Over the past few weeks, I have promised myself I would dive deep within and heal myself before getting more active here because we can’t pour from an empty glass… I am still healing, I am still grieving and feeling disconnected, and I want to be completely honest and raw here because I believe we need more humanity and less perfection nowadays. So here it goes:

With all that is going on in the world right now, I lost focus (and sleep), and I started letting feelings of sadness, anger and anxiety overwhelm me, and all I wanted to do was to reach for some wine, make some margaritas at home, reach for some chocolate and popcorn, and turn on the TV to make this all go away…

Fortunately, I caught myself and got my mind right. I am not showing up just for myself! I need to be strong for my daughter so she learns that no matter what life gives her, she can always choose to show up for herself so she can make the world a better place with her contribution, talents and passions. My husband is my anchor and he helps me see past it all. His actions remind me that no matter what is out there, I can change my mindset, I can feel my feelings, but let them go. I can control them, and I can control how I react to everything. I can choose to respond or react. A strategic response with intention is much more powerful than a reaction! I am passionated to inspire more people to live healthier and happier lives so they can too live their purpose. I love all my clients, and I feel blessed to serve, guide, support, motivate and inspire them to reach their health and fitness goals. 

Right now, more than ever, we need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of each other. I choose to heal, to hold myself together, to get up, to show up, to love unconditionally, to ground myself, to get my mind right, to keep being consistent with my healthy habits, to keep moving. Bottom line: no matter your skills, if you are an athlete or a beginner at this whole health and fitness thing, we all go through ups and downs. Life and its circumstances sometimes can get to us, but we can choose to rise up no matter what, with discipline, consistency and perseverance.

So let’s get moving! Here is my new YouTube video with some integrative exercises that will help your back body to get stronger and more stable! With these exercises, you will need a suspension trainer (like the TRX), and some resistance bands that you can attach to a door. Let’s get rowing because movement is life! 

Question: when you are on the verge of giving up, how do you hold yourself together? What do you tell yourself to keep pushing through? 

If you still don’t have a home suspension trainer or resistance bands, here are links to the ones I recommend: 

TRX: https://amzn.to/3cOBI5l

Resistance bands set with handles: https://amzn.to/2UwyAoy

Suspension Trainer Bridge to Row: Sit facing the suspension trainer attached to your door. Bend your knees and plant your feet on the floor. Grasping the handles with your palms facing each other, arms fully extended, chest up, as you lift your hips off the floor. With your elbows close to your sides, bend your elbows to pull your torso up toward the handles until your body forms a straight line from shoulders to knees. Lower your hips and extend your arms to return to the starting position.

Squat to Row: Stand with your feet hip-width apart, and a slight bend on your knees. Place the bands at about waist-height (belly button), hold the handles with each hand with the palms are facing each other. Lift your chest, hold your arms straight in front of your body, and push your hips back to begin lowering into a squat. At the bottom of the squat, keep your arms straight. Push the four corners of your feet into the ground to stand up. While standing up from the squat, row by pulling the resistant bands towards your body keeping your elbows close to the sides of your body. Pause at the top squeezing your glutes (the core is contracted throughout the movement), and slowly straighten your arms, while you drop down into the next squat.

Plank:  keep your elbows underneath your shoulders, tuck the tailbone in, bring the belly button in and up (towards your spine), make sure your knee caps are coming up as you engage your glutes and quads. Engage all muscles of your body till you are shaking. Hold for 1 minute each.