Choices

I don't care where you come from.  I don't care how much money you have.  I don't care how many friends you have or what you look like.  This life is about choices.  Every single one of us goes through tough times.  You might not know mine and I might not know yours but it is a certainty that life gets rough.  It is how we handle the rough times that defines who we are.  How we choose to look at a situation has a great impact on how it will affect you and those around you.
I used to hide behind my long blond hair.  I used to think it was part of me.  It wasn't until I lost it all during chemotherapy that I realized it wasn't a part of me at all.  I chose to look at the bright side and guess what?  It ended up being the bright side.  I love not having to worry about my hair any longer.  There were days when I would have a hard time getting off of the couch - I just didn't have the energy - but it was a perfect opportunity to snuggle with my kids and get to know them better.  On an average day I would have been doing laundry or cleaning or cooking.... something other than spending that quality time with them.  As crumby as I was feeling physically is was the perfect moment to really get to know my kids and what was going on in their heads.
There is ALWAYS a way to look at a situation and see the positive side of it.  We don't get to control very much in this life but one thing we can control is how we decided to look at things.  So, next time you look in the mirror - see the beauty.  Next time you are frustrated, angry, unsatisfied or depressed - take a deep breath and see if you can turn it around.  Choose to find patience, serenity, satisfaction and joy.  You won't believe the difference it will make.

Function

What if we took vision out of the equation?  What if our bodies were vehicles to help us enjoy our life and nothing more?  Our bodies are the most intricate and awe inspiring work of machinery.  They allow us to not only get to where we want to be but also provides us with physical pleasure of movement and expression.  Have you ever really "let go"?  I mean really let go?  It took me a LONG time before I could truly enjoy the freedom that comes with letting go through movement.  Your body wants to move.  It wants to feel the movement and express the feelings that come from hearing a fantastic beat or beautiful melody.  Our minds hold us back.  We don't want to look silly or feel foolish in front of other people.  What if nobody could see you?  Would you let go then?  Even if you don't think you have rhythm, even if you don't think you are coordinated there is a measurable freedom that comes when our minds let the body do what it was meant to do - move.  Endorphins release and we get a natural high.  What a gift!  Next time you are at THE EDGE - take a minute before class and tell yourself that "today I am going to be free of judgement in my own mind so I can enjoy the full benefits of this class".  Know that you are in a safe place with other like minded people who just want to have a great time and keep our most precious valuable - our bodies - in the best shape possible.  Reach a little longer, push a little deeper,  and maybe for just a moment you will feel completely free.

The Journey

If you haven't figured it out already it is never about the destination - always about the journey.  I want to take you on a journey with me.  We are going to try new things, takes steps in waters we have never seen before and grow in ways you may never have imagined.  I want to help you make your life the best it can possibly be.  We are going to go to those places where the words "I can't" live and turn them into "I can".  We are going to make every single day count and we are going to live in gratitude doing it.  Change can be really scary but together it can be a lot easier.  I will push, nudge, pull and drag you if I have to but a fire is going to be lit in your life and soon that light will be amazingly bright.  People are drawn to light and so soon you too will be showing people how to really, truly enjoy this journey we call life.  This is just me sharing with you how I came to find true happiness, satisfaction, gratitude and grace through positive living, through exercise, and through acceptance.  So now you have a choice.  This is just a blog and this all might sound like gobbledygook to you so feel free to disengage.  I plan on being here often to share insight and motivate you in your journey so - if you choose - check back often.  I will leave you with this for today - Everyone has dark days but just as the night can sometimes feel endless there is most certainly a sunrise every morning.

Happy New Year!!!!

What is in store for you in 2012?  We may not be able to control everything that happens around us but we most certainly can have insight into how we view and respond to it.  How about this year we make it all about being positive?  Instead of comparing yourself or your life to those around you - start by finding joy in who you are and what you have.  There are two, almost certain, ways to improve your mental state and find joy in life.  The first is by giving.  When you give your time, treasures or talent away you feel satiated and content.  What have you been blessed with that you can share with others? A listening ear?  The ability to cook a great meal?  Maybe even a random act of sending someone a note letting them know how special they are.  Giving is a wonderful way to pay it forward and improve the lives of not only yourself but those around you!


The second way to find joy and mental clarity is by exercising.  It has been scientifically proven.  We have our own proof right here at THE EDGE.  Almost everyone walks out feeling better than when they walked in.  Part of what we want to bring you at THE EDGE is a place where you can not only exercise but really enjoy doing it!  Our motto is fun and 2012 is going to be just that.  We have new classes coming your way very soon that you are sure to love.  We also want to foster a place where you can meet like minded people who are interested in investing in their future through exercise and health.  What better way to keep you on track with your fitness than finding a friend to do it with?


Suzanne and I are excited to see what 2012 bring through our door and into our lives.  We have been so blessed already with a quiver of new friends - it can only get better from here!  Here is to a fantastic 2012 for all of us!  Cheers!

Happy Holidays and Moderation

I have written about this on my own personal blog but thought I would share my views here on The Edge blog.  Suzanne and I don't really live in any extreme.  We like to sit in the middle of moderation.  Yes, we do eat dessert sometimes.  You might see us at the movies shoveling popcorn in our mouths.  The occasional glass of wine tastes really good and on vacation you wouldn't catch us working out.  Yes, we try to live healthy most of the time.  We enjoy exercising - obviously. Does our weight go up and down? Certainly.  Are we like most of you? Definitely.   


We have both had enough happen in our lives to realize that this life is worth living.  It is worth enjoying. Is it worth eating the cookie even though you will have to work a little harder the next class?  Sometimes. These questions rarely cross our minds though because what is most important to us are the memories, experiences, and people that fill our lives.  We all need a little push time and again to get us going in the right direction and that is not a bad thing.  Starting a diet or exercise program so you can have more time and energy to live your life is important but don't let it "run" your life.  If you mess up, don't think of it as messing up, think of it as creating another opportunity to start over.


If you were to die tomorrow would you regret not getting the laundry done? or eating that extra half a sandwich?  I don't think so.  As we approach the new year many people come up with resolutions.  Mine has been the same for awhile and doesn't just happen on New Year's Day.  Live better.  One simple goal that encompasses so much.  


So this Holiday enjoy your family and friends.  Enjoy the goodness that is being offered to you.  Accept who you are exactly how you are and then growth will come so much easier.  We wish you all happiness and good times this Christmas and every other day of the year too.  We count you in our blessings and love experiencing life with you!

Holidays

The holidays tend to bring out more intense emotions.  Some people really struggle with depression around this time of year and many find their stress level elevated to its highest point this month.  There are many things we can do naturally to combat these issues. Through exercise, endorphin's are released and a natural high occurs.  Yoga and stretching can bring clarity to the mind and help you focus on your tasks better and breathing deeply has been proven to lower stress.  Suzanne and I know this from experience.  The few times we have gone without exercise for more than a few days we have both felt the downward spiral that can often happen without it.  It is very much a natural "drug" for both of us.   When we exercise we have more to offer our loved ones, we feel younger and have more energy.  We challenge you to make some time for yourself in this busy season to get some exercise in.


We have also noticed with the time change that most people are feeling sluggish and uninspired in the evenings. Give one of our evening classes a try - we turn the lights down low and have found that people are letting go more and really moving when they feel un-intimidated and safe.  Our evening Zumba classes are really just a party and a great way to keep your metabolism going long into the night.  Most of us walk around with insecurities about the way we look and act on a regular basis - it is just human nature - but at The Edge nobody really cares and you are free to just "be".  


Our classes are also a great opportunity to spend quality time with your family.  We don't have age limits at The Edge so those of you with kids may want to just bring them along to do a class with you!  As long as they are old enough to follow what is going on in the class they are more than welcome.  For the younger ones we have Zumbatomic on Mondays that is quite popular and might be a good way to get some exercise into their routine during the holiday break.  We have a few husband and wife teams that come to our boot Camp, Fluid Edge and kickboxing classes and have a great "date"!


We wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season this year.  Suzanne and I count our blessing daily and you are very much a part of them.  Take a moment to recognize all that is good in your life and appreciate the little things - that is what life is all about!

Something new!

Have you ever noticed a common thread among older people?  Aches and pains.  It takes a little longer to get out of bed in the morning or get into a car.  There are many reasons for these maladies but quite frankly often it is just a part of getting older.  We all know how important cardio exercise is to our health - keeps our heart strong, increases metabolism and helps us lose excess weight - but did you know how important stretching and strength are to you health?  The earlier in life you start a regime of stretching the less likely you are to have joint and back pain later in life.  As we age our joints and muscles become tighter and less elastic.  We also lose our muscle mass faster.  Consistently working on strength and length will keep our bodies in tip top shape.  Too young to think you should worry about these issues?  Well, if you are only doing cardio exercise you will begin to notice sore joint no matter what age you are.

So, make some time to incorporate these into your workout schedule.  BodyFlow (which we are changing the name to Fluid EDGE) is a wonderful combination of stretching and strength moves choreographed to incredible music.  You will walk away feeling refreshed and whole again.   See you soon!