Women, Food and Weight

Inspiration: To continue to listen to the needs of the body in each moment.

Many of us, especially women, wake up each morning with the intention of having a guilt-free eating day. By this I mean, " I am going to stick to my diet." In Spanish the word morir means to die. If we translate this into our daily life, we metaphorically do "die" when we deprive ourselves.

Depending upon your level of physical activity, it is essential to eat in a balanced way. We need a minimum of calories (somewhere around 1200 according to your metabolism) to sustain our bodily functions. The beating of our heart, the functioning of our brain and organs.  Add to the mix some exercise, and you can clearly see, it is not about being restrictive, or dieting.

This is actually counter-intuitive to lasting and healthy results. In the short-term, you will succeed in reaching your so-called "goals" of maintaining what you believe to be the perfect weight. But what really is perfect? Personally speaking, perfection is peace. To be at total peace with this moment. If a number on the scale brings you peace, what happens when it changes? That is really not peace at all.

In particular, women are held to such high standards by society and the media. We see airbrushed magazines of starlets that may make some of us feel less than. Truth be told, in real-life, (but Uma Thurman really is stunning), most women do not look like this.  At the very core, all of us just want to be happy. We all have our own set of circumstances, regardless of who we are.

So today, I lovingly invite you all to enjoy some sweetness. Yes, in the form of food. A "little" bit of something good, will go a long way. It will make you "happy".:-).

Have a very "peaceful" day.

With Love,
Denise

You Just Never Know....

Inspiration: To allow room to learn the truth about an individual without judgments.

Yesterday, while working with a client at a private gym, I commented on a beautiful bracelet another trainer was wearing. For some reason it just stood out and spoke to me. It was a handmade, sterling silver wing wrapped in leather.

Shortly after, I inquired as to where he got it. After sharing the details, he told me this replaced the bracelet that Lance Armstrong ripped off his wrist after meeting him. (Guess Lance liked what he was wearing.) Anyway, this led to a conversation that I would have never expected in a million years.

As it turned out, this day represented five years since he had been cancer free. He had Hodgkin's lymphoma. This type of cancer is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. Mind you, the guy is a perfect looking specimen. He was a professional ironman competitor, placing in the top ten prior to this diagnosis. Before this particular moment, I had my own; "judgments" about him. Good-looking, cocky, successful and a bit arrogant. Not my energy.

But after this conversation, I was completely humbled. Tears were beginning to fall as I was continuing to work with my client. My heart was burst wide open. Another level of softening judgment. The level of compassion I felt go way beyond words. On some level, he obviously felt a need to share this, maybe unconsciously, with people he did not know very well. In any event, it was a true gift. We both saw one another differently for the first time.

Many us assume the worst, or possibly resent others for their success, looks or their seemingly "perfect" life. We never really do know what is going on or what someone has been through. Life is filled with many challenges. At one point or another, there comes a time where we are tested. How we rise to the occasion is totally up to us.

So I lovingly invite you to embrace each and every situation and person you may come in contact with. To look beyond the surface and be open to the possibilities that may exist.

Have a very "peaceful" day.

With Love,
Denise

Finding Sweetness

Inspiration: To find the joy inherent in each moment.

Sweetness comes in many forms. It can be the taste of ice cream on a warm summer's day. It could be a beautiful sunrise or sunset. It could be the stillness of this moment.

We can all get caught up in the daily and mundane rituals in our lives. Not stopping to pause, breathe and embrace the magic that is all around us. Just a moment of finding sweetness, can shift our perspective and change the trajectory of our day.

My favorite, is to go commune in nature. There is always something "magical" that happens for me here. Whether it be a bird that sits besides me, or the fresh air, there is always a gift. When we are connected to the natural, earth elements, there is a sense of groundedness that takes over. We feel a connection to something "larger" than what we perceive with the senses.

The pure joy of waking up each morning with the potential to create is a blessing. What we create and how we utilize our gifts, is totally up to us. Finding the joy, or sweetness, helps us to find our true essence and live our highest truth possible.

So I invite you to lovingly embrace the simple pleasures that surround you. To find something that makes your heart sing, on a daily basis. Even if only for a moment. Your world will be brighter.....:)

Have a very "peaceful" evening.

With Love,
Denise

On Complaining

Inspiration: To do my best to remain positive regardless of what is happening.

Why do we complain? We complain because we are annoyed. Annoyed with how our lives currently may be, or possibly our annoyance with another. Regardless of the specific cause, when we complain it is a drainage of our energy. It is not optimistic and cannot yield anything positive.

So why do we continue to do it? Is it just a habit or do we think in some strange way this will control something. Regardless, we are all guilty at one time or another. A dear client/friend of mine says to me on occasion, "You are leaking". Meaning I am complaining. We all need to vent. A better way to deal with "stuff" may be to say " I don't want to put any more energy into this, but I am feeling......" Thank you for this option, Tony Leroy.(gifted intuitive:).

So I invite you all to lovingly, STOP. Just stop before you need to verbally acknowledge something you may not like. This takes practice. Eventually, this will only occur in your thoughts. OR in time, not all all. Think about it.

Have a very "peaceful" day.

With Love,
Denise

What is Boredom Really?

Inspiration: To find my way through inertia which creates boredom.

Exactly what is boredom. One dictionary definition is "boredom is an emotional state experienced during periods lacking activity or when individuals are uninterested in the opportunities surrounding them." This about sums up my present feelings. Don't get me wrong, I am "grateful", just a bit restless. Restless because events are not unfolding, connections have not yet come to fruition, and my work is shifting.

That is the big one for me. Work or career. For the past fourteen plus years I have been in the health and fitness arena. The majority of this work has centered around training others to be stronger, leaner, or just a better version of themselves. Most recently, I am finding I enjoy being in a gym less and less. In the short term, this is a bit scary because it is presently my sustanence.

As I continue to be drawn to yoga and the healing arts, it makes me a bit sad to be surrounded by hard-core, aggressive people. Really because I have been one of them. This softening is new to me. In the past, I have used the physical to "escape" my true feelings. Sitting with these emotions can sometimes pierce right through you.

So again, now I am bored. Bored with the present day to day mundane. What to eat, who am I training now, when do I workout or do yoga. This is getting old, rather boring. I pray and seek "guidance" on a daily basis; from within. These answers are unfolding at a snails pace. Mostly because I do not like what is coming through.

How are you feeling today? Are you content or wishing things were different. We all go through these periods. How do you handle them? Sometimes, just an acknowledgment is required. Then from that space, you have a frame of reference.

What is really going on? For me personally speaking, this boredom arise because I am not living my truth to the fullest. Waiting for a genie in a bottle to grant me my wishes, when in truth, I am in control of my thoughts and actions. Divine intervention does help though......

Have a very "peaceful" evening.

With Love,
Denise

On Trust

Inspiration: To continue to be more present, surrender more deeply and to trust in something "BIGGER"....

Trust. What does the word mean to you? For some, it may invoke a myriad of responses. Trust in myself, trust in others or trust in something which I will call "Other".

When we really trust, we are at peace with all that is happening, right now. There is a knowing that we are somehow taken care of in some way. The human condition teaches us to struggle and strive for what we desire. This pushing mentality can actually have the opposite result of what we are trying to achieve.

Authentically trusting, is a deep inner knowing that no matter what is going on in the physical, there are "wheels spinning" behind the scenes to ensure that we are alright. Knowing this, can help you to create a place for the miraculous.

Whenever we worry or are in fear, this is a negative pull or energy that obstructs the flow. Flow; the easefull unfolding of our lives. When we are at peace, calm and "grateful", this creates a positive energy that draws the right people and situations to us at the right time.

So I invite you all to lovingly be still. Take a breath and "feel". Feel the gratitude for this wonderful life we have been given. I remember reading " Life is a schoolroom." When times get challenging, I silently say this to myself or out loud and begin to smile. Think about it.:-).

Have a very "peaceful" day.

With Love, Denise

Religion: A Paradox

Inspiration: To continue to learn from and be inspired by others choices.

Religion. It is said to separate men and countries. Personally speaking, I am do not adhere to any "organized" religion. My own beliefs center on the "oneness". That we are all connected in some strange way.

Most recently, I had a conversation with a client of mine. She is Jewish and keeps Kosher in her home. She is a "cool" hip woman, who is fairly open minded. Last week she had mentioned to me that her husband needed to read a book in synagogue during Rosh Hashanah. I remembered he enjoyed Steven Hawking, who is a physicist and has written many books disputing the existence of God. So I had mentioned that he had a new book out that she picked up for him and he took to the temple in instead of following along with those in attendance.

Funny thing is, her husband grew up in a "religious" home on the trendy Upper West Side. When they first were married he observed the faith but since has questioned "If there really is a God then why do bad things happen to good people." Maybe not his words exactly, but you get my drift. Anyway, he takes this book to temple to read and then is called up to OPEN THE ARC, which houses the sacred Torah; an esteemed honor. That is the Paradox. A highly respected gesture exhibited by someone, forgive me "Who really couldn't give a sh-t".

The reason I now scribe this, is that it is fascinating to me how people find themselves in situations that may no longer serve them. Problem being, they cannot or do not have the opportunity to choose differently. It is my deep intention that he finds his way, since family observes all the Jewish holidays.

So I lovingly invite you all to examine your core beliefs. Whether they are religious or otherwise. Does it serve you? Have you changed? Does it really matter?

Have a very "peaceful" evening.

With Love, Denise