Practice Curiosity, Mindful Presence, and Love to End Compulsive Behavior

As I read Geneen Roth's book, "Women, Food and God," I had major epiphanies about my relationship with food. See, me and food have duked it out over the years, and although I know we may still have our battles, I have definitely been winning the majority of our matches recently. Roth talks about how food, just like any other compulsion, whether it be alcohol, drugs, overworking, etc., becomes the quick fix to comfort us, fill our empty spaces, and make us "happy." But the fact is that we just use food to masque, run away from, and "bolt" as she puts it, from our mind-made story lines, ideas of ourselves, and connections to our struggling past.

A few weeks ago, I started out on a walk in my neighborhood. When I was about ten minutes in, I felt the ground shake beneath my feet. Then the sky lit up with a brilliant flash. My first instinct was to run home and find an alternate workout to do inside. But then I remembered what Geneen Roth had told me. I decided I wasn't going to bolt this time. Instead, I walked with courage, confidence, a smile, a playful heart, and with a little trepidation about the unknown journey to come. But I faced that thunderstorm head on. I not only continued my walk in the rain, but as it poured harder and harder, my clothes heavy and soaked, I walked in the opposite direction of my house. I totally embraced my direct, real experience and looked at my mind-made story of why I was afraid in the first place.

I thought about my inherent reactions to storms. Well, thunderstorms are scary; they sound scary and they look scary! And getting wet is not a good thing! We are supposed to avoid getting wet because it is uncomfortable! And then there is the lightening that is very dangerous! Not to mention my phone and I-Pod can't get wet!

Then I looked at the facts and embraced every part of the moment I was in and put aside what my culture, past people, and ego had to say about my situation. I felt the warm rain and thick air, put my phone and my I-Pod in my pocket, and joked with myself that the probability of getting struck by lightening was probably like one in infinity.

This concept of not "bolting" was a huge light bulb for me. Over the last few weeks I have been examining my compulsions and bad habits. I put my use of food and my feelings of anxiety in the spot light, poking and prodding them for answers. I was curious what purpose both of these compulsions had been serving me. What did I think they were going to solve? Why was I allowing them to hang around and harass me on a daily basis? They were no friends of mine! But rather than bolting and turning my compulsions away, I graciously invited them in. I even have been offering them some tea and cookies. I ask them questions, study them very carefully, and give them my complete and utter love and attention.

I look to see what feelings, emotions, and sensations in my body are really there. What am I trying to cover up, heal, save, or fix with food and anxious feelings? I sit with these feelings, invite them in, let them stay awhile, and let them know that they are safe. The feelings begin to feel comfortable, take off their shoes, and soften and open up to me. They know they are welcome. They are met with love, patience, and complete attention. And they don't need food or anxiety. Because the feelings know that a little love, attention, and kindness is all they really want. So from now on, instead of bolting to food and anxiety, I will delve into what I am really feeling, and walk graciously into the storm...

Kelly

Outdoor Interval-Walking Workshop Announced

"Fitness Walking Interval Training"

Presenters: Pam Holt, One-to-One Personal Training and Wellness Coaching
Kelly Holt, One-to-One Creative Movement
Date: June 24, 2010 (Rain Date: July 1, 2010)
Time: 5:15pm-7:00pm
Location: New Haven Rivergreenway
Parking Lot Trailhead on North River Road Just West of Landin Road
Enrollment: e-mail: workshop@pamholtonetoone.com or call 260/749-7226
Limited Class Size
Pre-Pay Deadline: June 17, 2010
Fee/Refund Policy: $35/No refunds will be given after June 17, 2010.
Make checks payable to: One-to-One
Mail checks to: One-to-One
5430 Green Road, New Haven, Indiana 46774
Who Should Attend: Any fitness level and all ages.
What To Wear: Exercise clothing and walking/running shoes.

Workshop Description: Do you need to reduce body fat? Are you getting bored with your same cardio routine? Do you notice you are not making significant improvement in your cardiovascular fitness? Then join us and take your walking program (or any cardiovascular activity) to a new, more efficient, and FUN level! Improvement in fat loss and cardiovascular fitness are achieved only when exercisers challenge their bodies with progressive workloads. But how do we progress without over-training or injuring ourselves? You can accomplish this with interval training - short bursts (30-60 seconds) of higher intensity/speed followed by periods of rest or low intensity activity. Learn how to apply this method using perceived exertion or heart rate monitor training and shake up your outdoor (or indoor) summer movement program. Interval training has a positive impact on post-exercise caloric expenditure, is time efficient, reduces boredom, increases exercise adherence, and slows down aging. Interval training intensity and recovery is based on YOUR current level of fitness. So call or e-mail us now and treat your mind and body to a wonderful new way to move!

"Nature Is My Playground" Outdoor Circuit/Interval Workshop A Success!

The "Nature Is My Playground" a circuit/interval workshop is available now for individual, small and large groups and businesses on-site or at location to be determined by individual or group. This workshop may also be combined with additional workshops and customized for the individual or group culture.
E-mail workshop@pamholtonetoone.com or call 260/749-7226 for more information.

Coming this week, look for details about our June 24, 2010 workshop, Fitness Walking Intervals Workshop. Take your walking program to a new, more efficient - and fun - level! Learn how to maximize fat loss, increase your fitness level, slow down aging, maximize your workout time (shorter workout sessions with interval training are shown to have the same benefit as longer, moderate paced sessions), add variety to reduce boredom, and have a workout that can be done indoors or in the great outdoors.

The Journey Is the Destination

The "Nature Is My Playground" workshop brought up a few thoughts, questions, and observations. Being in nature and moving our bodies, in public where others can see us, can bring up insecurities in people and makes me think about humans' incredibly controlling and strong-willed egos. Many people think that they could never skip outside, play on playground equipment, or shoot a pretend basketball through a hoop. When our egos keep us from healthfully playing outside, what else are our egos preventing us from doing?

I often ask myself the question, "Would I do this if I was on a desert island?" And if the answer is "yes," then I examine why I hesitate in public. Most of the time the answer is the same and obvious; I care about other people's opinions of me and my actions. There is my crazy, boring, restricting ego again preventing me from living the life that I want to lead- A fun, fiery, adventurous, judgement-free life! Like Sara Bareilles sings, "Release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin..."

By wearing our favorite tacky shirt, going make-up less, and playing on playground equipment in public, we empower ourselves by being our authentic selves and empower others by teaching by example, thus leading others to a more conscious, true, awake, and alive world. A world where we experience every moment in true living color by being real and not playing a role that we are supposed to play based on the script that society writes for us. A world in which our experience is not dulled by ego-led restriction by ourselves and by others. Living for your values and not always following cultural norms, for example.

Ask yourself what is important to you. What kind of person do I want to be? Examine your everyday actions and ask yourself if your values are in line with your actions. If they aren't, make adjustments. It may be that your ego is running the show instead of your true self. Again ask yourself, "Am I doing this because I want to or because I care about what others think about some aspect of this situation?"

This last weekend in Mackinac Island, I fell upon a "Life is good" t-shirt that read, "The journey is the destination." The "Nature Is My Playground" workshop is a perfect example of this that then transfers to all aspects of life, too. In the case of the former, it's not about finishing your "workout" in a goal time or burning a certain amount of calories. Rather, it is about enjoying nature, being in your body, and having fun with life. In the case of the later, it's not about living life by someone else's book in order to reach the final chapter. Rather, it is about writing your own biography filled with brilliant, shining detail.

My opinion is that sometimes goals are overrated and make us rush through and compromise our lives. Life becomes more authentic and real when our goal simply becomes making every moment joyous, fun, loving, kind and positive. How can we go wrong when our "journey is our destination..."

Kelly

Outdoor Circuit/Interval "Play" Workshop Announced
"Nature Is My Playground"

Presenters: Pam Holt, One-to-One Personal Training and Wellness Coaching
Kelly Holt, One-to-One Creative Movement
Date: May 27, 2010 (Rain Date: June 3, 5:15pm-7:00pm)
Time: 5:15pm-7:00pm
Location: Schnelker Park Gazebo, New Haven, Indiana
(Behind New Haven Middle School at Corner of Park and Broadway)
Enrollment: e-mail: workshop@pamholtonetoone.com or call 260/749-7226
Limited class size
Pre-Pay Deadline: May 20, 2010
Fee/Refund Policy: $35/No refunds will be given after May 20, 2010.
Make checks payable to: One-to-One
Mail checks to: One-to-One
5430 Green Road
New Haven, Indiana 46774
Who Should Attend: Any fitness level and all ages.
What To Wear: Exercise clothing and workout shoes. No equipment needed.

Workshop Description: Do you ever get bored of your same old exercise routine? It's nice to be outside now but walking and biking can get monotonous day after day. "Nature Is My Playground" allows you to enjoy the outdoors, incorporate cross training* and interval training* exercise into your wellness regimen, use your own creativity, and have fun! You will explore a variety of cardiovascular and strengthening exercises and learn different ways you can utilize playground equipment, park objects, and nature to create a personalized, unique workout each time you "play". "Nature Is My Playground" gets you connected to your mind as well as your body. You will learn to listen to and get to know your body while creatively engaging your mind. Exercise is most enjoyable when you are having fun, so let's get moving! Remember, inspiration lies in nature and the music lies within . . .
*Adding variation to an exercise program with cross training and interval training not only allows for increased physiological improvement, reduced risk of injury, and prevention of overuse, but also a reduction of psychological/mental monotony. If you feel like you are not progressing any more, it's time to change things up. Manipulating certain variables will enhance and improve your overall health and fitness level.

Balancing the Ying and Yang

Lately, I have been thinking about balance. What is true, authentic balance? What does it look like? How does it act? What does it feel like? How does it manifest itself in my life?

The physical aspect of balance is not unlike its mental counterpart. When we physically balance, we reach our energy to one side while equally reaching our energy to the other. If we reach too far to one side and don't put enough energy into the other side, we fall. In order to find physical balance, we must feel the grounded connection with our feet to the floor, focus, and pay attention. To achieve balance in our lives, is to practice the same concepts as physical balance.

The old adage, "Too much of a good thing," illustrates how balance in our lives often goes astray; too much work without play, too much exercise without rest, too much care for others without self care and vice versa, for example. If we reach too far to one side of our lives without practicing its counterpart, we cannot find true ease and joy. We lose the yin and yang of life that effortlessly joins in beautiful harmony, creating a subtle, but miraculous inner peace.

Feeling the grounded connection is important in finding balance as well. Staying grounded to the things in life in which we derive true, non fleeting happiness. Staying grounded and true to the compassionate and loving-kind person who we all are, often covered up by our ego-driven actions and words. Staying grounded and acknowledging the connection we share with all other sentient beings and nature. A sense of groundedness keeps us pure and simple.

Physical balance is eased when we focus the eyes in the direction in which we are moving. Finding life balance means focusing on what behaviors work in our lives and what behaviors cause us suffering. When we identify a behavior that causes suffering, we modify or omit this behavior until we recognize that it no longer fits as a piece of our puzzle.

Paying attention to our physical balance means being aware of our body, energy, breath, and posture. When we pay attention to every detail of even the most mundane everyday tasks, we cultivate a calm presence that allows us to fully enjoy life's abundance. We become aware, alert, and awake because we are mindful of our current situation. In this conscious state, there is no room for negative past thoughts (depression) and negative future thoughts (anxiety) to creep in, thus allowing us to experience a balanced physical and mental state. We sit, balanced, in the middle of the teeter-totter, our actions nor our thoughts tipping too far to one side or the other.

Balance can be difficult to achieve, both in the physical and life sense, and sometimes it seems impossible to be perfectly placed on the tight rope without falling off. But the only thing we can do is to continue to get back on and try again. And realize that losing our balance is not failure, but rather a gift, allowing us to make some adjustments and try again with a little more success than before.

We continue to practice. We continue to fall. And one day we discover a little more clarity than we did the day before and we keep on the path of the warrior...

Kelly

Posture 101 for Balance 911 Workshop A Success!

The Posture 101 for Balance 911 Workshop is available now for individual, small and large groups and businesses at the One-to-One studio or on-site. This workshop may also be combined with additional workshops and customized for the individual or group culture.
E-mail workshop@pamholtonetoone.com or call 260/749-7226 for more information.

Coming this week, look for details about our May 27, 2010 workshop,
Nature Is My Playground.
Learn how to recapture the fun of your exercise routine, reduce boredom, and cross train - a vital element in any workout plan. Engage your mind, engage your body and get moving with "play" - all in the great outdoors!