Bucket List Adventure: 5k Run

February 22nd, 2012 lryamin

On a snowy, wet Saturday morning, I woke up and took the train to the city to run my first race.  I finally did it!  I ran a 5k on February 11, 2012 in Hudson River Park.

Here is a random backstory, a year ago I signed up to run this race but well life had other plans as I was stuck on the train with a serial killer on the run.  Then my ankle started to bother me again, which lead me to the discovery that it was broken and I needed physical therapy. Well as you know my running plans went on hold.

Back to the race,  I signed up a few weeks ago. I started to “train” for a few weeks but to be honest I am not big on the treadmill so I spent most of my time in the ellyptical and the weeks prior to the race I was sick and burned out.  I figure hey its only 3.1 miles totally do-able for a girl who can withstand 90 minutes of cardio jumping around classes. My goal at the end of the day was to complete the race nothing more.

What did I eat before the race? A bagel with irish butter (sorry no pics) and a small coffee.

Pro’s:

  • I completed the race in 42 minutes. I spent 1/2 of the race walking it through and at the end I was able to find my own running pace
  • I was able to do this with a two awesome ladies!
  • We got a free t-shirt and a bag
  • Despite the cold, snowy, wet weather overall it was a fun thing to do.
  • I did it with two awesome KICKASS ladies who celebrated this moment and reminded me not to give up or stop
  • Spectators are totally necessary for races as they boost the energy and motivation. MUST LOOK for spectator opportunities in the city…

Con’s:

  • It took me a while to get acclimated to the whole running thing
  • My ankle started to bother me at mile 2
  • I really didn’t feel it.  It wasn’t something that I felt pleasurable to do.

What I learned from running a 5k?

Perhaps running might be in my future as a hobby to pick up. However for today, it is not a pleasurable movement activity.

I think  I am going to stick to more strength training, group fitness classes and perhaps start working with a personal trainer (starting to conjure that one and the funds to allocate that expense).

This race is part of my yearlong commitment to tackle my bucket list. For January 2012 I took on the polar plunge in Coney Island. March’s Bold Move: Crossfit . If you have any fun suggestions for potential adventures, please post a comment or email me at laura@joyfulshimmy.com

Letting Go of Perfection

February 21st, 2012 lryamin

Life is about leaps and bounds. If you are like me you would also set the bar that it needs to be the BEST and most PERFECT experience thus far. Somehow you are left feeling unsatisfied with life and beating yourself up because well it’s not good enough. 

I tried this experiment a few years ago what if I  let go of the idea of perfection? Would my life fall apart? Would the quality of my work suffered?  Would I be able to accomplish everything that I set myself forth to do and accomplish?

As you know, surrendering has been an on-going process that has taken years to get comfortable let alone take an action or a series of actions around it.  Surrendering means accepting that I am not in control over the situation, other people’s reaction, the outcome of the situation. It means to place my focus on the things that I can control, the choices I can make, my own attitude and willingness around things.

 

When it comes to surrendering the perfectionism well that calls forth a whole new level of courage. It’s about this idea that I have to be transparent and vulnerable to the things that my perfectionist self wouldn’t allow to.  It’s about being open to make mistakes, to go through moments where I do overeat, to practice acceptance when I failed for the first or the hundredth time  trying to put something together and take responsibility for my actions.

I move away from denial into a place of awareness.  With awareness, I receive the gift of acceptance that all is well.  My life is the way that it is supposed to be. I don’t need to know every answer before making a decision. I can trust in my intuition that will guide me to where I need to go next.  As I practice this experiment of surrender, I discovered the following:

  • The quantity and quality of my relationships not only increased but improved as I became more comfortable being my authentic self
  • I was more willing to take bold moves and actions as the outcome of perfection on the first try and the fear of failure were no longer attached to the experience
  • I started to live a life that was connected to my heart’s desires as opposed to the “should’s” and well let’s just say it is beyond my wildest dreams

Surrendering the perfectionism although it calls for a loving, gentle, compassionate approach to life, it is by far the hardest thing I can do. It challenges every cell of my being and calls forth bravery and courage that few are willing to tap.  As a wise gentle guide shared with me over the past few years this is a choice that is not made for sissy’s and slackers.   It is true!

I dare you to do this experiment in your life. What would happen if you let go of perfectionism in one area of your life? What is your experience would be like? Let me know how it goes in the comment section or you can email me at laura@joyfulshimmy.com

I have a few coaching 1:1 spots available for February/March. If you are interested in letting go of perfectionism, tapping into your heart’s desires and take action steps, contact me to schedule a free interest session. 

What’s in your love basket?

February 15th, 2012 lryamin

I know it’s Vday! (when I wrote this post!) I used to despise the holiday.

Two years ago, I remember sitting in the middle of Chambers Street crying to my friends on how alone and empty  I was feeling. I wanted to be committed to Bellevue until the day is over because the pain of being single was too unbearable. Tad bit dramatic- indeed but it is a true story.   Over the past couple of years my relationship with myself have changed dramatically. I have expanded my circle of friends beyond of the old college buddies and work friends, into various communities of others who are making magic happen.  I have adopted new practices that increased the amount of love I was willing to receive as well as to give.

Source: weheartit.com via Mary on Pinterest

 

On this holiday, I am excited to share my love basket!

My love “basket” is essentially the tools that I have picked up that allowed me to expand and bring more love into my life.  Think of it as a basket full of flowers that gets delivered each day to you for the purpose of loving it all the way.

 

 

What’s in my love basket?

  • Loving nourishing communities of others seeking growth. This includes but not limited to the following groups 12 step, Shrink Sessions, Mama Gena’s, IIN March 2012 fellows, friends from work, clients that I am working with, old sorority connections.  The theme of these relationships is that I feel comfortable sharing my authentic self, they take me higher, they are the loving mirrors I can view life through. These relationships are not toxic because I do have a choice to establish boundaries when I need to, practice honesty and transparency and being willing to confront if needed.  This has been an on-going process but it can be done. 2 years ago this was a far far away dream.
  • Daily Gratitude, Desire and Bragging practice.  For the past few years I started with a daily gratitude practice that reminded me of all of the things that I have in my life.  Then I moved on to adding on what I desire, what does my heart’s dream desired and wanted to bring into my life. Finally after getting to know Mama Gena well bragging became the third essential tool that provided the foundation for self-worth and acceptance.
  • Grounding Practice with the Divine. With 2012, my big sweeping resolution is to bring expand my spiritual life. For me this has included the following: a daily forgiveness practice,  prayer, daily 10th step inventory, and meditation. I do this imperfectly but the point is that I am doing it in on a consistent basis.
  • Affirmations. I cannot say enough the power of the words I say and my thoughts. I know it felt hokey in the beginning. I felt silly saying outloud “I am strong enough. I am available for more than I ever had before.”  Yet by including it into a daily practice of faking it until I make it, and doing exercises such as IntenSati my affirmation muscle grew strong each day. I now have the power to reframe my negative thoughts into a positive message, to look at the situation from a different perspective.
  • Movement Practice.  Whether is my daily walk to work (I don’t have a car which makes me lucky) to my group fitness classes,  when I move my body on a regular basis my mood gets stabilized. I am present. My body is working more effectively.

I know its a lengthy blog post, but I am curious to hear from you if you have any other loving practices, tools in your basket. Feel free to share them with me in the comments section or email it to me at laura@joyfulshimmy.com

If you are struggling to create your own love basket, let’s setup a sparkling session!

I heart Me!

February 14th, 2012 lryamin

This post was inspired by a friend who posted a similar letter and a Shrink Session assignment.

Dear Laura,

Wow! Look at you and your magnificence radiance. You have come so far in such a short period of time.

You are brave and courageous. You have faced demons that would kill others but you have been able to do so with grace and dignity.  You have broken walls that were as thick and as wide as the Great Wall of China. You have been able to do it all as you choose love.

You are a fearless soul. Fear is not an enemy  it’s your GPS, your guiding light as to where you need to go next. You have run a 5k, jump in the freezing water, enrolled in schools that interests you, you have paved your own path. You have created a loving life that celebrates love.

When you took the walk on stage and literally surrender to the power of the divine. You were able to witness love radiated from those surrounding you but within yourself. You light up and the pure authentic essence of you shine through.

Your power has always resided in the darkness you so much avoided to face. The darkness that you have fought wars over it and that you finally decided to surrender. As you raised your white flag just two years ago in this losing battle. You discovered the miracles. You forgive yourself and those around you. You embrace the journey of self-love and acceptance. Your life grew exponentially.

I am grateful that you can finally see, feel, experienced the beauty that was inside you.  That you are whole. You are full of love and that you are ready to continue to receive more. You are ready to continue to take leaps and bounds in your growth.

xoxo

Me

Love Mission: My gift for you!  I ask you to take 5 minutes of your time and write a love letter addressed to you. Share everything you want to hear, you want to listen. What brings you tears of joy? What brings you the feeling of love? 

Say It Do It: Slowly Recovering

February 13th, 2012 lryamin

I am slowly recovering from a burnout/fatigue that included the flu, working long hours, and periods of complete clarity and feeling intense overwhelming. My mind was just spinning out of control while my body was shutting down.

Let’s just say the experience of burnout has brought forward the question what are my absolute non-negotiables when it comes to self-care. What do I absolutely have to do in order to remain sane?

Here is the list thus far:

  • Eat 3 meals per day no matter what with lots of abundant veggies as it provides the right kind of nourishment
  • Sleep
  • Refrain from checking my work e-mail after hours and during the weekend
  • Move my body
  • Gratitude, Desire lists and brags on a daily basis
  • Practice honesty and transparency to others and ask for help
  • Prayer and meditation as a grounding practice
  • Journaling what is going on

If I do the actions above, what I receive is a state of sanity and acceptance. This is the medication I need to take in order to avoid heading to the path of self-destruction. I realized as I was burning out that I started in my head to make compromises into my non-negotiable. To pick things that I knew no longer worked for me but I felt compel to do them because maybe this one time it will work. Oh the joys of having an addict mind.

I am grateful that I made it through the other side of burnout with a new sense of awareness and clarity.  I have received a valuable lesson in this path. I am grateful to be in a place of acceptance around it.

What is my Say It Do It for this week?

  • Monday: Pilates
  • Tuesday: Physique 57 class as my VDAY treat for myself
  • Wednesday: Shrink Session
  • Thursday: Off
  • Friday: SatiPati
  • Saturday: Qoya in the AM
  • Sunday: Rest?

I am also committing to the following:

  • Practice my non-negotiables
  • To look clearly on what its on my plate and let go of what its no longer serving me. Release it to the world (YIKES)
  • To work on a blogging schedule for my own sanity

xoxo

LY

 

 

 

Tagged by Keelie

February 8th, 2012 lryamin

Keelie from Sweat=Success  shouted me out yesterday with the 12 questions. I figured this might be fun post to share. I needed a fun distraction to being sick.

I also STRONGLY encourage you to check out Keelie’s blog.  She is a fellow healthy living blogger from Brooklyn who is an actor in grad school. I love her site and her as a person too!

12 Fun Facts about me!
1. I was born and raised in San Juan, PR. Yes I  used to be a Menudo fan, my house was a few blocks from the beach, and I do speak Spanish fluently.
2. I have lived in the following places: Syracuse, NY;  Hyattsville, MD; College Station, TX; Columbia, MO; Brooklyn, NY and now for the past 4 years in Jersey City, NJ
3. I enjoyed on my spare time facing new fears. Thus far I have conquered public speaking, getting on stage doing burlesque, living in recovery and diet free, and I am looking to face a few more fun fears in the near future.
4. My weekly self-care ritual includes watching some Real Housewives and reading US Weekly
5. Growing up I used to watch novelas (whenever I go home I get sucked into a new one)
6. My favorite green is spinach
7. I have been a facebook member since 2004
8. I have a few degrees under my belt (BA, MA, Certified Health Coach) and being a Certified Pleasure Revolutionary is my favorite thus far!
9. I would love to travel to Greece and Paris in the near future
10.  I tend to be impulsive when it comes to major decision making.
11. I have always been an avid reader
12. I heart my MAC computer

Source: Keelie Sheridan (Sweat=Success)

Keelie’s Questions!
1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I already do which is NYC area.
2. What do you want to be when you grow up? When I grow up I want to own a business where I can help others live their best life. I also want to write a few books include selling a story to HBO and make successful show out of it. 
3. What’s your least favorite food/ beverage? My least favorite food brussel sprouts. I tried this once this year and hated them. In terms of drinks, I would say malt. 
4. If you could only do one physical activity for the rest of your life, what would it be? Intensati/Shrink Session because I get to move around and feel good at the same time with the affirmations.
5. If you were reincarnated as a dinosaur, what kind would you be? The vegetarian dinosaur as I saw in that Top Chef all star challenge their options were more abundant than the carnivore kind. 

6. What is your favorite dish/ meal to make? Pasta (any kind and any sauce)
7. Name your favorite childhood memory involving food! Eating my first communion cake. I just remember being delicious

8. Who inspires you? Myself. I feel I have this calling to do something bigger than me.
9. Who is your favorite artist (musician, painter, actor, poet, sculptor… any medium)? No favorites thus far
10. If you had $10,000,000 to give to charity, which charity(ies) would you give it to? Women for Women International, Planned Parenthood, my friend’s Katherine Prom Drive, ASPCA, Battered Women Shelter, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, scholarship endowment at both SU and UMD.
11. What is your idea of a perfect day? Day off from work with time to go and take a fun workout class, spending time in the park outside, drink some coffee and doing some writing. Meeting up with fun, nourishing friends and feeling joy within my soul.
12. What’s your favorite inspirational quote? “Do the thing that you think you cannot do” Eleanor Roosevelt. This is my go to quote whenever I feel fear/excitement/or trepidation as I take action. Eleanor is one of my heroines and role models.  

 

Radical Self-Care Approach & Guilt

February 7th, 2012 lryamin

I have been sick with the flu this past week hence you haven’t heard from me.  I spent days without a voice. I showed up to work with more than the sniffles. I was running around and literally wearing myself out until I crashed.

Yup it was bound to happen. Everyone around me could see the car crash waiting to happen, except me because for some reason I had this guilt idea in my mind. I haven’t completed all of this projects, I have all of these meetings to lead, I have these commitments that I am required to be present.

Then it hit me, my body all is asking is for a couple of hours (or in my case days) of rest.  I needed to slow down. I needed to delegate and trust that things will fall into place without my presence. I had to stop before getting worst. I called in sick to work for a couple of days. I spent most of my time snuggling in my bed  resting.

I still feel guilty but life went on without me. I have supportive staff that can carry me through in moments like these. I have to remember that although their would be plenty of people criticizing me for what I did or didn’t do, my health is more important than anything else.  Most importantly it reminded me how important is to really listening and tuning into my body. To honor it and love it with care. At the end of the day guilt is useless emotion.

 

Desires Shout Out!

January 27th, 2012 lryamin

On this rainy Friday morning, I feel the call to take the time and get clear on what my desires are and really share them to the world. Create energy as I can feel it fit and continue to hone into the belief that my desires are needs waiting to be met at the perfect timing.

What do I want?

  • I want financial abundance (more specific $6000) to pay for school in an effortless fashion. I want clear direction on how to achieve this goal without breaking my back, losing sleep, and cutting my gym membership nor Shrink Sessions/E Sessions too.
  • I want a long term loving stable healthy relationship with a man that I am  attracted too.
  • I want to continue feeding my body with nourishing real foods that are delicious and abundant.  I want the extra baggage to melt effortlessly.
  • I want my business to thrive in epic proportions this year. This means that I have a steady stream of clients and speaking engagementS.  I am working on my book proposal by December 2012.  I have created a consistent brand that reflects my work and style.
  • I want to have more FUN! Yes life is too short to work hard with no fun in return.

I want to hear what are your desires! What do you want?

 

Quirky Self-Care Tools

January 26th, 2012 lryamin

Lately I have been adopting a few new self-care actions that can be considered quirky and a bit woo woo.

1. Dry Brushing

I have to say winter is the best time of the year to start adopting this tool. My skin needs exfoliation and this is a great tool to do it while also cleansing.

What is Dry Brushing all about? There are tons of Youtube Videos posted. Basically you usu a large skin brush and right before showering you literally brush away your skin.  Personally I start brushing from my feet to my heart. Then I move up from myupper body to my heart.  After I am done then I rinse off with warm water and then a shower.

My skin is glowing and radiant.  I have noticed that I feel energized and it leaves my body buzzing from the inside in a good way.  This only takes 5 to 10 extra minutes to my routine.

2.  Adding Artic Cod Liver Oil into my daily supplement routine.

I am not big on supplements because its hard to keep up on what I need to add. However, after reading over and over about Omega 3′s and how I am currently deficient since I don’t eat enough fish into my diet.  I finally started to adopt again my daily Artic Cod Liver Oil pills in the morning. What I love about the Nordic Naturals brand is that they are lemon flavor so no worries about the fish after taste. Now my only thing is to make sure I take it before going to work. This will add 1 minute into my daily routine.

What I am hoping to gain as I add more Omega 3′s into my diet- well much needed brain fat to function, to boost my metabolism, and to prevent depression.

3. Adopting 80% or more Real Food into my diet.

I think I mentioned this in my Monday blog post but I finally made a decision to commit to eating real food into my diet.

What is real food? It means no low fat/fat-free, diet food, additives, chemicals, fake food, meat that comes from CAFO, r that is not free range, etc. Most importantly slowly removing the processed sugar, refined carbohydrates, and vegetable oils.  Real food is food that was grown in the soil  (i.e. fresh or frozen produce), meat that was raised in a humane way not the industrialized version.  It’s about going back to foods that my body would know how to digest, that it will be full of natural occurring vitamins and minerals not the “added fiber or vitamin c” which are synthetic and my body doesn’t know how to assimilate.

Some of the actions include: cooking my own meals and bringing my lunch to work. I am doing more food shopping and even considering getting a half-share for a local CSA.

I would love to hear from you if you have any newly adopted self-care tools that maybe considered a bit quirky!

 

 

 

Meet Lisa Adams {Guest Post}

January 24th, 2012 gb1
Today is a guest post that I am super excited to publish! Meet Lisa Adams she is the Shrink Session Fairy Godmother, my Sati Equinox buddy, and a role model of building a strong spiritually connected life. She is one of the sweetest and most loving souls I have ever met. I was completely intimidated when I first met her and boy I am glad I got over that quickly.  Please make sure to go check out her page. Oh and most importantly feel free to comment away!  I can so related to this story!
XOXO
Laura
Do you know this girl?

Lisa Adams first headshot

You probably know THIS girl.

Lisa Adams today :)

That was my very first headshot and this is me today. You can actually see the fear in those young little eyes.

Oh how I wish I could whisper in the ears of my old self that everything is gonna be alright. You will THRIVE, you will be LOVED, you will have HEALTH, SUCCESS will find you, but you’re gonna have to WORK for it.

I never knew how miserable I was.  I was so scared of failing that I bad mouthed myself and ate and drank myself into believing I was not enough. Not enough to be loved, not enough to make it in NYC, and not worthy of maintaining a healthy weight.

I went to a performing arts Conservatory and as a Musical Theatre Major, I HAD to move. Literal physical movement was required. 4 years ballet, tap, and jazz. Not to mention 4 years of mask work, yoga, tai chi, period movement, circus skills, stage combat, I’m sure I am forgetting something. Well I sucked at all of it. I hated my body. Again, I was scared. Scared of failing, scared of being cut from the program, scared of not getting the role, scared of being compared to my classmates. And I was lazy.

I moved to New York and continued to eat and drink myself silly, but at some point, the bad mouthing stopped. Then I joined the Y and started jumping around with all of these older ladies and all of a sudden I was FREE. No one was looking at me, judging me, or casting me at that Y. I began to feel and look better and began to move with ease, grace and JOY. I actually stopped drinking 12 years ago just so I can get up early and not be hungover to make it to aerobics classes.  I still love food and go rounds of being really mindful about nutrition and then having whole days go by where sugar was the only thing that passed my lips. Balance is the goal, in all things really.

I followed one of my teachers to Equinox-the greatest gym in all the land-and now you can find me in dance class in the front row with a tshirt on that says ” I Love My Life.” And it is not just a saying, it is the most important lesson I have learned.

Relationships will come and go, success and abundance will come and go, health will even come and go-but through it all, I am the constant. And I have to love who I am and where I am first and foremost and the other stuff will find me.

 

Lisa Adams is an actress, performer and a personal chef with a passion for storytelling.  Her life is the perfect balance between creativity and service. Lisa lives and thrives in New York City!

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