In mid-August I opened an email that brought tears to my eyes. I live for surprises like that.

Some are more profound than others. The big surprises often get more acknowledgement, but can move us just as much as the little ones. Rain showers, a message from a good friend or smile on a strangers face have never ceased to warm my heart. It's the little things that have a deep impact.

15 years in the fitness industry and I've learned one of the most valuable lessons about fitness during the last 9 months of pregnancy. Everyone has either been pregnant, trained someone who is, known someone through pregnancy or entered the world because of it (got ya there!). Re-connect with the human body through this miraculous life event with me.

When at a convention, it's natural to aspire for a place on the stage. Oh, to make others feel the way those speakers make us feel! Year after year I dreamt of being that person, sharing something (but what!?!?), inspiring the audience and making an impact on others. 

Are any of your clients leaving town for a summer vacation? This is the time of the year when people go adventuring around the world or maybe even in their own backyards! Wherever the vacation (or staycation) may be, you may notice clients cutting back on sessions because they’re spending so much time having fun in the sun. Here are a few tips to make the scheduling gaps feel smaller by using the season to your advantage.

There is no shortage of websites and social media gurus claiming to have the latest and greatest ways to market yourself and your health and fitness business to prospective customers. While many of these approaches can work well for some, they’re not for everyone, especially those who don’t want to spend a considerable amount of time online.

Most people I work with avoid this word and task like the plague.  It doesn't have to be that way. 

In this video I will: 
*Tell you what the word is and how to overcome the anxiety it produces.
*Give you TWO alternative words to use that feel and sound better.
*Share THREE strategies to enhance your business.

Has anyone told you to “warm up” before you exercise or play sports? It seems simple enough, doesn’t it? What’s easy to do is also easy not to do, and the biggest mistake people make is skipping this important component of exercise. Here’s what you need to know to warm up properly (and why it’s so important) so you can be more effective with your physical activities. 

It's been quite the year...  In the spring, I viewed my grandmother in an open casket.  This summer I observed my fiance in a coma for a week.  I finished off with a winter visit to see dissected human bodies (cadavers) at the local university.  I cultivated a new level of appreciation for life to say the least.  

Would you take the chance to see a cadaver if you had one?

Have you ever had a client complain of soreness on only one side of her body? Or had someone blame his workout for an injury? Exercise and sport are both potential culprits, but sometimes there’s more to it.

When I travel and stay with different people, I can’t help but notice what priority smart phones are taking over our own self care.  It’s hard to hear the subtle signals the body is sending you when you’re distracted.  How can you get focused on your day when you’re busy looking at what everyone else is doing first?  Talk about waking up on the wrong side of the bed! 

Check in with yourself before you check Facebook.

An unexpected wedding gift came to us when we tied the knot on a gorgeous Montana Sunday two weeks ago.  My cousin gave us an apple tree with a white bow on it.  It was a clever idea and very thoughtful in many ways...

I'm constantly reminded of how intelligent our bodies are.  They hold all the answers, if we just take the time to listen and explore.  Body awareness and anatomy are the two tools that I find invaluable when investigating a body complaint.  

Once in awhile I get really extra lucky with a client.  I find the answer in one session and never have to see them again.  It's times like these that keep me going and wanting to help people with their bodies. 

I was walking the dogs in Montana and Koda (65 lbs) knocked into an empty trash can.  This is apparently really scary, because she bolted and I didn't get my hand out of the leash in time...  I think you know what happened next.  I ate gravel.  So did my knee cap.  

Do you ever feel energized from exercise?  Or, exhausted?  What about your clients?  Do you wonder if what you're doing could be hurting your body?  Exercise is a form of stress and there's a balance to be found.    

If you live near a lake, river or oceanfront, you’ve undoubtedly seen increasing numbers of people on stand-up paddleboards (SUP). This popular activity is super fun and provides a great workout. You can make the experience even more rewarding, however, by using your off-the-board workout time to strengthen those SUP-specific muscles. 

Have you ever been confused when someone says, "L4-L5" or "S1"?

If you have interest in learning more about your amazing spine, watch this short video and apply the information with my call to action right away!

Starting over is hard.  Especially when you were so in love!  Did you ever have to take a break from your favorite sport?  Have you injured yourself and had to stop doing something you really enjoy?  Injuries are a set-back no one wants to experience.  Yet we all know what pain feel like.

"I should try something new, I always order the same thai food."  That's how Karl introduced me to one of my favorite thai dishes back when we first started dating.  New relationships, new food...  Variety is the spice of life.  Literally.  Pad Kee Mao, otherwise known as Drunken Noodles or Spicy Noodles is one of my go-to thai dishes.  

Learn how to make it at home!

Everybody has a love/hate relationship with their abs.  They love working on them and yet hate the pain of planks!  Before someone begins an abdominal routine, it's important to make sure they understand what muscles to focus on.  

Ensuring the right and left sides are working equally is also a good idea.  If they don't, this is where problems begin.  Slowly but surely - one crunch after the next, compensation patterns develop.  The stronger side gets stronger and the weaker side never catches up.  

If one side of your abs is stronger than the other, it causes a subtle rotation and side bend in the spine that will eventually lead to bigger problems then flabby abs...