Jul 7, 2014

I must admit i grew up as that athlete who was big into lifting heavy, not really warming up besides the basic stretches and what not. As i later got into college as a athlete running track and playing football i learned more about movement prep and dynamic warm-ups and a little yoga…SHOCKED, yes i said YOGA, as well as PILATES and it was some of the weirdest and most challenging things ever. People assumed and still assume that because we/I are Fitness Professionals that we don’t need or want coaching, this i know is totally wrong. I have alway been a fan of fitness and that is human movement in my eyes, from Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Mobility, FreeRunning, Animal Flow, to movements with external loads, such as KettleBells, bodybuilding, Training For Warriors, CrossFit, BodyCombat, and more. These are all beautiful arts of movement studied alone i feel limits the greatness, but embracing them all, taking pieces of each that you like, benefit you,and throwing away what you don’t, only makes you stronger. Imagine if Joseph Pilates never believed in himself. This has led me back to Yoga, understanding movement, my body, why i move this way, not that way, and how can i move better and more efficienty? When living back home in Wisconsin and working at Elite Sports Clubs i used to take Yoga 3x a week with my great friend/brother and ex Detroit Lion and now PITT Strength Coach Brian Calhoun..Totally made such a difference in my body and spirit..Fast forward 4.5 years and I’m on my 6th Yoga class and 3 of them have been in the past 3 weeks ( at a certain global gym it was actually frowned upon that i take class and focus on selling sessions). 2 weeks in a row i have taken Yoga For Athletes with Mike Fecht, a practice built especially for high caliber athletes ranging from NFL to MLB. This caught my attention as us athletes are normally tighter throughout the hips, thoracic spine and chest. This was screaming my name as it totally i felt was made for me. it had me getting into positions, hip dominant that i ever thought i could and this was after one session.. I have been working slowly on my own on certain poses and cant wait to see where i am in 6 months with my practice. Up next was todays class and it was HOT VINYASA FLOW. This i enjoyed as it really keeps the joints warm and the increased temperature really made me feel more supple from the first few poses. This was a different animal a breathing is truly key and as hydrated as i thought I was this class had me in puddles. What i did love was that you were told to work at you pace as this is your practice and nobody else’s. I wish more people looked at fitness this way as it is YOU vs. YOU and only you can make yourself a better being. I loved how in tune the instructor was with the entire class and not just sticking to the veterans and getting her workout in. I truly can see and feel myself getting back into this and i am excited. As Fit Pros we spend so much physical, emotional, spiritual energy on others, we often forget to find that little “white” space for our own well being. i know that this is just the start of me reconnecting to my own self, but within this practice i feel i will become a better person, father, husband, and fitness professional..for that i am ready. Our bodies and minds were meant to move and without them we have nothing…Namaste @melissadileonardo, @juanlugo