Alaska, Memorial Day, & Our New Ride

We made it home from Alaska without being eaten by any bears or throwing each other overboard! The trip almost didn’t happen since our plane was delayed and my brilliant husband insisted on booking the latest possible flight BUT God was on our side and the Port Authority was feeling generous so we made it onto the ship! With sunrise around 4:30am and sunset around 9:45pm there was so much time to get out and explore! I think my favorite day was when we went riding through Dyea – I absolutely love being on a horse! There is something about having a strong animal trusting you to guide them, and you in turn trusting them to carry you through the wilderness – it’s so great! Secretly I want to buy a horse now but seeing as we just bought a car, I think I need to halt on the horse. Yep, that’s right, we bought a car! Phil and I pulled the trigger on a 2015 Certified Preowned BMW X1 Sport & I can’t tell who likes it more, Phil or Theo! I’m just thrilled to finally have a set of wheels in this city & the ability to get around. Of course the car came as a result of our pending move but I will take it any way I get it. The car will come in handy for transporting yoga props to Halcyon for my Hennessy sponsored, Jigger & Dash hosted, myofascial release workshop. I currently hold a bi-monthly myofascial release workshop at Moxie Nob Hill, and on the 18th I will be adopting it for industry friends…I am so excited to work with such a deserving group of hard working professionals!

 

’til next time, keep smiling! 🙂

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Big Changes

Holy Cow it’s May! I guess you could sum up the last two & a half months (since I clearly didn’t post anything) in a word: rough! For whatever reason I’ve been in a funk. I’ve felt like a shell of myself watching life play out and doing my best to participate. Phil and I had ski weekends, wine country trips, a Palm Springs getaway, and fun times with friends but still…this funk. I hated my body, I was under motivated to do much of anything I wasn’t obligated or scheduled to do, & I even began to resent my job (and I’ve got the greatest job in the world – just look at my awesome students at the last UNRAVEL workshop *click here for link to sign up for round 2 this Sunday*)!I am quite skilled at forgetting to practice what I preach & it was time for me to take a deep dive into the root of the problem. I realized certain shifts had to be made, and while change may scare the shit out of me, it is inevitable. As my father always says, “The only constant is change.” If we want to keep succeeding and taking steps towards future goals, things have to change. So what did I change? I adjusted my studio offerings to give myself self care time in the mornings. I’ve started doing more meditation and activities I like, rather than exercise to look a certain way. I also stopped lying to myself. I didn’t want to admit it but I was living for others – trying to be perfect for everyone instead of just being happy with myself. I know that I need to be my most authentic self, & I can’t please everyone. I can only take responsibility for my own happiness & hope it rubs off on those around me. Oh, also Phil and I are moving to Walnut Creek. Yep, in a few short months we will be moving over the bridge & establishing a new routine in the East Bay. For the record, we are NOT moving because we are pregnant, haha (my family ALREADY asked), but we do think this is better for our family. The thought of leaving the city is bittersweet but I’m sure they’ll be more to come on that later.

 

’til next time, keep smiling! 🙂

 

Meditation Basics

Happy Hump Day friends! I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday – having Monday off is making this week fly by. It has only been a few days but I am happy to report I’ve been sticking to my resolutions…I napped more than I wanted to yesterday but that’s okay. I’m working on giving myself a break; in fact, that is the focus of my meditation.

For me, meditation is best kept simple: commit to a time of day & a length of time that work, find a comfortable seat, and breathe. To settle in I focus on my breathing, and once I’m comfortable I typically allow my mind to wander. This year I’m trying something new. I thought about something I really need to work on & kept coming back to the fact I’ve always been my worst critic.

I’m taking this first quarter to focus my meditation on being kind to myself, having a little more compassion, & giving myself a break. It takes just 20-30 minutes a day for 16-18 weeks to begin to notice change.

If you’re new to meditation even 5 minutes daily can make a real difference. Simply find a time during your day (in the morning, right before returning to work during your lunch hour, after your shower, before bed…) and sit quietly with your thoughts for 5 minutes. Try to just be an observer, allowing whatever thoughts that pop into your head to exist without judgement, and repeat that everyday for a month. After a month try 7 minutes, then 10, then 15…you get the idea!!

’til next time, keep smiling! 🙂

Me time

While the weather has taken a turn back to chilly (below freezing and flurrying) I am keeping a smile on my face! The taste of spring-like temperatures this weekend will hopefully carry my through these few chilly days!

In keeping with my self-care theme from yesterday, I treated myself to a massage! Many may remember my office’s ‘hump day’ celebrations. We’ve done everything from dance parties, to black jack, to pizza and a show and even chair massages! A few weeks ago Hand and Stone Massage came to our office and did 10minute chair massages for everyone in the office as our ‘hump day’ activity.

I have always been a fan of the therapeutic and relaxation benefits of massage therapy and try to go a few times a year, so I was thrilled to have someone relieve some of the tension, even if just for a little while. After my massage they let me know about a program they offer called the “Lifestyle Program.” You pay a monthly fee for one free massage or facial a month plus membership discounts on all other space services. While I have always been a loyal patron of the same holistic day spa in historic Old City Philadelphia, Di Terma Aroma, I figured there was no harm in trying something new, especially for the price.

Yesterday was my first full massage with H&S and I was thoroughly impressed. I opted for the sports massage after my long ride Sunday and my therapist was extremely knowledgeable and talented. The facility was clean, calm and tranquil, and the staff was warm and friendly…I am definitely excited about my choice to join their program!

The benefits of massage therapy are endless and I recommend everyone take the time for some release!

Birthday Celebrations and Weekend Rides

Its official folks, diving season is over!! Whew! While I love my divers, the stress of coaching two sports in addition to my full time just was really starting to get to me! All I have to focus on now is my swimmers and their big meet coming up in a few weekends!

Even though I spent most of my weekend on a pool deck, I did manage to sneak in a long ride late afternoon Sunday! The weather was in the 50s and sunny – I was in heaven!

However, with all the snow melting, it wasn’t exactly the cleanest ride I have ever been on!I also managed to squeeze in a fun girls night for my cousins Birthday! It wasn’t quite as tropical as our celebration for her 40th last year, but we had an amazing dinner at Pennsylvania6 in center city Philadelphia! We were all a bit hungry when we sat down, so the delicious oysters and white bean dip we had for appetizers were devoured before I could snap a photo! This bi-level, dimly lit hot spot focuses on creative smaller plates while still keeping a casual/homey feel to many of their dishes! I had yellowfin tar-tar and baby beet salad as my dinner and it was divine – if you’re ever in Philadelphia, its a must try!!

Even though life gets busy, its always important to make time for self care! Whether it be a bike ride, a bite with friends or just some quiet time to decompress, its always important to do things for YOU!

Happy Monday!

Balancing Act

Happy Hump Day!

I don’t know about anyone else but sometimes I find it hard to keep my balance! In an effort to do it all, I feel a lot like this guy…

…trying to keep steady while teetering close to the edge! Between work, school, family, relationships, settling into a new apartment, exercise and self care activities (aka ‘me’ time), it can be hard to maintain balance.

While some things are certainly more important than others, its imperative to strike that balance between them all…if for nothing else than your own happiness and sanity.

I have to make sure not to give too much weight to the things that aren’t important and make time for that which is paramount in life…

Remember, its all about balance!

Great Goddess Gifts of Goodness!

I am so blessed to have such amazing people in my life who inspire me and encourage me to pursue passions and practice self care! One such lovely lady is my IIN peer coach Elizabeth who also is a District Manager for Arbonne.

After chatting recently about all the amazing benefits this bountiful brand provides for both its staff and clientele, I had to give it a try. While I am all about goodness from the inside out, I like to indulge my inner Goddess and take care of my outward appearance as well!

Arbonne has been in business for over 30 years and is all natural…and when I say all natural, I mean European guidelines NOT FDA guidelines. Turns out the FDA allows hundreds of perfumes, dies and chemicals in their “all natural” products that EU does not!

I am terrifically tickled to try the products provided and can’t wait to see what I am confident will be fabulous results!

Selfless Starts with Self Care

Morning WordPress world! Have you missed me? I have missed each and every one of you! As seems to be happening far too often these days, life is getting in the way of my best blogging intentions…but I’m back!

All of my distractions are wonderfully positive: weddings, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, birthdays, and my first test for nutrition school (97% – WHAT UP?!?!?!) but they’re throwing me from my routine; which, consequently creates chaos. Its much harder to see the forest for the trees when you don’t take a deep breath and practice self care first!

I’ve been saying for weeks I need to get back into my routine – to do the things that make me the happy, calm, kind person I really am instead of the snappy, short tempered witch I can become. This morning was definitely the ‘final straw. I snapped at my amazingly sweet, patient boyfriend over the blender and my struggle making our morning shake…really Colleen?!?! Its comical – looking back – how annoyed I was over something SO ridiculous and how I took it out on the one person who does nothing but try and make me happy (quite successfully I might add!).

My point is that no matter how crazy life can be – and we all know things can get pretty nuts – you must, must, must practice self care! Whether its morning cardio to start your day, a mid afternoon walk to recharge, an hour of TV time to unwind, an evening meditation to clear your head, whatever…you’re completely useless to anyone else without taking care of yourself first.

Instead of looking at self care as a practice in selfishness, remember that the good you can do for others starts with the good you do for yourself!