When things happen in society that make you wonder why, what could possibly have been the motive, it can make you think about what you are doing with your life right now. You may think to yourself how lives are forever changed by an event.

Change is inevitable. Kids grow up. Careers change. Loved ones move on and new lives enter. I like change and I try to be open to it. It is the unexpected that brings forth the most emotion, but human resilience brings the most inspiration.
 
 

Change may be a challenge but worth it

 
Change can be looked at in different ways. I choose to use it as a way to take a pause in my life and accept the growth that is going to happen. You can’t fight it, you can learn to work with it to bring maximum benefit. Life would be boring if it was always the same.

Change will happen when you get into a holding pattern. What about when you know things are changing but not at the time you choose? I choose to look at the greater picture and believe there is a master plan. It is hard to make a change voluntarily. A catalyst is often needed to move us along the path.

My community is at the stage where we’re calculating mortgages, insurance, college and retirement. I can long for a simpler time or I can plan and be prepared. By nature I am type A, a planner, always wanting to be prepared for what may come. But what I’ve learned is my fate and that of my family, our destiny, we may not always be prepared for. We don’t know what is to come, the good, the bad and the ugly. With a family I’ve learned I can educate myself and invest in what I think will be the best use of my time and money, what will make us happy, healthy, safe and secure. I then have to leave it to whatever the universe has planned.

During these uncertain times I’ve learned to let go. I can’t control what others are doing. It is not up to me to understand the why but to accept that change will continue whether we want it to or not. We can open ourselves up to learn and accept, to grow and move forward with what life has presented. In time some answers will be revealed, but keep your heart and eyes open to the amazing possibilities change will bring that you may never have imagined.
 
 
Previous: Community Spirit and Giving
 
 

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

Governor Hickenlooper at the Special Olympics Colorado LETR Event with support from the Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness

In the TOPL Review, I talked about how I started to question the helping of others as being self-serving. My first experience with this came with Special Olympics Colorado when I started volunteering. I got involved because it was an organization I had first learned about in college and I thought what an amazing program. I truly believe in the power of sports, teams, training, competing and the life skills it teaches, determination, perseverance, being part of a community, and the feeling of accomplishment from achieving a goal.
 
 

I was expecting to give of myself, instead I was given so much.

 
 
 
It was self-serving. I came away from that first weekend of competition completely blown away. It is still a vivid memory with strong feelings. I had just bought Sting’s latest CD ‘Sacred Love’. It was complete synchronicity that I would listen to that CD nonstop the whole way to and from the event because I had felt something way more than I had expected. Acceptance, no judgment on ability and circumstances. Inclusion, true sportsmanship and acknowledgment of the hard work put in to train and compete. Respect of sport and each other. 

 

A demontration of the competitors belief Never Give Up

Giving is also about receiving, in service and emotion

Is that self-serving? Yes, it will look great on his resume applying to college. Leadership, program development and working with others in the community are great assets. My hope though is my boys will learn true reward and accomplishment in this life will come from getting involved in a profession that values personality and heart. Programs that help and give back to the community and teach us all to be a better person because we think outside of ourselves.

If you want to volunteer with the Special Olympics Colorado Summer Games June 1-2, they are being held in Grand Junction for the first time at Colorado Mesa University. The first time being held on the western slope, this provides an opportunity for volunteers to spend the day or weekend cheering on and interacting with great athletes. If you would like to volunteer you may register here. Go to the June calendar and click on State Summer Games and register for your venue and day of choice. Competition is being held in Track & Field (Athletics), Swimming, Soccer, Gymnastics and Powerlifting.

Touching other people’s lives is a mindfulness to be kind and thoughtful to all we know and meet for however amount of time they are in our lives, whether it’s sharing a smile in the grocery line with a stranger or going for a walk with a life-long friend. It’s also a reminder to be good to ourselves first so we are able to be good to others. And that is not self-serving.
 

Previous: Training Spirit for Daily Life

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

We all go through these phases, it’s a part of the ebb and flow of life. We get busy with work, kids activities, social activities, being a kind and thoughtful person in our community and volunteering and supporting programs we believe are important. So I loved the synchronicity that I came across a post from November 2011 about losing my focus then because of work and projects and needing to be reminded of what it really means to take care of myself.

I’m re-posting these tips and I’m printing them out and putting them on my bulletin board by my desk so I will be reminded to allow each of these to be a key part of my everyday practice and training. I’m going to use these training techniques and beliefs I teach my clients and apply my coaching  philosophies to daily life.
 

5 training tips to apply to daily life:

1) sleep - get caught up and get eight hours regularly

2) hydrate - optimal cellular function for performance applies to all areas of life

3) move - release the stress and tension held in the body; the benefits of physical activity and fitness are powerful

4) visualize - see and meditate on how I want my life to be – and listen on how to get there

5) training log - write down notes on conditions and strategies that effected the outcome; learn what works to apply in the future.

 
Then believe and trust. Believe the training pays off. Trust the training was successful. Let Go of the outcome. When the time comes to act the body and mind will know what to do at a cellular level to perform. I believe and trust in the process so I may as well relax and enjoy the experience. It may not be easy but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
 
My new year adventure of touching other people’s lives is a mindfulness to be kind and thoughtful to all we know and meet for however amount of time they are in our lives, whether it’s sharing a smile in the grocery line with a stranger or going for a walk with a life-long friend. Remember, as well as you think you know somebody, we can never truly know another because there is so much of ourselves we are still trying to figure out. These training tips for daily life are a reminder to be good to ourselves first so we are able to be good to others.
 
 
Previous: Trail at Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space                                                     Next: Training Spirit for Daily Life
 
 
Media Kit
 
 

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

When I first found this trail last fall a big construction project was getting underway around the creek and north along the paved Cherry Creek Trail and the Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park. I look forward to further exploration when those trails are completed.

It is always exciting to discover something new. Runner’s get a little extra adrenaline boost from the curiosity factor and not knowing where the trail may lead and what may be waiting around the next bend.

This trail definitely has the curiosity factor. It is a 2.5k loop course with little hidden trails darting in between. There are overlooks throughout the course such as Sand Creek Overlook and Eagle Nest Overlook. There are seating areas that look like they were designed to hold meetings or community gatherings called Center of Wisdom and Oxbow Amphitheater. These look like they have been added recently since I didn’t see them the first time I ran this trail. With the design that could be a 5K course I imagine it won’t be long before race directors will desire to use this course for community and fundraising runs.

The trail is wide enough to hold a couple runners or hikers going in each direction. It is a natural dirt trail with a fine gravel finish that wasn’t muddy and weathered the winter snow well. In the summer and fall it will be beautiful with the trees full of colorful leaves, though they’re not situated to provide much of a shaded run.

It also connects the paved Cherry Creek Trail that had ended at the north end of Douglas County with the south part of Cherry Creek Trail in Arapahoe County. You can now trek from Franktown to the Cherry Creek Reservoir and continue on to Confluence Park in downtown Denver with minor interruptions. If you are looking for a long run for your next ultra it may be worth weathering the pounding from the pavement to enjoy the bits of natural trail to see the varying landscape from the High Plains to the South Platte Valley. I think Denver Metro Trails described it well: “Cherry Creek Trail takes you from the best areas of downtown, through the upscale neighborhoods of Cherry Creek, and finally to isolated wilderness areas in Cherry Creek State Park and Douglas County. ” It’s a popular trail and on weekends it may not be all that isolated, but I have never found it to be unbearably crowded.

I’m always looking for new trails to explore so please post below little gems you know other runners may enjoy.
 
 
 
 
Previous: Spiritual Quest vs Problem-Solving                                                      Next: Training Spirit for Daily Life
 

Media Kit
 
 

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

I can’t help it though. It’s easier to over analyze and problem solve my dilemmas than to trust it to fate or faith. It’s easier to do for myself or others than to ask for help. It’s easier to live in my head than to to trust my heart, after all it has been broken before.

But where has it lead me, all these brilliant brain waves I’ve used to get me where I am today? Well, definitely not where I thought I’d be. No award-winning career, dream marriage to Prince Charming, or a Swiss bank account.

I’m a smart cookie, graduated with honors, I love to learn, but maybe too much. I turn to books and certifications instead of being still and listening. I’ve been practicing yoga for years, but not until this past year did I feel meditation really start leading me. Not because I made that decision either, but because of something greater than myself.

I was not raised with a traditional religious background. Though both of my parents were raised Christian we never attended church services or discussed religion in our home. I’ve found my own way, again mostly by reading books. Spirituality was not a discussion I was comfortable having with others, it’s hard to contribute when you don’t know what you believe. For me what was worse was the fear of being judged for not knowing what I believe.

Ahhh, the Proverbial Spiritual Quest

This new spiritual cycle in my life started with a visit to an aura reader in India. The day we went to court and finalized our divorce we hopped on a plane together to take our kids to India for their first trip ‘home’ (my former husband is from India, but that’s a whole other story for another post one day). During that trip I had my first experience with somebody with a true gift of seeing something outside our physical self. It opened up a whole new world, though at the time I didn’t know what to do with it. It was fascinating for sure but my over-analytical mind couldn’t rationalize how it worked.

What I’ve learned is that’s the point. The punch line to the reader telling me to get out of my head and lead with my heart. Let go of old thought patterns and behaviors. Trust in something greater than yourself. Believe there is a purpose to our own life path. I’m learning to quit trying to control everything by problem-solving and building defenses to protect myself, because it didn’t work.

When I do wonder what in this world is going on in my life, why I am where I am, I turn to gratitude. I have many blessings in my life and I will always be thankful.

My new year adventure of touching other people’s lives is a part of that gratitude. It is easy to get swallowed up by our own situation. The adventure is a mindfulness to be kind and thoughtful to all we know and meet for however amount of time they are in our lives, whether it’s sharing a smile in the grocery line with a stranger or going for a walk with a life-long friend. Remember, as well as you think you know somebody, we can never truly know another because there is so much of ourselves we are still trying to figure out.
 
 
Previous: Energy and Fueling Recipes                                            Next: Trail at Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space                                    

Media Kit
 
 

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

It’s that time of year when training gets ramped up with the nicer weather and upcoming races. I get more fueling questions, too, so I am re-posting my good energy recipes I recommend to my clients and I use myself almost every day.

The recipes are easy to make and can be made gluten free, dairy free and vegan if desired.
 

Chocolate Banana Energy Pudding

A favorite for fueling before runs, this recipe is packed with energy and easy to digest. The combination of ingredients provides immediate energy from the bananas, sustained energy from the almond butter, antioxidants from the cocoa powder and the milk provides hydration. It’s easy to make in advance and keep in the fridge so it is ready to eat when you are ready to head out on the trails.
 

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Following training for my first marathon and a school year where my boys seemed to catch every bug that came through their classrooms, a blood test revealed gluten sensitivity for us all. It explained the constant congestion for one of my boys, the digestion discomfort for me and my other son and the frequent irritation of eczema. This recipe is a hybrid of two favorite recipes and uses coconut flour instead of wheat flour.
 

Omega Protein Energy Smoothie

This has become one of my favorites and something my boys and I have frequently for breakfast or around a long bike ride, run or their swim or soccer practice. It can be a lighter fueling drink before exercise or a recovery drink after exercise. It contains healthy fats and combines healthy protein with essential omega oils. It is versatile and easy to have some fun with by trying different flavors.

I’m always looking for easy recipes so please post below if you have something yummy and easy, since I’d rather be playing than spending a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning.
 
Previous:  TOPL Review                                                                                     Next: Spiritual Quest vs Problem Solving
 
Media Kit
 
 

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievment.

When I was doing the exercise of touching one person’s life each day and journaling it here, as I was writing it felt self-serving which made me uncomfortable. I was suppose to be doing and thinking about somebody else, making a small difference in their day. But recalling the experience and writing it in a way to explain to readers, I felt I was boasting about being a good person and I was benefiting from these encounters.

Guilt is a powerful tool. It can get you to do all sorts of things. I wasn’t acting out of guilt, but the self-serving feeling made me question why was I doing this project.
 

Sharing helps the spirit grow stronger

I took a break from chronicling these daily dos and spent time thinking about all that has been progressing with my business. I made some changes and refocused on why I started Running Yogini four years ago this month, what did I hope to achieve?

I want to pursue what I believe to be important, fulfilling and helpful. I want to create and I want to touch other people’s lives. I’ve realized this is not self-serving, this is contributing to society, and ultimately helping people achieve their own wellness creates a healthy community.
 

The adventure is a mindfulness to be kind and thoughtful to all we know and meet for however amount of time they are in our lives.

So I will continue on my path of  touching other people’s lives. I won’t be chronicling it daily, but I will continue to encourage each of you to reach out today and wave to your neighbor, smile in the check-out line, say a kind word to a stranger, step out of your comfort zone to help another, because ultimately you are helping yourself, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Please add your own comments and experiences of touching other people’s lives in a post below or click on the share button to the right to post on other social media outlets.
 
 
Previous: TOPL Week 4                                                                           Next: Energy and Fueling Recipes
 
Media Kit
 
 

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

Touching Other People’s Lives, because I stated it would be a good life if I touched one person’s life each day. Learn more

Posts are in reverse order with the most current day on top, with the person touched by the event listed first. I’ve received some great feedback to include more details on how I felt from the encounter; the previous post seemed too much like a grocery list to check off and get it done, which is not my intention. This is a growing process for me and I can continue to get better. I will try to expand the experience without taking too much reading time so it can be a quick anecdote and mindful reminder to touch another person’s life today.

Day 28, 1/28/13: blaaaaaaahh…one of those situations where you hope your good intentions comes across in a challenging situation. Being an entrepreneur requires believing in your services and the value added to your client. Stepping down from that does not do the entrepreneur or the client any good. Even when it is unsettling it’s empowering to communicate what is right for you, your business, and importantly your client’s business. Communication skills are important for us all regardless of the situation, personal or professional. Listening and acknowledging the other person’s point of view and valuing their insight helps you grow as a person. This accumulation of experiences makes us who we are today, and applying the knowledge makes us who we can become tomorrow. I wish you all a good night and powerful and enlightening dreams.

Day 27, 1/27/13: a twitter follower; in the dilemma of deciding whether to go against my usual rule of Sunday being a rest day from running, I laid down with the window open to enjoy the beautiful weather. I tweeted “I can close my eyes, feel the breeze come through the window, hear the soft rustle of the curtains and believe it’s summer.” He replied “and now I can too.” A great reminder you never know how you may touch somebody else. Listen to your instinct and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. I had a great nap after that.

Day 26, 1/26/13: my childhood friend, who is going through so much but has such a gift to help so many. The exchange of ideas to step outside of ourselves and give to others is uplifting. Through the darkness comes the light.
 

What would my day look like if I used my gift, whatever that gift may be?

Day 25, 1/25/13: my son, recovering from his injury but needed me to pick him up from school early. I treated us both to Panera and Orange Leaf yogurt. When we were driving to urgent care yesterday, in the middle of his agony as we drove pass Orange Leaf it was like he had an out of body experience and spoke like nothing else was going on, “Orange Leaf yogurt sounds really good right now.” If he wasn’t in so much pain I would have stopped to get him some. Maybe should have since we were both hungry after being in the care center for a couple of hours.

Day 24, 1/24/13: not sure what to put for this day since I had to rush my son to urgent care, he has a buckle fracture. What I do know is my son was very touched by the nurses and doctor in the office. He has mentioned several times since how nice everybody was there. We both thank you all for your kindness and thoughtfulness in easing his pain.

Day 23, 1/23/13: employee at a store I frequent; even though I was rushing to get home I hadn’t seen her in quite awhile and she seemed excited to catch up. It’s energizing to see someone else’s joy to be listened to and valued.

Day 22, 1/22/13: customer service rep; frustrated with a service provider and I tried to be patient and calm with this lady since I know she has nothing to do with the products or pricing. She appeared new to the job as she was trying to navigate her way through the  information. Patience is a virtue and it does no good to be aggressive towards someone else.
 

The adventure is a mindfulness to be kind and thoughtful to all we know and meet for however amount of time they are in our lives.

Please add your own comments and experiences of touching other people’s lives in a post below or click on the share button to the right to post on other social media outlets.
 

Previous: TOPL Week 3                                                                                                 Next: TOPL Review

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

Touching Other People’s Lives, because I stated it would be a good life if I touched one person’s life each day. Learn more

A monthly post was getting a little long so I think breaking entries into weeks will be easier to read, so I’ll try this format and see how it works.

Day 21: 1/21/13; son’s friend, hugs go a long way

Day 20: 1/20/13; son’s friend, sitting down to dinner together and having a conversation

Day 19: 1/19/13; gentleman behind me in movie ticket line, one of those situations that produces a feeling more than a descriptive narrative; briefly it started with me offering to let him go ahead of me in ticket line since we were purchasing tickets for later and he said that’s ok and then proceeded to critique my movie choice, but then two other people stepped in praising the movie and he seemed to soften.
 

What would my day look like if I used my gift, whatever that gift may be?

Day 18: 1/18/13; cute guy in the lunch line, shared a laugh and I helped him pick out his lunch :0 See, you never know what may transpire when you put yourself out there.

Day 17: 1/17/13; excellent conversation with a client, said he appreciated my listening to him express his personal and professional goals and my suggestions for working together and moving forward in the new year.

Day 16: 1/16/13; one friend replied I am an inspiration and a blessing and can’t wait to read and hear about this project.
 

The adventure is a mindfulness to be kind and thoughtful to all we know and meet for however amount of time they are in our lives.

Please add your own comments and experiences of touching other people’s lives in a post below or click on the share button to the right to post on other social media outlets.

Previous: TOPL January                                                                      Next: TOPL Week 4

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.

Because I stated it would be a good life if I touched one person’s life each day, Touching Other People’s Lives back story, click here.

The first fifteen days will be retrospective as today is 1/16/13 and I’ll try my best to remember the last two weeks.

Day 1: New Year’s day 2013; invited my neighbor over for home made springs rolls and made her my guinea pig for my new found craft. Success!

Day 2: 1/2/13; Special Olympics Colorado Winter Games Organizing Committee meeting, seeing many members after several months, I’m just going to say, yes, a good day.

Day 3: 1/3/13; (good numerical date); contacted a lady who came to me in a dream, how could that not touch somebody, receiving a message stating you appeared in a complete stranger’s dream? (or at least through my detective skills I believe it was her. Hopefully it wasn’t stalker scary, but people with metaphysical skills should know the difference, right?)

Day 4: 1/4/13; contacted my son’s former team mate to invite him to be a guest player for the team and he was so excited since his team didn’t get registered in time to play. I didn’t know that, you never know what will happen when you reach out.

Day 5: 1/5/13; my nephews, they are 2 1/2 years old, we went to the aquarium, their first trip. Touched my life for sure.

Day 6: 1/6/13; thinking…I remember hanging with my kids watching football…gotta be something there, right?

Day 7: 1/7/13; wrote recommendations for some colleagues on LinkedIn

Day 8: 1/8/13; hmm…. a week ago shouldn’t be that hard to remember…how old am I?
 

What would my day look like if I used my gift, whatever that gift may be?

Day 9: 1/9/13; great conversation with my chiropractor regarding a mutual client and our experiences, brought support to us both

Day 10: 1/10/13; wrote recommendation for a colleague on LinkedIn, she sent me a heartfelt thank you, said she got a little emotional.

Day 11: 1/11/13; cropped head shots for my friend that didn’t think she had any good photos to use for a blog post (ha, she could be Claudia Schiffer’s sister)

Day 12: 1/12/13; seriously Broncos? There are no words, not sure I could do much for another, but after the game I sent a tweet and a dear old friend tweeted me a reply

Day 13: 1/13/13; cleaned out my boys’ closets. Yes, they did thank me.

Day 14: 1/14/13; my oldest son, after grocery shopping and cooking and jammin’ to music together said we have a cool family that we can have fun like this (this is a total parent “aaahhh” moment); also volunteered with 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders doing hearing screening. That’s a hoot! “Do you hear the beep?” “What? I can’t hear you with these headphones on.”

Day 15: 1/15/13; talked to an old friend that has been out of the country for work and listened to him about his experiences and challenges

Please add your own comments and experiences of touching other people’s lives in a post below or click on the share button to the right to post through other social media outlets.
 
 
Previous: Touching Other People’s Lives (TOPL)                                                                Next: TOPL Week 3

Integrating mind, body and spirit awareness to create a model for life-long wellness and achievement.