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MESSAGE #1193 MOTIVATION

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I know something about you.

You want to get better.

You want to get to the next level.

Do you know how I know that?

Because you wouldn’t be reading this blog if you didn’t.

I work with a lot of athletes and a common challenge is motivation.

Many people just can’t get motivated.

But they have it wrong.

They wait until they FEEL motivated.

It doesn’t work this way.

Motivation is an action.

Start acting motivated and then you will start to FEEL motivated.

If you have to practice, study, clean the house or make phone calls…

Don’t wait until you feel motivated, just start doing it!

The other day I decided I was going to wake up, go for a run and do some yoga.

Well, I woke up and wanted to go back to bed for a little while, but I didn’t. I got dressed, put on my running shoes and headed out the door.

As I got out the door I noticed that it was raining and that little voice inside my head asked me, “Should I still run?”

Before I could negotiate with myself to NOT run, I just went.

After I got home, I practiced some yoga and then started the rest of my day.

It was a good one.

It doesn’t take talent to take action, but it does take mental toughness.

MESSAGE #1057 PAIN MANAGEMENT

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I recently received an email from a psychology student at UCLA asking, what is your favorite “pain management” technique that you would share with a marathon runner to help get through “the wall”?

As a runner, pain is part of the process and as long as you are not risking injury, you have to push through it.

Too often, our mind gives up before our body.

In yoga, when you feel you cannot hold a pose any longer, the secret is to shift your focus to another body part, your breathing or anything besides the fact that you cannot hold it any longer. Once you fight through that pain, it becomes easier. Running (and life) is the same way.

If you don’t feel like working out anymore, or if you don’t feel like making more sales calls, or you don’t feel like studying anymore…FIGHT THROUGH IT.

And remember…

Don’t Quit. Can’t Fail.

MESSAGE #753 A STORY…

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“Basketball is an endurance sport, and you have to learn to control your breath; that’s the essence of yoga, too. So, I consciously began using yoga techniques in my practice and playing. I think yoga helped reduce the number and severity of injuries I suffered. As preventative medicine, it’s unequaled.” ~KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, highest scorer in NBA history

As you know, I have been really into yoga lately.

But it’s not just a trend. It’s here to stay.

Yoga has helped me:
Get leaner
Get stronger
Have greater mental clarity/focus
Have better posture
Prevent injuries
Relax at will
Make better nutritional choices
Become happier
Become more mindful
Play better tennis
Feel younger
Feel more confident

Read the quote above from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar again. This applies to tennis too. If yoga can help the highest scorer in NBA history, imagine what it can do for you?

I have been fortunate to talk to and become friends with some of my yoga instructors. They all have great knowledge and I have learned from each of them.

Recently, I met with the great Senthil Kumar.

Senthil has only been in the US for three years. He is from India, the birthplace of yoga. When Senthil was young, his schooling stopped at the 10th grade. He went to work for his relative’s company as a goldsmith. He worked from 6am-1am every day. This went on for a while. With several workers under him, and making decent money, Senthil seemed to be doing well. But he wasn’t satisfied. He was constantly under stress and growing tired.

One day, Senthil left home without telling anyone. He told his workers to leave and never come back. He decided to go to the mountains and become a monk. So he lived in the mountains with the monks and all food and sleeping arrangements were taken care of, as they volunteered during the day. This was a nice change, but soon became boring to Senthil. There must be more to life than this, he thought. He realized his mistake of leaving all of his problems.

So Senthil went back home. Soon after he arrived, his father passed away. This was a great shock to him. His whole world came crashing down. After things settled, Senthil decided to study yoga. He quickly found that this was life-changing and wanted to share it with others. So he began conducting yoga classes for free. He would even give private sessions to those interested, as long as money was never mentioned.

Senthil met his current wife in India. They moved to the United States three years ago. In his classes, Senthil doesn’t use the words, “downward-facing dog” or “namaste.” He uses the traditional names for the asanas – I like that. The music he uses is meditation-like and his style of teaching focuses on the inner as much as the outer.

Yoga helps shift the focus of the external search for happiness to where it lies, within. Yoga helps build strength, prevent injuries, create balance and give you focus. This combination of body, mind and spirit can benefit everyone. And the breathing – oh, the breathing. That’s the best part. The quality of your breath is in direct relation to the quality of your life. It is a natural anchor and brings you instantly to the present moment.

I have attended several 7am yoga classes with Senthil and the turn-out has not been great. I can’t think of a better way to start the day. I guess people are too busy for yoga.

If you’re too busy to become healthier, stronger, and happier…you’re too busy.


Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #729 I LEARNED THE SECRET!!!

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“You don’t know what you don’t know.”
-author unknown

Sometimes things happen in your life and it’s as if a light bulb suddenly went on in your head. An “Aha” moment. An enlightenment, if you will.

Well, I had one of these recently in yoga.

The first class that I took was difficult. I had to stop during some of the poses because I couldn’t hold them any longer.

But there were two factors involved. The first one was that I was using different muscles and wasn’t conditioned to do some of the moves.

It’s not that I couldn’t do them, but that I couldn’t do them…yet.

But the biggest lesson I learned was that I didn’t have the right strategy. When the poses started to get tough, my focus was on the fact that I couldn’t hold it any longer. That is the wrong mindset.

My yoga practice and life changed when my instructor, the great Vanessa Kudrat said, “When it gets tough, breathe deeper. Focus on another body part – anything except the fact that it is difficult.”

It works!!!

I was doing an inversion (shoulder stand) the other night and it started getting difficult, but I took deeper breaths. I focused on my feet. I held it for over a minute longer when I thought I couldn’t go a second longer.

Most people get tighter or more intense when things get difficult.

The key is getting more relaxed. Breathing deeper. Focusing on something else.

I have already used this strategy in other areas of life. In fact, with this new technique, I don’t think there’s anything I can’t do.
When you push yourself through difficulty, you enter a whole new world and you accomplish things you never thought you could.

Isn’t it funny that the fitness club that I take yoga at is called, CanDo?

There’s a reason.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #725 THAT WAS HILARIOUS!!!

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“Laughter is an instant vacation.”
-author unknown

Today’s message is especially dedicated to the great Heather Allsup in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Yesterday, I took a yoga class with yoga master, Karuna. It was fantastic; I should have known with a singular name like Karuna. She’s like Prince or Madonna. I am really getting into this yoga thing. Today was my fifth class in the past week.

It’s tough to pinpoint one reason why I’m so addicted to yoga. It definitely helps me stay in the present, by forcing me to focus on my breathing. I also feel more flexible and mindful of my body and my surroundings. Yoga also helps me stay relaxed when the pressure’s on, because holding some of the poses can be challenging, but that usually comes from the mind. It is supposed to be challenging so that other things in your life become easier.

I really enjoyed yesterday’s class because at the end, we performed a laughing meditation. Karuna told us a joke and then we all started laughing. At first, we were faking our laughter, but then we all started really laughing because everybody else was laughing. It was hilarious.

I will now share that joke with you and then I want you to perform a laughing meditation (if you are alone). If you are at work or in a public place, laugh to yourself or just smile. Do this for about one minute and see how you feel. Laughter relieves stress when the pressure’s on. Try it next time you’re about to do something that makes you nervous.

Joke: Why don’t Buddhists vacuum in the corners?

Answer: Because they don’t have any attachments!

Aahahahahahahahahahhahaahahahahahhahahahaaha!!!!!!!!!!

Hahahahahahahhahahaahahahahahahahahahhaahhaha!!!!!!!!

Aaaaaaahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Now go and enjoy your day.


Thanks for reading.