Kind, Whole, Organic Mind-Body New Year's Resolutions

(Follow these tips, and you will LEAP into the new year with flying colors! lol!...kind of, sort of!!)

I'm all for evolving and blossoming into a fuller, more peaceful and enlightened version of yourself -- with time. But, changing, fixing, erasing, conforming, shaping and shrinking based on tight, suffocating standards just because the ball just dropped for 2011 - I can do without those, and so can you. Rethink your New Year's Resolutions with these mind-body shifts in perspective - Don't wait until January 1, 2011 at 12:00am -- Start now:

1) Kindess heals. Treat yourself with kindness. Instead of passing yourself in the mirror and either silently or blatantly gasping "ugh" to your reflection while making a mental note of the cabbage soup or babyfood diet you'll start on Monday, try looking at yourself in a new light. If you truly ate too much fruit cake at Aunt Margie's house, ask yourself why you felt like comforting yourself with too much food once again. What bless-their-heart-annoying-individual pissed you off yet again? When did you say yes, when you wanted to say no (or vice versa)? When did you stop breathing? Talk gently to yourself with curiosity instead of a harsh interrogation. Be honest, and be kind with whatever comes up. You'll know how to treat yourself better and more healthfully next time in that situation because you're already practicing gentleness and kindness with yourself.

2) Stop wasting energy (and money). If you looked in that same mirror, and once again see some feature on yourself that you can't change, take a closer, objective look at how it makes you gorgeously unique and real, and stop wasting energy on things you can't (and shouldn't) change. Now, make a list of the things you might do with that newfound energy of not beating yourself up. You might have LOTS of time on your hands, and you might have to get creative -- not a terrible thing!

3) Stand up to the nonsense. If looking in the mirror doesn't cause a reaction from a superficial/exterior self-perceived "flaw" but perhaps a deeper ongoing pit of YUCK in your gut, experiment with simply being kind to yourself and talking back to the Sly Voice who creeps in and beats you down. Refuse to buy into the lies and put-downs, and treat yourself as if you're already talented, gorgeous, smart and successful. (Disclaimer: This takes practice, perhaps even a lifetime of practice, but I swear to the high heavens it works! If it doesn't, I will refund you the full amount of your time reading this paragraph, but you'll have to get in touch with me decades down the road!)

4) Listen to your body. I know that's not popular to hear this time of year. You want Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers Points and magical protein drinks to help you glide on the dazzling carpet ride of thinness. I know. I've been there, but I also rode that carpet ride to a few pounds lost and much obsession gained -- never a pot of gold perfection at the end of that ride. To be honest, it sucks, it doesn't work, and there's a much more peaceful and powerful way to feel at home in your body. Listen to it. Practice moving it in ways that give you energy and help you sleep better. Practice noticing your hunger cues and what your taste buds and belly really want. Practice getting really honest with your feelings so you don't stuff them or starve them in an attempt to avoid living fully. And, while you're doing this, be on the lookout for that Voice who will tell you you are wrong to listen to your body, that you can't trust it. Kick It where it hurts, and keep listening.

5) Practice breathing deeply. Breathing brings consciousness and awareness. Consciousness and awareness bring truth. And answers. And knowing. And, eventually peace. That's the long and extended path of consistently treating your body to breath work, but even the short path of breathing -- just in deeply and out deeply while you're waiting on the barista to fix your double tall decaf white chocolate soy latte -- and just being with your body while you wait in line, and even with the mind medleys that never seem to stop will bring you little tidbits of peace throughout your day. During the mundane tasks like driving in rush hour traffic to the scrumptious everyday gifts of a yoga practice or slipping on fuzzy socks. These tidbits of peace as a result of deep belly breathing will help you to remember to treat yourself with kindness, to let perceived or real bygones be bygones, to swipe away the nonsense mind medleys, to listen to what your body needs and wants in an organic way, and to exhale the breath you've been holding in all these years. Inhale, receive and then exhale, let go...that's all you really need to do.

6) You are already whole. (oh no, she didn't!) Oh yes, I did just write that. I believe it, and so should you. I'm not saying you're perfect, I'm not saying I'm perfect. A wise person once told me that if we were perfect we'd all be dead - you can say that again! Embrace your imperfections, and either through blind faith or a religious or spiritual path, experiment with the idea that you are okay -- if not beautifully wonderful -- exactly as you are -- scrapes, scars, burns, bumps, lumps and all. You will bloom more and more with time, but soak up where you are right now. Love your strengths, and care deeply for your flaws. Strive for truth, and forgive what weighs you down.

I was inspired to come up with my mind-body awareness "resolutions" (that I recommend starting now in lieu of next year) after reading the following blog. For a little more inspiration, check out what Ms. Brooke Thomas wrote: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/12/stick-your-new-years-resolutions-where-the-sun-dont-shine--brooke-thomas/

My wish for you, dear reader, is to be kind to yourself throughout the rest of this holiday season, to bask in the idea that you are already whole, and to keep breathing, moving and loving. Cheers to a blessed 2011!

***********

Resistance Training & Body Awareness: How it Helped Me and How it Can Help You Too

Anyone can pick up a fitness magazine or do a quick Google search to find out the benefits of regular resistance training – increases bone density, increases strength for functional activities, increases circulation, improves heart condition, builds muscle, helps one sleep better, releases feel-good endorphins, and the list continues.

I’d like to address the benefits of increased body awareness and improved body image. Throughout my journey of teaching classes and training clients and taking my own continuing education classes, I’m constantly reminded of the necessity to feel grounded, to feel strong, to feel balanced, in order to learn a new fitness activity, to live with energy and optimism, to take care of yourself and others. I believe we gain those senses of grounding, strength and balance from resistance training.

While resistance training (RT) can be traditionally performed with dumbbells, weight machines, a bench, medicine balls, bands, etc., you can also simply use your own body weight with proper form and function. Try taking a ballet or power yoga class if you haven’t in a while – you’ll see how ballerinas and yogis easily challenge their muscles with no equipment!

However, I’ve found that for the majority of us (aka non-ballerinas), we need to learn the basics of RT to sense our muscles, structure and range of motion. And, that usually involves light, medium and heavy dumbbells (or even resistance bands) to hit all the major muscle groups, plus proper instruction to keep the body safe. Add some heart-pumping music, and you'll be movin' and groovin' to your heart's content. And, once we learn the basics and gain awareness and strength, then we can take the foundation of RT into other activities.

As a young dancer and high school stepper (fyi, “stepper” = step class lover), I fell in love with movement and music and decided in college that I could share that love and joy with others in the fitness arena. I started teaching RT classes in college, and I’m grateful to all my teachers who taught me the bones of structuring a class and the muscles of knowledge and creativity. Just beyond my love with music and movement, I admit my intentions initially began with wanting a perfect body. It was sort of like a tree rooted deeply for the right reasons to begin with, but there were a few rotten branches that needed some pruning, and that happened a little later down the road. But, again, while I lifted, pushed, pulled, stepped and leaped with the goal – to sum it up – of a tight ass, this movement of being in my body gave me something deeper and more important than the superficial ornament of looking good. I knew there was a way to “work out” while letting go of the unhealthy (and, as I think now, quite boring), old intentions.

Body Awareness – While on my path of practicing RT regularly and teaching others, I discovered my predictable strengths (quads, glutes), unfortunate weaknesses (pecs, wrists, knees), range of motion and flexibility (I became a lover of flow), and I began to care for that sense of awareness with respect recognizing where I needed to reach and where I needed to relax.

Body Image – My sense of self, not only my sense of body, became increasingly louder and stronger (see my previous post “Your Body Screams – but do you listen?”). My belly, my shoulders and my breath told me when my insides were off. My sense of relaxation and peace told me when things were okay. How does that relate to body image? Body image starts from the inside, a sense of self that permeates from the inside-out telling you you are more than your body. Start from the inside, listen to what your gut and your body needs (yes, it takes lots of practice!), and that truth will set you free. You can walk confidently knowing your branches are exactly as they should be, you don’t need the ornaments of perfection because you listen, you evolve, you change, you grow, you breathe, you are – and that’s all that matters.

Now with a strong sense of body awareness and a healthy body image built from a lot of practice and honesty, I let my body lead me on my fitness path. I teach a full body resistance class once a week, I practice and teach a variety of yoga, I take dance/step classes here and there, and I walk my dog and help him chase squirrels. I back off when I need, I pump it up when I need (my body, not the squirrels!).

I tell this story about my own experience because if I’m teaching it to others, I better have been there. And, I’ve seen this happen with my clients and fellow teachers. Start with the basics. Get to know your body. Seek guidance of someone who’s sensitive and well trained. Then, start listening, and let your body and heart lead you.

Your Body Screams - but do you listen?

Do you ever just know something? You can’t see it or feel it. You can’t taste it or hear it. You can’t smell it, and you can’t even begin to try to show someone what you know. Except, thinking again, maybe you can feel it, hear it, see it, taste it and touch it but not traditionally. It might be silent, transparent, tasteless, yet it’s there. Your heart races, your belly might ache, and your hands might get clammy. Your body tells you, and it always has, yet you might have disregarded it since you were a child. Pushed it away, or down, or up. Told yourself you’re too sensitive, that you feel too much, that you’re just creative and imagine a lot.

A couple things have happened lately to people I know closely as well as to me that begs us to honor our sixth sense. A friend recently suspected her boyfriend was up to no good – he gave no red flags – she just knew and caught him in the act. Busted. He can no longer call her crazy, hormonal or emotional. And, she’s found relief and freedom in trusting herself for the first time.

I recently let some things that I suspected all along finally come to surface, and to protect the not-so-innocent, I will refrain from being too specific – but I am no longer shrinking, I am honoring what I deeply know. I am no longer pushing down what I know to be true. I am no longer giving chance after chance. Could I lose things in the process? Yes. But, was what I thought I had even true in the first place? Unfortunately maybe not. Yet, could I also move into a better space of honoring my gut, my hunch, my heart? Thank the heavens above – YES.

We’re given a tap on the shoulder – a whisper of a warning – before we’re given the big blow. Let your sixth sense be the tap on your shoulder, the whisper. Give yourself more credit to stand tall in your own two shoes – to claim what you want or to let go of what no longer serves you. Stop pushing it down, stop throwing it up, stop smiling to make things look nice, stop saying yes when you want to say no, stop running away, stop pretending, stop shrinking. Trust your gut.

And, if it’s too hard to trust your gut, to listen to your body, to trust what you know – if all that’s too scary (and that’s completely understandable), ask a trustworthy someone to support you while you find your own truth. Yes, sometimes it is scary, and it is big, and your body screams. Listen to it, and treat yourself to support, to someone who understands the beauty of the sixth sense.

Since the holiday season brings a lot of pressure to please, to reconnect with old traditions and people, and to make new year’s resolutions (or not, which is okay too!), I challenge you to tune into your body. Tune into your gut. What’s your body saying? Who makes you feel ick? Who makes you feel warm? Where is your heart leading you? Toward something or away from something? What weighs you down – that something you can’t name or see but you just know? Let your breath go to that part of your body where you feel the mystery, and ask it to guide you to make the right choice. If you listen, you will know.

Friday's Letting-Go Breath Break

(you can do this anywhere - behind closed doors, in your car, or even in a meeting - no one will suspect anything - except that you might seem more peaceful!)

With both feet flat on the floor, sense your sitting bones rooted to your chair. Gently lift the area behind your heart, roll your shoulders up, back and down so your shoulder blades are gently pulled together (this opens your heart). Relax your jaw, soften your gaze, and take some deep belly breaths (let your belly FILL with air) all the way down to the base of your spine. Hold the breath for a moment imagining anything you'd like to release or let go (mentally, emotionally, physically), then exhale while imagining the breath (and your burdens) traveling back up the spine and through the crown of your head. Repeat as much and as often as you'd like to feel free of anything that's weighing you down.

Peace be with you.

Find Freedom in the Fat-Fear Frenzy

There's something about fruitcake and frosty weather that sends us into a Fat-Fear Frenzy. We tend to eat too much fruitcake, and we stay figuratively frozen inside our homes and bodies because it's too darn cold outside to play. Because we're inside and snuggled up, we decide to eat even more fruitcake (a little here, a little there) because we disconnect from the neck down and don't know what our bodies, or legs, or arms, or hips, or hearts really want.

Then, we hear the radio ads and watch the tv commercials about the inevitable holiday weight gain, and the fat-fear frenzy nearly eats us alive. Swallow this pill, sip that herbal tea, gulp this shake! Buy the latest "toning" contraption, use it for two days, then let it collect dust in your garage for the next five years until you move. Those fat-fear messages can make us hold our breath and lock up our bodies in angst, and it can nearly trick us into thinking that just looking at fruitcake can kill.

But, I refuse to buy into the fat fear, and so should you. That's old stuff. Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean you should put your body and breath on a shelf and come back to it January 1, 2011. Don't wait -- Listen to your body now.

Love Yourself
(and your tastebuds.) I know what you were thinking above, "Well, I don't eat fruitcake." Okay, I don't either, but some do, so fill in the blank with whatever salty or sweet treat you love. Then, enjoy it in moderation. On a plate in front of people -- not secretly sneaking it in the kitchen when no one's looking. And, if you don't dig it, don't eat it! Aunt Myrtle might serve up a colorful spread, but listen to your body to see what texture/taste and portion your body really wants and needs. Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean you should feel stuffed. But, you know what? It is the holiday season, so if you overindulge once or twice, forgive yourself and let it go. Lastly, when your belly and tastebuds are satisfied, fill yourself up in other ways -- take a nap, get crafty with wrapping gifts, write in your journal, call an old friend, or tune into how your body might want to MOVE:


Move Your Body
Commit to carve out time in your busy holiday schedule for regular physical activity -- not to burn calories -- but to make yourself feel alive and energetic and joyful. You don't have to kill yourself. Move for the right reasons. You'll sleep better and respect what your body's saying when you stay connected. If you're not a regular exerciser, that's okay. Start now -- tune into your breath, and practice letting your body tell you what it needs: flow in yoga, shake it in a dance class, walk and discover your neighborhood, push-pull your muscles via weight training, play fetch with your pup. And, to get ahead of those who wait until January 1, go ahead and try a new class (and get your spot!) before the January crowds get too thick!

Live Free
Promise yourself that instead of strict new year's resolutions, you'll stay true to you. Instead of all-or-nothing, black/white thinking, seek the middle of the road. Eat when you are hungry, rest when you are tired. Make exercise less competitive -- let your body lead you in movement. Write in your journal what you really, really, really want every single day (an Elizabeth Gilbert life/love writing exercise). Be with your feelings knowing that feelings don't kill you. Give trust and truth a chance. Treat yourself with kindness. Breathe.

And, finally, to quote Geneen Roth in Women, Food and God ~
‘Trust the process, trust your longing for freedom…Every time a woman aligns her eating with relaxation, every time she takes off her damn boots, the laces fly open for the rest of us.”

2 NEW yoga classes! ATL Ballet at Powers Ferry/Windy Hill

New yoga classes at the Atlanta Ballet (at the corner of Powers Ferry & Windy Hill)! Join me for lunch on Mondays to start off your work week with a sense of balance and calm. Or - Get grounded on Thursday afternoons before the weekend begins. $12 yoga class - You can't beat it!



When:
Mondays 12:15-1:15 PM
Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM (cancelled Thanksgiving, Dec. 23, 27, 30 & Jan. 3 for school holidays)

Where:
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, the Cobb Centre: 2000 Powers Ferry Road, Suite G4, Marietta, GA 30067, Phone: 678-213-5000

Who:
Anyone who wants to connect his/her breath and body. All levels welcome. Ages 16 and up, please. -- Caroline Gebhardt, registered yoga teacher, will be leading the class providing an opportunity for you to listen to your body and discover the joy of connecting the body and breath!

How:
Through a combination of gentle and heat-building poses and movement, centering breath work, and a non-competitive atmosphere, students of any level are welcome to connect their body, breath and spirit. Join on a drop-in basis, or purchase a class card.

Cost:
$12 drop-in regular rate; $8 for students with I.D.
Or, see http://www.atlantaballet.com/centre/adult_rates.php for class card rates

Contact:
Questions? Let me know - caroline@mybodyflow.com or 404.210.6752





~ Namaste

2 NEW yoga classes! ATL Ballet at Powers Ferry/Windy Hill

New yoga classes at the Atlanta Ballet (at the corner of Powers Ferry & Windy Hill)! Join me for lunch on Mondays to start off your work week with a sense of balance and calm. Or - Get grounded on Thursday afternoons before the weekend begins. $12 yoga class - You can't beat it!

When:
Mondays 12:15-1:15 PM
Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM

Where:
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, the Cobb Centre: 2000 Powers Ferry Road, Suite G4, Marietta, GA 30067, Phone: 678-213-5000

Who:
Anyone who wants to connect his/her breath and body. All levels welcome. Ages 16 and up, please. -- Caroline Gebhardt, registered yoga teacher, will be leading the class providing an opportunity for you to listen to your body and discover the joy of connecting the body and breath!

How:
Through a combination of gentle and heat-building movement and poses, centering breath work, and a non-competitive atmosphere, students of any level are welcome to connect their body, breath and spirit. Join on a drop-in basis, or purchase a class card.

Cost:
$12 drop-in regular rate; $8 for students with I.D.
Or, see http://www.atlantaballet.com/centre/adult_rates.php for class card rates

Contact:
Questions? Let me know - caroline@mybodyflow.com or 404.210.6752

~ Namaste

On Meditating...(and changing/fixing/transcending or finding plain peace)

In the book Women Food and God by Geneen Roth, her phrase on presence that I believe applies to us all -- yoginis or not -- appears on page 112 and 113:
"Usually, when people hear the word meditation, they think of transcending this clunky earthly plane. The kind of meditation I refer to has nothing to do with transcending or leaving or changing yourself in any way -- and everything to do with its opposite: showing up where you already are."

How beautiful. Stop fixing and/or changing yourself, and show up as you already are. At work in a boring meeting. In your car behind a slowpoke. In line at the post office. During a dance class or exhilarating run. Or in the middle of an addiction or struggle. Show up. Be present. Take it all in. Yes, just being where you are, clearing your mind, absorbing what you're doing, and not wishing time (or your thighs) away all count as meditation. You will benefit in ways you can't really control or imagine.

I used to get so irritated at the thought of sitting on a pillow before an altar and meditating. It made me want to scream and run and roll my eyes -- I had no intention of transcending. Life is short enough, I needed some holy EARTHINESS in my body with my loved ones, not to float in the clouds. I'd escaped my body too many times before. I needed earthly presence with peace.

So, before I read Geneen's new book, and while I was immersed in a yoga training, I decided to make peace with this thing called meditation. Sometimes I'd have a movement meditation while taking a great class or doing my own asana practice. Sometimes (okay, occasionally) I'd have a cooking meditation. Sometimes, I'd have a driving meditation. Many times a walking meditation, a bathtub meditation, and a mat meditation. The idea was to clear my head of the running thoughts that go something like this:

I should have checked the stove before I left the house; did the door shut completely?; am I going to hit the deadline?; what if I ask for an extra day -- will they think I'm slacking?; who cares what they think?; if the kitty gets out, I will never forgive myself; if the house burns with Nick still sleeping, I'll just die; God, we need to paint the shutters...

See what I mean? Those are the thoughts we can let go. Sometimes it just takes a little tweaking perspective. While India's a lovely place, and having a spiritual awakening during your committed pillow/floor/quiet time is nothing short of holy, we don't have to be so hard on ourselves. We can start now. All we really have to do is show up.

~ Namaste

If you've ever dieted one time too many, or if tell yourself ugly thoughts when looking in a mirror, you might just eat up this book. For more information about Women Food and God, visit: http://www.womenfoodandgod.com/

If you're interested in private yoga or personal training sessions, write me: caroline@mybodyflow.com

Move to Feel Good

Finally -- Leaves are covering the sidewalk! I snapped this yesterday on my afternoon walk. Gone are the blistering hot days, sunscreen ALL over the body and air conditioner. Here are the hoodies, scarves and warm lattes. Fall has finally arrived, an opportunity to feel renewed and excited about the holiday season! And, in the body sense: the change of a season provides a sense of renewal and possibility and presence in your body.

On Sunday, I met with a dear mentor of mine who reminded me, once again, of the importance of exercise as a mood-lifter and life enricher. She endured a horrific tragedy three years ago when her daughter was senselessly murdered in New Orleans. She said daily walking and yoga carried her out of a deep depression and back into a fulfilling life. The familiar light in her eyes and her excitement for learning, teaching and sharing showed me she meant it.

Whether you're a lifelong exerciser or just contemplating everyday whether to move or not, I believe movement, or physical activity, or whatever-you-wanna-call-it, can bring you back in your body and back into a richly present life. Just for now, or just for your next bout of movement, forget the attachments of weight loss or calories, and move to feel good.

Now, try this: Stand up with feet hip-width apart, and take some deep belly breaths, relax your shoulders, soften your knees, take your arms up over your head and wide down the sides of your body several times....Stand still for three deep breaths, soften your gaze....Now, reach high and wide again, fold forward from the hips and hold feeling the rush of blood warming your head and calming your mind....Slowly roll up, stand wide and reach your arms wide. Hinge forward from your hips again, fold all the way down with your fingertips touching the floor, and begin a gentle lunge side to side to open up the legs....Stay on one side and come down to all fours (hands and knees). Do cat cow, inhaling as your head and tail move toward the sky, exhale as you arch your back like a cat. Then, rest in child's pose by letting your hips rest on your heels. Relax your shoulders and be conscious of your breath for a minute.

Note how you feel after just those few short movements and breaths. Wherever you are in your body journey, what if you committed to letting your body have at least this gentle movement everyday? How might it make you feel? How can you be in your body more, everyday?

I believe there's a difference between force and commitment. If we force ourselves to move (aka: exercise), we race through the routine of choice counting down the minutes, trying to see how hard we can go, how intense we can make it for the sake of getting it done or burning the calories. It becomes black and white. All or nothing. If we commit ourselves to move, we allow wiggle room to choose what to do -- but we do it, even if it's for 5 or 10 or 15 minutes instead of the standard hour. If we commit, we can tune into our bodies and say, "hmm, what am I feeling like today?" Perhaps an exhilarating walk followed by stretching, a ballet or kickbox class, or a swim or gentle yoga, or an afternoon at the park with the kids and dog.

As you enter the busy holiday season going to parties, shopping nonstop, cooking for others, traveling to see family and friends, practice committing a few minutes everyday to get in your body. See where it takes you. See how moving the body makes you feel. Explore, tune in, be, and connect.

(And, hey, napping is a good thing too. Take it from my baby kitty Kali - it's all about balance. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....)

Come back to your breath....

(okay, so that's me in Scotland, not Seattle, but I think it captures the essence of this post!)






Two weeks ago, I went to see a girlfriend of mine in Seattle, and I just happened to arrive on the same evening that Geneen Roth was giving a book reading/discussion/signing at a local Seattle bookstore. I was soooo excited to hear her in person -- I've been a fan of Geneen for the past eight years (eight might not seem long to you, but it feels like ages to me in the sense of when I STOPPED dieting and abusing my body) -- therefore, I felt like a starstruck teenager! Geneen - this wise, brave woman - in person!

Geneen mentioned a few key phrases that evening which I've highlighted in quotation marks below -- then I've followed up with my own comments:

"Treat yourself with kindness & curiosity" -- Everytime I remind myself to be kind and curious with myself, whether it's relating to why I'm super irritable or anxious, or feeling like I could eat a whole damn cake, the edge softens. I breathe, I relax, I can forgive myself for feeling overwhelmed or fearful or anxious or whatever. I question what happened, I see what happened and why I feel xyz, then I can move on without negativity winning (or that whole damn cake - a slice will do, thank you!).

"We change the channel" or "Take the edge off" by stuffing, starving, binging, picking, purging, drinking, shopping, or fill-in-the-blank however one might run away from xyz. Why do we leave ourselves? Because we think it's too painful to sit, to breathe through it, to brainstorm how to change it, or even scarier, if we can't control it, we think we can't handle the unknown or how to "be" with it. Heavy stuff, I know. But, from my own journey, I truly believe there's a loveliness waiting to be discovered, waiting to be "tapped into", waiting to be brought to life. Just breathe and try being with it.

"Feelings don't kill us." -- You can say that again, and again, and again. And again. I'm not saying I have the answer, the magic key to ultimate bliss, to transcending and levitating. But, I do believe that the breath, staying with the breath, which helps you to stay with your sacred essence, helps you to get through the pain, the shit, the unknown. Come back to your breath, come back to your breath.

You might notice a consistent theme here. Breathe. Whether you struggle with anxiety or depression, are battling disordered eating or bad body thoughts, or simply have a to-do list that never seems to lighten, get in touch with your breath. I promise it's a major player in healing and thriving.

Lastly, to delve deeper into Geneen's latest bestseller, Women Food and God, I look forward to launching this fall's 4-week book club + yoga series starting this Saturday, October 30. While we'll discuss WFG, the bulk of our time will be spent breathing, moving, stretching, being and connecting. We have a couple spaces remaining -- don't miss out! If you're interested in connecting with your body and breath and spirit to help create a better relationship with food/body image, check out the following info! http://listentoyourbodyflow.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-club-yoga-read-talk-move-breathe.html

Facebook, Computers, Gadgets & Connecting

Someone (from Facebook) wrote to me insinuating that my blogs tend to be body-and-women-focused. Really? Good job noticing! While, I'm not really sure what he meant by it -- as if to say I should be writing about my personal Friday night plans or my favorite eye candy (mystery novels) -- he's on the mark.

I'm fascinated with how we live (or don't live) in our bodies, and being in your body isn't just for women! Men, you can use a dose of listening to your body too! And, I tend to write for women because, hellew, I've got experience in that area. That's why I decided to create my business to help others find peace and energy in their bodies, and therein, their lives. Lo and behold, I created a blog that happens to be connected to Facebook where we all tend to connect in random and sometimes energy-sucking ways.

Like many of you probably, I have a love-and-hate relationship with computers and gadgets like Blackberries, iPhones, etc. They allow us to dive into a world of knowledge, videos, games, news and the all-consuming social networking. I think it's magnificent to have the world at our fingertips, but I think it's a shame sometimes our fingers are the only ones dancing.

If you read this by chance, take a moment to turn away from the computer (or iPad or B-berry), shut down the Twitter window, and forget browsing for the latest-and-greatest coupons. Take a deep breath that goes all the way down into your belly. Now, see if you can exhale. Let go. Let go of the drama. Take a few more deep breaths and notice how your body feels --

*How are your shoulders?
*Your jaw?
*Is your face relaxed or are your brows in a furrow?
*What about your spine - are you tall and awake or slumped?
*Now take note of your legs. Could they stretch? Walk, Kick, Run, Dance?

*What happens when you follow your body?
*How do you feel when you stay stuck?

Come back to your breath. That's all you really have to do. It will lead you to stay and continue browsing (which I'm not knocking, I'm just saying!). It will lead you to get up and get moving. It will lead you to your truth, your energy, your gut, your hunch. Take time to tune in, to check in, to connect with yourself. There's nothing Greater.

Disease is inertia. Healing is movement. If you put the body in motion, you will change. You are meant to move: from flowing to staccato, through chaos into lyrical and back into the stillness from which all movement comes. ~ Gabrielle Roth

12-week Women's Group

Here's another *nourishing* opportunity for anyone who wants to steer clear of the diet lifestyle and yet find a new relationship with feeding and sustaining herself (hey guys, there are groups for you too!). Atlanta therapist Allyn St. Lifer will be leading the following group:

Shape Your Mind

Transform Your Body
With Slimworks

If you are tired of dieting and the negative feelings about yourself and your body that result, this Slimworks group can help. In a safe, encouraging, and supportive environment you will:

o Explore the underlying reasons for your overeating
o Develop strategies for changing your eating habits while eating all the foods you enjoy
o Improve your self image and body image
o Transform your relationship with food and your body
o Empower yourself and learn effective ways of dealing with the stress without using food AND MUCH MORE!

A new 12 week women’s group is forming:

Contact: Allyn St. Lifer, LCSW at 678-925-3516 email me at allyn@slimworks.com to schedule an assessment/interview
Date & Time: Starting on Wednesday, October 13, 2010,
6:30-8:00 PM
Cost: $60/session, some insurances accepted
Location: POWERS FERRY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES,
1827 Powers Ferry Road, Bldg 22, Atlanta, GA 30339

Book Club + Yoga -- read talk move breathe heal

Book Club + Yoga
4-week series – Fall 2010

What: Read and discuss Geneen Roth’s latest bestseller Women Food and God, then connect with yourself through a yoga/body awareness practice.

Who: Anyone who wants to explore her connection to her self, body and spirit. Anyone who wants to deepen or begin her journey of finding relief from the food/body wars. Caroline Gebhardt, Registered Yoga Teacher, will lead the group.

When: 4 consecutive Saturdays from 10a-12p – October 30 & November 6, 13, & 20

Where: Anxiety and Stress Management Institute
(1640 Powers Ferry Road, Building 9, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30067 - http://www.stressmgt.net/)

How: Through a series of reading, talking, meditating, moving and breathing, we’ll gently touch upon and nourish our true appetites and deep feelings found in our bodies, hearts and breath. No yoga experience necessary. This is not a therapy group but a safe group to explore your relationship with food, your self, body and spirit.

Why: In addition to embracing Geneen Roth’s famous non-dieting approach and her touching phrase "the world is on your plate", the practice of tuning into your body and breath through a luxurious dose of gentle movement and body awareness exercises builds a deep relationship with your sense of self, your essence, your life and your spirit. For book information, visit http://www.womenfoodandgod.com/

Cost: Limited space – Reserve your spot! Option 1) $100 total prepaid by 10/23/10; Option 2) $30/Saturday if space permits; Cash or check; Checks made payable to FLOW Training; Sorry, no refunds after 10/23; Please mail payment to:
FLOW Training LLC, 2266 Ithica Drive, Marietta, Georgia 30067

FYI: Please wear comfortable clothing. Bring your copy of WFG, a journal to take notes, a yoga mat, cushion for sitting, and a bottle of water!

Contact: If you want to reserve your space or have questions, please contact Caroline at caroline@mybodyflow.com or (404) 210-6752


FLOW Training, LLC
www.mybodyflow.com
Love Yourself, Move Your Body, Live Free

EDIN's Celebrity Dance Challenge - October 21, 2010

EDIN's annual Celebrity Dance Challenge is coming in less than a month! You can visit http://www.danceforselfesteem.org/index.php#about to purchase tix, and read specific info about the celeb dancers as well as a video and photos from last year. Think Dancing with the Stars in Atlanta (http://www.dance101.org) + a fundraiser honoring EDIN (http://www.myedin.org) to help prevent eating disorders and promote healthy body images throughout Atlanta and the nation! Great cause, exciting entertainment -- Hope to see you there!

Thursday, October 21st 2010
7:00 - 10:00 pm

*Doors open at 6:30 please come early for a meet and greet with drinks and a silent auction

173 14th Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30309

Your Definition of Beauty?

A favorite coach/fitness expert of mine -- who I've followed for several years, who's uber creative with choreography, and whose energy and spirit exude optimism, light and confidence -- has made some changes to her appearance that make me stop, pause and think. She's beautiful now and she was beautiful then, but it makes me question: How much is too much? Where does one cross the line from loving movement and strength and energy and some soft makeup, to living off plain grilled chicken breasts and drowning themselves in beauty products and procedures?

I still adore this woman -- she's gotten thousands of women (and men) off the couch and into their bodies in a loving, enthusiastic way. She's one of those who taught me how not only movement or physical activity tunes us into our bodies (therein our lives) but also more specifically how resistance training teaches the invaluable lesson of body awareness. (And, no, not sculpting-perfect-body-awareness, just the good old-fashioned knowledge of becoming familiar with one's own structure, frame, muscles, strength and flexibility.)

Since I, like you, am bombarded with beauty messages and get-happy-quick tips on a daily basis, I think we have to define what truly works for ourselves on an individual basis. Through my personal training, I teach that we can find peace, joy and freedom through listening to our bodies, but that's not a quick fix to put you on a Milan runway overnight -- nor does it promise the "perfect" weight, Mr. Right around-the-corner, job security, 2.5 children, and a sense of peace for daily levitating. I believe we all have to define our sense of beauty -- from how far we'll go using beauty products, etc., to letting our inner light be Enough.

*Where do you draw a line in having pride in your appearance v. letting your beauty shine from the inside-out?

*How do you listen to your body, your energy, on a daily basis -- and sometimes a moment-to-moment basis -- to guide your sense of truth and peace?

*And, if you have a hard time listening to your body -- or if it's a foreign concept, why not give it a shot?

You might have seen this before, but someone sent this to me today, and it's a good reminder for us all to exhale -- and thank Dove for keeping it real!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh7jsxi79pc

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Breath Made Visible - a film

I just happened upon such a beautiful message that I thought I'd share with whomever might be out there tonight....(in case you're wondering about how dance can teach, heal, inspire and transform...or any connected movement for that matter...)

Check out the trailer for this dance documentary featuring dance pioneer Anna Halprin -- I love how she says "Dance is the breath made visible. Anyone can do it -- I don't care whether they've had any training at all."

This website is too beautiful for me to try to summarize, so please see for yourself. Read the synopsis, then watch the trailer. The music is breathtaking as well as the message:

http://www.breathmadevisible.com/?lang=en

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Measure Your Energy - Not Your Thighs

I recently had someone write asking about my services, and I wrote her such an in-depth response that I decided this specific portion might serve my blog readers too. This will give you an idea of how I'm trying to help steer the world of fitness in a new direction. ;)

"I’ll honestly say I’m not a fan of measuring or weighing - pounds, body parts, calories, carbs, etc. I tell clients – let’s measure your energy not your thighs. The first time I told a client that she was a little surprised and probably disappointed, but she said, “okay, let’s give it a shot.” She’d just been to Canyon Ranch – weighed, measured and poked – before we started together which prompted her to seek a trainer. A year later she returned to Canyon Ranch. She met with the head trainer again who was blown away by her progress in a year. She was already a regular runner, but we added the weight training and yoga component twice a week for added muscle strength, bone support as she was aging, and flexibility training. This cross training gave her a boost in strength, a graceful and calming sense flexibility, newfound body awareness, and a much-needed break in her busy day as a CEO. Yes, she got compliments over and over on how she "looked", but we both knew the stress relief benefits and the strength she discovered she had were the biggest things to smile about."

So, throw away your scales, forget the tape measure, and stop driving yourself crazy with Points. I believe this intuitive approach to fitness -- listening to your body, finding your internal/external edge -- is a more loving and sustainable approach to fitness from the inside-out.

What is Your Word?

I'm not giving anything away by saying that in the movie Eat Pray Love, Elizabeth Gilbert shares an inside "joke" of sorts with her Italian friends that goes like this: "What is your word?" Then, you have to think of a word that describes yourself or an object besides the person/object's real name. For example, for California, you might say its word is "wine". Or, for Vince Vaughn, I'd say his word would be "adorable" (this is all subjective, ok?). Or, Mother Theresa, "generous". Make sense?

What would your word be? Think about it. And, just one word that makes sense in all or most areas of your life. I won't spoil it by telling EG's word -- you've gotta see the movie all the way to the end. :)

My word -- Connected. And, I don't mean I'm connected in the name-dropping sense. I just mean I try to stay connected to myself, my heart, my breath, my body, and special loved ones on a daily basis. It takes reminding and practice, and I'm completely human -- I slip up and forget sometimes. And, while I have tended to navel gaze quite a few times in my life, I don't believe connected always means to be so deep and serious. Simply present, hopeful, mindful and living with good intentions.

So, how are you connected? To your breath, your self, your body, your heart, your loved ones?

FLOW - forum and free video!

Hey, weekend warriors, FLOW's got two updates - See below!

#1) FLOW Training's website - http://www.mybodyflow.com/ - just blossomed a bit, which includes a new FORUM for discussion - http://flowforum.mybodyflow.com/user/Discussions.aspx?id=250807 - I'm the moderator for this community and would love to discuss fitness, healing through movement, yoga, or whatever you want re: listening to your body. You can post anonymously too if you're more comfortable that way.

#2) FLOW's got a FLIP cam and some fitness clips that will be uploaded soon...stay tuned. In the meantime:

* feel free to make a request for a short "video" (ex: stretch, yoga, breathwork, power step, etc.), and it will be added to the "shoot" list.

* the first person who requests a video tailored to her
preferences receives it free!

* personal fitness videos are available especially for you for a fee depending on the length and type of workout.

* Write FLOW for a chance to win a free personal video, to make a request for a short video posted on this site, or to inquire about cost!

Thanks for reading - I'm off to catch up with a new-mom friend and take a fun step class to start off my weekend just right! ;)

Love What You Do

My new hairstylist reminded me of one of life's most simple yet great lessons on Saturday. It rings true in one of my favorite Rumi quotes: "Let the beauty we love be what we do."

Another way of saying it, do what interests you, what you love, and you'll thrive. This lesson could apply to your work, your hobbies, your cooking, your organization (or lack thereof) and, naturally, your exercise/movement/physical activity. Call me an idealist, but I believe this theory. Of course, we've gotta pay our taxes (I do not consider numbers as something that interests me), and we've gotta find a way to stay reasonably balanced in our health, occupation and relationships. Speaking of health, and more specifically, fitness:

Say you loathe lifting weights at the gym, but you love to dance. Do you what you love (dance), and then seek out a great Pilates class/instructor to help you maintain all-over strength so you can boogy, or leap, or twirl, or tap to your heart's content with strength and body awareness.

Say you're bored to tears on a treadmill, but you love fresh air and flowers. Get outside, and pound the pavement! Invest in some quality workout gear depending on the season, and make the earth your home, your haven.

Say you love to snow ski, but you live in Atlanta. Get a Wii. Yes, if it makes you feel joy while you move and feel alive in your body, it's worth the price even if you're not into Guitar Hero.

Speaking of, say you love to sing or play music, but you have a hard time "getting-the-potato-off-the-couch", I guarantee you that if you get creative with a unique playlist for yourself, you'll learn to love how your body re-energizes with movement and music.

It's not rocket science. And, even the pro athletes and Broadway stars have to give themselves pep talks here and there to get themselves to move -- to wake up their bodies, to find strength in their muscles, to relish a deep stretch, and to find freedom in their days.

See, this goes to show why finding a great stylist is so important -- as they're beautifying, shaping and grooming (might I add: around your seventh chakra), it's a bonus to have someone do it who has a sense of beauty from the inside-out. Thank you, Shawn Black, http://www.mirarsalon.com/