Always, Grace

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible-

“What is the highest act a person can perform?”

“Sitting in meditation.”

But the Master himself was rarely seen to sit in meditation. He was ceaselessly engaged in housework and fieldwork, in meeting people and writing books. He even took up the bookkeeping chores of the monastery.
 
“Why, then, do you spend all your time in work?”

“When one works, one need not cease to sit in meditation.

The Plan-

CultFit Stage

The Workout-

Lament or move forward with Grace and Courage?  The choice is yours?!?

CultFit Rain

10 One Step Forward One Step Back Lunges (each leg)

10 Perfect Pull Ups

10 Perfect Push Ups

10 KB Bent Over Rows

Form, Flow and Grace

Notes:

To move through a program or life with Grace takes Courage peeps … ENJOY!!!

CultFit Spirit


Autumn Fog Lifts

Do not work self into a state of over-anxiety at the changes that will be found, or attempt to use up the strength and vitality … Forget not the sources of thine inspiration-

Thank you for joining us this lovely afternoon!  Feel free to pull up a chair and join in the conversation we are having with Laura Yochelson.

Laura is here to talk about her new book ” In the name of BEING WELL, I made MYSELF SICK.

9781452543864_COVER.indd

The Completely Random Questions-

What about the title of your novel?

In The Name Of Being Well, I Made Myself Sick

I titled the book this because I always wanted to be healthy and had good intentions, but things somehow or other went awry. In the book, I show how I am very easily fooled by my mind in the sense that I believe I am doing something good for myself, when really, I’m just using “healthy” as an excuse to keep myself suffering. As I describe in the book, I feel that if I am not the ideal healthy, people won’t love me and I’m a bad person.

Do you ever wish that you had an entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory?

Oh no! I’ve had uncreative jobs like those already. For me, actually, the problem is that I am so creative I don’t acknowledge the importance of the more boring (but necessary) processes that one needs to do in order to allow creativity to truly flourish.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

This is such a good question. Unfortunately, I do not know! I think I’d need a couple different actresses, especially since my personality changes so much as I started to get sicker. However, I have seen myself as a character in a movie, which I talk about in the next question.

Have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or a movie?

I’ve watched many different movies on eating disorders and, sadly, never felt as though I could truly relate to the main girl—the sick girl—being featured. There are usually parts of a character that I can relate to but definitely not all of her.  As for non-eating disorders media, I really looked up to Hilary Duff in the television show Lizzie McGuire. I wouldn’t say I actually saw myself as Lizzie; it was more like I tried to emulate Lizzie.

About a month ago I watched some of the beginning episodes of Dawson’s Creek and really found myself being able to relate to the character of Joey, played by Katie Holmes. She’s a lot taller than I am in real life, but I saw myself undergoing similar feelings as the ones she had for her friend Dawson.

How do you feel about being interviewed?

I feel good. I feel excited. I would like to do as many different interviews as possible and answer as many unique questions as possible. Hopefully, it’s a good way to spread the message of my book.

Why should we read your book?

You should read my book because it is authentic…and because I worked really, really hard on it! My book is suitable for health and wellness professionals, doctors, therapists, parents, teachers, college-age women and more. I hope people will read my book and see what it’s really like to be diagnosed with an eating disorder instead of just believing the stereotypes. I want to make a difference in the world, and in order to do so I’m asking that people please read what I have to say.

The Plan-

The Holidays are here and frankly: In The Name Of Being Well, I Made Myself Sick … Would make a great gift.

Balboa Press

Barnes & Noble   

Amazon.com

CultFit Fog

Notes:

Long time readers know intimately that we do not use the platform we have here to tout Swag or Products.  Laura’s new book hits on two points we are passionate about:  Being AuthenticBeing You.  ‘Nuff said.

CultFit This


Serenity Now

If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your own path-

For most of us, running/cycling/working out (_______ Insert anything here) is a very personal space.  Some would say sacred?!?  This sacred space tends to be more personal than our homes, work and personal lives because we choose not to share this space with others.

When we start to unravel after having a bad weekend, the first place we are likely to show up at is back in our personal space.

One item we want to quickly highlight here is not necessarily showing discipline (going to the gym day in and day out) … It’s about paying attention. It’s about not getting distracted by the eventualities of life and the “things” that come up each and every day, but, rather:  Staying mindful of the messages we receive and remaining proactive in our relationship with them.

The Plan-

The Workout-

Our retreat to the basics …

10 Perfect Pull Ups
20 Hard Style KB Swings
30m Bear Crawl/Crab Walk (15m out and 15m back)

20 Minutes sound OK to you?!?

Notes:

The mindful peeps remain clear about all “things” … All of the time, or at least we try to right?!?  This is reflected in the environment we choose to surround us, it’s about discipline.  Going to our sacred space to nourish our bodies and to find balance in our minds.  It’s in this space where we find the discipline of loving, not the discipline of punishment.

If CultFit is a sacred place for you?!?  You really need to get out more … Be well today and ENJOY!!!


You Wanna Go Night Night …

If the roots are sick, is not washing the leaves an eye-wash? To fix the roots is not easy, but washing the leaves is dangerous, for it gives the illusion of health-

Before we start on yet another bloviated blog-o-post.  Watch this video to get all amped up and tingly inside this morning (or afternoon if you live in Turnipshire):

Have you ever noticed that our pity of others expresses a negative evaluation of a known bad situation?  Last time we checked peeps simply do not like to be pitied or looked down upon as if they are flawed in some sort or another.

Our  attitudes towards people who may be overweight or out of shape (What the heck is out of shape anyways?  Can someone please explain this to us?!?)  is a typical example of pity.   Some normal attributes of compassion may be giving a helping hand  to those near and dear to us.  Pity and compassion are not generated in every case of bad luck, but only when we believe that someone suffers from substantial misfortune.

There is one crucial  difference between pity and compassion:  It’s simply that compassion involves far greater commitment on your part to contribute any form of substantial help.  You may pity a woman for being fat and obese although that does little to help you or the woman.  On the other hand … Compassion involves a willingness to roll up your sleeves and to get personally involved in helping out, while pity usually means you could care less.  Maybe we can think of pity as being a spectator at the Olympics?  Jumping around dolling our pity yellow cardsout here and there where it is most convenient to us!?!

The whole dang point today (That will be lost in all the pics and silly videos):  Our pity revolves around our perceived  inferiority of other people.  No matter what it may be:  Oscar Pistorius running the 400m relay with no legs or Nadzeya Astapchuk (some claim she is too heavy and not womanly like … Ass-Hat peeps.) tossing a shot put around on the field.  Compassion peeps … Shines a lovely, bright light on the common equality in humanity (Which is pretty darn cool).

The Plan-

The Workout-

If we told you that the secret to living a healthy engaging life is:  Happy Hips and Happy Mind?!?  All the peeps reading today would walk away shaking their collective heads in great shame.

On that note:  A nice Happy Hips Warm Up and maybe a Swim followed by this series of movements:

Not For Time or AMRAP … Well, 30 Minutes of time at least?!?

10 Hinge Walk Out Perfect Push Ups

3 Perfect Dead Hang Pull Ups

30 Second Hand Stand Hold

Make note of when you started and roll through these movements for 30 minutes or so … No hurry!  Perfection!!!

Notes:

Smile and ENJOY!!!

**This post was inspired by the comedian Kevin Hart and his Wanna go night night bit … If you have virgin ears or are overly sensitive?  Don’t watch the video.**


Compassion is for Chumps …

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend

Those cheeky Buddhist!   Surprisingly, 2500-year-old Buddhist traditions contain some very basic and fundamental truths about our  own  human nature that we are slowly warming up to.   One of these traditions (the one we like to chat about the most) is that humans are inherently social beings!  Our brains are wired for building relationships, love, compassion and working together.  The individualistic,  look at me and my precious life and competition of our modern lives has led to an imbalance not only within ourselves but rather in everything we see around us.  As the Summer Olympics roll along we get a first hand look at the results of this:  Anxiety, Loneliness, Pain.

What’s the point of this post today?   Being compassionate to ourselves is pretty darn cool and not something you should avoid.  When you do finally accept compassion into your life?  We all become more accepting of others, period!!!

Say hello to Snoop Lion:

Have a listen to the new Snoop Lion if you like?

Hat Tip: News.Com.Au

The Plan-

15 year old Gold Medalist … Ruta Meilutyte

The Workout-

Our Warm Up today is our Workout, Maybe?!?

Start with a nice Walk and listen to your body.  If you like running (Insert anything here peeps)?  Run after a little bit … Get after it today to the tune of 90-95 max effort%

Notes:

Now this may seem gauche and out-of-place today however seeing that many of our readers are firmly entrenched in the Elite/Warrior/Extreme/Insane/Kranked fitness craze of late?  Allow compassion to move you forward.  Uncle Mo (A true Man’s-Man) is not asking you this today … Rather screaming at the top of his lungs this message of compassion.  Compassion is the key to your fitness and healthy goals!  Try it and ENJOY!!!