Monday 13 May 2013

Ladies night out with a difference!

I love networking!

You know why? I dig it because you get to know others, you step out of your comfort zone, you practise doping any judgements in the hopes of not being judged yourself, almost always being welcomed in return. It's part of reconnecting with what is often disconnected (but that's a topic for the next blog). Communities are wonderful!

I don't know if you know the Sleek Geek SA community here in Cape Town? It's where all the health nuts or people who want change & who need a support community are flocking to. It's quite phenomenal. There are amazing stories to see, amazing transformations both in body and emotionally. More than ever, people are becoming tired of being sick and tired.

Anyway, I like hanging out with people who embody stepping up the quality of life; stretching, testing, taking risks to grow and connect.

On Saturday night, I was delighted to attend the Sleek Geeks Ladies Night out at Primi in Tableview. What an amazing experience it was.

Here I'm going to highlight some of the may discussions we had around the table and I want to share this because finding the right community to support ones higher potential is important.

 

Topics:

  • One of the first discussions we had was around how almost all of the girls showed up solo. The thought process on wanting to join in and check out a community, but the doubt behind weather to join or not was quite fascinating to me. Many of these thoughts might be based on fears of feeling out of place because they don't know anyone else going.
  • Guess what, I got a lot of feedback that curiosity and the pull towards wanting to connect was a greater force than any negative talk that went on in the head before arriving. It is brave... And I would encourage you to always challenge that negative talk... Test it, challenge it, even walk into any fears around it 'cause it ain't the truth until you at least try to disprove it!
  • Acceptance that we are all different, but have a common value; our health.
    We all want to be accepted for who we are. We all want to feel like we belong. We all have different interests, but that makes for an even richer and broader network of knowledgeable women around one table. Sure, sometimes we wish that "we had what she has" but someone else around that table is admiring you for your uniqueness.
  • We had cross-fitters there, people who eat paleo style, vegetarians  business owners, mothers, people who have totally transformed their bodies; all who had something interesting to say.
  • There was lots of discussion around ditching old friends who weren't happy about the changes we make to improve our lifestyle and replacing them with friends who keep us accountable (support) when it comes to living out the goals we set for ourselves.
    I heard from more than one woman around the table that when they started improving their health, many of their family members and friends were not very supportive. I couldn't help wondering if that was because many resist change and don't feel as bad when you're justifying their lifestyle by being the same. Like I said, we all want to belong to a supportive network that validates who we are or what we choose to do or how we behave, think, move etc.
    Often people who are resisting change will really do just that... resist. If you are in that situation as you are trying to improve the quality of your life, just remember, it has nothing to do with you; it has everything to do with what's going on inside of them.
  • We, of course, also talked about Cape Town's notorious reputation to how difficult it can be to crack into any social group if you're new. I definitely feel that there is some sort of revolution going on. People are becoming more open to making new friends by putting themselves forward.

This was a nice way to get together... not over hot chocolate and cake, but I found that it was easier to make the right kind of menu choices when a bunch of health Geeks were sitting around the table!

These women are all amazing!
There was one woman who lost 45kg since last year March, another who lost 20kg in 6 months, both of whom are super sexy mamas and feeling super happy about it. There were women who are on their way, women who are strong, women who are new and just getting started... just a table of all-round amazing women which filled me with inspiration to step up my game on the health level for real!

The really special thing about connecting on this evening like this is; it took us all out of the disconnection we feel into the embodiment, engagement, the openness that is the miracle of connection


Thanks Elan (founder of Sleek Geek SA), for creating a wonderful community! Rock on!

I look forward to the next ladies night social... we are already talking about that.
Check out the Sleekgeek Bar Babes Facebook page.

If you want to start your revolution, and you happen to have an aversion to movement, check out my other pages here on my blog for some yoga coaching... and yes, I teach other kinds of movement that will help you shed the excess if that's what you desire.

Today I decided I'll be stepping into the 12 week Vitality Lifestyle Plan by Dr. Greg Venning from The Vitality Concept. A friend and I have decided to do it together so that we can be accountability partners through our transformation. The free talk about it is happening on the 29th

As I work my way towards becoming a life coach, what I learn from participating will be my way of holding myself accountable for the ultimate health goals I wish to see embodied in myself (not to mention my friend who'll be adding another layer of accountability - it's bullet proof). Not only will this allow me to do more of what I preach about (walk my talk), but I KNOW that I'll be learning a ton through having this experience and therefore help coach/consult my own clients on their journeys towards what they wish to embody for themselves too!


Over to you:

What did you enjoy most about our ladies night out? I wanna hear what insights you gained from this evening I wanna hear all about it in the comments below.

If you haven't joined us yet, I wanna hear what kind of community you're looking for or if any of this resonates  with you.

What do you wish to embody more of?

Here's to your ultimate happiness, health & well-being.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

Mad MAY Give-Away Competition: Win a Fun Yoga Session for You & Your Friends


How you can enter the Mad May Give Away: 

To win 1 of the 3 semi-private yoga sessions, be sure to fill out my survey and follow the instructions closely left in the very last question (question 10) click here to be taken to the survey.

The draw will happen at the end of May 2013. So you’ll want to subscribe to the Mad About Yoga Facebook page here, and leave your comments about why you would like to win a free semi-private yoga session for you and your friends. Get your friends to fill out the survey and leave their comments on the Facebook page too and stand an even bigger chance of winning.

I'm always looking to improve the quality of the services I offer here with Mad About Yoga. It's important to me to collect your honest thoughts and feedback from your experiences doing yoga with me or even just to find out if yoga would be something you’d like to try if you have not done it before. The only way to improve what I offer and meet your needs is through feedback.

Again, here is the survey link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RHD36RG

If you’re just a little bit curious about what it is I do and wish to see that in action check out this video I put together last year: http://madaboutyogacpt.blogspot.com/2013/04/mad-about-yoga-fun.html Press play.

Some of my friend doing yoga

May 2013 Free Workshops with Dr. Greg Venning: Fit for Life


So if you're a regular Gym goer or you stay clear from the "e-word" and hate the gym, this will be the workshop for you.

I really love movement and since entering the Paleo world, I've learned many more concepts & principles to apply behind movement. Through moving my body through yoga, I've both injured myself or learnt more body awareness, built strength, flexibility and agility. The fact is, that if you become stagnant in your movement, well the result will be an unresponsive body. Use it or lose it... but the good new is that wherever you are, you can do something about it to improve it!

Here is some information Eilidh from Vitality Chiropractic & The vitality Concept send me for the upcoming free workshop... this time it's about ways in moving your body beyond going to gym.

 "The workshop is called "Fit for Life - Thinking outside of the gym". Easy ways to make movement part of your daily life, for life! 

We know many people who are fit for the gym but are not fit for everyday life and we would love to help them achieve a balance of both. We also know the idea of exercise puts a lot of people off which tends to lead to a sedentary lifestyle. In this workshop Dr Greg will show people how to integrate movement into their daily life, without using the "e" word.

The 3 fundamental types of movement that are required for health will be addressed: Move moderately, move heavy, move fast.

Topics & benefits will include:
Increase energy
Reduce body fat
Enhance posture
Improve memory
Balance hormones
Peak performance
Upgrade flexibility
Gain focus
Beach body for life...”I'll be there, I hope I see you there. Details her in the picture, so be sure to book your seat.




If you're looking for a fun new way to start moving your body, come join an early morning yoga session with me at the Dojo. First class experience is free; check out the info on my page here under Yoga @ the dojo.
If you're looking for more of a private movement situation that will be designe specifically for your level; Check out some info on what I offer here under Types of Private Yoga Coaching Programs:

I've just put up a new page section on my blog website; check out what some of my students have been saying here: Mad Client Testimonials

Here's to your ultimate health and well-being.

Madelain

Wednesday 1 May 2013

Feedback from today's Free Mad Body R-evol-ution Yoga Session

What a great turn out for only two days notice! 15 people today... all who were willing to give up sleeping in this dark morning to be at the Dojo Studio at 06:30 am!

A snap shot of the guests relaxing after out yoga sequence learning how to "Dial It Inwards "

My only regret is that I didn't get a group shot of this. Anyway, we had many new faces here today. What a pleasure to meet so many new delightful faces and to have my usual students keep returning for more. Here are some of the things these guests had to say on their way out from the guestbook:

"I enjoyed the movement; the energy & the challenge of going upside down." ~ Pauline

"Great new experience, very informative way to learn about the body." ~ Fatiema

"I enjoyed the fluidity of the class, I never thought my body could do most of those stretches." ~ Jade

"I enjoyed the rolling back sequence and twisting. Meditations was a great ending." ~ Kayleigh

"Great start to the day & very relaxing. thank you very much!" ~ Tim

"I need to work more on releasing the pressure in my neck and shoulders. I loved this mornings class. Thank you so much!" ~ Charmaine

Thank you all for being so super cool and coming!
ox
Madelain