“L&N NEWS”
August 2005
By Linda Hammitt (Yoga & Step instructor for
Bally Total Fitness) & Nicole Moneer (Power Flex & Kwando instructor
for Bally Total Fitness)
Photographed by Bob
Gabella
Linda Hammitt
Good Things Happen All Around Us
Photographed
by John Merkle
Nicole Moneer
Words from Nicole
Good Things Happen All Around Us.
I’ve got some things I’ve got to get down on paper…. Recently, me and
my family had an opportunity to set some things right, and without
going into personal details at the end of the day it sure felt good.
It’s good to feel good. Yoga is so much about feeling good about
yourself, I can’t put enough “oomph” into this, inside and outside of
the class your yoga environment should bring positive thoughts and good
things. With negativism being the soup d’jour ( not sure of the
spelling), we are constantly bombarded and spoon fed with the bad
things that have occured ,or might occur. When a hurricane doesnt meet
the catastrophic projections, the feild reporters lean into the rain
and somewhat non- threatening winds with a script no less dramatic. Are
they truely dissappointed that a horrific event did not happen? On the
other side when a truely horrific event occurs you can not escape its
impact, and it should not be ignored, BUT!!
On the flip side I am
certain that as many bad things occur in a 24 hour period many more
good things occur. I am certain of this and I want to hear about them.
Send the stories to me and I will put them in the next newsletter.
When
I watch all of you, I see a look as you come into your Yoga environment
and a look as you leave, more often then not its kind of day and night.
In the newsletter I often refer to your Yoga environment. What does
this mean? Simple…we…. you…together, create a Yoga environment in the
place that we/you are at. Simple. Are we in a beautiful garden setting
with a trickling brook running down a hillside?
No. There aren’t any fancy “Yoga” decorations around us. It’s not about that, it is about being Yoga.
Being “Yoga” works. You are seeing the physical changes in your body,
please recognize and give attention to the many other benefits of being
Yoga.
Example: We were all watching a very athletic type movie called Friday Night Lights.
The
coach was really stressed and passing his stress into the young men of
the High school football team. He asked them a non-question “can you be
perfect”? A coach that is Yoga would have said “When you are in your
environment, make no mistake it is your environment, you own it, quiet
your mind….. Breath…… reflects on your training…… breath…… perfection
is in your effort ……can you be perfect?” Obviously for this speech to
work/motivate, Yoga would have had to be introduced. There is a mind
–body relationship, both needs to be equally challenged.
I want
your Yoga environment to be more than here in my class, I want you to
be able to take it with. Being Yoga has rewards beyond the hour we
share here and there. Take it with you, you will see what I mean. BE
Yoga.
Namaste Linda
Words from Nicole
What
is the worst thing that ever happened to you and how did it affect you?
Did it make you a stronger wiser person? Did you take a different
perspective on life? Some may say the worst thing was losing their job,
having a miscarriage, going through a divorce, getting in a car
accident or losing a loved one. All are negative and things we fear,
right?
The worst experience I ever had was at the age of 23. We
received a call that my father was in the hospital and to get there
immediately. We did and at that point we were informed that he had
died…suddenly. My father was a physician and spent more time taking
care of others than him self, something typical of males and doctors.
In his will he stated he did not want an autopsy. However, we believe
it was cardiac arrest. I won’t get into all the details, but I will
tell you how this negative experience has forever changed my life. Nine
years later (now you know my age) I am actually thankful that I can say
this is the worst thing that has happened to me. We all have good and
bad days, right? Well many times I have bad days or bad things happen
to me. For the most part, I try not to sweat the “small” stuff. Like
getting hit with a $200 towing fee when I was in NYC on business but
parked in the city when out for pleasure, or when I am a half hour
late to an appointment due to traffic, not getting a promotion…you get
the picture. When something bad or Negative happens I think okay, I
have to take the bad with the good and so far I have had the worst
thing in the world happen to me and I survived it, somehow. I also try
to remember all the good I do have in my life. I have my mom, my
brother, my fiancé, many friends, a job, I am healthy and physically
capable to do just about anything I want to do. Instead of getting
upset when the bad comes around, I look at the good I have or what the
lesson to me may be, which may sound profound.
My brother is
diabetic, as you may already know from visiting my website. Even though
he is limited on what he can eat and do physically, he is such a
positive spirit. I admire that, he doesn’t complain about what he can’t
do. For instance, I can eat whatever I want and not have to worry.
Instead, I do worry…I try my best to eat a healthy well-balanced diet
so that later in life I do not hear my doctor telling me change this
and no more of that. I am open to trying just about any activity and
lucky at that, too. .
I guess what I am trying to say is turn your
negative into a positive; it will relieve a lot of stress. For example,
the next time someone subs for Linda, be thankful for Linda. I know we
all have our favorites when it comes to instructors. Moreover, be
thankful someone
subbed the class instead of canceling it. Or if
you’re late to work or an appointment because of an accident be
thankful that you weren’t in the accident. Another thought, give thanks
to those you still have in your life. Ever watch The Today Show with
Katie and Matt and ‘Live For Today’? I am all about that, life is short
don’t forget to tell someone how you feel about them! Most of all, be
thankful that you have transportation to the gym, that you can workout
and that you can read this…am I getting too heavy?
This topic was Linda’s idea, a good one at that.
Thanks! Nicole
Your questions and
comments for Linda are welcome at:
Visit
Linda online at:
http://www.tripoweryoga.com
Your questions and
comments for Nicole are welcome at:
nicole@nicolemoneer.com
Visit
Nicole online at: