I Can’t Go For (That)
Posted: June 12, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, WordPress, writing, yoga 11 CommentsWe are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master-
Remember those New Year’s resolutions you made under the best intentions to run a marathon this summer, loose a couple extra pounds, become less attached to technology, whatever?!?
I can’t remember them either, so we’re cool
Before we get too far along, start traveling sideways and I start doling out advice about “life“. The tone of this post is to bring to light an idea(s) to help you celebrate yourself this summer and the remainder of the year. Far too often we celebrate finishing a big race, blossoming on the mat, that we often overlook who got us there in the first place …
Take a moment this weekend to sit down, with an actual pen, a few pages of organic-renewable-locally sourced paper, a pint of Wynkoop Rocky Mountaion Oyster Stout, to write yourself a letter. Dated one year in advance for good measure. I can personally say that this exercise is best done after a recent success or “pat on the back” moment in your life. Imagine looking back a year from now, from a place of having achieved your most important goal this year. Don’t hold back while you pen your letter either. Thank your present self, give some tips, share a few failures and what you did right when things got tough. Savor this moment …
Notes:
My resolution this year was not to write any self-serving advice posts … Take care and be well today!
Next Lifetime
Posted: June 5, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bliss, blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Zen 7 CommentsAdopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience-
Surrounding us is an odd “thing“, one that we rarely take time to notice and more often than not, have come to take for granted: This little thing called “Life.” Many of us search the entire span of our existence for peace, zen, bliss, the perfect pose, best 5k time, serenity and yet? These same things can be found in places that we overlook each and everyday. Even in a quiet summer field, life continues to flourish and live, eat and exist in a natural way, adapting and overcoming the world we merely “exist” in …
… A small doe emerges from the cracks of a wheat field and wanders up to the man-made nature trail, alongside the many busy feet and tires that tread next to her, encroaching on her survival. Interesting, this stunning animal, living, overcoming and flourishing despite our encroachment upon her natural environment; oblivious to our presence, just as we are to our own presence.
What if we paused for a second to take notice of this natural beauty? Is this an annoyance to you, throwing your pace off, adding seconds to your precious run time? One can only wonder…
Notes:
Have we lost focus on the true purpose, the true use of our senses? How can we become self-aware when all we do is tune out our own beating heart and the beautiful world we live in?
Roll If (ya) Fall
Posted: May 31, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, courage, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, Musing, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, Risk, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 5 CommentsThere is no intensity of love or feeling that does not involve the risk of crippling hurt. It is a duty to take this risk, to love and feel without defense or reserve-
Avoidance of any kind of risk, big or small, is a byproduct of our fear of the unknown and needless to say: This avoidance of fear will lead to a very bland, uneventful life. Bangers and mash anyone, anyone? If we never took risks, you can rest assured that the blog posts we are reading this morning would not be Draconian in nature. No “second thoughts” before the big event tomorrow morning or lamenting nauseously about getting injured, again. By taking a risk, we embrace the courage of doing something we have never done before, even if it makes us look goofy, takes us out of our normal comfort zone and pushes back the boundaries society has firmly placed on us. Exploring the unknown, the sense of accomplishment and determination to push harder are all “things” that come as a direct result of having courage, taking risks in our daily life.
Courage generously gives us the willingness to explore and deal with the changes and challenges that will come our way. Having read this little bit, I implore you to go back and re-read the post from Wednesday, in a new light.
Notes:
If you take the time to look around yourself this weekend, noticing what others have attained and wishing that you had the same? This mental foreplay you are experiencing provocatively shows you that you can create this same reality for yourself. Each one of us has the incredible ability, deep inside us, to create real lasting change in our lives. It takes infinite amounts of courage and determination, its hard although once we embrace these driving forces? We can change and we will change.
During your weekend run, bike ride, yoga class or even your 6am TRX class. Chase away the doubts in your mind and live the life, as you have created, as you imagined.
No Pun Intended
Posted: May 21, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nebraska, Omaha, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, Walk, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Yoga Rocks the Park 16 CommentsYou may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one-
I often feel like I’m cycling into a 40 knot headwind when it comes to writing about mindfulness, wellness and other stuff here on this blog-o-thing. From the yoga fashionistas who regard me incredulously when I say that “looking good” is a selfish goal to set in yoga class, to the pervasive but iniquitous message that we all just need to participate in more mud runs, be more extreme, elite, hardcore in order to live a healthier life, my increasingly strong belief that we are going about this all wrong is not a popular one to say the very least.
Every now and then I meet up with some kindred spirits during a walk or brisk bike ride, who confirm what we see every day, but choose to ignore: Despite being a society hopelessly obsessed with health, longevity, exercise and taking pictures of food, we are in fact unhealthy, unhappy and bereft of many of the simple joys of life as a direct result of our obsessions.
How about we abandon the idea of exercise as a virtuous counterbalance, absolve ourselves of the guilt that inevitably accompanies unfulfilled resolutions, tune out the constant exhortations to “get ripped”, lose weight and instead embrace the simple pleasure of putting one foot in front of the other, simply because we were born with the ability to do so and we too often don’t.
Let’s cut right to the heart of what’s wrong with our attitudes in regards to mindfulness and wellness. Despite the thousands we spend on failed gym memberships, seldom used exercise equipment and wearing the latest fashions to yoga class. We are tormented by self-loathing, guilt and doubt. We live in a world where our motivation to move is increasingly thwarted and sapped at every turn. The next time you stare out the gym window—you know the one, where everyone around you is trotting along on a dreadmill despite the fact that the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day outside? Ask yourself: Why is going for a run, a bike ride or walk outside such an absurd idea?
Notes
Look to a simpler place for your satisfaction this morning. Hint: It’s not in the latest edition of Shape or the ever so popular Yoga Journal. What you find may surprise you …
If you see some random dude(s) doing a spot of yoga in a park this weekend? Wave hello and join us!
Butterfly Caught
Posted: May 17, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Dr. Who, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, happiness, health, hipster, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, running, stress, walking, weekend, whole foods, WOD, yoga 13 CommentsSometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy-
The tension sprinting up through my arms and shoulders, violently grasping my neck. I can’t think straight, my mind is abuzz with the stress that has accumulated throughout the day. The list of “things” to finish before tomorrow morning was spilling over. I knew I needed a change of mind, something, anything to carry me away from this tangled moment in time into a place love and harmony.
Not too long ago I would step aside, gather up all my running gear and head out the back door for a “run“. I thought at the time, if I just ignored the pain and stress, run a bit faster and harder, get my heart rate up a little more, develop a thick and hardy lather… I would instantly feel better by the time I finished 10+ miles.
An hour or so later, I would collapse on the porch with my head hunched forward watching the sweat roll off my nose falling diligently between my bare feet. The thoughts in my mind had slowed for the moment, until the pain and tension returned …
I would like to share with you something so profound, so ridiculous and so not cool, that you will avoid telling your friends or even blogging about it: Compassion and Mindfulness. Don’t scatter away quite yet, it gets better before it gets worse.
Using your body to invoke a better state of mind starts by paying attention to what we are feeling inside and not abusing our body through outward actions. This moment of reflection before heading out the door is the point where spirituality and personal development intersect. When we move with awareness and give attention to the stress, the aches and pains, we can change how we feel, instantly.
Notes:
A simple act of kindness towards yourself, sharing a smile and hug with another, erasing the pain before you get moving. To me? That’s pretty cool and something to share with your friends …
CultFit 