1984

This all started out seemingly at random.  I had gained a bit of weight in college.  My boyfriend at the time who was a major marathon runner really changed my life.  "I love you no matter what size you are" he said "but I know you're not happy as you are."  WOW.  An Oprah moment pre Oprah.  Something about what he said and how he said it touched me deeply.  Never a distance runner and always a sprinter, this is how I started distance and endurance training.  The year was 1984.  I also joined the gym next to my apartment complex and started taking aerobics classes and fell in LOVE with high impact aerobics!!!  My favorite instructor was Vicki, a gorgeous, tall, blond woman with a body that I thought I would get only if I were really good in this lifetime and there was a do over via reincarnation.  I had been taking Vicki's classes for a few months and running with my boyfriend and eating in a mindful way when Vicki asked to speak to me after class.

She had noticed the weight loss, I thought, and wanted to congratulate me on that.  Not really.  She told me she was the Aerobics Director at the club and wanted to offer me a job teaching classes.  I broke out in a laugh and told her that I could not possibly do that.  She said "you're obviously an instructor, so why not teach here. " I told her that I was not an instructor and would have absolutely no idea how to teach a class.  And then Vicki said to me the words that changed my life.  "You're extremely talented and I will teach you everything that you need to know."

Fast forward 27 years later and I still think back to all that my ex boyfriend and Vicki gave me in 1984.  How unbelievably fantastic to have people who believe in you and can in a moment change the course and direction of your life!  I was in the locker room at Equinox a few days ago and I heard my name and looked up and locked eyes with a former student of mine from New York Sports Clubs.  We hugged and I was so happy to see her!  I've always felt a special connection to everyone who take my classes and had not seen her in 10 years.   "Taking your classes changed my life," she said.  And in that moment it reaffirmed to me that I am truly doing what I was intended to do.

There are no accidents in life.  I am here at this moment and in this place to make a difference.  That really is the magic of life.  That at any moment something we do can be life altering to someone else and to ourselves.  That we have the capability with our actions and words to truly transform and uplift and enlighten.  My eternal gratitude and love goes to Vicki Staples.  Thank you so much Vicki for changing my life!

There's no "I" in classes...but there are 3 of them in elliptical machine!

Let me just get this off my chest right NOW!  There is no worse annoyance to the Group Exercise instructor than members who come to class and do their own thing.  It is rude, inconsiderate, self- centered, arrogant, disruptive and just plain old annoying.  The very definition of Group Exercise is working together as a GROUP and following the instructor's routine.  I often wonder why these people just don't just go and work out on their own.  Elliptical anyone???  Then it occurred to me that those individuals are part of a larger societal problem.  Gone are the days when "We" was a collective part of our vocabulary.  "We" has been replaced by "I" and "Me".  What "I" want, what is best for "Me".  F*** my fellow man and to hell with what is in the best interest of anyone but "Me".  It's all about "Me"!!!  Look at "Me".  I'm sure reality TV has only helped perpetuate the narcissism.  I was teaching class this morning and EVERYONE in class was listening, following and contributing to the GROUP dynamic.  Such an AMAZING experience for me and everyone in the room.  It occurred to me that I should savor the moment because it rarely happens anymore in a class.  Where everyone gets why we're there.  Where everyone is contributing to the GROUP energy.  Where EVERYONE recognizes that "WE" is so much more powerful a word than 'I".

Balance

Probably the question I get the most often is "What do you eat?"  The truth of the matter is it does not really matter to you what I eat.  I don't hold any secrets about nutrition and healthy eating.  If you would like to work with someone on nutrition, then I would recommend a nutritionist.  I know for me, I keep it simple.  If it does not come from the earth, then I don't eat it but that probably is not something that would necessarily work for you.  We are prone to want to find shortcuts to everything and the real truth is that there is no shortcut to healthy eating or a balanced exercise program.  Most of us really know what it means to make healthy choices but we look outside of ourselves for a quick way to get in that bikini, or wedding dress or lose 10 pounds by the High School Reunion.  Which brings me to "Balance."  Is there a way for you to make peace with how you are eating and how much exercising you do?  Is there a way for you to find Balance in those two areas of your life?  I do know for me that when I am in Balance, everything else just flows effortlessly.  Balance does take some work...but let the work begin!