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HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!...

1/28/2018

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Yes I do look slightly deranged in the video so you might want to close your eyes and simply listen!!!

So you know - it goes
Breath focus : Inh 5 - hold 7 - exh 8 counts ( count quickly if need be!)
Smile for at least 20 seconds
Inhale and then exhale with a 'ha ha ha'...

Then I hope you're laughing!!! Maybe at me!!....

Human beings are wired for negativity, it keeps us alive especially when we were hunters.. The thing is we’re not anymore but we still have that ‘instinct’ in us and also we are generally surrounded by unhappy news - pick up a paper or read headlines on line and well it’s often all ugh.

2017 was an eventful year in many ways and when I googled to find events from it, there was a whole lot of not so happy things - not going to mention here as this is a happy blog!!

I searched a different way and found these stories below, which I love!!   Not mainstream big wooohoooooo items, (like the Royal Engagement) - they are things that everyday people did that brought a smile to another and definitely brightened my day as I wrote this….

Wouldn’t it be great if we all heard more of these acts of kindness!!!?  They really warm my heart and give me faith in the human spirit!!  We do all pull together and do our bit for others...


To explain the video a bit more…  It’s a really simple way to change your mood.  Research has shown that breath and changing our facial expression alters our physiology - so if you’re feeling ugh and a bit down in the dumps you now have a way to get out of it…. 

Here’s a bit of science for you:

The Vagus Nerve:

The longest of the cranial nerves, the vagus nerve is so named because it “wanders” like a vagabond, sending out fibers from your brainstem to your visceral organs.
The vagus nerve is literally the captain of your inner nerve center—the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest), it’s not the only nerve in the parasympathetic system, but it’s by far the most important one because it has the most far-reaching effects.
Like a good captain, it does a great job of overseeing a vast range of crucial functions, communicating nerve impulses to every organ in your body.
It reaches the brain, gut (intestines, stomach), heart, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, kidney, ureter, spleen, lungs, fertility organs (female), neck (pharynx, larynx, and esophagus), ears, and tongue.
Because of its far reaching wandering ways it is largely responsible for the mind-body connection.
It’s intimately tied to how we connect with one another — it links directly to nerves that tune our ears to human speech, coordinate eye contact, and regulate emotional expressions.
It influences the release of oxytocin, a hormone that is important in social bonding.
Studies have found that higher vagal tone is associated with greater closeness to others and more altruistic behaviour (ie we care more for others).

How to keep our vagus nerve in tip top condition???

          breathe as we did at the start
          smile
          laugh
          sing out loud
          chant
          move especially dance
          take a cold shower
          work the core!!…

And to add to your happy mood, some wonderful stories I found from 2017:


80 heroic bystanders formed a human chain to save a drowning family on a Florida beach

Eighty people worked together to save the swimmers.
When 34-year-old Roberta Ursrey's two young boys were swept away by a riptide in the waters of a Panama City, Florida, beach in July, she and most of her family members jumped in to rescue them. Then, all six relatives became trapped by the strong current. Others who tried to rescue them also struggled to get back to the shore, leaving nine people fighting for their lives.

That's when 80 people formed a human chain from the beach to pass the distressed, exhausted swimmers back to safety. "To see people from different races and genders come into action to help TOTAL strangers is absolutely amazing to see!!"

I’ve included the photo as I thought it was awesome…
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ALS ice bucket …. remember that challenge!??!


ALS is a rare, lethal disease where motor nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord are damaged and killed by the body's glial cells, leading to atrophy, paralysis, and eventually death from respiratory failure.   After the famed "ice bucket challenge" helped raise money to research a cure, Israeli scientists at Ben-Gurion University found a way to stop the increased activity of glial cells, restoring the nervous system's immune defenses and increasing life expectancy, The Times of Israel reported.   “This could also have major implications on the life expectancy of other neurodegenerative disease patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,” Dr. Ora Horovitz, senior vice president of business development at BGN Technologies, the university’s technology transfer company, told The Times of Israel. “Our new drug candidate may prove effective in boosting the self-cleansing mechanism of the human brain, thereby improving the lives of millions of people.”



Operation Pets Alive:

When a hurricane like Harvey devastates a city, it's not just people that are affected. Pets and rescue animals find themselves stranded as shelters become overcrowded or refuse to allow animals in.  Southwest Airlines stepped in to rescue more than 60 animals from overcrowded shelters in an effort they called "Operation Pets Alive!” A Southwest flight transported the furry passengers from Houston to San Diego, where they found new homes through the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

When disaster strikes, it's comforting to know that all those affected will be taken care of, humans and animals alike.



We Dine Together:

Students at Boca Raton Community High School in Florida wanted to make sure that no one has to eat lunch alone or feel like they don't have anyone to talk to. They founded We Dine Together, a group where members spend their lunch period with a different person every day.  The simple act of sitting down next to someone eating lunch by themselves and starting up a conversation benefits everyone.

“The club has introduced me to so many different people that I didn’t know before,” We Dine Together member Nathaniel Hopwood told People. “I’ve definitely gained so much doing this — it’s cool to have such a diverse group coming together to share lunch and stories about their lives.”



Cookie Delivery:

Mark Chalifoux was accidentally added to a family's group chat as they discussed sending care packages to "Christian" (name changed to protect his privacy), a relative of theirs serving in the military.  Instead of replying "wrong number" and forgetting about it, Chalifoux started a GoFundMe page to raise money to buy cookies for Christian and his unit. The silly but heartfelt campaign gained momentum as it was shared by celebrities on Facebook and picked up by news outlets. A local Girl Scouts troop even donated cookies of their own.  Chalifoux raised enough money to send 40 pounds of cookies, plus a second shipment of essentials like toiletries and more nutritious non-perishable snacks, to the soldier. He's still receiving their group text messages.



Wedding dinner for the Homeless

Sarah Cummins called off her wedding and couldn't refund the $30,000 she had put into planning it. Instead of letting the hall rental, decorations, and food go to waste, she invited a local homeless shelter to enjoy the spread instead of her wedding guests.  Cummins told the Indy Star that she wanted to make the best of a difficult situation.

"I will at least have some kind of happy memory to pull from," she said. "I wanted to make sure it would be the perfect wedding.”


Thanks for smiling and spreading joy..!!
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WORK THE BUTT......

1/26/2018

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BUT BUT BUT.... YUP ISOLATING THE BUTT.....

Squats are a movement pattern we do EVERY DAY, yet one that I often find is not done optimally...

This is my attempt at firing up the things you need to have on (isolate) and bring awareness to and then take that to standing to complete the ultimate squat...

Be prepared to touch your butt...

As always please ask anything via the form below, or come see me at www.themovingbodygroup.com/
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Thanks...
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LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE ....

1/22/2018

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I'll start a video of one of my adventures from 2012 - a bungee jump I did in 2012...You'll understand why I shared this as you continue to read....

Do we take our lives for granted? The journeys we’ve been on, things we’ve seen, places we’ve visited, stories we’ve heard and things we’ve done just are what we’ve done and not worth sharing?  

Or are we worried about sharing, like Kal (you'll read  about him here) - concern that people aren’t interested... 


Talking to my client the other morning, she said she had written down the highlights of her 2017, I had done similar for myself,  but I am now going to put together some paper (I have lots of recycled paper to use…) and start to write life highlights, in whatever order and not just the highlights, the low bits too. The reminder of what we’ve been through and come out of the other side and the lesson learnt. It’s not going to be in depth, just one liners (instagram style!!), a reminder for me about my life, and stories I have to share….  

If any one wants some of the paper (in Singapore) send me a message and I’ll get some to you - my gift to you.

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My take home of the weekend I've written about below, is to never under estimate what you’ve experienced in life, how it can have an impact unknown and to listen to others when they tell their stories you’ll be amazed at what you find out and what you are reminded of about your own life.…

Life is one big adventure....



​As I sit to write this I feel very grateful for the weekend I had and the people I spent time with. I had an adventure of my own listening to stories of others’ lives, hearing about places I’ve never been and maybe won’t (or maybe I will.....) and learning of races and people that I would never have come into my radar… Oh and hearing a language that is almost non-existent here in Singapore!


We all have stories, and they don’t need to be huge trips to unseen lands, wandering through the wilderness, our lives are our stories and all experiences are lessons to be told and shared.

The older I’m getting the more I appreciate the older generations who have been through some of the biggest changes in innovation, technology, the way we live and what is now accessible to us all.  Things we take for granted.  Hell even I remember when we got a cordless phone at home, we had to stay within a certain range of the base but still we could walk about!!!... Now hand phones are a thing most of us in the developed world have as if they are part of our anatomy.

We can go to places and see things that once we could only see in the pages of books.  I appreciate we may not all be going on these adventures, which is why it is so awesome to know people who have.  They inspire me to step outside my comfort zone, consider possibilities and go for things I might otherwise not...

I’d like to share with you here 3 stories from the last few days..

Helping Joy 

My adventure was volunteering with Helping Joy (link above) - a group who go to HDBs delivering food and helping the elderly to keep their places keen.  It was an eye opener for me to see how others live and to see the response they have when we showed up!

One lady stole my heart,  I have no idea what she was talking about - she was speaking an old dialect that hardly exists now. but it was just translatable by the others.  There was an energy about her and a glint in her eye that I knew she had had stories through her life.  I could imagine how stunning she was and possibly not a woman to be messed with!

She is 97 (she thinks) - she held up her fingers to say so.  She walked along with a cane, with typical old style Asian bow legs, not sure how many teeth she had left and her eyesight was failing her.  But she had an inner fire and she said she was okay to go and leave this world but it wasn’t her time yet and she knew it…

I asked if it was okay to take a picture with her - ‘as long as no black magic…’

Her leaving advise to us :
                                                    ‘Be nice, don’t say bad things about others’.
She rocked…

There was also a young girl who lived with her mum and sister, their dad had not long passed away.  She had a strap around her ankle and I could totally relate to that as mine was still sore from falling.  It didn't stop her liveliness though and she bounded away to return with her mushrooms! 

She's growing them in a bag and what's so cool is that so am I!! My friend Balan is the owner of Herb In a Cup and he'd given me some mushrooms to grow....  Amazing to watch them as they grow really fast. 

​I showed the girl my photo, it was super cool to be able to bond with her over our mushrooms!!!
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Antartica:

Saturday was a dinner with some friends, and I ended up chatting to the host about life, life in Singapore and then he shared a journey he’d been on through his work to Antartic.  How often is it you meet someone who’s been there..!?  His pictures are stunning, and to learn about how the animals there and that the seals simply roll over wanting their bellies rubbed - I want to go!!!…   

​This world is amazing.  

Here’s the story why he was there:-


“My involvement in the Antarctic spans several years and involves many clients. 

The Antarctic is a unique and pristine place and is designated as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. The Antarctic is protected from exploitation by the Antarctic Treaty which was signed in Washington on the 1st of December, 1959. Some of the most important provisions of the treaty are that the Antarctic shall be used for peaceful purposes only. Environmental protection of the Antarctic is covered by a treaty that sets forth basic principles applicable to human activities in Antarctica and prohibits all activities relating to Antarctic mineral resources. The conservation of the fauna and flora is an area that is covered by a treaty that restricts and manages human disturbance of Antarctic fauna and flora. The human impact in Antarctica is reduced by agreements that requires waste to be removed from the Antarctic and disposed of in an environmentally friendly way in the country of origin. 

My clients over the years have been several of the National Antarctic Programs and specifically are from Norway, Argentina, Great Britain, Australia, the U.S.A. and India. My longest association, spanning more than ten years, has been for the Government of India who have two scientific research stations in operation in the eastern section of the Antarctic. The photographs are from a four month trip I undertook from December 2012 until April 2013 as a guest of my client, the National Centre for Antarctic and Oceanic Research of India (NCAOR). As a ship broker, it is my occupation to provide the logistics required to mount the annual expedition to the Antarctic for the NCAOR. 

I would go back to the Antarctic in a heartbeat if I could. The pristine surroundings with its unique fauna and flora, so untouched by the hand of Man, is a magnet that will continue to draw me to the White Continent.  It is so very important to preserve the Antarctic and protect it from the malign hand of Man as a showcase for conservation for Mankind.”                                Peter Ugland

Peter sent me heaps of photos and it was hard to narrow it down so here's quite a few he took....


Kal....

Sunday brought another dinner and more fascinating conversation with my buddy Roger and Kal, a 78 year old explorer in the throes of writing a book about the 2 sides to Papua New Guinea.  (Did you know there were 2 sides!!)…He has had some adventures and trips and has stories are not just about those but about his life in general.  We were sitting encouraging him to write his stories down (which is not what his book is about) - and he was like ‘yeah but my stories are not that interesting to others’….

This guy is fascinating, not just with his life stories but his views on life, and I've loved chatting to him in the 4 times I have now met him.  He listens, he contemplates, he choses his words wisely.  He has a quietness about him and an energy that resonates out far.   

When Kal tells his stories it’s like listening to a much loved, patient grand parent; there’s no patronising tone because you don't know something, his voice is soft and gentle and he laughs at his own jokes.  It is so easy to listen to him, although I did want to interrupt a few times as I got so excited by what he was saying!!!… But he’s not interesting….!!!???!


His words of ‘not interesting’ struck such a chord in me as that’s what I say about myself and things I’ve done in life.....  

Here's some more stuff about him:  www.baliadvertiser.biz/kal_muller/  it was written in 2014 still gives you an idea behind the man!!.  He was also the first white man to do the land dive in the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) and was in the National Geographic article on bungee jumping in 1970 ( I wasn't even born...) - hence me sharing my bungee.!!




As I said at the start, we are all amazing people, whatever and wherever our life has taken us.  

What would life be like if we viewed every day as an adventure to be had, and every person as a book to be opened, and the world around us as our playground.....?

What would life look like...?  I think I might try this way a while longer....

Please share you adventures and if you want some paper contact below
Thanks, happy adventuring.....
x

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THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF THE SPINE.....

1/18/2018

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Following on from a movement video on spine movement I posted a few weeks ago, a comment was made that it seemed to be for only more advanced movers - and a very fair point.

So this video is to help you understand how to move the spine, predominantly the upper back (thoracic) - which is the area that gets the stiffest in most bodies.  That stiffness is due to various reasons, the 'core' not doing its job efficiently, lack of movement generally, an over-mobile neck (yes it exists...) - it can be all or a mixture..

The main thing is we get that area moving, the benefits are HUGE:

easier to breathe
less lower back pain
less shoulder issues
better overall posture which affects digestion, circulation etc..
higher energy levels
improved sports performance (and I mean for hobbies)

There are more benefits, but the feeling of overall well being a free spine gives is the greatest in my mind.

I've done my best on the video to say how and where to move, hence the new tattoo, and as with other videos I see my differences left to right.  You'll probably find one side will feel easier too -just notice it,  accept it and don't force it to go where it doesn't want to yet.....

If you feel any pain, tingles, numbness please stop - if this is a regular occurrence please see someone.!

Comments and feedback and questions are welcome below... 
Thanks and happy unwinding!!


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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE????

1/18/2018

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Taken in Vietnam, the stillness often needed to see....


It takes the time it takes…..


https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_grant_the_surprising_habits_of_original_thinkers?referrer=playlist-talks_for_procrastinators&language=en#t-263194

Great Ted talk to go with this blog

I’ve been on a wee journey the last few years, and I don’t mean round the world!!

It’s been a journey into self, one that has lead to some discoveries - some not so good ones, some great ones and then just some…..

It has been an adventure, filled with tears and laugher, highs and lows, numerous books read, videos watched, coaching calls, feedback, conversations and blogging (nearly 4 years I’ve blogged on and off !!!.).

Overall it’s been great - I got lost a few times, went down some slippery slopes that I had to clamber back from, been flying high and happy as can be, only to come crashing down!! 

I have stayed somewhere in the middle too which to be honest can be a tad boring!  AHA which is why we (I) create some drama to spice things up a bit….
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One thing over the 3 years that has been said a few times by coaches and friends is

“I’ve been waiting for you to wake up/ see it /  embrace it /
​it’s taking a while / realise your potential
I wish I had someone pushing me along quicker”….


Now you want to know how this made me feel???

Shit.

Like I was doing it wrong, had no idea, was stupid, hadn’t learned anything, and each time it took a while
before I could go - “erm F**k you” it will take the time it takes. 
And maybe on my death bed, I’ll still be taking my own sweet time -
and at the moment - I’m ok with that.



I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me - some things and realisations are fast and I’m like yeah I got it, I’m with the program.  Other things, well they take longer - I read something and it reminds of what was said a while ago and another penny drops.  Now I don’t know how many pennies there are to be dropped - but what I do know is that I keep moving forward.  There might be an occasional blip in the road - but hey that’s FAB, it means I can learn and guess what - keep moving forward….

After finishing reading “The Subtle art of not giving a f*&k” which I found a highly engrossing book, I realised I cared too much about things that actually don’t matter that much to me! Doh.  As I read I reflected on what was important to me - what I do give a f*&’ about and well also what I don’t. 
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It was nothing I hadn’t heard before,
but it was said differently in a way I went ‘oh i get it” language
​that worked for me (yes the f word….)




Now had I read the book a few years ago I might not have gone “AHA” - who knows, but I do believe the lessons come to us and sink in when we are ready - trying to rush someone to get there is not about them but about the one doing the rushing.

I re-read some things I’d written a while ago, about life and what I’d ultimately like and the Universe really is sending me clear messages for it.  I’ve just sort of ignored, put it to one side, swept it under the carpet and then it pops back up again.

In the past I truly don’t believe I was ready to move on with it, lack of belief in self. not having the support system, being scared - whatever the reason I put it to the side.  But it doesn't mean it’s not there floating around me..

Does that make sense to anyone out there??

Sometimes yes you do just have to jump in and go for it, other times a bit more planning and thought is required!  I’ve rushed many things in my life and still do, I’m learning what things are good to and what isn’t….

A big thank you to all those who have helped me along the way (whether they rushed me or not!!!), to the lessons I have re-learnt in new ways, to mistakes I’ve repeated, and to my ability to keep moving forward. 

It will take the time it takes and along the way I’m enjoying my round the world journey!!!..

How’s your journey been??



PS the photo can be bought if you like it from LisaSJonesSociety6

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Thanks...

    Please do share...

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AN EXTRA 10KG AND ITS EFFECTS....

1/16/2018

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My poor ankle started this blog off.....
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If you follow my instagram ( lisasjonesmove ) you’ll know that I missed the bottom step in my apartment block and went over on my right ankle…  If you don’t follow my IG (and you’re on it) - follow me!!!!….
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Anyway, I missed the step, my ankle turned in on its outside edge and I have some nice bruising but not as bad as it could have been as I knew what to do to help it recover. After it happened, you know that ‘omg moment’ and breath has left all your body feeling???  Yeah I had that and wanted to double over and sit down and not move.  But I didn’t; I continued to move on it for the day and then when I did sit down I put some ice on, put it in the air, then compressed it and kept wiggling it about…

It seems counterintuitive to keep moving it, but I’ve found when I did this in the past and I pretend everything is ok, it heals faster - it almost tricks the body into thinking nothing is wrong.  (There’s something in that for life too…..)..

Ice, compression, gentle movement, bit of loving massage and not too bad a bruise but I do have a kankle…..!!!

My next thought turned to how am I going to train!!… I train pretty much every day and don’t really want time out, and also it’s just an ankle issue - I have a perfectly good rest of my body that can move.  I have had a few clients in the past have an injury and then think they can’t train.  There is always ways to train and ways round issues (well most of the time…)

Anyway, it left me in a predicament of how to train and get my cardio going given that I like to run and jump and skip…. not happening on a bust ankle.

I decided to don my weight vest and take the trx along to the park.  Why the weight vest?  Well it would make me work harder - 10kg extra on my torso to stomp my way along and pull up with.

It worked and wearing it to do the rest of my workout certainly upped the anti and it felt great and safe on my ankle.

That brings me this writing - I would normally train doing stair climbing/running …  well that’s not gonna happen is it!!  Impact is still a definite no go.

On with the weight vest again, and I frog marched my way to Fort Canning Park, up the “inclines” and the stairs - 2 blocks up, 3 blocks down and boy did I start to get a bit puffed out!  It felt awesome and the vest also made me stand better, I could feel my mid back muscles having to hold me up (they are a bit lazy)…

As I walked back to the Moving Body studio, it dawned on me how much it takes out of you when you are overweight, the extra strain on the muscles to hold you up and the heart to pump oxygen around. And that also applies to pregnancy, the extra effort and energy it takes for the body to carry the baby and all associated with it and provide the baby with energy to grow.  THEN mothers with the baby and carrying the child!..   I knew it but this was the first time I'd really EXPERIENCED it...

I know I added 10Kg in one go whereas weight gain (including pregnancy) is incremental but it did still really hit home to me the effect of excess weight on the effort I had to make.

Along my march back were a group of guys, tourists I am assuming as they were running to get the ‘hop on, hop off’ bus.  2 of them leading the way, 6 others behind and 2 stragglers,  The last 2 were slim young guys but were panting to keep up and they hadn’t run far.

I wondered when and why did we become a race where so many don’t move enough, are overweight, unfit and don’t know what to do about it…?
 
There are plenty of overweight people who exercise - please keep going, you're doing great...  unfortunately they are still at risk of all the diseases associated with being overweight, but a decreased risk. On the flip side, just because you are slim doesn’t equal fitness…. By fitness I am generally talking about the heart.

Is it a time thing, a lack of desire, a lack of enjoyment or don’t see the need, lack of education about food. budget, weather, the full moon - or a mixture of it all…. what is that initial oomph to just get going and then what keeps us going?

For me it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember and the bottom line is I feel better when I move and eat well.  Not to say I don’t enjoy lazy days and classically unhealthy food (apart form fast food places - you will never see me in there unless a gun is to my head…) - but I'd rather feel the way I do when I don't have those days.


Maybe what's more important is what can those of us in the industry, or partnered to someone who doesn’t move so much or friends etc - what can we do about it?  Is it even our business to try to get them to move!!!  Well as a personal trainer it is my business…. How do I do it to motivate not preach....??

This blog is not to provide answers but more to put it out, the thoughts that in my mind out loud which helps me.

It's there as a question in the hope that maybe someone reading this, maybe does start moving, or others get some inspirational ideas and maybe, just maybe we can work together for the world to be a fitter one?…

thanks!


As I was googling for images I came across this guy - good insights into what I’ve written about, and no I don't want to do the same thing....


edition.cnn.com/2012/06/05/health/drew-manning-fit2fat2fit-lessons/index.html


PS comments are welcome, or if you do want help getting going... it's my passion...
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IF YOU WANT LOOSER HIPS, HERE'S A FAB SESSION...

1/12/2018

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Hi all!!!

It's saturday which means it's #SessionSaturday ......  I'm getting to grips with these hash tags and all that jazz!!..

I received a comment that the sessions/routines I put together are aimed towards those who are already on the fitter side and possibly do Pilates already which is excellent feedback for me and most appreciated.

I will be starting to do some movement breakdown videos as well, the first next week - if there are any movements that you'd like me to do that for please please please be in touch, I am at your service!!...

I was considering going through twists for the spine as they are so vital for our bodies overall health..
Love to hear from you thanks!!
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    Let me know right here!!!

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6-pack Anyone??

1/9/2018

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My scribbings today are some of my thoughts about the fitness industry and more so how programs are marketed.


I am a pilates trainer, I work the core (so the media says - we do a bit more that than …) that thing in the middle of your body that seems to have been put on some “to be fit your belly must look this way” pedestal and to be honest - it’s…. BS.…


Deep breath..


I started movement video blogging about a month ago - I was posting pictures of me or clients training and I wondered what it provided for viewers, hence I decided on videos as well that are more informative, a bit funny at times and hopefully motivational and inspirational.  All the other photos are to draw attention and direct to the video blog (that’s my cunning plan…). 

That’s my why of doing a lot of what I do;  maybe it will get me more clients, maybe it won’t - yes it is to get ‘me’ out there as the trainer and the person I am,  putting yourself out there (including what I write here today) can be quite scary.  My root desire is that people gain information they didn't know or simply enjoy what I post…. plus I’m enjoying doing it!!!


Anyway - what’s my point?  My irk is how we as fitness leaders present ourselves to others, our image and our marketing spiel.


I cannot deny I am quite anti some types of marketing and I question the “fit/super toned” bodies I see posting their work outs, putting together training programs to “get the body you want”, trainers who state “I train the stars” and “world class athletes" and often the shame that marketing puts on someone if they’re not fit and don’t have the right look…..  It may not be intentional, but from my understanding of marketing - that’s how it works and that’s what is out there.


I see these posts etc and wonder why and then what it is doing to many out there if they see this hype… Yes I know I know it is to  generate business I get it….. but at what cost?


I question whether this method of marketing creates insecurities, and adds to a world where many already feel “I’m not good enough, fit enough, slim enough, pretty enough”….


There is a story behind all of us,  I feel grateful that I am ageing quite well (you may disagree! :-)  )  - I have good genes and I do my best to keep fit as it is part of my life and my job… But that doesn’t mean I have always liked my body or been kind to it. Not going into that story now but know that I was a sugar binge eater for quite a while,  over-indulged on alcohol on way too many occasions, smoked on and off and really put myself down physically,  I’ve over trained and been disappointed when I haven’t performed well enough and chastised and punished my body at times … 


What does that say about how I viewed me and my body?  I’ve looked great  and loved myself and then also hated myself and my body when it looked great… I want to look good don’t get me wrong, but it’s not all about the look it’s also how I feel and how I treat myself.


As I get older, feeling good in my skin, knowing my joints move well and keeping them loose so that at 80 I’ll still walk sprightly… That’s whats becoming more important to me.

And that I sense and listen to my body and the messages it sends… e.g to rest when it needs it.


I see adverts targeted at women my age (nearly 46 if you wanted to know), the ‘omg I’m middle aged (if you’re living till 90) - getting some wrinkles and grey hairs and hormones are going to play havoc with me soon’….marketing creates a “ I best follow the latest fad to not grow old gracefully”….


There are some great programs out there and it is awesome that more and more people are paying attention to their health and fitness and finding programs that keep them going in the long term - and that’s whats important, ongoing motivation….


Marketing and fitness gurus are targeting to an age and demographics, new mums is another, that possibly are already going through a body crisis.  The adverts could make them feel guilty for not training as well as about their ageing body. “You don’t have to let yourself go”….. No you don’t have to at all, but you also don’t need to “look” a certain way - especially having a 6-pack (personal pet peeve)…  I am certain men must feel the same about the marketing geared to them.


If you are ageing, or had a child,  were large and lost weight and have loose skin,  can you embrace the slightly loser skin, the slight pouch at your belly, and that extra grey hair or smile line ?  I am not saying it is easy as 123, and I certainly have my days and moments …


If we can’t love and accept all these signs of a life lived, how good you look on the outside is irrelevant. It’s simply external. Now what I’m not saying is don’t dye your hair….  What I am trying to say don’t put yourself down or dislike yourself due to a very natural process and definitely don’t follow a fad that plays to your insecurities to look like the person on the poster (ever watched the videos on photoshop…)..


Marketing sucks…


We can most definitely keep strong and fit through life, training changes with each decade and with what we need and want. And there is plenty of evidence and research into the benefits of movement.


But what I feel is lacking,  is connection to how we feel about ourselves 
We tend to connect to how we look on the outside


The images social media uses or we as trainers use, I don’t believe are helping our industry and the masses out there.  We might put someone off starting a program, add to their woes when they aren’t succeeding, and breed a society of comparison which is not healthy for any of us.


So if you made it this far, what was my point??


As trainers we need to consider what we post, is it truly helping and inspiring and educating and motivating ‘joe blogs - the average person who doesn’t have a lot of time to train but wants to do something’…  Or are we possibly showing off and putting them off?  Are we sharing our stories and insecurities?  We are human and vulnerable and have our bad days after all (well I do…)  


Are we part of an industry that wants to assist people in their quest for health both mental and physical and emotional or make lots of money from possibly shaming them to train? 


Are we providing the service they deserve and understanding their needs or taking the easy cookie cutter approach?


I can only speak for myself and my interpretation of many of the fitness fads  happening in the world, and as ever I am open to discussion from trainers and clients as to their thoughts.


A healthy body, starts with a healthy mind
 It starts from within, not just in the ‘gym’.




My last thought for this blog:-


Every client I have ever trained is in a star in their life


The stars who have back surgery and start playing golf or running again
The woman who has a baby, or 2 or 4 and keeps bouncing back and juggling things
The woman/man who loses a child and keeps moving forward in life
The broken /pinned ankle that starts to jump again
The hip replacement that dislocates and faces the fear to keep and pushing boundaries
The runner/swimmer/biker who doesn’t have as much time as they’d like to dedicate to training due to life, but keeps lining up at the start line.


The people who learn about their bodies and make an effort in their every day life.


They are the stars of this world.  Of my world.


They are all athletes to the ability they can and want to be
They are all brave and courageous and committed to learning about themselves in many ways
They face their movement fears and injuries and work through them
And I have the privilege of working with them.



Thanks for allowing me the space to air my thoughts…








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Wiggle Spine Workout...

1/5/2018

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Here is a spine moving workout for you...

You get to twist and turn and move about and wiggle and a little dance at the end!!!

Joseph Pilates said "You are only as old as your spine" and with all its joints and bones it needs a lot of movement which sadly sitting at a desk all day it doesn't get......

You may not be able to do this at work - but please do move as much as you can - especially your back, it deserves it!

Enjoy...

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2017 Learnings....

1/3/2018

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I love this video - the butterfly opens but has to dry it's wings first before it can fly - the process of opening up is not an easy one .....  2018 begins….

I don’t know about anyone else but I find myself looking back at 2017 and the lessons I learnt, things I discovered about myself and the world about me and how do I want to be in the coming years….
There was a quote that went:      
    2016 : caterpillar.
    2017 : cocoon
    2018 : butterfly (hence the video)...

Time to open the wings and fly and be all we all can be….


If you’re not in the mood to read all I've written, it's okay - here’s a weeeeeee summary of what I learnt last year.

1.    I started reading the news again, big step as it doesn’t get me down like it used to - I can read the news and not get pissed off!!!!.
2.    I went vegetarian again, my way of helping the planet and it sits right with my morals regarding factory farming - as much as I like the taste of meat, my morals weren't happy with me and that was more important.
3.    Stepping into and accepting my femininity !!! I know big one for me, as well as modelling through which I saw myself in a very different light.  If you wondered, I wasn't accepting this side of me hence why it was a great part of 2017.
4.    Love - loving myself and stating (out loud…) that I do want to be in a relationship really!! - I know!!! Big one huh?
5.    I started drawing more again and came up with hearts and flowers. Still a work in progress but I put my art out there! I may not be the best artist but I am an artist and I allowed myself to be open to feedback ( not just about art).  Total respect for artists (including singers, musicians, writers) who make a living from it, you have to be thick skinned!!
6.    Blogging and video blog - I’m pretty sure I’ve been consistent this year and then started my videoing movement - wooohooo, got used to seeing me on camera something I was a bit ugh about!  I've enjoyed way more than I thought I would!! and even embracing technology!
7.    Life and future…..what do I care about for my life and the world.  I’ve asked this one a lot over the past years, 2017 brought me to realising a few things including some of the above.....

These were in no order, just how it came out my mind into my fingers...

Here's all the words if you care to read more and I'd encourage you if I may to do the same - I think it's easy to forget what we have learnt and achieved through our lives and how we change over the years,  Doing this helped me see that I have come on in myself, how I approach life, where I want to go and where I am now - was pretty awesome and motivating.....



News: 

2017 was a year that I started getting interested in the world again and I began to read the news.  I am the proud opener of 4 news apps in an aim to get the most unbiased version possible.  I don’t read it every day, maybe every 3 days - which is way more than I’ve done for the last 15 years.

Why did I do this?  

It came from a few comments from friends, broadening my horizons to engage in conversations and also how can I be a citizen of the world if I have no idea what is going on anywhere.

I stopped reading it about 20 years ago as I found it depressing, and I would get angry about the state of the world.  Now I don’t - a huge step forward for me, I can read it now and go “okay so that is the state of the world and what is happening” - not “ I need to fix this, what can I do….?”. I’d still love the world to be a safer more connected place than it is - getting frustrated doesn’t help do that and all I can do is be part of where I am living…

From numerous documentaries recommended and happened across, my eyes have also been opened to how the political and religious worlds work - and in my mind how they are kinda full of BS.  I used to think money was evil - I know it’s not now at all, some people are evil and they can be poor or rich.  There are people in the world who are, on the whole, in it for their own gain at the detriment of others, it is our life and only we can live it, but not to purposefully or knowingly cause harm to another living being….. enough of that, but a change in mindset to money and the way to live has brought me new conclusions.


Vegetarianism

I decided to go veggie again - similar reasoning to the above, harming others…  If we  kept and killed animals humanely - no problem, but we don’t and until we do I will abstain from eating them.  Milk but mainly cheese are under consideration - but my values don’t allow me to be part of an agricultural system that does what it does.  Not going into that any more than that - feel free to watch many of the documentaries out there.


Being Feminine and love.

I also stepped into my feminity, something I had avoided - being ‘girlie’ was my idea of being feminine.  Then I met up with some guys who helped me see myself differently and one said I ought to model (semi-nudes) and my immediate was no way, then why not.  I did and I love it and it’s really helped me see myself in a new sexy, feminine way.  As with many of us I’ve not always liked the way I look and am great at criticising myself - yet I also know that I have a nice shape to my body and I’m attractive…  the demon voices of not good enough!  The modelling, wearing make up again, putting on high heels and nice lingerie (not all the time - I still love my scruffs and bare face!!) - and making that bit more of an effort have given me a new confidence in me as a woman.   I know that might sound odd but it’s the best way I can explain it.  Allowing a guy to open the door for me, yes it used to irk me - I am quite capable of opening doors for f***s sake - but now I like it.  I realised it doesn’t mean I can’t still be assertive, hold my own opinions, be heard and stand up for myself - I can be that and be feminine - how cool…
I also admitted to myself that I do want to be in a relationship, at my friend’s wedding the realisation became more real.  That’s not to say I’m not ok on my own, I get lonely but then you can be lonely in togetherness, but to share things with someone would be rather nice!  I have gone yes, no, yes, no over the years - fear of rejection, not finding someone, losing myself (which I allowed to happen in the past) - all I guess held me back from admitting the truth to myself.  I now sit in the space of yes, it would be lovely but I am not going to focus my attention on finding “the one” - the focus is on me being enough in my life and then well, we’ll see who shows up to join me!!!

Both of these were huge for me to realise and say out loud and now to blog about.  I was watching Brene Brown’s talk on vulnerability - a word I didn’t even use to like to say!!  How far I’ve come in the last year to 18 months…


Artist

I picked up my pencils again…  Hearts and flowers came about and will continue here and there.  It gives me the creative break that recharges me.  I had forgotten how much I loved to draw and colour and create and how it calms me… I also realise how much it takes to be an artist and have utmost respect for those who do it in all its forms - even those I really don’t get.  

And to those who start businesses - it takes a lot of effort and work and years to build a business, if the passion and desire weren’t there then it’ll never happen.  My art will tick over for the time being as it is hobby passion, and I have something in the pipeline to put out there soon….


Blog and writing

I have pretty consistently blogged and started my video blog too - a scary one to video me and movement and put it out there!  It’s been fun, more than I thought it was going to be!  I also got in to gear working on all the movement notes and ideas I have to create an online course of some description that is still in the making..  Lots to do on it that needs help from others and that’s the 2018 focus - yay I started to get focussed!!!


Where and doing what and who with.

The biggest questions I asked myself last year were what am I doing in life…. where am I going and what do I want.  I had a coach for a few months to help me get to grips with my want and I got closer to the end goal… When that will be I don’t know, but I Iearned more about me and what’s important. Being away over Christmas, I realised that it is who you know that matters, not the where in the world really.  Each country and continent has its pros and cons - but the people in our lives make the difference.  

I sat and thought about my life here in Singapore and it’s a pretty damn good one and I am forming deeper friendships and meeting more and more interesting people with similar values. It is up to me to make the effort to form the friendships that I want - all relationships take work.

I settled in 2017 into the studio more and have a great set of clients, I really do and I value that!.

However something was lacking overall for me though, was it the job, country, not enough close friends?  



No it was (is) me - all about me and how I see things.
Isn’t it always.!!!!
What lacked wasn’t what I wanted, in the back of my mind I’ve known what i want for a long time - basically a place/studio/cafe/retreat/homeawayfromhome/coaching space.  Why don’t I have it yet? - two reasons I feel, because it’s not for now I realised that the other day!, there’s other things to work on first and then because I haven’t done (all) the work on me.


As I walked the other morning I realised the question I needed to ask myself wasn’t “what do I want”  but  “what do I care about”….

I care about this planet and what we are doing to her.
I care for the lonely - young and old - I can only imagine what it feels like to really have no-one.
I care for all living beings, not just humans but all animals, insects, reptiles.
I care for freedom, of speech, expression and the ability to be oneself which I appreciate is not possible all over the world.
I care for adventure and seeing new places and meeting new people

I care to connect, hence my blogging I guess.  I babble away because I can, because I have a voice and what I write resonants with someone out there.  I may never know, but each word I type is also a connection to and with myself and then being brave enough for others to read my inner thoughts.

And I care about myself, who I am, how I live and how I go about the game of life. 


Forever learning.


2017 was a big year of learning about life and in myself I know I’ve shifted.  I still have a paranoid, anxious little voice that talks to me - and I welcome her so I can calm her down and move onwards….
    2016 : caterpillar.
    2017 : cocoon
    2018 : butterfly




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    lisa....

    I have opinions on most things - and I am happy to listen with an open mind, seeing a different view. Please feel free to comment and tell me how it occurs for you..

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