We are gearing up for a very active fall and one of the programs back on our schedule is Breathe & Eat!  This program was always one of my favorites – a combination of movement, breathwork and eating.  Some of the skills learned include how to manage the speed of the meal with sets, how to sense if the food is a match for your body or not, and how to establish the sensations of your physical body that are unique to you when it comes to food.  The six week program will begin on Wednesday, September 15th.  Space is limited.

After a wonderful meeting with my staff this past week, I was reminded again that the core principles that I established 15 years ago for my work still stand strong today.

1 – Each woman is respected for who she is and there is no judgement.

2 – No woman should ever be discriminated against when it comes to a movement program.

3 – The goal of my program is to teach women how to move safely safely and effectively in their own bodies, no matter their size.

4 – Each woman will be encouraged to pursue other activities or movement styles once a baseline of technique is established.

5 – For the hour we are together, it continues to be my goal and passion to help teach women how to stay connected to her beautifully moving physical body.

With repsect and appreciation…

Rochelle Rice with Pat Johnson, International President of Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International’s Accredited Speaker Program acknowledges members who regularly demonstrate expert public speaking skills. This past week I was thrilled to be accepted as an Accredited Speaker after delivering my speech “‘Til Breath Do Us Part.”

The Accredited Speaker is the highest earned designation from Toastmasters International
for outstanding professional platform speaking, held by only
60 members from the current 260,000 membership in 113 countries.  

I began the journey back in November 2009 when I submitted my application with references and an audio tape of one of my speeches. To pass the second level, my speech was 25 minutes long with five anonymous judges in the audience. Four out of five of the judges had to pass me.

What was most important to me was to know in my heart I had delivered the speech to the best of my ability with passion and a commitment to my work.

Celebrating! Pat Lewis, Paul Jones, Rochelle Rice, Karol Ward, Penelope Boehm

The entire process reminded me of how exhilirating it is to reach one’s goal – whatever your goal may be. The one thing I forgot this time around was all that comes after reaching your goal. As in weight management, there is now a “maintenance plus” routine that must take place in my professional life. I must continue to strive to deliver the best speeches I can, much like the woman who continues to chose the appropriate food and activity for her life. And I must look to continue to develop my growth as a speaker, much like the woman who fills her life with energetic nourishment and not the people and things that deplete you.

With my sincere thanks to all of you who lifted, held and supported me in this professional quest. I couldn’t have done it without you!

I had the chance to speak with Bill Germanakos – one of the winners from The Biggest Loser.  I had originally met Bill when I went for a Trainer audition for the Biggest Loser.  When I asked Bill how life was going for him he said, “I’m living the dream.”  Weight?!  “No – the opportunity to travel and speak to people – to inspire them in their health goals.”  I think this guy is amazing – he is REAL, honest and lives with gratitude.

Bill Germanakos & Rochelle Rice

The Founders and Publishers of Weight Loss Success Magazine were also in attendance!  We had spoken on the phone and I wrote an article for their Spring 2010 issue, but it was fantastic to meet them both on person!  Thanks Rebecca and Dan!  I’m thrilled with your vision for embracing all choices for women and weight management.

Rebecca Ricard, Rochelle & Daniel Babbino

And lastly, my sincere thanks to Marissa, my assistant, who stays grounded, organized and excited to share her knowledge with women moving toward an active lifestyle.  Our plan was a great success – helping women to use a pedometer while they walked around the event.  BRAVO everyone for a wonderful day!

Rochelle Rice & Marissa Maislen

Have a pretty amazing day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6wJl37N9C0

Hope to see you there!

Each woman arrived to class with her own set of physical, energetic and emotional challenges.  The night may have begun in a frenzy of energy, but with each breath and asana, the energy in the room turned inward.  

Yoga – to yoke – to join together.  In the safety of the space this community of women creates, each is free to experience her own self in a compassionate, kind and gentle environment.  Each woman who experiences this place of peace within, even if only for a few seconds, extends the invitation to the next woman to do the same.

 I feel so incredibly blessed to teach this amazing group of beautiful women.  The greatest gift, my “Ahhh Moment,” is to watch each client leave with peace and breath…having regained a sense of her own personal union. 

Thank you ladies, so very, very much. 

Om shanti…peace.

RochelleRice.com/schedule

I was fortunate to be part of this project and contribute a section on how movement can help reduce the impact of worry.

Worried Sick shows you:

• How and why we worry
• How to get back your health in mind, body, and spirit
• Learn and apply the three C’s to for a less worrisome life
• How to use expert information from a variety of health professionals to regain control of your worry

Worried Sick is filled with information you can start to use in your life today!

Order your copy from Amazon.

1. Accepting and respecting the diversity of body shapes and sizes.

2. Recognizing that health and well-being are multi-dimensional and that they include physical, social, spiritual, occupational, emotional, and intellectual aspects.

3. Promoting all aspects of health and well-being for people of all sizes.

4. Promoting eating in a manner which balances individual nutritional needs, hunger, satiety, appetite, and pleasure.

5. Promoting individually appropriate, enjoyable, life-enhancing physical activity, rather than exercise that is focused on a goal of weight loss.

Linda Bacon, PhD, is a nutrition professor in the biology department at City College of San Francisco. She has tested the Health at Every Size program meticulously in a clinical research study funded by the National Institutes of Health and cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Her book, Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth about Your Weight, chronicles the remarkable findings of that study: that people can indeed overcome their weight problems and improve health – without dieting, deprivation, or a focus on weight loss.

For more information on the Association for Size Diversity and Health visit:

www.sizediversityandhealth.org

Some simple steps to kick off your summer:
1 – Create a list of 1-3 activities you would like to do by Labor Day weekend. Keep it short, manageable, realistic and achievable.

2 – Identify 1-3 people, places, things or activities that “nourish” you; a good book, a sunset, a walk in the park, a best friend.

Strive to grow in movment adding as much nourishment as possible (energetic, non-food related). You will be pleasantly surprised at how the energetic nourishment will keep you light and on top of your game.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Touch, smell and see…

Happy Spring!