Work-In Wendesday: Plan, Bake, Sweat.

The last week has been crazy.

I have been doing some office work during the day, training in the morning and teaching at night.

Needless to say, I am not so used to these 12 hour days.

Enter Work-In Wednesday. 

I am actually off today and have a few errands to run (like getting ready for this event on the weekend:), but for the most part I am going to focus on taking care of me.

Between work, school, friends and family it is so important to squeeze in some "me time".  This could be as simple sitting outside with a nice cup to tea to booking a day at the spa.

So what am I going to do today?  I am so glad you asked.

Listening to the Mind, Body and Spirit

How is everyone doing with your Work-in Week?

My body is talking to me today and I am listening, so it is yoga and perhaps a dip the pool later.

In my guest post for Lisa @ I'm An Okie last week, I talked about the importance of paying attention to what your body needs.  It may be listening to what it wants you to eat, which activities feel good and when it wants you to rest.

Say Om

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Focused relaxation is vital to our well-being. It helps counteract the negative effects of stress on our mental and physical health. There are many different ways to relax – massage, visualization, meditation, and exercise. Here are some easy ways that you can incorporate relaxation into your busy everyday life.

Practice Yoga – It is a great way to develop a balance between the mind, body and spirit. The physical postures help to relax tense muscles and the breathing will help calm the spirit.

Visualize Yourself Calm – Visualizing a peaceful atmosphere, soothing sounds and colours can help slow your mind and create an overall sense of well-being.

Get Pampered– Never underestimate the power of touch! A gentle massage will help to ease tension and improve circulation. 

Just Breathe – When you are trying to relax, take long, slow deep breaths. Place your hand on your abdominals to feel it rise and fall as you expand your lungs and diaphragm.

The Sweet Scent of Serenity – Aromatherapy has been used for many years to stimulate the senses. Essential oils can be calming and soothing or invigorating and uplifting. Lavender, jasmine and vanilla are especially helpful in relaxation.

“Give your thoughts a chance to settle down. Then feel you mind clear like a still forest pool”

- The Buddha

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Looking For Inspiration

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I have been thinking all day about what I wanted to post. I spend a lot of time looking at magazines, chatting on Twitter and scanning health forums to see what everyone is buzzing about in the world of health and wellness.

I am always looking for inspiration.


Today in my travels, I came across this quote that really seems quite fitting.

"Inspiration does not come like a blot, nor is it kinetic energy striving, but it comes to us slowly and quietly all the time."
- Brenda Ueland

In our fast-paced world, we are often looking for (and sometime getting) instant everything. This quote is a great reminder about all the inspiration that we can find in everyday life.

Sometimes we don't have to look for inspiration; it is all around us.

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Become Your Best

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I had the pleasure of attending the CanFitPro Fitness Conference and Trade Show over the weekend for the 10th time. For those of you not familiar with the event, it is the 3-days in August when over 5,000 fitness professionals descend on Toronto to participate in workshops, learn about new products and shop.

I am happy to report that I walked away feeling inspired, motivated and tired (OK, that last one is not so great but I can catch up on sleep this week).

I went to some pretty fantastic workshops and there were some key messages that really stuck with me. I would like to share some them with you and hope they will help inspire you to become your best.

• Turn your passion into your mission, not just a job
• Don't think you are an expert in your field, know it
• Take action now, procrastinate later
  
• Nourish your body and love it because it will not last

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

What Have You Done to Change Your Life?

Yesterday was my college graduation. After 8 months of homework and stress, I finally made it!

Graduation is always a turning point in one's life. A time to venture into the world without the structure of the school walls.

All of this got me thinking about change. I decided last year to go back to school and take my life in a whole new direction. Scary? Yes. Regrets? None. As impossible that it may seem, sometime you just have to take chances and know that everything will work out.

What have you done that has made a profound change in your life? Recently graduated? Conquered a fear? Ran your first 10k?

Post your stories below!

Stay Healthy,
Tracy

Change Is Good

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This summer has been filled will some stress and personal issues but I am back and I have some exciting news:


I am going to be a student again!!

That is right, I am going back to school in just over a week for Corporate Communications. I don't think I have ever been this excited for school. It is a total 180 coming from the world of fitness but I know in my heart that it is time for a change.

Don't get me wrong, I still love fitness and I have every intention of staying active in the field and continuing to write and blog about the importance of health and exercise. However, for many reasons, I just know that it is time for me to shift my career focus and move upward and onward.

This brings me to my topic to today: Making Changes

Most of the time we resist change. We are all creatures of habit and try our hardest to make sure that everything stays the same. Even when we know that things must change, we spend more time thinking and worrying about it than we do actually trying to change. It is much easier to keep doing what we are doing.

There is also the change that it out of our hands. The kind of change is thrust upon us. In my opinion, this is often the best kind as it forces us re-evaluate our lives and explore different options. This creates an opportunity to do things that we never even imagined.

Make a small, positive change in your life. You will be surprised what a big impact it can have.

Stay Healthy,
Tracy