Mixed Tape Monday: Dr. King, Foam Rolling (Again), and Body Image
As I have grown as a coach and as a person, so too have I grown in my and understanding of and appreciation for, the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - a man who accomplished more in his 39 years on earth than I could hope to achieve in my lifetime (oddly enough, I'm writing this at the age of 39). His message of love, patience, and non-violence in the face of cruelty and injustice is beyond my comprehension during my cushy and protected life.
Screenshot from today's Google homepage.
It’s difficult to choose one quote from Dr. King on this day of honor; but one that stands out for me in the work I now pursue is this:
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” ”
I always feel like I could be doing more; in training others, in supporting others, in speaking for those who can't speak for themselves. This blog was born both out of my desire to serve others as well as to have a voice in a very noisy industry. The more I remember to ask this question of myself, hopefully the more I can live and teach in a way that benefits others.
How to roll with the foam
I’ve been busy over the last month recording new videos for my Youtube channel. These are short videos for my distance clients to see and understand how to perform particular exercises. There are now over 60 videos online, and the most recent addition is the longest, as it is instructs the foam rolling process. I even narrated the video and took out the awkward grunts of the dude cleaning and pressing in the background.
Someone once told me I had the voice of an angel. To be fair, there may have been some tequila involved...still, you should give it a listen/watch.
The video is two minutes, and I explain a little bit of the how’s and why’s of doing some self myofascial release. Check out my previous post here to understand a little more about why you should include foam rolling into your routine. Every day.
Try to ignore my intense stare into the camera, as sexy and distracting as you may find it...
Body Image
A few weeks ago Molly Galbraith, one of the authors of the Girls Gone Strong website, published this piece on body image. The message is honest, heartfelt, and needs to be read. By everyone.
Read this. As it turns out, Molly's message has been shared by Zooey Deschanel, Ashton Kutcher, and George Takei among others. This post has more than 20,000 shares. Please read it.
I’ve been on the thin side my entire life, mostly because of genetics. I've never experienced the kind of changes that happen to a woman's body before and after pregnancy. I've been a life-long athlete, and I've run long distances and lifted heavy weights and have stayed active since I was five. None of that matters though, as I have still struggled with body image. I've thought I was too fat, never thought I was too thin, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pay attention and that I don’t care about body image or what I look like naked. It's also a bald-faced lie to say that I don’t care what other people think. I absolutely care.
My goal these days is less about weight and body fat percentage and more about getting to the place where Molly is. That place that says this is my body on a random Tuesday in January. And that's enough.