Rest in Peace, City and Chloe

Writing helps to ground me. If you're into chakras, you'll know what I mean when I say I'm a root chakra kind of gal. I need rooting, grounding, nesting. I need the security of feeling strong and centered before moving forward. When I got engaged last year, I started a diary for my husband-to-be, and I told him if I get crabby or moody or crazy, to tell me to write. The other day, he told me to write.

You get my drift, huh? I've been working like a madwoman, which is not a terrible problem to have, but until the writing and rooting began again, I was forgetting about myself. And, I was forgetting about my husband, my family, myself. It's easy to give and give and give - and do and do and do - but, as I've learned lately, sometimes it's hard to give back to me.

A great teacher said on Friday "drink while you pour". Receive while you give. It's possible. It's not noble to give unconditional love to everyone else if you can't give it to yourself. I've been thinking about unconditional love lately. You might remember a while ago I wrote that our five-year-old cat and five-year-old dog had lymphoma. With this experience, I was reminded of how animals brings us back to unconditional love. Without further ado, I'd love to share how each of these beings below teach us about love.



With the intention of being grateful for what I've still got, first and foremost, here's our Easter Bunny Bowden. I took this photo 20 minutes ago before I wrote this blog entry. He refused to look at the camera, he hated the pink egg, he dared me to walk into the other room while he sniffed the Reese peanut butter eggs. We call him our Lone Ranger. Our Stoner Dog. Except for his stiff shoulders and lack of ability to do down dog, he's actually a very good yogi - he practices detachment very nicely, he eats what he wants when he wants (surprisingly, I know, it's not very much), he meditates outside a dozen times a day staring off into space not blinking an eye, and he regularly chants with his neighbors. About the unconditional love - I love our Bow-Bow. All of him - the chunks of fur that he constantly leaves in the house during shedding season, the way he gingerly takes treats from our hands, the Monday morning barking at the garbage truck backing into our driveway, and even the way he completely ignores his mom (moi) but obediently greets his dad every evening. He's our man. And now, pretty much our rock.

City the Kitty. Like anyone who owns a pet might say, this wasn't any ole cat. She was my baby. She slept with me for almost five years, she greeted me like a dog by rolling over on her back, she loved drinking water from my glass instead of her own (no, I did not drink after her - I realize how cats bathe), she loved all adults but was scared s***less of my niece and nephew (little people look weird, okay?), and despite the hisses and sharp slaps, I believe she started a secret friendship with our dog, Chloe, toward the end of her sweet life. City the Kitty went to heaven three weeks ago today. The cancer *almost* got the best of her, and we decided to let her go peacefully when she let us know it was time.

Chloe. Miss Chloe-Glowy. If you've seen Marley and Me, you know Chloe. I'm sure my husband didn't think she was a "Marley" - but I'll be really honest here, and it might be TMI for my blog, but I don't care. She loved my underwear. And my socks. And my workout gloves. And my clean, unused toilet paper on the roll. If I didn't accidentally leave underwear, socks or gloves where she could find them, she'd just take a big chunk out of the roll usually spreading the toilet paper throughout my bathroom. Then, why not, she'd just dip into my trashcan too and spread it throughout the hallway. Ask my husband, she got into something every single day. She was no dummy, she'd find something. Despite her love to tear my underwear to shreds, I loved this dog. I could say NO to her 40 times a day, and that tail would continue to wag so much I thought she was surely bruising herself while slapping it against the floor or wall. She was very codependent, very needy, very sly but also very cute and so full of love that I didn't realize how much love was in this house until she was actually gone. We had to let her go yesterday morning. Easter Morning. What a way to celebrate Life. Chloe-Glowy joined City the Kitty - I imagine them smelling each other, still feeling each other out but becoming fast friends in the gates of Bliss.

Or, perhaps they'll be reincarnated. Who really knows. The heaps of love we experienced outweighed the waves of frustration trying to merge a household of two carnivorous dogs and one often-pissy cat. And, I learned that if I could love those animals wholeheartedly - their idiosyncrasies along with their wagging tails and soft fur - and if they could love my husband and me back with that much love - then certainly that love goes on in many forms.

I guess I write this to help myself grieve, to maybe connect with someone else through these words who has experienced the same thing. More so, I want us to treat each other kindly. I want us to treat each other like we do our pets. Sure, we can have boundaries, and we don't have to let people drink out of our water glasses or wear our underwear. But, let's be kind, let's give each other a chance. Let's forgo the fluff and have real conversations, let's forgive, and let's let each other be. (Bowden, Mr. Detachment himself wrote that last phrase.)

More importantly, before one can do any of that, let's give back to ourselves. Let us pay attention to our own needs for time and space and sunshine. Let's give ourselves a break. And, for the sake of circling back to this blog's "FLOW", let's treat ourselves to a freaking cookie or two without counting the blasted calories. Let's move freely to feel our life force (aka "aliveness") versus a way to stay small and invisible (and quite frankly, dead). Let's tune into our hearts and nourish ourselves in authentic ways. Keep it simple - Be Real, Love and Breathe.

Rest in Peace, City and Chloe.

Are You Nourished?

Confession time. I haven't been nourishing myself. And, I mean in a creative way. Lately, I've been racing from here to there for work; creating wedding to-do lists consisting of my shorthand re: dj, photog, gifts, first dance; then, all of a sudden it's tax time again, and I'm talking aloud for two hours to Quickbooks Online as if it's a friend (but most of the time a foe!).

So, for anyone who might read this blog, who might enjoy learning about moderate, flexible and balanced exercise and all the tidbits I like to string along with that topic, I apologize for being absent. I'm always open to questions and writing topic ideas, so send 'em my way. Otherwise, you might be waiting until after December!

In the meantime, I found a lovely speech talking about nourishing your creativity. You've probably read Eat Pray Love, so you're probably familiar with Elizabeth Gilbert. I used to do a daily writing exercise she suggested a couple years ago, and I've even let that go. So, if you're like me - if you tend to get a little "out of sorts" (okay, let's call it what it is) - If you tend to get a bit bitchy when you don't nourish yourself in a proper creative way, take her advice and use your God-given gifts. Why not??!!

Visit http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

I've got a little creative idea up my sleeve for the weekend (on top of two parties, maybe three, and lots of housework) - I hope to share it with you next week. Until then, think about all the ways you truly nourish yourself (while vitamins and antioxidants are great, I'm talking about nourishment other than food). Think about it, then treat yourself.

The Body Never Lies ~ Martha Graham

I surprisingly have some extra time this morning, so I'd like to share some Martha Graham quotes:

~ Nothing is more revealing than movement.

~ The body is a sacred garment.

~ The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body.

~ The body never lies.

~ The body says what words cannot.

All five force me to slow down and think. And, then I pause, breathe, think, feel and breathe. And, then I return to typing because I want to finish this post, turn up some music, finish cleaning, move, breathe and be free in my own body. I feel ready to move, to feel joy, to give thanks, to be present.

All five can be great writing prompts wherever you are. You might be in a light, energetic, focused mode. A slow, depressed, low mode. An anxious, heart-thumping mode. A middle-of-the-road, mundane Wednesday mode.

Wherever you are, what messages might your body be telling you? What stories lie within your body, your bones, your cells? And, how can you take care or honor what your body is telling you?

What is a Tea Party?

When I moved to Atlanta in Summer 2002, I fell in love. Oh, the energy, the lightness, the strength, the confidence, the comfort and the fun! Seven years later, I'm still in love, and the bonus - it has expanded. This group-movement-love-affair has kept me grounded, led my to my truths, introduced me to lovely people, and kept me thriving with my own business in Atlanta.

The guy who first held my heart and focus in Atlanta is named Scott. He still teaches my favorite step class, and he'll always be my Step Guru. Even though I've loved aerobics since Jane Fonda in her 20th century hayday, Scott's charisma, light-heartedness and healthy attitude continues to remind me of the importance of my love for movement and music.

Through work at CNN and in pharma sales, and finally to creating my own business, movement groups of any variety have nourished me, and I'm hoping the following can help you too. Whether you'd like a workshop or "class" for a business group, friends get-together, birthday party, or therapy group, I'm happy to tailor movement for every body.

I recently had someone ask me "Just what is a Tea Party?" when he was reading my brochure. (Read below for the answer.) I believe he might have mistakenly been imagining ladies stuffed into girdles suffocating in proper dresses and sipping bland tea from fine china cups. Now, does that sound like FLOW to you?

I'm here to help you be comfortable in your body. Dress in comfortable fabrics, and move how your body needs with people you love around you. Remember that movement can be educational and therapeutic - and it can be quite fun too!


Movement Workshops

Connect with your body, connect with yourself, connect with others. FLOW Training offers a variety of workshops focusing on connecting the body, self, breath and community.

Minimum: 5 people
$15/person for small groups (5-20 people)
For groups of 20+, please contact FLOW for discounted rates.


1) Writing with the Body: Words and Movement
Writing, drawing and gentle movement for all ages. A chance to discover strengths, weakness, likes, dislikes, wishes, needs and hopes for the body and self.

2) Balance your Belly, Balance your Body, Balance your Life!
While practicing body awareness, this core-focused workshop tunes into your deep hungers and intuition by moving the body as a whole, from the center and using core muscles and deep breathing.

3) Seek Movement for the Right Reasons
Tune into your body and focus on your own desires and delights as opposed to the “shoulds”. Steer clear of over-exercising and rigid routines – Move to live.

4) Letters to my Body
A safe gathering to welcome your body’s voice and your writer within. A great “series” class to form the habit of writing to allow the body and self communicate.

5) Make Fitness Work for You
Spice up your fitness plan, or learn how to add balanced exercise to your daily regimen. Discover how basic structure and a daily self check-in can create a new passion for moving your body and loving your life!

6) Tea Party for Every Body
Enjoy movement of your choice: flowing, rhythmic, restorative - or all three. Then, gather round to learn about different teas of the world and their healing benefits!

When facilitating workshops, FLOW Training is flexible to combining or creating new workshops in addition to the ideas above.

Love Your Belly, Trust Your Gut

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel a funny feeling deep in your gut, but because it's such a bummer, you ignore it? You go with the crowd, or with whom you think is your crowd, you stuff away that nagging feeling that's trying to guide you. Then, the inevitable bummer happens. And, all along, your gut was right. Your belly was trying to tell you the truth from the beginning? How can you learn to stand your ground, to stay firm in your truth, to stay planted in your peace?

Or, what happens when change happens? What happens when that bummer or disappointment sprouts, takes you for a wild ride and drops you off dizzy and grasping for air? What happens when the dance is something you haven't learned, what happens when you are forced to soak up a different perspective? How do you stand your ground in change? How do you stay true to yourself through change? How do you hope for peace in change?

To stay grounded, to stay true, to embrace peace within yourself and your surroundings are all things that movement and/or being-in-your-body can teach you. Through a variety of breathwork, yoga- and Pilates-inspired movement, and gentle guidance within a safe environment, you can learn to stay grounded through change, through the dance of life.

How so? Come to my free workshop this Sunday. See details below. And, stay tuned for more workshop/group movement experiences!

Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance, when you're perfectly free. ~ Rumi

Be Kind to Your Body

When it comes to my personal training philosophies, I'm rarely a whistleblower. If you can do without the infamous drill sargeant bossiness of a fitness leader, I am your woman! I like to call myself a gentle personal trainer. But, inevitably, when I tell people what I do for a living, they sometimes open their eyes wide, then point to a body part, then furrow their eyebrows, and finally say, "Can you help me get rid of this?"


Okay, I'll be a whistleblower now. And, I won't be responding with a "Drop and give me 50!" Instead, I might say, "First, it's impossible to spot reduce, and Second, let's be work on being nicer to your body before we try changing it."


Anyone who's well-read in fitness plans and diets might know what I'm talking about. And, even if you've curiously browsed all the new year resolution books currently piled high in the front of bookstores knows an inkling of what I'm talking about too. Whether it's low-carb, low-calorie, Pilates, medicine balls, running programs, the list goes on and on.... So many different ways and options to get lean, tone, trim, firm, skinny, fit, gorgeous, young, and the list goes on again....


I even saw a magazine (currently on the stands as of last night) advertise a claim to "get fit and lose fat" without exercise, diets or gym memberships! Well, they caught my eye! I opened to to discover their philosophy to (in-a-nutshell) only do housework or yardwork or shop. While I wholeheartedly believe that playing with the dog, painting a room, spreading mulch, raking leaves, unloading a dishwasher and dancing with a broom are ALL fabulous ways of physical activity, what about cardiovascular health training, balancing your muscles through resistance training, balance training, flexibility training, and mindful core training?


So, while I'm not a whistleblowing "Drop and give me 50 MORE after you run 10 laps" trainer, and while I'm not an advocate of "dancing with your broom for five minutes will be plenty, darling, but don't forget to skip all carbs" - squeeze my training philosophy somewhere in the middle secured with lots of "love your body first" reminders.


Yes, you do need your cardiovascular health training, resistance training, core/balance training and flexibility training. And, guess what, that can be fit into one workout in less than an hour, or it can be broken up into bits throughout your week. But, before we tackle the exercise, let's talk about the "Can you get rid of this?" interrogation.


First, give me the benefit of the doubt, take a deep inhale, and when you're ready to try something new, read on.... If I can hand you one piece of magic, of bliss, I'd be delighted. It requires an open mind and patience. It is simply, "Be kind to your body. Be kind because your body will respond with love once you open up to listening, respecting and loving your body."


Wanna know how? Email me for specific questions, and/or look out for suggestions in my next post!

Love Your Body Month - February 2009

Love Your Body Month is almost here! Atlanta's very own Eating Disorders Information Network organizes an array of events throughout the month of February to celebrate and honor loving your body. Please click here to see February's events: http://myedin.org/index.php?id=76&monthArg=1&yearArg=2009

Two workshops I'm cohosting:

Sunday, February 8, 10a-12p
"Let Your Body Tell its Story", which incorporates "writing with the body" and NIA, a form of movement to connect the body with the mind/emotions/spirit. Sandy Bramlett, M.Ed., a Nia teacher, will lead the movement portion of the workshop, and Caroline Correll, journalist and mind/body trainer will lead the writing portion of the workshop. 10:00 am- 12 pm at Seminole Studio, 675 Seminole Avenue NE (in the Highland Building), Atlanta, GA 30307. Contact Debi Demare, EDIN Volunteer, at debidemare@comcast.net. The event is free, though donations will be accepted.

Sunday, February 15, 3-5pm
Join Megan McSwain, MA LAPC, and Caroline Correll, fitness/movement trainer, at the lululemon showroom on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, from 3-5pm, for gentle movement combined with art therapy. The focus will be *body love and expression*. Some supplies will be provided, but please bring a yoga mat and any special art supplies. Free, donations welcome, proceeds toward EDIN. Questions/RSVP: caroline@mybodyflow.com or 404.210.6752 Address: lululemon showroom ~ 1409 North Highland Ave., Suite F, Atlanta, GA 30306 (next to FOOD 101, across from Doc Chey’s)



Hope you can make it to these events - no need to RSVP. Come comfortable and ready to treat yourself kindly. ;)

thank you for coming!

Great turnout today at the art+movement workshop! For those of you who came, I hope you enjoyed the experience, were able to take that connection home with you, and are blessed throughout 2009! Thank you to lululemon (JJ and Abby) for allowing us to use their beautiful space! www.lululemon.com

And, a similar workshop's around the corner. Need more body love and self care? Connect with your self and your body through art and movement.

Resolve to Love Your Body: Self care through art + movement
Honoring EDIN's Love Your Body Month (www.myedin.org)
When: Sunday, February 15, 2009, 3-5pm
Where: lululemon showroom, Atlanta


...more details to follow