Much of the time we're in our heads thinking about life, rather than in our hearts feeling it. It's not necessarily that one is better than the other, although life becomes more full and alive with a harmonious balance between the two.

When we're in our heads, we're often thinking and planning our lives constantly, always in the future or dwelling in the past.  We occupy ourselves with so much "doing" which leaves little time to actually feel life in the moment.  As John Lennon once said, "Life is what's happening when we're making plans."

When we live too much from our heart, often holding onto  anger, guilt, sadness, depression, etc - usually   from dwelling in our past - we stay stuck and are not able to move forward in life.

In order to really live our lives to the fullest - feeling alive, inspired and with a deep sense of happiness - we need equal contribution from both our head and heart.  Connecting with our emotions via the heart allows us to feel the pulse of life, while focusing and disciplining our mind can get us through the challenging times, particularly when our emotions are holding us back. When we can align our head with our heart, we allow ourselves to move through life with true joy!   We are alive!

Lisa Brisse & State of the Heart Fitness
For more thoughts from Lisa, check out her blog at www.stateoftheheartfitness.com/blog

Having grown up an athlete and knowing the mental discipline and focus it takes to keep one's self motivated, in order to manifest anything in our lives - whether with sports, our health, our business, or living our dreams - we have to have a goal.  Goals are essential.  They provide the focal point that keeps us on track and reminds us of the bigger reason why we do what we do.

Unfortunately, unless you grew up being athletic and participating in sports, most people's childhood experience around physical activity was a negative one.  Usually it was of PE class where the teacher threw out a ball and expected everyone to play.  If you weren't "good," it not only wasn't enjoyable, but even more damaging, it taught us nothing about the value of taking care of our bodies through movement.  Sadly enough, this negative association has colored people's desire and motivation (or lack of it) and has adversely affected our health as an adult.

At State of the Heart Fitness, part of what we do is to make exercise enjoyable, but also to educate people as to why we recommend the specific exercise we do for each individual.  When people have a better understanding of how their body works and how each specific exercise benefits them, they have a tendency to take more ownership over their health, but they also find more enjoyment in doing exercise itself! 

One of the key things in finding motivation and inspiration is having a goal - usually an overall life goal that is paired down into smaller, short-term, achievable goals.  The more we can specifically identify what we desire in our lives - and then recognize how having our health - or not - either enhances and allows us those experiences OR can hinder us and keep us stuck, we have a better chance of making it happen.  Even more so, when we can feel in our heart what it feels like to have or not have those things, we naturally become more internally inspired.  Emotion is energy in motion... it moves us.  But the goal is important.  It keeps things in perspective and gives us the "bigger picture" to strive for.  

DO YOU NEED SOME MOTIVATION & GUIDANCE?
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What many people fail to consider is that the body awakes in an energy-deprived state. Depending on when dinner or the last evening snack was consumed, a person may have gone 10-15 hours without food. Breakfast means literally "breaking the food fast" that has occurred since the last evening meal. Breakfast not only provides readily available calories for morning activity; it is also integral to obtaining essential nutrients.

Ideally, the morning meal should provide carbohydrates and fiber from fruits, vegetables and/or beans, as well as protein from low-fat milk or yogurt, eggs or plant sources such as nuts, beans and whole grains.

As for a doughnut, Sunday-morning pancakes or pastries at breakfast work events, they may be acceptable under certain circumstances. But keeping a stash of easy breakfast backups, like breakfast bars, nuts or even cold leftovers, can give you more nutritious choices so that you're not just filling up on empty calories. Don't be afraid to get creative: some cultures eat soups for breakfast, and others eat beans (on toast or in bean burritos). Aim for a breakfast that provides energy and nutrients and that helps you feel satiated.

Make the best of your breakfast!

Poor Breakfast Choices: doughnut or pastry; croissant; pancakes; white bagel; black coffee; sugary cereal with milk.
Better Breakfast Choices: muffin with extra fiber; breakfast/protein bar; whole-grain pancakes, easy on the syrup; whole-grain bagel; coffee with milk and sugar; high-fiber cereal with added fruit and nuts plus milk or soymilk.
Best Breakfast Choices: oatmeal or other hot-cooked grain cereal like Kashi® with added fruit and nuts; high-fiber, whole-grain cereal with milk, almond milk or soymilk, topped with fruit and nuts; whole-grain pancakes topped with unsweetened applesauce and fresh fruit; whole-grain toast topped with avocado, peanut butter or hummus; fruit with yogurt and coffee with milk or soymilk; regular or egg-white omelet with added vegetables or beans

(Source: June 2011 IDEA Fitness Journal)

I am pleased to announce that as of September 2011, State of the Heart Fitness has been in existence for 10 years now!  I can hardly believe it's been 10 years already.   It seems like just yesterday my fellow colleague at the time - Nora Walsh - and I were coming off the sudden and unexpected news that our former employer - the Pritikin Longevity Center - was moving from Santa Monica to Florida.  Wow!  What a shock!

Personally, I knew - as Nora did too - that we were no longer interested in working for someone else, rather it was time to start our own business.  Before we could even think, State of the Heart Fitness was created.  There is a lot to be said when failure is not an option and all you see is the goal and the vision you desire to create.  We were extremely focused and made it happen.  Only a few months later, the Loews Hotel became our home and has been ever since.

Though Nora moved on from State of the Heart Fitness in 2007 and I took over sole ownership, I am forever grateful to her for helping to make State of the Heart what it is today.  We continue on with an amazing staff with many more goals and visions yet to come!  I want to thank all of our clients, friends, family, other health professionals in the community - and the Loews, of course - for helping to make State of the Heart Fitness a continued success!  Thank you!

10th Anniversary Special!
Get a FREE Personal Training Session when
you sign up for a package for 10 Sessions or More!
Good through the month of October

Help Support TEAM State of the Heart Fitness

As We Do This Year's

Los Angeles AIDS WALK
Sunday, October 16

Our Goal is to raise $1500!  You Can Help in 1 of 2 ways:

Donate on our team page HERE.

AND/OR

Walk with us & REGISTER HERE. 

NOTE: The AIDS WALK founder, Craig Miller, is one of State of the Heart Fitness’ long-term clients & we just want to acknowledge Craig for all of his great work with the AIDS walk over the last 27 years! You're an inspiration, Craig! Thank you for your loyalty to State of the Heart Fitness all of these years too! We love you!

Get a Group, Get Fit, Save Money!

ON THE MOVE
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In the gym or on the beach...you choose!

Sign Up your group for a 4, 6, or 8 week program
(meets 2x/week) in October & get 10% off!

Email or Call 310.899.4046
for more information and pricing!!

SAVE THE DATE! October 25th

FREE TELE-SEMINAR
"GET OFF THE SCALE & BACK TO BALANCE"
with Lisa Brisse

to get you ready for a
HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON

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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

copyright © 2011  - State of the Heart Fitness