks and snacks for people who are on the go. Without her, you might not be able to order your morning soy chai latte.  Alex, my man, who is a firefighter and shows his compassion for others on and off the job.  His Mom, a Teacher and his Dad who builds houses.  What I'm getting at is that EVERY SINGLE person serves a purpose!  And without one of those people, the world wouldn't function.  It'd be a madhouse of chaos!

So whatever you are doing, whoever you are, try breathing in gratitude and exhaling feelings that are no longer serving your positive spirit.  Thank YOU for what you do!

Do you doubt yourself?

TRUTH:  These are the thoughts that run through my head on a daily basis...

"Why did that person say my yoga class was awesome?  I'm sure they are lying."
"What the hell was that class?  Everyone hated it."

And you know why I have these thoughts?  My teachers, the ones who inspired me to become a teacher have that "it" factor.  I know, deep down, I have it.  I know people see it.  The instructors I admire are themselves, they are genuine, they bring something amazing to the table.  All of them unique.  Strong, role models for women.  Comparing my 3 years of teaching to teachers with a decade or more of teaching and life experience is never a good thing.

3 Reasons Why I Validate the Self Doubt:

1. I am dyslexic.  It is freakin' hard to remember which leg was raised first or what side we just did, especially if I am facing the class.  I feel like dyslexia comes with word flubbing.  I am so far ahead in my thoughts, that I'll say two words at once.  I've gotten pretty good at laughing it off and LOVE when people in class have a sense of humor...hint hint

2.  Vertigo (dizziness, feeling hungover without drinking, world .  A lot.  If I'm in table top and I look at the mat, my world starts spinning.  Not all the time, but enough to keep looking forward and not down.  But I know that if I can keep on going, keep on keepin' on, I will inspire others with this stupid balancing disorder.

3.  Self- doubt.  I can already feel the heavy shoulders and the thoughts churning around in my mind.  "I'm not good enough."  This one is a toughy.  Self doubt can set you back SO FAR!  Far enough that you will never do what you're meant to because YOU get in the way.  I know, because I am one of those people.  Every day when my mind tries to convince me of my suckiness, I think about it and find reasons why I AM good enough.  Some days it works and some days it doesn't.  But it's better than not trying.  Am I right?

Do you have self doubt?  Here are 3 things I try:

1. Reverse the doubt and turn it into confidence.
2. Do it any way.
3. Talk to friends about it.  Talk to people you admire.

Breathe.