Stepping out of my comfort zone

Recapping my trip to Lenox, MA for work....

I have been anticipating training on the Ayurvedic treatments since I begun my position with Tara Spa Therapy one year ago. I have done all the education for these treatments, studied and am well versed with the products. But I have not practiced them on an actual person outside of the original classmate that I practiced with in school. So when my first experience as a Educator was booked at Canyon Ranch, Lenox I couldn't have gotten a tougher team to train. These therapists are some of the best in the country. And yes, they don't know what I know, nor have they had one year of product knowledge training and time to work with this line...they do still touch the human body daily and I do not.

So I get to Canyon Ranch, one of the best facilities for Integrating health, fitness, nutrition and Spa in the country last Tuesday, March 1st. The training was all day Tuesday and Wednesday and it went pretty good. Of course I would be the toughest critic. After reading the evaluations it seemed that the group was happy with me as their trainer, but frustrated in Canyon Ranch's lack of preparation (15 people in their couple's room and no room to move around) and there protocol was not quite reflective of what was really being preformed in the treatment rooms, (as was told to us by their senior most therapist when she came in the training room to assist).

I was able to enjoy the Canyon Ranch facility on Friday and I took a yoga, a spinning class and swam in their pool. The food was amazing and healthy which I was able to enjoy the whole time I was there.

Onward to Kriaplu.....

Kriaplu is a really cool place. I fell in love with it when I visited last year and luckily with my perseverance I gained them as an account so that I could go back to and train. I started off this experience with a great weekend workshop for myself with an experienced Vinyasa Yoga teacher from Boston, Natasha Rizapolous. She was truly amazing. After a satisfying yoga weekend and again great healthy food, I had two days of training their massage and retail teams on our aromatherapy line. These are not hands-on classes where I am teaching a technique like at Canyon Ranch, but a lecture style class with handouts and power points. Though keeping an audiences attention for two hours, and standing up on front of 10-20 people is still daunting. So I taught three two classes at Kriaplu and they went quite well and we had fun.

Moving on to Cranwell Resort and Spa.....

Another new account that I found in Lenox, MA. This account is more of a typical resort spa with not much focused on nutrition or health but pampering and beauty. Cranwell does have a decent gym and a indoor pool which I used twice. Cranwell is historic hotel and has a lot of character. I came right into Cranwell on Tuesday teaching a night class and then did two more yesterday. These again went really well and we even had some fun and lots of laughs. By the time the last one was over I didn't want to say another word for the rest of the night.

Three accounts in one town, two full day Ayurvedic trainings, six two hours classes....check...check...check....
These past few days have allowed me to push to a place that is uncomfortable, but a place where growth is possible. And right now that is what I am striving for....growth. Didn't someone say "do one thing every day that scare you?" Well I definitely did that.

And today.....

I am on a Peter Pan bus headed to NYC with two large duffel bags in a rain storm.....scary! Tomorrow I visit another account, the Trump Soho. I will be hanging out with my parents and family this weekend...so excited. Next week is a big PA push of accounts to visit and train. Eight more days and I am home!

XOXO

ACA

Blogging on the to-do list!

Well it has been three months to the day that I had my Morton's Neuroma removed surgically. So much has happened since then.
Personally I am happy and in a great place. My boyfriend and I fell back into each other happily and naturally after a tough few months apart. I have come to realize that not only is he my friend, and my partner but also my teacher. Mike shows me different ways to look at situations that are not my natural way, and this, although hard at times, has been helping with my own growth as a person. I have always heard that couples should help each other grow...well this has been my case with him.
Physically I am back to being super active. This makes me sooooo happy. Since Jan 5th I have been back on the bike, walking, walk-running, swimming and doing yoga. My foot still feels weird and numb in some areas, but wow....that damn thing is GONE! Every step, every petal stroke, every moment I was on my feet the Neuroma was there to remind me of it's presence. But no longer! I would suffer the four weeks of surgery recovery anytime again over the year of torture. Some people live with these for years! Since I had mine diagnosed I can't believe how many people i have talked to that also suffer....just get the surgery people! Though I did do orthotics, cortisone, and alcohol sclerosing injections prior which is the standard protocol.
As I mentioned in prior blogs I was signed up for a 1/2 Ironman and a full Ironman this year. The timing of those two events with my seven months off running and four off my bike was just not worth torturing myself to "finish" these events while not being truly ready. I decided to sign up for a different event and pull out of Oceanside and CDA. I am doing Lake Stevens 70.3 August 14th. This gives me five more months of building back my base and training tri-sports. Why this venue? Well it's a combo of great timing for my physical capabilities as well as a vacation for Mike and I to take together. Mike is from the Seattle area, (where this event is held) and we are going to explore for a full week after the race. We have been talking about going to Seattle for at least six months now, and the race, flights, and accommodations are booked!
Happy Friday...till next time.

XO

ACA