fitness for enlightenment

Today I woke up and was instantly propelled into a work out. I wasn't working out though....I was filming segments for David Wolfe. It was great, because even though I didn't get the thigh tone-age that comes with actually doing a workout, I was the quiet observer of very intense moments.

Hearing Genesis Sunfire, David's personal trainer, say things like "you're probably going to get angry. You're likely to experience sharp emotions as you blow past your thresholds. Be okay with this. This is normal. It's part of the training." I was wondering what the heck was going to happen.

What followed were the completion of very simple exercises; within minutes David did a total of five different exercises, to exhaustion.

Five minutes of:
-Push ups
-Sit-up twists
-Squats

15-20 minutes of:
Walking with a piggybacker on board
Walking with someone on your back FireMan style.

(Alternatively, speed walking as fast as you can possibly go for 15 minutes is an option for those who aren't working out with someone else, or if your upper body strength isn't developed enough for carrying someone. Let's be reasonable here! ).

Cues that I heard during this whole process included:

-When you start to slow down, speed up
-As it gets harder, consciously relax
-Practice being uncomfortable daily

This is how we develop our willpower. This is how we train ourselves to we can be in service to the planet and those who inhabit it.

This seemingly innocuous workout was plum full of useful lessons and mind-body-spirit training. This is not about fitness at all. It's about enlightenment.

Later I went for a run and applied these principals to my workout: When I felt like like stopping I went faster...when the huffing and puffing was getting close to unbearable I did my best to consciously relax. I definitely felt uncomfortable. I've definitely been "more fit" in my life, and the snakes I heard under the long grasses i was running on made my heart race even more.

I really received a good snap shot of my physical strength, fitness level & will power today, and feel tuned into how I can improve these aspect of myself....which very likely will help me evolve as a person.

What if I can transcend my 'stopping points'? What if the point where I stop is miles from where it is now? What if I get there way faster? What happens then? I don't know....and suddenly I'm getting really excited!

I want to be someone who can help others in every way I can: whether it's listening to someone process their emotions, or assisting a host throw a great party or pulling someone from the rubble. All important superhero skills.

So here I am at the edge of something great, equipped with life changing principals. I'll keep you posted on how this training goes....

Pictured above: Genesis demo-ing an advanced version of twists.

i just want to be pretty

I invest a lot of money into my looks. In fact, I could even say I've embraced a career that not only funds this pattern of investment, but fuels it as well.

Of course the things I do are of the natural realm - unless I'm sporting some lycra blended leggings etc. In other words, I'm not into cutting my face and pulling it back, nipping and tucking, using pills or crazy $400 designer creams etc in the name of 'beautifying'. I'm not spending crazy amounts of money on the latest designer trends either.

And the beauty I'm aiming for is more than just a pretty face. Zits aside, being able to hold an interesting conversation or be inspiring to others or feel profound wellness in my body is also part of 'good looks' I aspire for myself.

What I eat, the company I keep, the air I breath, the water I drink, the thoughts I think, the clothes I wear, the movements I make, the face & body products I use - all contribute to what I consider as my beauty regime.

Dangit though I feel a tad miffed at the cooked actions of my earthly cohorts when I consider the whole Fukashima Nuclear Plant accident. This event could have be far less severe and damaging if short term visions hadn't reigned supreme during the construction and maintenance of the plant.

Not only are the poor people of Japan working to recover from devastating earthquakes, Tsunami waves, and nuclear radiation poisoning....on the otherside of the world we too have to consider how this nuclear fallout activity might affect us, including my efforts to look beautiful.

In addition to all the things i'm currently doing to look my best, I now must add an anti-radiation routine to maintain what I'm already doing.

(Click HERE if you want to get the lowdown)

Like seriously! I'm already doing so much for myself....and even that must now be added to keep my health (aka beauty) in check.

I'm not allowing my 'youth-ening' efforts be derailed by rain seasoned with radiation, for example. BOOO. Rain is meant to be danced in, not avoided because it's worse than a cleanser with parabens.

Anyway, I'm going to say a prayer for all the silly men that sit behind closed doors making dumb-ass decisions. Trust me, they're gonna need it.

still in love

It seems appropriate to publically serenade chocolate, since it's been so good to me all these years - specifically raw chocolate...which has brought my adoration for this nut to a whole new level.

It just keeps giving and giving and giving, without expecting anything in return. It opens my heart and my mind and it inspires me to be the best me I can be every time I'm around it. Plus it's friggen totally good & healthy for me. Bonus! It's no wonder I bat my eyelashes every time I'm around this yummy rich goodness.

Nutritionally, David Wolfe sums it up nicely in this short video.

Avocado on Raw Cacao

Mmmm. Natures medicine.

My ADHD: Attention Drawn to a Higher Dimension

Recently at a super awesome David Wolfe event I attended in Cowtown I learned many profound things surround the following concept: the subtle energy of your food becomes your mind. I forget who’s words those are (Einstein?) but they’re fricken genius (obviously).

These words charge the passion that stirs within me...as the quality of my food (and water and thoughts for that matter) have been swirling in my consciousness for years now. That I understand and recognize these subtle energies shows that I've accepted this level of awareness into my being. Every choice that I make is articulated by that concept. And...communicating this message to others has become important to me...although I'm not sure how effective my efforts have been. I might have to work on my strategies, tactics & delivery.

I do wonder what space an individual's heart & head has to be in to accept the notion of the subtle energies of food affecting their mind. I've talked to my family about these things for example...and to a certain extent they seem to logically understand. Yet their actions speak louder than words - still choosing to consume fast food, conventionally grown produce & meat and packaged goods, etc. which don't exactly contain the subtle energy of illumination. Clearly there's a disconnect.

I truly want to understand this disconnect better but I guess this is where I lose my steam - if the subtle energy of food resonated with them their choices would be different. I don't want to judge - that doesn't help...but then I don't want to eat those foods either when they're served up at celebrations, etc. To me, they're GROSS. Disgusting really. So 80's, and not the part of the 80's worth reviving for the sake of style & entertainment.

Of course, they think what I eat is just plain weird too...but I'm just going to stick with it. At some point I know things are going to start smelling like roses for me all the time. On some dimension they already do. I just gotta tap into it. Meanwhile, until then, I'll relish in the fact that I'm harnessing the energy of the best food available and let my mind sort out the rest.