Register for this event and I’ll tell you everything that’s in my refrigerator right now, and why (the freezer too):

Open House Fitness Class Marathon for Cancer Patients

I thought it was going to be a productive day today. Since my client load is lighter on Tuesdays, I had great plans to get some serious work done. Getting a profile up for a new Zumba instructor, scheduling interviews with more candidates (we’ll most likely have at least a few sessions each week at the studio), getting a new sign made up (can any of you even see the sign from the street??!) and updating the class chedule on the website were all on my agenda. Oh – and I was planning on working out, as well. And some time in there I need to have something resembling a lunch, right?

Getting time for a sit-down lunch is not going to happen, so here’s what I’ll take to the studio to eat after the workout on the way to pick my kids up from school:

a banana

a hard boiled egg

Cocoa Sommersaults

These are easy to eat on the run and healthy. The combination is inexpensive, filling and packed with fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. And did I mention yummy?

 I get the Somersaults at Peets on Hopyard/Valley in Pleasanton.

Try it out!

It’s finally DONE! After years of operating in a much smaller and less professional environment, months of looking at spaces and learning about commercial lease negotiations, and weeks painting, stripping and installing flooring and finally moving all my equipment over, it’s mine, all mine!

And I was guided and supported by the best people every step of the way.

First, my commercial real estate agent was, ironically, the son of one of my very first clients. Life-long Tri Valley resident Mark Rinkle was in college when I started training his mother. I’ve trained just about every member of his family, including his wife and sister, and went to his wedding before really knowing him. He was patient, professional and always looked out for my best interests through this process, generously spending time educating me and offering critical insight to the process from the beginning, more than a year ago. His obvious personal investment in my successful completion of this deal far exceeded the value of his commission. I am fortunate to have worked with him. He’s with Lee and Associates and can be reached at http://www.lee-associates.com/global/people-detail.php?location=&industry=&hidNumTries=0&id=1069 .

My new landlords, their property manager and their son, who is also the electrician, have all been supportive and welcoming, as have the neighbors in the complex I’ve met so far. I’m in the small strip mall on the south side of Stanley between California and First, just down the row from Napa Auto Parts http://www.yelp.com/biz/napa-auto-parts-pleasanton.

Local contractor Jim Morgenroth took time to look at other places I was considering and offered build-out and size input that helped me make the right decision. He also loaned me crew members on a moment’s notice when I needed them to complete the floor. Jim does phenomenal work – he did the second remodel on my house and remodeled and owns the Victorian I’m currently living in – and has been a great friend to me when I’ve needed it most. His website: http://www.morgenrothdevelopment.com/

Wally at All Bay Fitness rearranged his schedule to help me get my last piece of equipment over before the weekend. He moves, delivers, installs and services all types of home and gym exercise equipment, is a terrific guy and can be reached at (510) 332-7400.

The two rug rats who share my name were troopers about hanging out in the unfinished space, watching movies on my laptop, enjoying bagels and hot chocolate while I painted and scraped.

And finally, someone in my life who I met years ago through my business has provided immeasurable support, encouragement, ideas, time and physical labor to help me realize this little dream. Thanks, M, from the bottom of my heart.

My private training business is, thankfully, near capacity, so that will continue to be the core of TriValleyTrainer’s activity. But I’m thrilled to be starting Zumba classes with the best group exercise instructor I’ve ever known, Tanya Carlson http://tanyam.com/ . Tanya is a former ESPN Fitness America champion, a Lululemon spokesperson, ACE certified trainer and group instructor, and is well known here in Tri Valley fitness circles for good reason. No fitness professional I know exhibits more passion, competence and commitment to her craft. And I’m honored to have her offer classes at the studio. Her first Zumba series will be Tue/Thu, 10am, beginning August 23 (first day of school in Pleasanton!), and Fri 5pm. I’ll also be offering a Wed, 10am boxing circuit class starting the same week, quarterly free weekend workshops by other wellness practitioners and a monthly guided group meditation. More details on all this to come, or you can contact me at Dan@TriValleyTrainer.com.

I’m excited about the future and hope to meet some of you as this new chapter unfolds.

1. Floss with Glide mint dental floss.
2. Brush using an electric toothbrush and Arm & Hammer Complete Care toothpaste (don’t forget to brush your tongue where film and bacteria builds up).
3. Rub three drops of cinnamon oil on your upper teeth and gums.
4. Apply vanilla mint Chapstick.

Try it. You’ll see.

Any pain in the body is trying to tell you something. It hurts because the message is worth listening to; and there’s no better way to get your attention than physical pain. If your head hurts it could be that you’re under a great deal of stress, you need more rest, more water or any one or more of a number of other issues that need your attention. Try some of these less invasive remedies before reaching for the Tylenol (although that may be the wisest choice in the end:

• Drink some herb tea. In fact, lower the lights, light a candle, put on some soft music and really enjoy the time. This can help relieve stress while re-hydrating you.
• Take a hot bath.
• Meditate. Deep breathing and releasing our attachment to obsessive thinking can be just the trick to at least ease, if not eliminate a headache.
• If you feel localized intense pain behind the eye, especially if it’s coupled with light sensitivity and/or nausea, it’s likely you have a migraine. An icepack on the back of the neck can be helpful here.

Light exercise may also be helpful but start very slowly and drink plenty of water, always keeping close tabs on how you’re responding. Stop if the pain doesn’t improve.

Soft music may not be your thing or you may just not be in the mood for it. Then listen to something that will move you or connect on some deep emotional level. Here’s what I’m listening to as I write this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCp5_HdW1ak&feature=fvw

Feel better

Have you ever watched the pure, unselfconscious joy of a child physically “becoming” the music she’s listening to? There’s no polish or structure, just pure joy and light-hearted abandon. It’s truly a sight to behold.

Recently I discovered some terrific acoustic music (what I like to listen to most and similar to what I cover when I play guitar and sing in local coffee houses and small restaurants). I was thoroughly enjoying while working out when my five year old daughter came out to join me. Then I watched the music lift her up and float her around the room as though she was showered with Tinker Bell’s fairy dust. I had to rush in and snap this picture. Believe me, stills don’t do it justice.

My kids don’t exercise because they move as part of living a full life; enjoying the sunlight, the breeze, scaling the play structures at the local parks, kicking soccer balls (or flailing while trying) and, finally letting the music carry them to who knows where?

If you don’t listen to music when you exercise, consider it. I enjoy mellow stuff when I teach Pilates; heavy, uptempo music when I hit the heavy bag and sometimes classical when I strength train. Pick whatever moves you.

Then move.

*********

BTW – for locals (580/680 interchange area) – I’m doing a show with my friend Brian at Corks in Danville tonight from 8-11pm. Stop by and say hello if you get a chance.

(This is the longest stretch I’ve gone without a post, so, I appreciate your patience. Daily traffic has seemed to stay pretty steady just the same, so for that, I also thank you. I’m busily working on an Internet tool that will hopefully raise awareness and accessibility of wellness services in my community. It should be ready to launch in January. More on that very soon…)

The single defining characteristic for a person who consistently (and wholeheartedly) embraces a fitness lifestyle is this:

It’s part of who they are.

This is a person for whom regular, challenging physical activity is as natural as showering and brushing their teeth every day. If they went a week without it (other than because of illness and injury) they would feel awful.

So, is that an addiction? Is getting your kids off to school on time every day an addiction? Is eating?

I have a general rule for my clients regarding excuses: It’s never about someone else or about other events; it’s always about how important it is to you. If you do it, it’s important enough. If you don’t, it isn’t.

There have been times I’ve gone a week without exercise that had nothing to do with my health. Every summer we go to a farm on a river for family camp and I don’t usually get in any structured workout there. That’s fine because I’m very consistent throughout the year, so I don’t worry about a single week.

My mom hasn’t been able to exercise regularly for a few weeks because she has her hands full taking care of my dad after his recent knee surgery. I’m sure she’ll resume when things settle down, because her functionality and quality of life are far better when she is working out regularly.

In both of those examples, exercise was less important to us that other current priorities.

That’s no cause for judgment. It just is what it is. So the bigger issue is, over the long haul (several weeks to several months and beyond), how important is exercising and eating healthfully to you – really?

Not important enough yet?

Well, today is a new day, isn’t it..?

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Being impeccable, you take responsibility for your actions, but you do not judge or blame yourself for anything.

- Don Miguel Ruiz