Full spectrum morning

After a significant amount of time adjusting to my new life in the Caribbean, "fitness" has unfolded as a multi-level experience: mind/body/spirit is redefined. 

The beauty of a 365 day tropical experience opens up the possibilities of more outdoor time. 

First light (and its full a.m. spectrum) awakens my brain and neurological system, as my eyes see the first glimpse of the new day. Sunrise takes me outside to do my yoga/meditation/journaling ritual with nature awakening around me (sights, sounds changing, scents of flowers opening, butterflies parading thought...). Physically, mentally and spiritually I start my day, OPTING for a high vibrational experience. 

the answer

Okay...I've been blogging about mindful fitness for so long, having it morph according to my experiences. 

But today, I have THE ANSWER above all answers to staying mindfully fit: Snorkeling!!  It is an underwater practice of PRESENCE, it's a full body workout, it is aerobic, it's relaxing, it's NO IMPACT as you are floating, you're fully in nature, the practice of listening to your breath is unavoidable, and there are no noises under water- SILENCE. It's the ultimate in  total fitness!  But most of all, the awe one experiences seeing the beauty of the underwater world is so heart uplifting....my mask sometimes fills up with tears of joy. 

re-designing routines

The beauty of island life is having the opportunity to be outdoors all year long. I had to break my thinking of gyms, competitiveness, routine, goals. 

These days, it's meditation, a long, gentle yoga practice (my body decides what my routine is that day), walking the beach with my dog and swimming/snorkeling in the Caribbean (if the tide and current allows). 

I guess what I'm figuring out as I get older is that it's better to take it easy, yet stay active than to do nothing and overeat. And the bottom line is : do what makes you FEEL GOOD!  

mother nature's stair master

My dog Ollie and I have found our walks on the beach to be full of climbing and ducking trees and branches; such a different shoreline than the east coast. So I think our daily neighborhood dog walks of 2-3 miles, on sidewalks, to be like a stair master set on 2 and our beach walks are like setting it at 7.  What a nice form of functional fitness, being out in nature. 

my hero

It's nice to know we can be mindful at any age....my hero, Alex!

perspective and perception

When I have a lot going on, my morning yoga/Pilates practice is shortened, and I sit at a computer at home all day getting the business administrative stuff done. I think "bloat, blah, plump...". I think it, so I feel it, and then I look it. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy to see myself that way (sweetie!). So acting upon his compliments and affirmations of seeing "beauty and fitness", I flip my thoughts and perceptions of myself and I feel great...while I still sit and do "work".

Do we really need someone else to tell us these things in order to feel it/see it?

Of course not, but gosh it helps!

happiness

I feel the whole foundation of fitness will ALWAYS and in ALL WAYS begin from within. So here's one of my favorite reminders I'm going to re-post. Enjoy!

http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/07/04/7-effective-ways-happy-people-think/

just do it

How much time do we "think" of things/lists why we "can't" do something?  (e.g. "I don't have time. If I do this, it'll hurt. I 'promise' I'll do it tomorrow"). So, all that energy thinking about the negative stuff creates negative momentum, right? By the time we finish listing, the day is over!

If we have the one little thought that we want to do something, be it a walk, stretch, meditate, yoga, etc., don't take the time to rationalize getting up and doing it: JUST DO IT, and seize the moment. Even if it's one minute....eventually the one minute will FEEL GOOD, then it becomes two minutes... Then you have a routine of FEELING GOOD, and the negative thoughts go away. (Start slow and simply). This momentum creates amazing things!! Right Alex?

working out, Caribbean style

So, I've come to the realization that I'm "not in Kansas anymore"...I don't get up at 6am and walk my dogs on a leash 2 miles through the neighborhood, get my yoga and Pilates in before 7:30am, and get my day kicking like being shot out of a cannon anymore.
Dogs can be leash free on the beach and I do my daily meditation/yoga/Pilates routine outside on my deck at 5:30 am (I love it!) under the stars before the sun rises (on an island, that's one hour before the weather channel says). When Rasa is done with school, we snorkel to relax and exercise, and explore. The best reefs are just outside our back door.
But, what I recently discovered is that people, here, love being outside: spin classes bring their bikes outside, overlooking the beach and there's a public "park" for working out. At this park, there's a track, outdoor gym equipment, a stadium for sporting events (baseball and soccer is big here), batting cages and tennis courts. It's busiest times are early evenings, after 4:00pm. All ages are running, walking, playing, working out.....then walk home. We actually have sidewalks throughout the town! The coolest thing I've seen are old (I mean OLD!) men riding bikes through town, and we have some wickedly steep hills here. It's really pretty awesome to watch and be a part of.

Inward first...

A good friend once told me, "inward first; outward second". On a spiritual level, I understood what he meant. But, in my new living situation, I am finding that getting "mindfully fit" is key to being "physically fit". 

My new morning ritual, since I moved to the Caribbean, is to get up at 5am to sit and listen: hearing the coquis, the birds, the trade winds blow, the waves crashing on the shore. Then, watching the sky change from dark, starlight to indigo blue into sunrise glow, smelling the scent of the Caribbean Sea. 

Once, I've awoken my senses, then I am set to start moving my body; my yoga practice can now begin, followed by my Pilates practice. My new ritual has more rewarding benefits than when I would run out the door to dog walk 4 miles at sunrise.With a calmer mind, my workouts are more conscious, therefore my body is more responsive.

"Inward fitness first; outward fitness second!"

working out in the dark

I am finding my new groove, now that I live in the Caribbean: working out before the sun rises. I am so fortunate to be able to go outside to the sound of waves and coquis (frogs) each morning, watching shooting stars from my back porch. But the serenity of my family and neighbors being asleep is something I am appreciating more and more. It becomes "my time".
I get my yoga blanket and mat outside and start my practice before the sun rises. It's the greatest connection I have with myself.....before the troops awaken.
My yoga and Pilates workouts have gotten gentler, yet stronger, with greater results. No blasting music, no instructor yelling at me.....it's only me, listening to me (what?!). The calm I have found during that time has kept my metabolism strong and steady. In other words, my stress free time is not draining my adrenals.
So I look forward to 5am everyday to "my time", and I think my family likes me better for it.

holidays: quality vs. quantity

The holidays are truly a time of celebration and indulgences. Whether it is food, drink, parties, it all often results in guilt and resolutions. But, I find that often, the indulgences are a form of stress relief. For about a week each year (aka the "holiday season"), we give ourselves permission to let go of the daily grind and get a free ticket to "cut loose".  Consequences will often ensue.
So, conversely, this year, stress was non-existent in our new environment; relaxation and fun was to be in the forefront. Presents were wrapped, sent, hidden and the holiday season began to unfold. How indulgent it felt to not "give" to the point of exhaustion. Quality of time won over quantity of presents, food and drinks. I highly recommend it. This year, it saved us time, energy, calories, money and our sanity. I think my family kinda liked me better too.

Connecting the dots

As I look back at my former fitness routine, the goal was strength and endurance (muscularly and stress relief). In contrast, my current, pslower gentler lifestyle has slowed down the "power training" to strength and flexibility training with meditation in the forefront.
So..... Working out and stress counter-acted each other before. Now, calm and gentler paced exercise has kept my metabolism at the same rate as before, without burnout. Go figure? Common sense, right?

A quieter routine

As my life changes in my new surroundings, my focus on fitness has changed. My slower, gentler lifestyle now has taken on a new direction.

 I now get up at 5am, not because I "have to". 

I have this addiction to watching the starry skies change to daylight. So I sit outside and watch the stars, stare up at the Milky Way and wait for falling stars while listening to the waves in the background. As the sky changes in light, I catch the indigo lit sky transform. My meditation starts with my headphones, as I listen to 108 Tibetan mantras (maybe 3 times until my head is clear and an Abraham Hicks audio meditation). By the time I open my eyes, there are usually white cranes flying and a rainbow over the water emerging. 

A gentle yoga practice at sunrise awakens my body and stimulates my brain: slow and steady and deep. 

Two hours of bliss and quiet and my day begins...

mindfulness and balance....Caribbean Style

So, now I live in the Caribbean. My lifestyle has changed immensely since my last blog entry.
In one month, I have redefined "mindfulness" and "balance": Mindfulness, to me, now means to start and end my day with gratitude and whatever went on the day is to be whatever it was and get a fresh new start "mañana". "Balance", now means that maybe not being gluten-free today (replacing it with pan agua - water bread) can be made up by being gluten-free tomorrow. Balance, Caribbean style?

choices

My day starts with waking up to the sun, gratefully. Within minutes, the path begins to split into exponential directions, ideas, options... By the time my work day begins, it all comes down to "choices". But, I guess we all have choices the minute we wake up (e.g. sleep in?).
These days, I am on a mission to choose gluten free living; everything I put in my mouth becomes a choice.  Knowing how I feel after a choice (albeit good or bad), the choices become necessary for ultimate happiness (aka good health).  Basically, it's taking the path of least effort for me.

Success

Restarting my mindful fitness blog this year took me back to the "word" I chose for my new year: SUCCESS.  I thought that rather than choosing words that suggest, I would choose a word that just targets my goals. With that in mind, this word has become my mantra. When in doubt, I try to think of how I can "succeed". When in fear: "how can I successfully move through it".
Yes, it's a big word, and big goals to strive for, but it's a new year...

"I give myself permission to..."

My new revelation, in my yoga practice and personal life, is the ability to give myself "permission" to do what I need to to accomplish a feat. Even just saying, "I give myself permission to..." can empower any of my tasks and challenging undertakings. All I have to say is "give it a try" because it can only help.

three deep breaths

I once read that three deep breaths can quell a fire, impulsive act, addictive behavior. Try it. When a negative thought or behavior is about to come up - take three, slow, deep breaths. Then, think about it. It's not a big deal anymore, is it. Now, try this same technique to create a positive thought or behavior. The power of the breath, or in yoga "Prana - life force", can be strengthening, inspiring, healing, grounding. Very powerful! And we all have it inside of ourselves. We just need to cultivate it, and ENJOY IT!!!

two weeks make a habit

Scientists have shown that daily, repetitive behavior done two weeks in a row create a habit. Now, that could be negative as well as positive behavior. Try experimenting, over the next two weeks, erasing a negative behavior and replacing it with a positive behavior (e.g. sugary desserts replaced by getting up early to stretch, walk, do yoga, etc. OR, better yet, waking up and starting Mondays and each day of the week with a list of things to be grateful for rather than listing why we should dread the work week!). We could really be on to something big!!!