Photo by Teri Fiske

Hi guys!

Back in January, I was reflecting on my life and career and how I spent lots of time creating programs to help my clients look and feel their best, and it hit me that I was NOT doing that for myself.  Like, at ALL.  I was not working out consistently, I was not taking my “me” time seriously, and I was breaking promises all over the place, promises that I had made myself.  So, for the last three months, I have done something wild and wonderful:  I have created a program for ME.  By ME.  To benefit ME.

I think that people like us, people in the health and wellness industry, are used to giving out energy.  We like it.  But sometimes, if we don’t replenish the ol’ tank with self nurturing, we tend to crash and burn.  We work so hard to get that week off, and when we set our little tootsies in the sand on that first day of vacation, we feel a little tickle in the throat as well.  And BAM:  Vacation ruined by sickness.  It’s annoying!

SO, I decided to schedule a program for MYSELF, to replenish my energy and service tank on a weekly basis.  I can’t prove this, but I can only say to you that I’m pretty sure it has saved my ass these past few months.  Here’s what I am doing:

THE WORKOUT REGIME:  1 pilates reformer class, 2 yoga classes, and 2 cardio workouts per week.  CLASSES I TEACH DO NOT COUNT!  How many of you have tried to sneak that in there?  We reason:  “Well, I teach so  much that I’m working out all the time!”  Bullsh*t.  If you are teaching and teaching well, you’re NOT working out to your full potential.  You’re running the show.  If you are working out to your full potential in classes you teach, you are a sh*tty teacher.  There, I said it. It’s true.  We all know it.  We must take time to nurture ourselves FULLY during workout time.  Once a week, I take yoga at a studio where I hardly see any of my regular students.  I’m in cognito.  No one even knows I’m there, except ME.  And my amazing colleague and teacher, who treats me like a student during that hour.  I am so grateful.

THE BODYWORK REGIME:  I joined Massage Envy.  It’s 2 blocks from my house, and I pay a monthly fee that automatically goes toward 1 massage per month.  So I am guaranteed one massage per month, at least, and a significant discount if I choose to go more than once.  Pre-paying for this service makes me go.

THE MINDSET REGIME:  I have a category on my iCloud calendar called “Self Love.”  I schedule all of my weekly yoga and bodywork stuff under this category, so I can see how I’m nurturing myself every week.  It makes me feel great when I see that I am balancing the red (self love) with the green (work) categories.  I have also scheduled in an hour here and there to “shower and eat” under “Self Love”.  But I see the red, nonetheless, and it makes me feel like I’m taking care of myself.  I also don’t feel the need during that time to multi task by eating at my computer or trying to fit in emails.  Shower and eat means shower and eat!  No guilt!

THE GROWTH REGIME:  Need a break from teaching?  Become a student!  Right now I am doing Erin Stutland‘s Magical Manifesters program, and Tom Burke’s Book It program.  No one expects me to teach.  All I do is absorb information and practice new skills.  And I feel like an awesome learner.

So, what are you doing to fill YOUR tank?  I would love to know.  Leave a comment for me, because I am always looking for new ways to feel awesome, and I love supporting your good feelings as well!

So, what are you doing to give back to yourself?

Holly Morris – Rock of Ages: MyFoxDC.com

Dance About It:  It’s not about perfection, it’s about connection.

I teach a dance class at Equinox NYC called “Dance About It.” We do a new combo, in a new genre, every 2 weeks, and anyone who wants to stay after class and record the combo is welcome to do so. The focus of the class is to find a greater meaning for movement than steps in succession. We are not concerned about perfection, but about connection and courage to express one’s self through movement.  This week was Reggaeton, and we had a blast!

Get colorful for Spring! I am inspired!

We all love a pop of color!  I am so inspired by my stylist and friend, George Brescia, who asked me to strut my stuff this week on NBC’s New York Live as he shared juicy celebrity stylist tips.  Thanks for the camera time, Georgie!  Check out the segment here!

Show of hands please:  who thinks this is a load of CRAP?

If you’re waving your hands in the air like you just don’t care, I do not blame you.  It is easy to be misguided on the ins and outs of manifesting.  Manifesting, the REAL thing, is NOT all about just kicking a thought around in your mind and then watching it come to fruition before your very eyes.  And I like the easy way out as much as the next person, but honey, that won’t work.  There is more in that bag of chips than pretty thoughts.

There are two things in my life that have changed it forever, that I manifested, without question.  One was my husband, and the other was my dream job at ROCK OF AGES.  Turns out, I am a SUPER powerful manifester!  Yay me!  But I did my research on the topic, because child, I WANTED those things BAD.  And it took TIME, and much, much more than wishful thinking on my end.  And I know for sure that it can work for you too.

Enter my dear friend Erin Stutland.  Not only is she one of the BEST, HOTTEST fitness mavens and coaches in NYC and one of my besties, but she has spent years creating and refining a program about this very topic.  And now she is offering it ONLINE as a 5-week digital course, so you can do it from ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD (hello, my Pittsburgh peeps!).   It’s called MAGICAL MANIFESTERS and it starts April 2nd, so jump that hot butt on board before it’s too late!  Click here for the gory details, and let me know if you sign up!  I have a few things on my agenda I’m ready to create, so I am taking the course too.  Let’s do it together!

With love,

Erika