CARDIOBARRE

Working out is an excellent way to bring out your endorphins.  
Just like the quote from Legally Blonde, "Endorphins make you happy Happy people just dont shoot their husbands"



Cardiobarre is my workout of choice.  It combines intense Cardio, isolating body parts to strengthen and lean, utilizes low weights with multiples reps, and makes you sweat your A!# off for an entire hour.  This class is designed to stretch and lean your body into a dancer's body type.  You do not have to be a dancer to take this class.  I am a dancer though, and I love it!  I miss the intensity of dance class as well as some of the technical movements and this class gives me that fix.





Cardiobarre was created by Richard Giorla, who teaches at the Studio City Location.  
Now there are multiple franchises of Cardiobarre all over the Los Angeles Area.  More studios are opening 
further south which is exciting!  Do not think I didn't think about opening one myself.  If I had a little more time and a way to get major loans I would do it.  That is how much I believe in the company.  The teachers are amazing and each studio is designed to work the same.  
Not every class is the same, so do not think you will get bored . . . YOU WONT!

Sleep

It is common for someone to get more depressed or sad at night time.  When thought stopping does not work or if you do not have the patience to think about doing a "technique" when you are upset,  I would say SLEEP.  I do not mean all day to avoid moving on from living your life.  I mean if you feel helpless or down around night time . . . quit what you are doing and get ready for bed and hop right in and snuggle yourself to sleep.  Take deep inhales in and out while you count until you fall right to sleep.



I will add more to this blog with actual studies on feeling lower at night and sleep effecting mood when I have the motivation.  

Until then,  if you could not guess by my topic or writing,  I am going to get ready to SLEEP.

Test

Throughout this journey I will be given many tests.  Tests of my strength, tests of my courage. . . tests on my will power. . . How does someone make it through these tough moments?  One option is to me mad. Another is to cry.  Many "phone a friend."  This time, I will write.

How much time should one dwell when a glimpse of hope appears or a glimpse from the past appears?

A technique I learned at CSUN is called Thought Stopping.  When you keep on ruminating or worrying and asking yourself all the millions and millions of "what if" questions, just think STOP.  Picture a STOP SIGN in your mind.  You can even repeat the word STOP in your head over and over again until it distracts your. STOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOPSTOP STOP. . .

This technique can be used in multiple arrays.  Replace your negative thoughts with more positive and realistic thoughts.  Try writing all of the great possibilities that lie in your future.  Write about all of the people you have to support you and love you.

I cannot promise that this will fix everything.  I am not even telling you that it will.  But try it.  It is something new that may work for you.  And why not. . . it may lead you on the path to Happiness.

Soul Collage

Today I was trained for 4 hours on what Seena B. Frost calls SoulCollage.  Soul Collage is a way to access your intuition in a creative way.  The cards you make help you with life's questions and transitions.  You can take classes to be trained to understand the exact process of using this technique so you can facilitate SoulCollage to help with self-discovery and for in-depth immersion.  For example, there are certain themes for the cards.  For today's sake, we were not confined to the 5 particular themes but were told to:

1. Grab Magazines
2. Rip out pictures that call your attention (without reading too deeply into the photos)
3. Glue them to a 5x7 Card

     We were taught that you can use this technique in therapy with clients.  You can have a client make these cards and have them say, "I am the one who . . ."

     These are the 5 that I created and what is written below is an example of what someone may say.  My cards were not interpreted and the examples below were given by my supervisor of what a client might say.

"I am the on that feels like the wheels are turning on me and pushing on my head and it doesn't feel good and I am the one who wants a honey bunny to kiss but there is stil la kid part of me that wants to put my hand in the sand.  I am the one who is the little baby and the big girl and the quiet sexy girl and the girl who is not really quite sure who the hell she is but i am the one whose got the light all over the top of all the stuff thats going on beneath so there is some light in the picture and I'm going to figure it out.  I am a lot of different people and I'm getting it together."

"I am the one who leads a little boy and wants to provide nourishment for him.  There is a path that we can climb.  I enjoy different cultures.  I enjoy a sea view.  I am the one who is confined while everyone is outside and free."

If anyone reading this knows me well, you can probably look at these cards and know a little about what they stem from.  However, no-one can really know the true meaning of the cards except for the self.

I found this exercise relaxing and effective.  It is interesting how art can be a way of expressing yourself without having to talk.  Is is very helpful if you are not good at expressing yourself verbally or if a client is not good at this.  (We all know I personally do not have the verbal problem haha)

I have been collaging for years and have always enjoyed it.  It was exciting to learn today that what I thought was a crafty hobby can be a real tool used in my on discovery my myself and with my future career as a therapist.

Why Goji Time?

I am entering a new time in my life. . . a new beginning . . . a new chapter. . .

I know I am not alone when I say that I have been through some tough times and I am presently "stuck between a rock and a hard place."  Part of my new journey consists of learning to and loving to be happy with who I am, with or without anyone by my side.  I want to take steps forward in embracing what I have to offer to this world!

My friend Katie started a blog and inspired me to do so as well.  What would motivate me to move on to a more positive happy life more than sharing my journey with anyone who wishes to follow?  I also thought it would be a good creative outlet.

Why the title Goji Time?

My roommate and friends worked for a juice company, Genesis Today.  One of the main ingredients in their juice is Goji.  In Asia, Goji is known as the "happy berry."  It has been used to uplift and brighten one's mood.  It "brings about a cheerful attitude."  You can feel yourself getting healthier with every sip . . . Kind of what I want life to start doing for me. . . make me happier and healthier with each new step.

"Goji berry has been clinically proven to help get rid of insomnia, improve sexual health, improved vision, and promotes healthy weight loss. Studies in labs have also found that goji berries enhances your skin quality. The root bark of goji berries is used in the eastern culture to help cure headaches and fever."

If you want to read more on Goji, this website has even more information! 

More on Goji