As we age...and yes, it happens to all of us...the ability for our body to quickly recover slows down. I noticed that I had more tension in my neck, back, and my body didn't feel as good between workouts. That's when I started looking into PIYO. It is a blend of strength, sculpting, Pilates & yoga moves & incredible for core, especially for those who have had children or need to strengthen their back or posture. It combines moves in a continuous flow that also gets your heart rate up and provides a cardio-type burn... BUT without all the wear and tear on your body.
I got to hear an incredible call from the creator, Chalene Johnson, on how she studied with professional athletes and trainers to create a regiment that works for all body types and fitness levels. I love that it is also about using your own body weight to sculpt and tone rather than heavy weights or gym equipment.
PIYO will be my go to for post- surgery this summer & is a perfect way to restore your body & strength. Several close friends have used it for cross training in marathons, obstacle racing, & just pure recovery from other cardio exercise.
*Here's an incredible transformation by a wonderful friend and Soul Fit Nation Coach, Christine, who was recently recognized by her results from Team Beachbody!*
If you are ready to get your sculpt & tone ON, this is for you!
Let's chat soon,
Natalie Rene
Too much of health & fitness is focused on the physical rather than the spiritual well-being of a person. When it comes down to wellness, it's truly about mind, body, & soul. If you are not at peace in your life, it's hard to be content with any other aspect, especially how you look physically or feel emotionally. I realized that without faith, my foundation would not be strong enough to continue my wellness journey, let alone help others find their own story again.
I have always been a spiritual person, guided by my faith in God and can feel that there is something bigger than just here & now. I think that over the years, I started assuming that I was the sole controller of my life, rather than listening to God's plan. It's easy to want to control everything in life. We think we have the power to make everything go according to plan in our workplace, home, raising children, & relationships. But then life happens & what we thought was under our control was really out of our hands. It was in God's.
When I began my health & fitness journey, I never knew how my soul would become as rejuvenated as my physical being. I began to start praying again for guidance in my own health & fitness journey as well as those around me. In my online groups, people began sharing their own obstacles, fears, doubts, & walls they that had built up over the years. These groups are not about attaining a certain size or weight, they are about sharing and overcoming. Stories have been shared of eating disorders, loss of loved ones, divorce, ailing health, & breaking down walls of self-doubt and criticism. It is about being able to move forward in life and becoming more present in each day.
With faith comes compassion, patience, and love. Why is it that we are so eager to give that to others first but to ourselves last? When I lost my grandpa and then my father, I found faith & support in my fitness family. When I have struggled with relationships, I have found faith knowing that I am surrounded by people who lift me higher and have been put in my life for a reason. And when I suffered a recent injury, I know God has a plan for me to go along a new path of healing.
Whatever it is that comes your way, just have FAITH that you are on the right path and are being shaped into the person God has destined you to be. And find peace in that.
I have always been a spiritual person, guided by my faith in God and can feel that there is something bigger than just here & now. I think that over the years, I started assuming that I was the sole controller of my life, rather than listening to God's plan. It's easy to want to control everything in life. We think we have the power to make everything go according to plan in our workplace, home, raising children, & relationships. But then life happens & what we thought was under our control was really out of our hands. It was in God's.
When I began my health & fitness journey, I never knew how my soul would become as rejuvenated as my physical being. I began to start praying again for guidance in my own health & fitness journey as well as those around me. In my online groups, people began sharing their own obstacles, fears, doubts, & walls they that had built up over the years. These groups are not about attaining a certain size or weight, they are about sharing and overcoming. Stories have been shared of eating disorders, loss of loved ones, divorce, ailing health, & breaking down walls of self-doubt and criticism. It is about being able to move forward in life and becoming more present in each day.
With faith comes compassion, patience, and love. Why is it that we are so eager to give that to others first but to ourselves last? When I lost my grandpa and then my father, I found faith & support in my fitness family. When I have struggled with relationships, I have found faith knowing that I am surrounded by people who lift me higher and have been put in my life for a reason. And when I suffered a recent injury, I know God has a plan for me to go along a new path of healing.
Whatever it is that comes your way, just have FAITH that you are on the right path and are being shaped into the person God has destined you to be. And find peace in that.
Xo, Nat
You have the fight within...but sometimes it takes obstacles or life's challenges to find that inner strength.
I'm in a predicament. This fitness girl got injured pretty bad in March. I was at the top of my game with my strength and endurance and was training for my Spartan race. One morning I woke up and couldn't stand and I mean laid out. It just happened suddenly and I found out that I have an L3/L4 bulging disc. Let me tell you friends, I've given birth to two children, have had surgeries, broken bones, but this is overwhelming. So I asked myself, "now what?" Where can I focus my energy? And I realized that I could throw my attention into nutrition and helping others fight through their injuries.
I also realized that I needed to slow down and just embrace my life & my health. Life is more clear to me now and it took an injury for me to see what I needed. Health and fitness is not a just being a certain size or comparing your body to what the media thinks you should be. It's about mind, body and soul. And there is an inner strength inside of each of us, but are we listening to it? I don't think I was until this injury.
I've decided I'm going to embrace my health, strengthen myself one day at a time, and I have goals already set forth in the universe. I am going to get my 3rd degree black belt and also get certified to teach combat classes. And that is what keeps me going each day.
I am also proud to say that since my injury, I have lost 10 pounds and a pants size focusing solely on the 21 Day Fix eating plan and drinking my Shakeology. I have Autumn Calabrese to thank for that and I got that chance to chat with her a few weeks ago at Beachbody's Super Saturday. All it takes is your inner fight and you will find your way again.
Believe & Achieve
Xo, Nat