With the 2008 Beijing Olympics occurring this past month, I am reminded of the Olympics I've attended in the past. The Spirit of the Games themselves - a spectacle in which the whole world comes together to cheer - is contagious in itself even from afar, but by being an actual "live" spectator, the energy of peace and unity is amplified even more.

In thinking about the original intention of the ancient Olympics back in Greece - a time when the Greek-City states would come together in peace to celebrate the athleticism embodied by the "games" - I think about the feeling and "aliveness" of a modern-day Olympic City. Where else can many people from all nations meet together to celebrate WITH each other - putting aside our differences- while honoring and admiring the athletes who have dedicated their lives to their passions and their goals, who have given all of their heart and soul, who have committed every ounce of energy to an outcome that has no guarantee?

The "gift" of the Olympics is to remember the spirit that lies within all of us. It is to remind us to strive for our highest potential, to embody our heartfelt passion, to make peace with our differences so we can share in fun and in play. With the Olympic flame now "extinguished" until 2012, it is time for us to carry that "light" within us in our daily lives!

Lisa Brisse & the State of the Heart Fitness Staff

We all embrace many relationships in our lives... relationships with our families, friends, partners, co-workers, with God (or higher power), as well as with our pets. Each of those relationships requires a certain amount of time, energy and nurturing. Yet have you ever thought about the most important relationship you have, but also the one that often gets overlooked and even neglected the most? It's the relationship with yourself and in particular, with your body.

Relationships are harmonious and thrive when in a safe and loving space, yet have you ever realized how "unloving" we are to our own bodies and ourselves? This absence of harmony is reflected in the obvious ways of practicing unhealthy eating habits, or not getting enough exercise or sleep, but also in the not-so-obvious ways in how we talk and think about ourselves and our body. Can you look at your body in the mirror and say with sincerity, "I love my body and I love myself"? Most people can't and do even worse by expressing great dislike and even disgust because their body doesn't look like it "should."

When feeling out of shape or in becoming overweight, wanting to make a change is understandable, but it is important to understand that your body is doing the best it can with what it has to work with. It takes the cues from you by how it is being treated on an outward level - eating, exercise, sleep, etc - but even more so on an inner level in how you think about yourself. Every message or thought you have - positive or negative - your body not only "hears," but also responds. Much research is being done in regards to the mind-body connection and how our thoughts physiologically manifest themselves on a cellular level to align with what we think. (See the movie, "What the Bleep Do We Know" www.whatthebleep.com )

As September arrives, our summer months have virtually passed as we move into the fall. With the warm weather and lots of sunshine, the summer is an "active" season and State of the Heart Fitness, too, was buzzing with summer activities and programs:

In August we finished our 8-week early morning beach training program. We had 6 participants: Danielle Greene, Steve Avdul, Barbe Wittels, Kathryn Ferrell, Ruth Kaufman & Heather Hire. Though challenging at times to get up by 6:30 in the morning to exercise, they all did their best getting fit in the early morning sun. A special congratulations goes to Ruth for scoring a "perfect attendance," and a great job to the whole team!

On August 16th, we had our Full Moon Hike in Topanga Canyon. Eighteen folks came out to hike and howl including Jude Dulhunty - a professional astrologer who shared the significance of the full moon while embraced by its light atop Eagle Rock. Lots of fun was had by all.

In July, we offered a Walking Beach Meditation on Wednesday evenings. As a great way to de-stress and unwind, we walked in complete silence for 30 minutes along the waterfront and stretched at the end. Living in southern California with the ocean right here, we tend to forget that we have an incredible source of calming right here at our fingertips. It was also a good to remember how important it is to quiet the mind!

We are very excited to announce that after 6 long months of working on our new website, it is finally ready and LIVE as of September 1st! This will serve as a constant resource to find updates of our upcoming activities and programs including a clearer picture of the services we provide.

kudos to clients: craig miller

We want to send a special congratulations to our client, Craig Miller, for completing his first half marathon in San Francisco on August 3rd. He ran to support the cause for the National Aids Project in SF and Los Angeles. Craig officially began training in March with the National Aids Marathon Training Program but feels his training actually began a year ago with runs to the 4th street stairs with Gigi and even before that with Nathan. Gigi was by his side as they ran across the Golden Gate bridge and crossed the finish line in 2 hours & 19 minutes! Way to go, Craig! We're proud of you!

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