Master Your Body: The Hero's Journey- The Known and The Unknown

Friday, January 6, 2017

The Hero's Journey- The Known and The Unknown

The World May Not Be Sane, But There Is An Order To The Disorder! There is too much that doesn't make sense, too many injustices, too many acts of random violence, too much hate toward one another, and many people believing for every moment that this is the way it's supposed to be. It saddens me to see what this world has become at any cost. How this world has literally turned upside down, and as a whole empathy toward one another has been completely lost. What has happened to this world? The days when people were kind and showed support for one another through the toughest of times. Now a person is praised and is backed up by others when they express hate toward someone who did not meet a certain expectation. Smh...

BUT, with that being said, I also believe that we can still maintain our serenity, our spirituality, and our sanity by remembering that for every act of madness there is always a corresponding act of BEAUTY. That we must be anchors of sensibility, oasis of joy, and guideposts of HOPE in an imperfect paradise...especially to those who need it the most.

I want to share something special that happened to me today. I have always tried to pay attention to the signs and messages that present themselves to me. I do not believe in coincidences. I believe that if everyone could see past the distractions, the hate, and the chaos...they would receive messages of hope and love. It is love that truly wins in the end.

I first want to say that my heart and prayers go out to Ronda Rousey during this difficult time. I was an athlete since the age of 4, and I can completely relate to the challenges she is facing in sport and in life right now. My thoughts go out to her family...her wonderful mother- AnnMaria DeMars, her sisters Maria Burns Ortiz, Jennifer Rousey, and Julia DeMars. At the end of the day, it is family who will support you and help pick up the pieces when all seems lost.

This morning as I am working on my computer, I looked over at the book Rousey: MyFight/YourFight (a great book that shows the true emotion and passion of Ronda), which was written by Ronda and her sister Maria Burns Ortiz. This whole situation has been very heavy on my heart since all of this went down on December 30, 2016. To me it is more than just fighting...it is living...it is growing...it is understanding...it is surviving...it is overcoming. It breaks my heart to see others hurt and in pain. I tend to feel other people's emotions, and I try to send tokens of love and hope when needed. So I leaned over and grabbed her book...closed my eyes and just opened the book on whatever page it decided to open up to. Just to see where it would lead me. I do this all the time with books just to see where I land and what messages are given at that right moment. The book opened to page 77. What a message...Absolutely AMAZING!

First, looking at the special number Seven (and doubles too) is considered a very positive number with a strong message. Symbolizing inner wisdom, intuition, contemplation, understanding, inner strength, tenacious, endurance, determination, development, spiritual awakening. But the main message of double 7 (77) is:

*To Expect Miracles To Occur In Your Life*

Hasn't Ronda already experienced all sorts of miracles at her young age of 29? Of course she has... so many accomplishments/achievements at a very young age...but it goes deeper than that. I believe that miracles will continue and always surround Ronda and will always be there to give her hope, light, and love. She must trust her instinct and be confident in all of her decisions. She doesn't need to place a high emphasis on all of her successes, but instead focus on her journey...what she has endured, what she has overcome, understanding herself completely through this process right at this moment. Life always comes full circle. The adventure of life is to LEARN. The purpose of life is to GROW. The nature of life is to CHANGE. The challenge of life is to OVERCOME. The essence of life is to CARE. The opportunity of life is to LOVE. The secret of life is to DARE. The beauty of life is to GIVE.

As I sat back and read Page 77, I began to cry and was overtaken by so much emotion. Amazing page with such an ironic and powerful message. I won't spoil it and will allow for anyone who is interested to go read that page and the message that was as clear as it gets. I am not sure if Ronda will ever see this blog entry (my hope is that she does), but if not, maybe here family will. If not, there are many lessons that can apply to anyone reading this. We all fall, break, succeed, overcome- this is what life is all about. As I read that page, I began to take notes and felt a very strong push to write this blog entry (fyi, this is something I normally wouldn't do, especially with someone I do not know). Like the saying goes- send out love and positive vibes to the universe and that love and energy will go to where it needs to go. There are always two realities...the one outside of us and the one inside. We must constantly remember there is always far MORE TO LIFE THAN MEETS THE EYE. The universe extends far beyond our limited perception and there will always be something new to discover.

My interpretation of Page 77 is The Hero's Journey

*The Known and The Unknown*

Each of us has a purpose in life...we all walk down our own paths of life different from one another but intersecting, challenged, interacting with others as we walk down our individual path to the unknown. Initially, things go smoothly for some, while others face bumps along the way. You know your time will come when you will be challenged and tested on your journey (this is all apart of life). Life is a beautiful struggle...experiencing the good and the bad, winning and losing>>>with an understanding that one can not work without the other. Sometimes you have to let life turn you upside down, so you can learn how to live right side up again. You must experience both sides of the coin in order to understand the process. The process of who you are, what you are made of, and knowing that there is more to life than what is in front of you. To be able to see beyond the obvious and to discover what lives deep inside of your spirit...is a gift some may never get an opportunity to experience. The part of you that holds your most dearest things, where love lives unconditionally, and the continuous light that shines when all seems dark. Life is never fair and most times it can be very cruel, but through the process of struggle and loss one begins to see through the illusion of life itself. Love, peace, joy, happiness, creativity, and humor are all gifts that are given freely to bring meaning to your life. With these gifts, you are also given a new power of perception to help you detect what isn't meaningful to your growth and awareness.

Only you hold the key to what matters and what is important. This is your journey...your process. Protect it. The more perilous the way, the more freeing it is, for it is in the throes of true peril that we are usually forced to let go of attachments to what once seemed important in order to DISCOVER WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT. Your inner journeys-your searches for meaning, place, purpose, and peace...and your paths are the form of expression your lives take. People will try to stop you from overcoming, others will try to bring you down then raise you up...just to bring you back down again, and some will kick you harder when you are down. But when one side reveals itself another side emerges.

Believe in miracles and know that they are possible. Hold on to the the people who stand beside you when all seems dark. Embrace the ones that will lay down next to you and won't say one thing but you feel the presence of their love. Feel The Gifts Of Love All Around You. You have passion, you have heart, you have fight...and you have something special and magical inside of your spirit. *The love of the person that you have lived for every single day and continue to live for. That love is with you every step of the way...with every win, every loss, every challenge, every moment. He will never leave you. Miracles are real*

You are stronger than you think, you have what it takes to do anything/to overcome anything, you have a special purpose in this life>>>that is what truly matters. Life comes full circle. To understand is to connect. The more you understand and experience, the greater and deeper you will connect with yourself and with all that is around you. Recognize the gift that lives inside of you...the gift of love. Remember who you are and where you came from. Never forget what you have endured and what you have overcome in LIFE! Life takes you to unexpected places and you meet unexpected people but finally its LOVE that brings you back home...the point of UNITY, LIGHT, and CENTER.

Everything happens for a reason (blessings in disguise). You may not understand right at the moment what is happening and why things are playing out the way they are, but in time things will reveal themselves to you (only when it is the right time for you). Truth is everyday life. Create an atmosphere of freedom, so you can live and find out for yourself what is true. Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is essentially your own. May your daily actions and reflections keep you centered and not distracted from your true source of STRENGTH AND PEACE. The earth that nourishes you, the air that rejuvenates you, the water that cleanses you, and the stillness that calms you. Take the time to turn toward the direction in which your heart is stirring. Have the courage to let tiny seeds of possibility grow and take root within you.

Always hold on to what you believe, reach out to what you want to achieve, and FOREVER SHINE YOUR LIGHT! This is your life- full of love, purpose, passion, and spirit- all the things that make YOU! And Absolutely NO ONE can take that away from you. BE YOU, STAY STRONGER, FINISH YOUR FIGHT!

BELIEVE

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Abdominal Challenge #1

NO REST Between Exercises/Keep hands on your head at ALL TIMES when you perform each Sit-up/Keep your legs bent on all Sit-ups/Watch your form and make sure you engage your belly button AT ALL TIMES/Control your motion and DO NOT USE MOMENTUM!
Unassisted Sit-ups- 10x/Hold #10 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 30 seconds
Unassisted Sit-ups- 15x/Hold #15 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 1 minute
Unassisted Sit-ups- 20x/Hold #20 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 1 minute 30 sec
Unassisted Sit-ups- 25x/Hold #25 at the Halfway Mark for 20sec
Core Plank- 2 minutes

Abdominal Challenge #2

DO NOT REST BETWEEN EXERCISES UNLESS IT IS STATED/USE THE SAME RULES FOR ABDOMINAL CHALLENGE #1/Substitute One Crunch + One Sit-up Twist/Twist for Plate Stand-ups if needed/Substitute Roman Chair Leg Raises for Hanging Leg Raises if needed
Medicine Ball Sit-ups (Unassisted)- 25 times/Explosive on the UP- 10 second count on the DOWN/Keep M.B. on your chest AT ALL TIMES
Hanging Bent Leg Raises- 3x15/Rest 10 seconds between sets/DO NOT SWING
Plate Standups/25 times/DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET/Tempo- Moderate Pace/The lighter the plate the harder the exercise...CHALLENGE/PUSH!
Side Core Plank- Hold 30 seconds/25 Ups and Downs/Do one side at a time
Hanging Straight Leg Raises- 3x15/Rest 10 seconds between sets/DO NOT SWING
Plate Stand-ups + Sit-ups/(2=1) 35 times/DO NOT MOVE YOUR FEET/Tempo- Moderate Pace/The lighter the plate the harder the exercise...CHALLENGE YOURSELF
Side Core Plank- Hold 1 minute/35 Ups and Downs/Do one side at a time

CONDITIONING DRILL #4

In order to MASTER this conditioning drill, each exercise must be performed with perfect form and without STOPPING!

**Be sure that the BURPEES are ALL EXPLOSIVE...JUMP AS HIGH AS YOU CAN AT THE START/LAND IN A LOW PUSH-UP POSITION/EXPLODE BACK UP, LEADING WITH YOUR LEGS

**Make sure that the SQUAT HOLDS ARE LOW (THINK OF AN L-SHAPE/DO NOT LET YOUR BUTT FALL TOO CLOSE TO THE FLOOR)...SIT BACK ON YOUR HEELS AND ALWAYS KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT

1) BURPEES- 15 TIMES
2)LOW SQUAT HOLD (15TH BURPEE)- 10 SECONDS
3) BURPEES- 12 TIMES
4) LOW SQUAT HOLD (12TH BURPEE)- 10 SECONDS
5) BURPEES- 10 TIMES
6) LOW SQUAT HOLD (10TH BURPEE)- 15 SECONDS
7) BURPEES- 8 TIMES
8) LOW SQUAT HOLD (8TH BURPEE)- 15 SECONDS
9) BURPEES- 6 TIMES
10) LOW SQUAT HOLD (6TH BURPEE)- 20 SECONDS
11) BURPEES- 4 TIMES
12) LOW SQUAT HOLD (4TH BURPEE)- 20 SECONDS
13) BURPEE- 2 TIMES
14) LOW SQUAT HOLD (2ND BURPEE)- 20 SECONDS

DEFINITION OF EXERCISES/LANGUAGE IN EXERCISE

1) Straight-legged to Heels-to-Butt Sit-ups- lie flat on the ground with your legs straight and your hands on your head. As you start to do a sit-up bring your heels in to your butt and tap the floor (*the closer the heels come to the butt the harder). As you come out of your sit-up and begin to roll-down straighten out your legs and make sure the heels touch the floor. It should be a smooth, contolled one motion.
2) Burpee In Place-start by jumping straight in the air and then landing in a squat position with hands on the ground. Kick your feet back into the downward position of a push-up. Thrust the feet up and push up with the arms simultaneously.
3) Traveling Forward Burpee- the same concept as the Burpee In Place the only difference is jump forward instead of straight up.
4) Traveling Backward Burpee- the same concept as the Burpee In Place the only difference is jump backward instead of jumping straight up.
5) Burp- also known as a stripped down burpee. Start low and tucked toward the floor. Kick feet out to the bottom portion of a pushup. Then, push with your hands, while thrusting the feet back to the beginnning position (which is low and tucked toward the floor). It is only a half way motion minus without the jump in the air.
6) M.B. or Plate Stand-Ups- lie flat on the ground with your feet planted on the ground. Beginners should use two dumbbells and place on feet. Hold a m.b. or plate over your head (*the heavier the db/plate the easier...the lighter the db/plate or no weight the harder). Quickly move your arms forward and start to sit up. It is very important that you use your arms for momentum and engage your abdominals. Once your arms pass your knees, quickly push forward with your legs, moving into a standing position.
7) Mountain Climbers- start with your body in a push-up plank position. With the hands stationary, alternate the feet back and forth. One leg should be tucked with the knee coming close to your chest and the opposite leg extended. Make sure to place your weight on the balls of the feet.
8) Grasshoppers- your body will begin in the same position you used for mountain climbers. The movement starts by bringing your left foot underneath the body until it touches your right hand. After touching your hand, return the left foot to the starting position and repeat the movement by bringing your right foot across the body to your left hand. You will be on the balls of your feet but when you bring your foot toward your hand you will land on the side of your foot.
9) Wall Sit- place yourself up against a wall and squat down until the thighs are parallel to the floor. Think about forming an L with the bottom portion of your body. Your back is supported against the wall. Hold this position for time. Do not place your hands on your thighs because this takes off the pressure in your legs. Absolutely no movement with this exercise.
10) Bridge- a great exercise that will develop strength and flexibility. It is a static hold that helps improve lower back strength. Start by lying down on the floor with your knees bent and your hands on the floor close to your ears. Lift yourself up with your abdomen pointing upward and with only the hands and the feet on the floor. Your body should create an arched position and you will maintain the upright position for time.
11) Aerobic exercise- means with oxygen. An activity in which demands of muscle for oxygen are met by circulation of oxygen in blood. Distance running, cross-country, skiing, distance cycling are all examples of aerobic activities.
12) Anaerobic Exercise- means without oxygen. Activity in which oxygen demands of muscles are so high that they rely upon an internal metabolic process for oxygen. Short burts of "all-out" activities such as sprinting or weightlifting are examples of anerobic exercises.
13) Burn- also known as "going for the burn." For instance, in endurance exercise, working muscles until lactic acid buildup causes a burning sensation.
14) Concentric- when muscles contract or shorten.
15) Delts- an abbreviation for deltoids, the large triangular muscles of the shoulder which raise the arm away from the body and perform other functions.
16) Eccentric- when muscles lengthen while maintaining tension.
17) Fast-Twitch- refers to muscle cells that fire quickly and are utilized in anaerobic activites like sprinting and powerlifting.
18) Glycogen- can be referred to as a full tank full of stored carbohydrates. Some of it is stored in the liver and some of it is stored in the muscles themselves.
19) Hybrid Lift- is two or more exercise done in one single movement. It is the inverse of a combo lift. For istance, performing a bicep curl while lunging.
20) Interval Training- is a short, high-intensity cardio exercise alternated with longer periods of lower-intensity cardio. It allows you to burn more calories, increase your speed, improve your power, and much more. It is more effective at burning fat while maintaining muscle mass. Combine this type of training with intensity will also increase your metabolic rate to amazing levels. This is because the work you do utilizes a greater percent of the body's muscles.

POWER THOUGHT OF THE DAY

TRADE AFFIRMATION FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT: Accolades fade quickly, but your accomplishments have the potential to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

TRADE IMMEDIATE PLEASURE FOR PERSONAL GROWTH: It takes an oak tree decades to grow, but it takes a squash only weeks. Which do you want to be?

TRADE EXPLORATION FOR FOCUS: The younger you are, the more experimenting you should do. But once you have found what you were created to do, STICK WITH IT!

TRADE QUANTITY OF LIFE FOR QUALITY OF LIFE: Your life is not a dress rehearsal. Give it your best because you won't get another chance.