Do you remember back in high school when we would vote for the class member "most likely to succeed"?  I remember thinking then how odd that was.  I always wondered who decided on the criteria for "success."  Whose standard was used and why?  Yet, this "standard" for success is what seems to drive so many people - especially in our culture. But is it really a healthy standard?  I'm not so sure.

In our society, we seem to have deemed those who have acquired the most college degrees, made the most money, acquired the most things, or become the most famous as the most successful.  Maybe this is true - but maybe not.  I believe that a better standard to use is how happy and fulfilled we are in our hearts.  Does my life bring me a deep sense of inner peace, joy, love and connection?  Or do all of my "things" only leave me with a feeling of stress and emptiness? These can be painful questions to ask, but are ever so important. 

I have worked with some of the most "successful" people in the world - people who are famous, people who have more money than they know what to do with, even princes from Arabia - and what I have found is that none of it guarantees happiness or heart fulfillment.  Yet what does is living in alignment and in Truth with our heart and soul.  Are you?

Lisa Brisse & State of the Heart Fitness

For more thoughts from Lisa, check out her blog at: www.stateoftheheartfitness.com/blog

There were probably several times, as kids, that we heard our parents tell us to sit up or stand up straight.  Maybe as a parent, you find yourself saying the same thing to your kids now.  But little do we realize just how important proper and healthy posture is!

Good posture is absolutely vital to maintaining our optimal health and well-being. Not only does it affect the proper functioning of almost everything in our body, but research has also shown that poor posture can actually contribute to poor self-image and less confidence!  (Watson & MacDonncha, 2000).  

What does "good" posture mean?  Britnell et al (2005) defines posture as a state of skeletal and muscular balance and alignment that protects the supporting structures of the body from progressive deformity and injury.  Kritz and Cronin (2008) add that with good standing posture, the body's joints are in a state of equilibrium with the least amount of physical energy being used to maintain this upright position. 

With our chronically sedentary society, good posture is all but lost.  The combination of little daily exercise with sitting for most of the day allows gravity to wreak havoc on all systems of our body, starting with the muscles.  Though our spine gives our body its foundation, the muscles are what give it structure.  When muscles aren't exercised on a regular basis, they essentially go on vacation and shrink in size and strength.  As a result, we experience imbalance in our joints. This imbalance - over time, particularly in our spine - contributes to the wearing down of our vertebral discs (the jelly-like "cushions" between the vertebrae of the spine), sometimes causing a ruptured or herniated disc.  Anyone who has experienced this knows the tremendous pain that ensues.  In addition, imbalance in how the vertebrae rest on top of each other puts pressure on the spinal nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the various organs of the body.  Either too much or too little nerve stimulation as a result of this pressure can, in turn, cause problems ranging from painful muscle spasms to a sluggish digestive system.  Ironically, all of it starts with how we carry ourselves every day of our life. 

Remember, what we don't use we lose, and as we get older, it only worsens if we aren't pro-active. 

If you know your posture needs improvement and you're interested in an assessment, as well as some exercises to help, call or Email us TODAY!

 In the meantime, be active and move!

Sunday Morning Breakfast
Millet is a gluten-free grain and one of the least allergenic grains available. It is a small, round, yellow grain and can be found in most health food stores.If you're not used to eating millet for breakfast (or eating millet at any time of day), try this hearty and flavorful recipe. You can use any fruit - peaches are a summertime favorite; this morning, I used a very ripe banana that would have otherwise gone uneaten and the rest of our organic strawberries (just in time to replenish at our Sunday farmer's market).

• ¾ cup millet, rinsed and drained
• 1 ripe banana, chopped
• 6 organic strawberries, chopped
• 2 cups hemp milk
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Combine millet, banana, strawberries, hemp milk and salt in a saucepan; bring to boil. Cover and simmer on low for about 25 minutes (or until all liquid is absorbed).  Add cinnamon and stir. Sophie and I enjoyed it just as is, while Kirk added some additional hemp milk, walnuts, and raisins to his bowl.
Enjoy!

This recipe was provided by Dr. Maggie Ney from the Akasha Center for Integrative Medicine in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. Ney is a licensed, board-certified naturopathic doctor and co-director of the Women's Clinic at Akasha. She specializes in female hormone balancing and healthy aging. In addition to being a bio-identical hormone specialist, she addresses the root causes of PMS, menstrual irregularity, infertility, fibrocystic breast syndrome and PCOS.

For more information, check out:  www.akashacenter.com

It is with great joy, yet sadness that we, at State of the Heart Fitness, send Tiara off on the next chapter of her amazing, young life!  Tiara Dole joined the State of the Heart Fitness team last September as an intern from Pepperdine - a requirement for graduation in her degree of Sports Medicine.  It didn't take long to realize that Tiara was/is a gem.  Not only did her abilities and her knowledge shine, but more than anything else was her smile and her spirit!  Tiara's genuine love, passion and sincere caring for people was obvious and her presence was instantly felt on our staff and by all of our clients, including Loews' members, and staff. 

Our celebratory lunch with Tiara.  Pictured L to R are:  Gigi, Rob, Tiara & Lisa

During her internship with State of the Heart Fitness, Tiara learned all of the basics in administering fitness assessments, as well as personal training and teaching exercise classes.  She was always eager to take on any new tasks handed to her as she did everything with much pride and joy.  Upon finishing her internship in December, we decided to keep Tiara on as a part-time employee while she completed her last semester at Pepperdine.  In the past few months, one of Tiara's main roles at State of the Heart Fitness was assisting Rob with the Heartrunners on Saturday mornings.  She was a great support not only to Rob, but to all the participants who loved her gentle, encouraging ways. 

Tiara officially graduated on Saturday, April 30th and on May 10th will fly back to her native Hawaii to begin grad school pre-req classes at the University of Hawaii.  In the meantime, she is applying to grad schools across the United States where she will pursue her career of being a Physician's Assistant.  We know Tiara will do well wherever life takes her.  We have been blessed to have her on our team; she will be missed.

Congratulations, Tiara, on a job well done!  We love you!  

Sign up TODAY for May's Activities!

Join the Heartrunners for the

Santa Monica Classic 5k/10k
www.santamonicaclassic.com

Sunday, May 15th
7:30 am

Email or call us at 310.899.4046 for more information!

 Come howl at the moon with us on our next...  

 

Full Moon Hike
Tuesday, May 17th

Los Liones Trail
Meet: 1st parking lot on right of Los Liones Road
Time: 7:45 pm - 9:30 pm
Suggested Donation: $10
Bring a flashlight & a friend!

Email or Call to SIGN UP at 310.899.4046!

 Relax & Unwind after Your Work Day...
  on the Beach!  

 
  Come join us for a
SUNSET STRETCH
Wednesday, May 25th

Time:  6:45 - 7:15 pm
Meet: at the grass square on the
beach side of the Loews
Email or Call to SIGN UP at 310.899.4046

Get a Group, Get Fit, Save Money!

STAY TUNED!
Basic Training on the Beach
Coming in June!  Get Ready...

Call 310.899.4046 or E-mail
to sign up for any of our activities!

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State of the Heart Fitness, P.O. Box 7013 Santa Monica, CA 90406
T: (310) 842-5657     info@stateoftheheartfitness.com      www.stateoftheheartfitness.com

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