When we begin a wellness journey, we often assume the hardest part is the physical effort—the burning muscles, the heavy breathing, the sweat. But that discomfort is temporary. It’s simply the sensation of exertion, and it passes quickly. Within minutes of finishing a workout, relief sets in and a sense of well-being starts to rise.

This is your body’s natural response to movement. Exercise triggers a powerful release of feel-good chemicals—endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and endocannabinoids—that work together to create that familiar post-workout glow. The body rewards you for showing up.

So no, the physical work isn’t truly the hardest part. The real challenge lies in the mental shift required to stay present, to persevere, and to remain open while moving through discomfort—especially in a world that constantly invites comparison. Comparison is the thief of joy, and that includes comparing yourself to others and to past versions of yourself. Your present body does not need to match who you once were to be worthy of care, respect, and movement.

Grant yourself grace along the way. You don’t have the body you had as a teenager—and that’s something to be grateful for. The body you have now has supported you, carried you forward, and allowed you to experience pleasure, joy, and connection. It has endured stress and uncertainty, weathered storms, and often served as a steady foundation for others to lean on.

Honor it. Move it with intention. Meet it where it is today. And trust that every small step you take is enough.

 
“Good training isn’t just for Instagram models and Division 1 athletes but for all of us. Whether we’re feeling a little older, injured, or just new to working out. Benefits include physical and mental health, improved strength, flexibility, recovery, and work-life balance.” - Coach Jackie's philosophy

Jackie was quoted on "how important it is to remain physically active as we age" by journalist Janet Bodnar in the April 2024 Kiplinger magazine article (pictured above) "Singles: build a social network" (page 57).

The quote was an inspiration for Ms. Bodnar to emphasize not just staying active but of building a social network as we age, especially where single or without family members for backup.

The wider context for this advice is that America has a graying demographic trend per Census Bureau statistics.

• The Baby Boomers generation (born from 1946 to 1964) is almost 80 million strong, all of whom will be age 65 or older by 2030.
• In 2022, 29% of households are single-person households,
• In 1960, the figure was 13% of all households.
• The population itself is growing much slowly than in previous decades, whereby older adults (over 65) will outnumber children ( under 18) by 2035.

It’s no secret that staying consistent on your fitness journey can take work. So when an injury or illness comes along, it can be hard to balance the line between recovery and maintaining our gains. Knee jerk reaction, we freeze and stop all activity. We bemoan the loss of all the headway we’ve made on our journey and proceed to comfort ourselves. It’s a slippery slope.

Don’t beat yourself up. You aren’t by yourself. We all have these thoughts. NO ONE is immune. It’s okay to be in your feelings for a second, but then come up with a plan. Use the trainers at your gym as a resource. If there is something we love to do is help people break through obstacles.

As a fitness instructor, and a person on a journey of her own, I struggle with fears of losing progress. That fear led me to putting off going to the doctor after I twisted my ankle about a month ago. It was a careless accident stepping off a treadmill. I didn’t ignore the injury, but I also didn’t seek treatment immediately. Well, post doctor visit (one month later) I’m now in a boot with orders not to exercise. Now, I could AND DID have a pity party, worrying that the progress I was making was going to stall. I was sad that I wouldn’t be able to row and I ❤️ rowing. The horror! 😲 How was I going to work through my mind’s daily negative self talk if I couldn’t work it out at the gym? Then I started to spiral - it wasn’t pretty.

I’m glad to report the pity party ended. I took a deep breath or three and cleared the fog. Even though I have to eliminate exercises that require ankle flexion/extension or high impact there is a whole realm I can explore. My world righted itself again. Now, is it the same, no. However, it is an opportunity to focus on movements I don’t pay too much mind to.

It’s all about perspective.

When we experience what we perceive to be setbacks, we can focus on the negative OR we can shift focus on what we can do and continue on our path.

Remember, you aren’t alone. Things happen to the best of us. Pívot according to the situation. Use resources available to you. Don’t be shy. Make friends with your coaches, I promise you a judgement free place. We want to see you succeed.

Journey on!

Temperatures are starting to drop and the leaves are starting to change color.  Each morning when I step outside, the shift in seasons is more apparent.  As the heat and humidity of the summer begins to drift away, and is replaced by a cool crispness.  Just as nature prepares itself to renew , this is the perfect time to review resolutions that have fallen to the wayside, and setting intentions. 
 
As you look back over the past year, what worked and what didn’t?  How do you want to approach your day, or your week?  Intention setting doesn’t need to be overwhelming, or something monumental.  Start small.  Perhaps you want to get off of automatic pilot and be more present in your decision making, or maybe you want to simply take three deep breaths before reacting to a situation that is drawing a negative reaction from you.  Set an intention that is meaningful to you; something that will help you feel more fulfilled.  The more fulfilled you feel, be more positivity you will radiate and without trying, that joy will spread to those around you.  How many times have walked into a room and felt someone’s sadness, anger, or happiness without them saying a word?  Our words, actions, and emotions leave ripples in the universe. 
 
Move through your day mindfully and with intention.  That’s not to say that we won’t have slip ups.  We are human after all.  Give yourself a little grace when you slip, remind yourself of why your intention is important to you and move forward.  No punishment or chastising needed.  The easier it becomes to forgive yourself, the easier it will be to forgive others.
 
Embrace the magic of the season.  Find a quiet place, maybe with a hot cup of tea, turn your awareness inwards.  Reflect and renew.

Chances are, it wasn’t just one decision, it was a series of small actions. Some of them so small, that at the time they seemed inconsequential. Surely, they don’t count. Guess what? They matter! We have all been there when the climb out seems insurmountable. When we feel like there is no way we can change something about ourselves. Where is the light at the end of the tunnel, we find ourselves in? I’ll let you in on a little secret. That light that we keep looking for, that way out that we can’t seem to find, it’s closer than you think.

The Japanese have a business philosophy called kaizen. Put simply, kaizen is the idea of on-going or continuous improvement. Kaizen encourages a mindset where small incremental changes create an impact over time. Too often we believe that to improve ourselves or the situation we are in, we need to make big changes all at once usually starting on a Monday. How did that work for you? It didn’t work for me. It would last for a few days, at best. I would end up right where I started, adding in an unhealthy dose of self-deprecation. It’s exhausting and quite frankly, all that negative self-talk compounds and that tunnel you were in is just a little darker.

Stop looking for an instant fix, there isn’t one. If you want to change or fix something, start with the very next decision you make. It’s all about living your life with intention and mindfully. Take yourself off automatic and be fully present with yourself and your environment. Be aware that your actions have consequences. If you make a poor decision, grant yourself some grace. Reflect on why you made that decision. Understanding the underlying reason can help you make a different choice next time. If you find yourself struggling with a choice, take a 3 second pause. Clear your mind with some deep breaths and approach the choice through the lens of whether the decision you make will support the path you are walking. Your decisions light the way.

Live your life with intention. Be true and honest to yourself. If something isn’t working, don’t make excuses for it. We already know excuses don’t work. Make small adjustments every day. Remember, you are your own light.