Tag: strenght

Categories
Breath 4 Change Uncategorized

Breath for Change

Photo by Samuel Silitonga on Pexels.com

The last few years have been an evolution for me. I have grown and changed in many ways. Many people who know me, know that I have always had a list of dreams, goals, and things I want to make sure I accomplish.

I have been fortunate enough that I have been able to travel to incredible places. I have had the honor to serve on mission trips. I also share of my self with those around me in my community.

As for my career, unlike a lot of people, I have a job I really enjoy, and I am good at. This past year, after celebrating one year since my boss, friend, and mentor Lillian passed, our organization had one more transition. We had a new CEO come on board.

This transition has been a perfect one for our organization and me. Thanks to our CEO’s leadership and encouragement, I have had the opportunity to design, implement, and innovate new programs that will enable us to continue to serve schools, teachers, parents, but most of all students.

One of the programs I have felt passionate about has been learning more about social-emotional learning.

On a personal level, after undergoing a hysterectomy last December, I found new energy and vitality that had been missing in my life. Perhaps one day, I will share more about that experience. However, suffice it to say that I am so glad I did that.

2019 for me, has been a year of reclaiming my health. Along with the coaching from my friend and coach Corinne Crabtree from PNP tribe, I have been on a successful journey to health.

Using the basics of her program, I have continued to lose weight healthily. As an added bonus to this journey, I have restarted my work at the gym. Prior to my hysterectomy, I did not realize how my “female” health issues robbed me of energy and strength.

With my newfound strength, I restarted my yoga practice. As I continued a consistent practice, I fell in love with it all over again.

As someone with an auto-immune disorder, this practice allows me to grow and evolve physically, emotionally an spiritually.

So this leads to my new adventure. I am currently in Boston, attending training to allow me to grow deeper in my knowledge of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and mindfulness practices. The training I am taking will enable educators to become expert facilitators of SEL and facilitation. I will also be able to use the skills I gain to continue as a champion of social change. Upon graduation from this course, I will be certified as a B4C Wellness Champion and will have my Yoga Alliance 200 hour certificate.

The training is intensive and very well coordinated. The organization that offers this training has crafted a curriculum that is comprehensive in pedagogy, research, and best practices.

The training began this past Sunday, typical days are 11 hours of nonstop classes and yoga practices. My classes include SEL theory and curriculum, anatomy, mindfulness, and asana, to name a few.

We also have hands-on Yoga practice daily. This was something I was worried about since I injured my rib when I ran the obstacle race back in late June.

Being in Boston has not been too bad. Last night my Yankees defeated the Red Sox, and I went to bed with a smile on my face.

Speaking of Red Sox, my loving, supportive husband has been so encouraging as always. I am fortunate that he believed in me and was on board with this idea. In speaking of supportive males, I should also mention that my boss was also very supportive of me taking this training. He understands the vision of how this credentialing for me can help our organization further support the schools, and educators we work in partnership with.

Tomorrow is the third day of this adventure.

I will be documenting my journey here as I do with all my adventures. Unlike the Camino de Santiago, I am not sitting with fellow pilgrims at the end of a full day of walking, sharing a bottle of delicious red wine. From what I can see, when three o’clock rolls in during the next few weeks, I will find myself studying Anatomy or something similar.

Stay tuned for more about this journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories
Camino De Santiago

Flexibility, Strength and Miles

There is a phrase I use too often with Dan: “Functional Fitness”. This phrase was born out of my fear that I will one day be an old woman and fall, and not be able to pick myself off the floor.

Functional fitness as my #pnpcoach Corinne says, it the ability to get off the toilet without help or assistance as you get old. During the last few weeks, I have not done any type of fitness activity and I have noticed that not only am I in poor shape physically, but I also have aches and pains that will surely not fair well in the Camino.

I have taken the first few steps to build my walking, however, I decided I needed to ensure I was doing all I could to be in the best shape for my pilgrimage. It did not take me too long to find a podcast about the Camino de Santiago and how to train for it.  As I listen, it all began to come back to me… training was not only going to be all about walking, building my miles and such, it was going to be about strength training and flexibility.  YES, I told myself, Corinne did tell me this before I went on my first phase of the trek.  How could I forget that it takes strength to carry a pack, lift it over your head. It takes strength to pull yourself up as you walk uphill, it takes balance and flexibility to navigate rocks, branches, and other road obstacles.

So tonight, I reworked my training plan. I need to head back to yoga, I must begin adding core exercises and making sure I plank the hell out of this body.

The funny thing about strength and flexibility for me is that over the years I have had to learn to be flexible in life. Flexible with others, circumstances, and most of all with my expectations for Julie.  From an early age I have been known to want things done my way, in my time, and no other way.  Over the years, God has laughed at me and my lack of flexibility. I guess, for this reason, many of the major lessons in my life have revolved around this major skill.

I have also learned to never underestimate my ability to be strong when needed. I also know that I am passionate and strongwilled. This served me well during the first leg of my trip in 2016. I had my moments, I wanted to quit, I may have cried on the side of the road because the mountain was high, my aches and pains may have seemed insufferable, yet I pulled myself up and kept going. Yes, the promise of wine or a hot shower helped a lot too.

So today as I continue on my prep for the journey, I strive to become flexible physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I also seek to gain strength to carry myself with enough ease so that I can enjoy the beauty of the journey in Spain and in my life.