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Self Motivation

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Last week, a woman came into the studio wanting to do Pilates and hoping to lose weight in the process too. But she proudly stated she has an inconsistency issue. So she prefers to train only as she please. Frankly, I wondered why she even bother!

If it is so easy, we would be living in a relatively healthy world today.

It’s been 5 months since I got thrown off my bicycle. And there was a lifestyle change, so to speak. Besides dealing with physical injuries, there is the other aspect of mental. My mind bordered on anxiety, fear, depression, pain, regret and more through the weeks. I was living more in the shadows of negative emotions than positive ones simply because I was not used to this change.

After that, it was even harder to motivate myself to regain stamina after sitting around for weeks waiting for bones to fuse and stitches to close. Training was intermittent. Meanwhile, I have 2 races to run, races that were planned prior to the accident. Boy, the timing for the last one was so bad that I was embarrassed to say more. In fact, it is some what humiliating. So I am now on a personal challenge.

But what is motivation?

Are you self motivated? Or does your family motivate you? Or are you someone who is spiritually motivated?

Whatever it is that you have been trying to do without success, check these out!

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results.”

“A man who wants something will find a way; a man who doesn’t will find an excuse.”

Are your thoughts keeping you from reaching your goals and depriving you of results? Are you short-changing yourself?

Only you have the answer! Only you yourself know better!

Gratitude In Daily Life

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

One of my client who turned good friend, shares with me that I am the happiest when I am teaching my class. Even when I am down, teaching a class never fails to cheer me up. It is as if I had swallowed a “miracle” pill and the energy can’t be contained. If you have any idea what is going on in my head right now, you would laugh! Remember the commercial on this bunny playing a drum running on “energized battery”, it just keeps on drumming and drumming and drumming; non stop!

Her comment sounds absurd and I can’t help smiling but it leads me to ponder on many things. How do one make this joy stay on and on, 24/7, like in the commercial? Gosh…I can’t be on batteries forever!

Joy is a choice, one wrote. Take pleasures in life’s simple happenings, turning all negative circumstances into positive ones. Be mindful helps as the intention sets the right direction. Learn to create your own personal “List of Joy” is another great tip!

But the word Gratitude caught my eye. To me, nothing beats the word “Gratitude”.

Gratitude is defined most simply as “the condition of being thankful.”

In fact, I am grateful for a second chance to be here. It has been almost 3 months since my freaky bicycle accident. The body is still rehabilitating but not fast enough for me. Man………., you can’t imagine the depression that comes after. The mental struggle and the physical handicap. I can’t wait to jump on my bike again but I am forced to be patient.

“Thanks!” written by UC Davis psychologist Robert Emmons, one of the leader in positive psychology research reports how practicing thankfulness can counteract not only bad situations but also the increasingly prevalent theory that we all have a predetermined “set point” for just how happy we tend to be.

Emmons observes that gratitude has rarely been studied by psychologists. This is unfortunate, he notes, as “Gratitude is literally one of the few things that can measurably change peoples’ lives.” But – and here’s the self-help angle – “gratitude (or thankfulness) is an effortful state to create and maintain. It is not for the intellectually lethargic.”

Emmons writes, “Preliminary findings suggest that those who regularly practice grateful thinking do reap emotional, physical, and interpersonal benefits. Grateful people experience higher levels of positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, love, happiness, and optimism The practice of gratitude as a discipline protects a person from the destructive impulses of envy, resentment, greed, and bitterness.” That cultivating gratitude can fight depression is no small deal, as antidepressants have become the most-prescribed medications in the nation. Not only all that, but being grateful can, or might, also protect us from heart attacks, lessen physical pain and confer other physiological benefits. At the same time, he avers that we need to be less focused on individuality and more aware and, yes, thankful for our relationships and dependency on others for our well being.

Thanfully, Emmons skillful book, concludes with instructions on how to practice gratitude and goes on to highlight it can be measured mentally, physically and spiritually. This measure of attainability, I know will come in helpful for most in this economic uncertainty.

I should thank Emmons for writing it, my blog project for assigning it to me and the simple fact of my living another day to write this.

And for me, oh boy… it is certainly working. And I feel much better already!

Change your health, change yourself!

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Raise your hand if you have a resolution to make changes to achieve good health. Do you struggle to fit in a mere 15mins (or more) of some form of exercise per day?

According to Dr Radha Gopalan, who spoke at the National Achiever’s Congress in Singapore last week, “The mental being and emotions we have, developed what we are today. We bring diseases upon ourselves!” And “genetics is merely a blueprint”.

“Stress comes in many forms. Even when you are happy, you can be stressed. Look within!”

Dr Radha Gopalan goes on to state that “No Symptoms does not define a healthy body!” and “Disease of the arteries does not give us heart attack!”

The power of believe in ourselves is the key to change of behavior. It is the value of what we feel in ourselves that that drives us. We control how we feel and that goes to influence ourselves, our behavior, our spirit and ultimately our body.

Here is a map idea:

Thoughts

Words

Action

Behavior

Value

YOU

Our every thought affects the mind and body. Words like “I can’t afford it?” and “I can’t spare the time.” borders on self-inflicting and negativity. Nobody knows the future and how can you know you can’t do it. These thoughts limits our capacity and holds us back. We lost control of the mind and achieve nothing for our body.

Health = Wealth = Happiness = Spiritual (Sense of living)

Wonder how to get started? Join the Pilates Central mailing list to stay in the loop about special promotions and offers for next month. For the June holidays our new Family Pilates which gives free workouts for kids. Join us today!

Treat yourself to good health this year – you deserve it!