Dance Meets Fitness

Dance with Someone You Love!

A few days ago, I shared a blog post with a plan to start out your New Years Routine with gentle stretching each and every day. How is it going? If you missed it, it is never to late to get started! You can check it out here, (Slow and Steady Wins the Race)

If you need some help with ideas for stretches, you can check out this Basic Stretch Routine video I made a few months ago. It's a four minute (nice and easy) stretch session and I walk you through the entire routine. You may also want to try my Seated Flexibility Video for another basic stretch routine to help you get moving.

In my Slow and Steady Wins the Race post, I mentioned to you that these activities would be building upon one another. While you continue to do your daily morning stretch, we will be building on the foundation to create new habits and guilt free fitness for your lifestyle to last the whole year through.

Dance with Someone You Love!

In my Holiday Gift Video to you, I talked about how movement can generate what I call The Happy Factor! That is the purpose of this activity!


You can chosen to play music or use no music at all and you can be anywhere! Just pick up your toddler, grab your spouse, or even give yourself a hug and go to it.  
DANCE! It doesn't matter if you are in the living room, the kitchen, the hallway! Do a little shake, the twist, the mashed potato, the monkey, it's all OK, as long as you have FUN. That's the only rule with this activity: Be safe and have FUN!

Please, do this at least once every day . Again, just like we talked about with the morning stretch activity, you can determine the amount of time. Whatever you decide, increase the duration each day for the remainder of the week.

Log it!

Add this to your Task Log. If you are not on my mailing list or if you didn't get the log, just fill out the opt in box to the right and I'll send it to you immediately.

Note how you feel.

Be aware of your smile, your mood, your heart rate, your connection to the people you love. Post a comment, ask me a question, send me an email if you need help. I'm here to support you in creating The Happy Factor and Guilt Free Fitness into your life!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Ah, the Monday after the New Year holiday... what will it bring?

The New Year brings a sense of renewal, a feeling of a fresh start and the opportunity to make plans for a brighter future.  Many, many people start the new year with resolutions. They run with excitement and strong desire for their goals for the new year but, often have difficulty sticking with them past a few weeks. I want to help you make it stick!

Slow and Steady
Over the next few weeks, I will be offering you some tips and ideas to help you get yourself into your new routine. My goal is to assist you in a realistic, stick to it kind of manner. I believe that we are very much mind, body, spirit. When you get in touch with what you need to do and why you feel you need to do it, you'll be more likely to realize success. I could very easily give you a generic work out plan and tell you what days to do it; but I feel it would be much less valuable to you.

We're going to go with the slow and steady wins the race approach. As I mentioned in my video to you last week, my 2011 goal is to help you.

This week will be a prep week, a week of being gentle with your movement goals and having some fun. I'll be sending you movement activities that will build upon one another. Don't worry, we'll be getting into some more intense, and serious workouts as we progress in the coming weeks. For now, I want you to build a strong foundation, a deeper reason for sticking with your goals in the weeks and months to come.

Let's get started with Guilt Free Fitness!

Ease your way back into a routine.
If you haven't been active in a while and you have grand thoughts of getting on a consistent life changing routine, you must start today. However, I recommend that you approach this in a kind hearted way. Your best body will be the body that you are kind to - the one you listen to and take the time to get in touch with. Our bodies are amazing and will let us know when we are doing something that is good for ourselves as well as not so good.

Step 1: Time to Listen:
Take a moment every day this week to check in with your body. Close your eyes, quiet your mind, listen and feel what your body needs. Are your shoulders and neck tight from too much computer time? Maybe what you need is a soft shoulder roll and neck roll to release the tension. Is your lower back tight? What does it tell you? Perhaps you'll be motivated to do a roll down and touch the floor. Think “color outside the lines” here. There is no wrong in this creative process. Be kind and gentle to yourself and do what your body asks of you.

Step 2: Gentle Stretch Upon Waking:
Start each day with a gentle stretch. Upon waking, do a few things to get your body connected and prepared for the day. Be very easy and gentle, go slow and hold a stretch to allow the body to make the adjustment from sleeping. This can take anywhere from ten seconds to five minutes. Of course, I would recommend the latter! But, again, my purpose in this New Year is to get you to focus on what you CAN do, to be mindful that doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing. So, do what you can. But, do it. Monitor what you have time for and then increase it each day. If you started Monday with 30 seconds then increase to one minute on Tuesday. If you start with three minutes then shoot for five mins by the end of the week.

Keep a log:
A simple check list doesn't have to be fancy. I've even attached a simple table form that I created to help you with this. (If you are on my mailing list you've already received this. If not, just fill out the opt in box to the right and I'll send it to you immediately.)

Fill in the boxes down along the left column with tasks such as quiet time, and stretch. Fill in the dates for the week across the top row. Put a check mark in the box each day you complete a task. It's very easy and requires almost no time. But, it has a BIG impact when you can see what you've been able to do for yourself as the week progresses!

There you have it.  Easy does it, guilt free, you can build a strong foundation of fitness! Keep an eye out for supporting video and activities!

I wish you a happy week!
Patty Rose

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose
Meaningful Movement

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Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance.

 

My Gift For You! Happy New Year!!!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I hope 2011 brings you all the hopes and dreams you wish for. This video is a special message for you to take into the new year to help you reach your goals using (may favorite, of course) Dance and Fitness.

 

Wishing you a wonderful 2011!

Patty Rose

Mode of Operandi: Creativity and Workouts

I have a re-occurring theme (or lesson) popping up in my life this past year. It's something that I've always know existed but I've become much more aware and gained some clarity on. It's my mode of creativity and productivity.

I tend to have a thought process and an analytical process for a few weeks that is quiet and introspective in nature. For that period of time I plan, I wonder, I question, I dream. Then, it's followed by a surge (if you will) of what I call creative productivity.

It's the same for me in everything in my life, organizing, working out, and work. While there is a level of consistency always present for maintenance of these life areas, this surge is always higher in intensity and I am able to create new projects, share new ideas, and reach new goals.

What's your style or mode of operandi?

I think it's an important component to understanding how to develop the right dance and workout program for yourself. Getting a clear picture of who you are and how you generally approach life can give you a great place to start a workout plan so you can stick with it.

I'd love to support you in deciding where to go and how to plan your journey getting there. Post a comment below and let me know where you are in your fitness, dance and workout routines!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Motivational Video (for Women and Workout)

A few days ago, I wrote a called “Reflections on Teaching Dance, It's Personal”. I touched upon the struggles that can arise when life gets difficult and how hard it sometimes is to get yourself to workout, much less get out of bed in the morning.

I was in a extremely serene environment today and felt inspired to create a video to support that post. 

This is a motivational video that's just a quick, easy-breezy reminder to take care of your self using what ever you have at the moment. I talk about 'baby steps” I think it is the most realistic approach and sometimes the only way to get started. Of course, this depends a great deal on your particular personality and style. I find for many of my clients it works best.  Whether it's baby steps or a giant leap, I hope you take from it what you like, and find what is most comfortable to you!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Reflections on Teaching Dance, It's Personal

I wrote this blog post a few days ago and have hesitated to post it because it is personal to me and very close to my heart. This personal story shares my humanness. It goes beyond my perceived image of always dance, always move, always workout. It reveals the woman in me that grows and changes with all of life's tribulations, a lot like many of you.  

While doing the avoidance dance and thinking about it over this past week, I decided to go ahead and share it with you. I realized, I got involved in this business of teaching dance and fitness for two reasons. One is the passion for dance (which eventually also became a passion for fitness). The other, was because I wanted to be a teacher. Dance simply became my medium, the topic of study I would share. Basically, I simply can't “not do it”. For me, these two are a combined passion that runs deep. I must share to be my healthiest and happiest self.

By sharing a bit more of my personal story, I hope to be a better teacher to you. I hope, perhaps to be a source of inspiration and motivation. That said, here goes:

It's Personal.

There was a time in my life that I did not – COULD NOT – dance for an entire year. For the first few months at least, I couldn't even listen to happy music! It began on my 23rd birthday when my father passed away. At the time, I was heavy in my dance studies. I had a scholarship at Broadway Dance Center, was taking classes everyday and working part time in a dance wear shop. It was fully immersed in the industry, learning and LOVING IT! That day, it all stopped, like a I hit a brick wall.

Dance is such an amazing gift and it brings so much joy to my life. It always has and still does. I liken it to the quote "To watch me dance, is to hear my heart sing!" When my Dad died, I was unable to allow myself to feel that feeling of happiness. I was unable to move freely and live in the dance. 

I've often heard stories of people who took their pain and made great successes out of it. People who used their pain and sadness to drive themselves further, who dedicated the hard work and got through it in the name of that someone special, and I wondered why I didn't do the same. I guess we are all different. I didn't realize it at the time, but in retrospect, I can see it clearly: I was simply heartbroken and this was just my way of coping.

Fortunately, it was just a hick-up in what has become my fantastic 25 year career as a Dance and Fitness Instructor. That experience, was a big part of my journey and part of the development of my compassion and understanding for women having hard times. We all ebb in and out of what we want for ourselves coupled with the pressure of societies expectations and then compounded with real life! Ugh! 

The good news!

I survived a tough time,  you can survive, and we can be a great source of support for one another. We can come out on the other side feeling better, renewed, stronger, happier. It is possible!

I've come to understand that as great as it sounds, sometimes “just do it” just doesn't work. 

What will work? 

I believe sometimes it takes a gentle coaxing, someone to recognize where you are and share a shoulder, a happy thought, and then be that source of strength you need (the one you can't seem to muster up for yourself) to take the next step. 

I hope to be that support for you. Life can be challenging but we as women have more power within us than we are often aware of. If you are down and not sure where to turn, try taking just one small step, try one tiny move, listen to one note of music. Then allow your self to accept that step is enough for today. Congratulate yourself on the accomplishment. Each day, add just a little bit more. It may seem insignificant, but it's the starting point that often takes us to the end result.

Please feel free to share your story with me. If you find it too personal in nature to post a comment, send me an email. I'd like to help you through the process. 

Dance awaits you on the other side, and it is GLORIOUS!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Fabulous, Fit, Fantastic and Forty!

What happens to women when they reach their forties? Do their muscles completely atrophy? Does their metabolism cease to exist? Do they loose all resistance to gravity? Does their fitness level dive to unrecoverable depths?

No, No, No and No!!!

In case you didn't hear me, the answer to all of the above is NO! It's no wonder women in their forties have a tough time with aging and understanding themselves.

Oprah said 50 is the new 40. And 30 was already wonderful. But where does that leave 40?

I think, it leaves women in their forties a whole wide open stake to claim.

So, how will you claim your stake? 

How about by being Fabulous, Fit, Fantastic and Forty! 

Fabulous: You were born fabulous and are already fabulous with out improvement. Believe in yourself!

Fit: The goal: fit mind, fit body and fit soul. But, we can't put 100% into everything at the same time. Choose what you will focus on and try to touch upon the others in for daily balance. Will you dance, go for a walk, do a 10minute routine, take baby steps or jump in with both feet?

Fantastic: Even with all it's challenges, life is fantastic. I think finding ways to remember this is integral to the motivational aspect of staying healthy and fit. You may want to try practicing gratitude. Oprah once had a show with Sarah Ban Breathnach  the author of  “Simple Abundance” and “Gratitude Journal”. She recommend this: each night write five things that you are grateful for. I've done this, it's great. You'd be surprised what an amazing tool it can be to living a fantastic life!

Forty: Ugh, right. No! Forty is the New Fantastic! Well, there are all kinds of “f” words and slogans out there to accompany the forties. This one just came off the top of my head and I like it. Let's just go with it and see if it fits.

I'd love to hear your inspiration and ideas for being your fab, fit, fantastic, forty self!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  

Creator of DanceStrong! (tm)) Workout DVD  

DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Summer Dance Teacher Training

Summer is a time for dance educators to rest, renew and re-educate. It's a time to learn and plan for the coming year. For this reason there are many Dance Teacher / Dance Educator Training  workshops, intensives and conferences during the summer.

I am looking very much forward to attending the Dance Teacher Summit 2010 this August for the first time. It will be jam packed with movement classes, business seminars, exhibits, and performances to inspire, educate and support dance educators. I will be bringing all I learn back to you with new ideas and new programs!

If you are a dance educator you may know that there are so many resources available. Here is a list you may find helpful to get started for this summer. 

Dance Teacher Summit 2010 – New York City – Aug 4 -7

http://www.danceteachersummit.com/

Dance as Therapy – Harkness Center at 92 Street Y - June 28 to 30

http://www.92y.org/shop/class_detail.asp?category=Interests+%2D+Dance888Dance888Dance+Therapy+Training888Intensives+%2D+Dance+Therapy888&productid=AD3LS08

Dance Teacher Web Conference and Expo in Las Vegas August 8-11

http://www.danceteacherconferenceexpo.com

New Jersey SummerDance 2009 Program – Kean University, Union, New Jersey 07083

http://www.dance-teacher.com/content/teacher-training-new-jersey-summerdance-2009-program

The Pulse and BDC Annual Teacher Workshop – New York City -  July 23 -25 http://www.enews.thepulseontour.com/summerteacherworkshop.html

Teacher & Adult Student Workshop: The Fundamentals of Ballet  

The Ailey Studios in New York City August 7 & 8, http://www.finisjhung.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=112

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com  
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD  
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

30 Days - 30 Moves - Dance Fitness Ideas

Here are some ideas to get you going and keep you moving! I've added lots of links here for you to get even more ideas as well as instructional video's on dance, fitness and stretching! 

1. Dance around your living room! Here's how that worked for me: Your Living Room, Coffee Table, and Your Favorite Tunes!
2. Take a  dance class! 
3. Jump around with your children.
4. Walk up and down your stairs several times - you'd be surprised what it can do!
5. Give your self a Full Body Stretch Session.
6. Take a walk.
7. Pop in a dance workout DVD.
8. Put on your favorite tunes and see what happens!
9. Go out dancing!
10. Host a movement party.
11. Jump on the treadmill or elliptical.
12. Workout out with free weights.
13. Do a 10 minute free workout. Check if your television provider has a "fit" channel with free classes.
14. Put your (young and fairly small) child on your legs and have fun playing airplane.
15. Ever try a pull up bar?
16. Do a set of 2nd position plie squats. (You can see these videos and other posts: The Squat vs the Plie, How to  Get Sexy Dancer's Legs Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3)
17. Do a set of push ups. 
18. Try a combo set: 2nd position plies and then pushups (try this 3 sets of 15 before the end of the day).
19. DO this Gentle Warmup Video with me!
20. Learn about Gyrotonics and try a session or a class. (never heard of Gyrotonics? Check this out: Gyrotonics What?)
21. Do planks, (a good goal is to get to where you can hold for at least 1 minute - three times)
22. Do Jazz arm combo for co-ordination and toning. (video coming soon)
23. Dance with your spouse.
24. Do crunches for your abs.
25. Try my tondu series for your legs. (video coming soon)
26. Do leg swings to release your hips. (video coming soon
27. Take on Salsa, Cha Cha and Merengue to learn cuban motion.
28. Upon waking, gently stretch your body before doing anything else. (Advise I heard on  a Dr. OZ show! Good advise, right?)
29. Get your Ballet Arms - try this video How to Get Sexy Dancer's Arms.
30. Have Happy Feet! (See Happy Feet or The Forgotten Body Part)

Have any to add to the list? Pop me a comment below!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

2nd Guessing? Why do we do that?

Have you ever made a decision to do something - something that you knew would take a personal push, some bravery, or a real commitment on your part? Something that would stretch you out beyond your comfort zone? It may go something like this: You make the decision because you KNOW you need this change, you KNOW it will make you feel better, be stronger, live happier and healthier. You KNOW it's the Right thing to do!

So, you do it. You make the commitment! Maybe you take on a volunteer project, start a diet, commit to do a dance performance or competition, try a new workout routine or buy a package with a trainer...the possibilities are endless! Bravo! Congratulations!

But wait, what's that? What 's that thing that happens once you've decided to do it? Is that self – doubt? Is it fear? It feels like a pit in the bottom of your stomach and it often sounds like this “What have I gotten myself into?, I can't do this, What if I don't do it well?, What will people think of me? What if I fail? Even worse, what if I succeed?”

 

You think to yourself, this doesn't happen to 'so and so'. Those strong women the ones that are on top, they don't go through this. Where do they get their confidence, their drive? How do they do it?

But the truth is, most every women I've met or talked with, even the most successful, strong women I know or I've met, all go through the same things. The advice that I've heard from women that I respect and admire are things like, 'Fake till you make it' - 'Be scared and do it anyway', 'The NOT taking action is so much worse', 'Just believe in your self and go!' The one I like to use is from the famous Monopoly game: Do Not Pass Go – Do Not Collect $200! To me that means get straight to it, go directly there, don't stop, don't falter, don't get distracted or discouraged, just go.

How does this apply to us and dance fitness? How can we use this to get over the hump, make the commitment to self and jump in with both feet? I'm here to help with some creative ways. Sometimes, you can jump in with two feet by making a firm commitment and then start off with baby steps to get yourself moving. As long as the commitment is there, you're off to a good start!

Where to start:

You can start with your Workout Why – find out why this is so very important to you. 

Get a buddy! Support systems can take you a very long way. 

Sign up for a class. - try one that's non-refundable or pay up front so you can't skip classes.

My personal favorite: Pump Up the JAM! Get the music playing and MOVE!

Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

The Happy Factor

When I dance, I'm happy. I forget all my worries, even if it's only for 3 and ½ minutes (the average length of one song), I forget them. It's near impossible, at least in my experience, to stay mad, or unhappy, or focused on real life difficulties when you're dancing! This is what I like to call the HAPPY FACTOR.

This happy and free way of living is something we experience so naturally as children. For some reason we forget how to live life with abandon when we grow from childhood through adolescents and into adult hood. Many of us forget to have fun, to play, to do the things that make us feel happy.

Understandably, life can be hard, and those hardships can have lasting effects on responsible adults. You can loose motivation. It is even possible to become so sad that you can't get yourself to do something that will make you feel happy! I know this, I've had these times, too. I think most of us do.

But, what if there was a simple solution to finding the a way back to the feeling of daily happy abandon, to that part of the self?  What if there was an easy way to nurture the happy young child that still lives within your very responsible adult self?  What if it could be as easy as dancing to get back in touch with that part of YOU?

Yea, I know, nothing is really that easy when your having a tough time or in a rut. But, I'm here to share with you some ideas on why this Happy Factor is so very important, what you can do to access it and how you can use it everyday to feel good, be better, and enjoy life!
I'll be posting more blogs on this topic to help you with felling HAPPY through dancing and moving!

Here's a little story to start:
While I was planning my blog outline for The 30 Day Blog Challenge I am participating in, I was brainstorming with a friend on some ideas. So, we we asked her daughter what she thinks of when she dances.

In the words of a 5 year old named “G” -  She said “I like it.” So needing a little more, we then asked her for 'feeling' words to go with that. She said “Happy, I feel Happy! Special and great.” What I just loved was that her response was accompanied by a great big smile on her face and a little bop in her body.

You can usually depend on getting an unfiltered truth from the young. So, there you have it, from the mouth of babes - as they say. Did you connect to your Happy Factor today?

I'd love to know if you have any Happy Factor Experiences...

Be Happy.
Dance, Move, Live!

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

5 Steps to Finding Your "Workout WHY"

In a previous post I shared the reasons finding your Workout Why is so important. It can be an integral part of your success to living life as your fantastically fit self! If you missed it, you can read about it here: Do You Have a Workout Why? Then be sure to come back and put this simple 5 Steps process to use to create your Workout Why and reach your goals!

Step 1

MOVE Your Body! Movement creates energy, creativity and clarity. It releases what I like to call the Happy Factor. This movement can be a very short burst of some fun frolicking, a few jumping jacks, a full workout or a light stretch. It's about keeping the rules loose at this point. Just do what you are comfortable with or in the mood for. It'll will prepare you for Step 2.

Step 2

Find a quiet moment to be real with yourself. This is a hugely important part of this process. It can be the start of you creating the time for yourself in general, whether it be to meditate, workout, or go for a nurturing walk, find a way to carve it into your schedule. We so often give tremendous energy to the family, career, and friends in need that we ourselves end up on the bottom of the list. Here's your chance to practice having out some you time.

Step 3

Put a pen to paper, the old fashion way. Long hand tends to create a stronger connection to the inner thoughts and emotion.

• List 3 of the most important people and/or things in your life. (note: this is simply a guideline. You may want to expand this list beyond just 3.)

• Take each special person / important thing on this list and write out 3 reasons why being happier, healthier, and/or more fit would enhance your connection to this part of your life.

• Create a one to two line, easy to remember, true to your heart, statement based on what you discover. There are no strict rules here. You can think of this statement as an affirmation, reminder, goal, aspiration, inspiration, personal promise, pledge, or commitment to self. The important thing is to be authentic, and feel the emotion attached to it. Be real to and for yourself in a positive way.

Step 4

Post it up and remember it often. Find a location that you will come across this many times in your daily activities. A gentle, yet powerful visual that will keep you on track with the reasons for starting or continuing your workout plan. Can you post it on a wall, a mirror, in your wallet, on the top of your task list? Be creative, maybe there is more than one location that you want to post it.

Step 5

Watch the magic of motivation and focused purpose unfold and deliver you to your fully fit, fantastic self!

Please comment below and share your experience with me. I'd love to hear anything that you are willing to share regarding your workout why and how you keep yourself motivated.

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Do You Have a Workout Why?

What's in a WHY?

In entrepreneurial and business circles you'll often hear people discussing their business “WHY”. You may
  see them pen to pad, digging deep, looking to discover, uncover and expose the authentic reason for the business goals they pursue. This “why” becomes the motivating reason for an individual to put all the energy and hard work in, day after day. It becomes the reason for the work at home - self-employed mom to stay focused amidst the ciaos, the reason for the business owner to stay long after the closing to create a new window display, and the reason for the sales person to make yet another call. The “why” needs to be a strong, authentic purpose that leads to the reward. By finding this purpose and keeping it in the forefront of the mind, people find ways to successfully achieve goals beyond even the greatest struggles.

For the business and entrepreneurial type, these statements may go something like this:

I want to make a million dollars so I can care of my aging parents.

I want to have a successful business so I can send my children to the best schools and give them more than I had growing up.

I want to have financial freedom so I can help others.

You get the drift, right?

So why am I talking to you about this on my dance and fitness blog?

 I'd like to offer the idea that we can repurpose this “why” and create a “Workout Why” for your health, wellness and fitness goals. I invite you, today, to take a moment to think about how improving your fitness level, flexibility, and general health and wellness might enhance your life.

Some thoughts may sound similar to these:

I want better flexibility and more agility to play with my children.

I want to workout for more energy to enjoy day to day life.

I want to be toned to have better fitting clothing.

I want to increase my self esteem by living a healthy life.

I want to be strong. lean and have a bikini body.

And my personal favorite:

I want to workout to achieve the Happy Factor. (I talk about what I call the Happy Factor in another blog post, if you interested you can read it by clicking here.)

I encourage you to find your Workout Why to generate your own inspiration and motivation.

How do you get there?

There are a few different ways to approach this process such as introspective thought, attending creative workshops and journaling exercises . For some tips on how you can find your Workout Why check out 5 Steps to Finding Your Workout Why and The Happy Factor.

Please drop me a line or comment below and tell me about your Workout Why experiences.

Enjoy the process!

Patty Rose

Patty Rose

Meaningful Movement

www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong! (tm) Workout DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Dance Education Videos

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Has This Ever Happened To You?

Last week, while taking a yoga class, I had a surge of creative ideas flood my mind. I was working my body really hard and letting my mind answer the questions that popped up. It never ceases to amaze me how this is always the process when we do good things for our body and get moving and active!

But, it also never ceases to amaze me how the creative process is squashed so easily. You you ever had a great, inspiration or idea and your mind tells you "NO"?  Low and behold, by the time I was driving home, I somehow talked myself out of  all my good ideas. I thought, "This is a big commitment. What if  I can't do it? What if I changed my mind mid way"? I thought, "I'm supposed to be the expert, I'm supposed to be the one that "lives" this and motivates others".

Truth is, I am very normal, like everyone else. Most days, I do the right thing in physical activity and nutrition. But, some days, I just don't. There, I said it; it's out in the open. Now, perhaps I can take some pressure off my self and share with you the trials and tribulations that I'm sure we can all relate to.

You may know that I am a HUGE advocate of  "the buddy system". Unless you are a type "A" that can create a schedule and stick to it, you'll probably do best when you have someone to hold you accountable. If you're like me, a "typical Type B' then you might do best with a buddy. This has always been the best and most effective situation for me.

Here is an example of how sharing with someone can be such a natural process. On that drive home from yoga, I was talking with my sister, Liz (using a blue tooth, of course). I somehow reluctantly felt the words falling out of my mouth and telling her of my creative brainstorm. The same one my mind had already dismissed only moments ago. I told her about the idea I had while taking a yoga class and why it wasn't going to work. I listed all the "No’s” that my mind processed for me.

She is a fantastic support, my sister! She turned each "no" into a "YES". She did for me, what I do for my students, clients, family and friends. She helped me to see that it was a good idea and that I should do it, and that I could it!

So over the next few days, we encouraged one another. We shared successes and frustrations, and then we decided to do this together, "the buddy system".

Have you ever had your creativity squashed like I did? Have you ever had a dream, a desire, a wish that you lost?  Have you ever had a moment on the top of the mountain only to feel like you were at the bottom again?

Do you want to find the power to dust off your dreams, stand on the mountain top and re-connect with that part of your self again? I have a plan that I think can help. It can help you feel your best, reach some goals, become more confident, stronger, happier and might even get you dreaming again!

Soon, I will post the idea that Liz and I decided to embark on.  We invite you to join us in this challenge! Get ready! Plan now for the positive changes coming your way!

Patty Rose

www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong!(tm) DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!

Always have hope, Always dream!

When I  was a young girl, I found a four leaf clover. It was an exciting event for me as a young person. But, top that with my Irish heritage, and it was a really good day. I'm not sure what happened to that clover but, I haven't seen it since.

All these years,  I held on to the hope and dream that I would one day find another one.

Anytime I have ever seen clovers, I have always stopped and looked for that rare and precious gift. I would look, hoping to find just one in the bunch that happen to have four leaves instead of three. I presume this wouldn't be a big deal to many. But, for some reason, it was then and still is for me.

As the years have past, I continued to look. But, I also, began to wonder if I had imagined that story from when I was young. I started to wonder if there really was such a thing as a four leaf clover. All the rational and reality that comes with being an adult started to take over. I really thought it would never happen.

Always have hope, Always dream!

I found a four leaf clover recently! I was hiking at Harriman State Park with my husband and we came upon a field of clovers. I said to him, "Do you think that in this huge field there could be just one, one, little, four leaf clover for me."

Then, I had that adult, rational, stifling thought, "...ah, you'll never find one..."

For some reason, I looked anyway. Low and behold, all I did was squat down and there it was under my gaze. I can't tell you the excitement and amazement I felt for this one, small gift that I received. This one little surprise has given me renewed hope, a sense of gratitude and re-connection to my faith. This one little clover, that would go unnoticed by many was the life altering for me.

The four leafs each have meaning: The first is for faith, the second for hope, the third for love and the fourth for luck!

I laminated my clover to keep in my wallet as a reminder that anything is possible. I am sharing this story with you to help you remeber as well. Go for your dreams, set your goals and keep working toward them.

What are your goals and dreams made of? Are they physical, monetary, relational? Only you need to know. Only you have the power and the key within you to make the change.

You can do it. You can lose weight and get fit, you can make the money you need, you can find the love of your life... YOU CAN! Stay on the track no matter how long it takes. Try, try and try again. Don't lose sight of your goals.  You can reach your goals and you can find your clover. Always have hope, always dream.

Patty Rose

www.PattyRose.com
Creator of DanceStrong!(tm) DVD
DanceStrong! DVD Review

Committed to helping people find the inspiration to reach their goals, solutions to wellness, and motivation to move & dance!