How are you doing with the abs challenge this month? We announced it in the newsletter, and here is the calendar again. Start wherever you are. As I always say, we are not going for perfection. We are creating habits and celebrating our successes along the way. I've included a 7 minute ab workout below as a bonus. 

I recently had a great experience coaching my daughter's team for a 5 k (3.1 mile) run, organized by Girls on the Run.  Another mom friend and I attended a 2 hour coach training, where they provided us with materials and more. We helped the girls prepare for 8 weeks, 2 days a week after school, building up their endurance for the run.

There was a lot of excitement and energy on the day of the event, which brought together 3rd-5th graders from many schools.  I'm so proud of these girls! This was the first time my daughter and her friends ran friend ran 3.1 miles at once. They all ran with a buddy- I love that because it teaches them that exercising with a friend is more fun and it creates accountability to their partner. It also felt so good seeing our culture represented at the event! All in all, it was a great opportunity for me to serve the community and spend time with my daughter, as well as a fantastic introduction to running for the participants.  Thank you Girls on the Run! 

The Abs Challenge is in full swing, but it's never too late to get started!

Pick up the calendar from today, or use it in whatever way helps you commit to exercise. The goal is consistency, and following through will build your confidence. While this may seem small, you will see and feel the results by the end, and it can have a knock-on effect for other areas of your life. The choices you make today will create the results you have in the future. 

I went to Miraval for a week to unplug, recharge, and kick off the new year. They say people go to there to celebrate, mourn, reset, or unplug. I went for all of that, but I got so much more. With all the classes, activities, and obstacle course on offer, you get a lot in a short amount of time you have there. Every day since I returned, something else rolls out of the experience. 

I took diverse classes such as Discovering Your Dosha, Quantum Consciousness, Lunar Moon Rituals, Glut and abs workout, Manifesting Joy and Harmony, and Happy Hips. I meditated in a hammock surrounded by a sound bath. I ran with a small group around the desert hills and was immersed in desert beauty. I had delicious organic healthy food, a scrub, massage, facial, and a ayurvedic treatment for the first time.   

I sent my husband a picture of me doing archery and he said, 'Looks like summer camp". I thought that must be what summer camp was like for him. But I never had a summer camp, and I also thought: you’re never too old for camp, and what a great way to experience it! I was off my phone and unplugged from the world, giving me space to connect to who I enjoy being when I’m alone with no agenda, no one else to take care of, and nothing to get done. It engaged my body, mind and spirt, and every bit of that brought out a part of me out that I hadn't seen for a while. 

I knew that I was fiery and brave and strong. But could I also have a quiet strength, could I step back from doing to observe and savor an experience? Turns out I can. When I chose to walk across a 25 feet suspended post, it was scary, not gonna lie! Maybe it was the fear that intensified my attention in the moment; suddenly, time stood still, and everything around me looked more alive. I took it all in, and created a snapshot in my mind. I have already returned to that moment in meditation, and can still feel the serene acceptance and inner calm I cultivated. It has made me more intentional about staying present- what a gift!