Archive for the ‘Health & Well-being’ Category

You can have what you want if you are tenacious.
You can be what you want if you commit to thinking the thoughts that will make you that way.
You can do what you want if you follow the right path. 

OR you can just stay exactly as you are; not growing or changing, not learning or risking, not engaging or exploring, not loving or sharing.

This may seem easier (and safer) but it’s probably not going to make you smile much and honestly, your life should be worth smiling about. 
So, be courageous and go for the lot.
Teeny weeny steps is all it takes to start. 
Remember that every person you admire took baby steps to achieve great things. 
Small steps, good strong positive tenacious thoughts AND, of course regular exercise and good nutrition.
Everyday.

Go forth with confidence my friend, you’ll feel your smile instantly widen.

Want to slow down your ageing process?
Me too, I can’t possibly fit in everything I want to do in 40 or so years.

Alas, I have a plan and I’m happy to report it’s working!

It’s a simple thing really, nothing miraculous or new.
I’m not a modern genius with a grand discovery nor am I going to tell you about some magic pill, cream or tonic.

It’s all about how you live each day.
It’s all about exercising regularly, eating nutritiously, getting enough sleep, thinking good things, drinking water, being grateful, being generous, being kind, being tolerant, seeking the good, connecting with people, making an effort, having a ball, accepting hardship, asking for a hug, learning new stuff, truly relaxing and loving thyself  – wholeheartedly. 

Now, I appreciate that you have probably read or heard this before but are you actually doing any of it?

Knowing this stuff will not help you one iota my friend.
The proof and indeed the reward is in the doing.

That’s what my job is all about.
Helping people to do what they know they need to do.
On a deeper level my job is to move them from a ’should’ mind set to a ‘want‘ mind set – permanently. 

Your job is merely to know where your mind is set and if it needs shifting do something about that.
Support is always a good idea if you’re track record at behavioural change is poor. 
Health Coaching with Jo Woods is always an option!

The Nutshell:
Slowing down the ageing process requires self care on all levels.
This doesn’t mean you need to have less fun, on the contrary, you’ll most likely have more because you’ll feel better, happier – more youthful. 

Carpe diem!

Not feeling like it huh?

Let me  ask you 3 questions:
1. Are you exercising regularly?
2. Are you eating well? 
3. Are you thinking good things?

No, no and no? Oh no.
Even 1 ‘no’ will be effecting your libido.

The truth is, whilst hormones, stress and relationship issues may be adding to the problem you can’t blame them entirely for your lack of ‘intimacy interest’. This is because if you’re not looking after yourself you’re most likely to be suffering from poor self image/self esteem. Ba – bowww. Low libido.

Regular exercise, a light well balanced diet and some good ole positive thinking will have a HUGE impact on your libido and when that is firing the world is an completly different place (or so it seems!).

So, the plan is: Exercise, eat well, think good things, TV off and early to bed!
If nothing else, you’ll feel healthier and more confident to deal with any other contributing factors. 

PS. This is a very common area of anxiety amongst busy urban people and I am completley comfortable talking about it so don’t hesitate to get in touch if it’s weighing on your mind.

If you’re a procrastinator, a worrier, a put-it-off-er-er, a lazy bones, a maybe-it’ll-just happen type of person then from time to time you probably need a jolly good kick in the pants and the best person to do that is YOU!

Here, let me help.
I say that because in a round about sort of way this is my job – teaching you how to kick yourself in the pants – it’s called self care.
My job is to help you see that you have what it takes to face the music and rise to the challenge AND what’s more that THE EFFORT WILL PRODUCE GREAT OUTCOMES .

When you make that phone call or do that task you’ll feel more confident.
When you choose not to feed your anxieties with choccy, chips, cheese or plonk you’ll feel stronger.
When you air your concerns you’ll feel lighter.
When you prioritise your exercise you’ll feel capable and clear.

THE NUTSHELL:
When you put your health & well-being first you’ll have the ability to hold the course to your dreams because self care IS believing in them.

Give yourself a kick in the pants today OR book in with me and I’ll do it for you – ever so gently of course!

 The best general answer to this 3 part question is this: any exercise is beneficial, do it whenever works best and do it as often as everyday but no less than 3 times a week.

Here’s my ideal exercise regime over the course of 7 days:

Monday: Yoga in the morning + 20-30 minutes cardio in the afternoon.
Maintains: Flexibility, mobility, lung capacity, cardiovascular fitness + smile enhancer 

Tuesday:  Urban Workout – a 40 minute total body workout
Maintains: General body strength, mobilty & flexibility, cardiovascular fitness + smile enhancer

Wednesday: Swim 1-2kms
Maintains: General body strength & cardiovascular fitness + smile enhancer

Thursday: Reformer Pilate’s in the morning & 20-30 minutes cardio in the afternoon
Maintains: General body strength with focus on core muscles, cardiovascular fitness + smile enhancer

Friday:   Urban Workout - a 40 minute total body workout
Maintains: General body strength, mobilty & flexibility, cardiovascular fitness + smile enhancer

Saturday/Sunday: Swim, bike ride, walk, kayak, surf or any other type of recreational activity on offer 
Maintains:Well-being, mother-daughter relationship, sense of fun & spirit + major smile enhancer!

Remember that is my ‘ideal’ week, it rarely works out that I do all of it however I adjust the following weeks regime to balance out what I missed the previous week.
It helps me to maintain my health on all levels – mental, physical and emotional. I am a huge believer in ‘intuitive exerise’ which means I might choose to swim instead of yoga if I felt I needed solitude and I might swap my swim for a workout if I felt the need for something a bit more dynamic and upbeat. 

The most important thing is that you do something, exercise must be a regualr non-negotiable part of your week, every week. 
You don’t have to ‘train’ like an athlete (unless you want to be one) - you just need to keep your body active so it can function optimally and keep that smile on your dial!   

Have a look at some of my really simple and short workout clips and there’s more coming!

Get moving my friend, I guarantee you’ll smile more everyday.  

Smiler’s Snippets are short punchy grabs I select from books which aim to enhance your health and happiness.

This is a snippet from Andrew Zuckerman’s fabulous book, ‘Wisdom’. Here I read a snippet from Alan Arkin’s page about change – I like his wisdom on it very much. If you’d like a copy of the book just go to Smiler’s Amazon, look to the right and click on the book cover, that will take you straight through to Amazon.

If you feel you need a hand to change a few things about your life you can email me jo@urbansmiler.com or ring me on 0412 329 511. Click play now.

If you can’t see the clip click here

I’m 41 and a half which I reckon is pretty young (it’s less than half my life) and although I am a fully fledged adult with big responsibilities I’m still growing up. 

I still have lots to learn and I welcome every lesson that comes my way.
I still have lots to do and I know I can make it all happen with the right attitude.
I still have lots of people to meet and lots of friendships to nurture and I know there’s time for all of them.
However, I still feel childlike sometimes and think about running away, throwing a wobbly or sooking with my mum.
Thankfully I’ve learnt how to meet my own needs and although sometimes I’m tempted to fall in a heap in the hope that someone will ‘rescue me’ I manage to keep it together.  
I look after myself, in every way.

Growing up gracefully is all about self care.

If you can learn to listen to and meet your own needs you’ll be less likely to throw a tantrum, yell abuse or storm out when things don’t go your own way.  
You’ll be able to take a breath and some time to think about what is actually happening - not just what is happening for you.
It’s the ability to look at the bigger picture and put things in perspective (see yesterdays post).
It’s the ability to check your expectations, apply tolerance and compassion and to sometimes just say – “oh well, things don’t always work out the way I thought they would”.

Self care doesn’t mean being an island though, it means being able to ask someone you trust for help when you need it. 

I’m here.

Smiler’s Snippets are short punchy grabs I select from books which aim to enhance your health and happiness.

This is a snippet from Andrew Zuckerman’s fabulous book, ‘Wisdom’. Here I read a snippet from Graeme Nash’s page about keeping things in perspective. If you’d like a copy of the book just go to Smiler’s Amazon, just to the right and click on the book cover, that will take you straight through to Amazon.

If you feel you need a hand getting things in to perspective you can email me jo@urbansmiler.com or ring me on 0412 329 511. Click play now.

If you can’t see the clip click here

Smiler’s Snippets are short punchy grabs I select from books which aim to enhance health and happiness. 

Today’s snippet is called Being Happy and it’s from a book called Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times by David Viscott. (Available from Smiler’s Amazon on the right >>)
I have recommended, even ‘prescribed’ this book to so many people because it’s cuts straight to the core of life’s tough issues. It’s in no way fluffy or new agey, it doesn’t suggest you call upon angels or the power of the universe nor does it require you to go through any kind of re-birthing process – Viscott just tells it like it is and encourages you to be courageous and get on with it and I couldn’t agree more. Click play now.

Being Happy starts with self care (self care = self esteem), if you need help with this, I’m your girl.   

How beautiful do you think you are?
I mean it - how beautiful, inside and out, are you? OR more importantly, do you treat yourself  and others ‘beautifully’?

For instance – are you kind, compassionate and patient (to yourself and to others) or are you more judgemental, cynical and intolerant?

Physically, do you loathe yourself and therefore trash yourself with too much of the wrong things and hardly a skerrick of exercise?
OR do you respect yourself and therefore care for yourself with regular exercise, good nutrition and indulge in moderation?

Do you offer yourself, your loved ones, friends and colleagues more positives than negatives?
Do you listen to the messages your body and mind offer you everyday? (be calm, drink water, say sorry, ask for help, go to bed, have a workout etc)

It’s simple stuff like this which makes you beautiful – not what you’re wearing or what body shape you are.

Treat yourself and others beautifully and you’ll receive more beauty in return than you’ve ever imagined. 

PS. Thanks so much for being a part of Urban Smiler, it makes me feel beautiful everyday!