The Little Engine That Could

So as I've been saying, I believe in the power of metaphor.  So in September when I knew I had to start to buckle down and start the job search after 4 months off, I decided to start strength training because I knew I had to feel strong as I had to sell myself to get a job, which was a lot like dating....neither of which I excel at.

I had met an amazing strong woman, Cara Brennan, through the burlesque world.  Cara offered me a comp session and I decided to take it even though I was not convinced I'd continue as I had become anti-gyms.

Let me step back a bit.  Many years ago, I was a bit of a gym rat.  I was at the gym every morning by 6 AM and worked out for 1 to 1 1/2 hours combining cardio and weights.  Then I started to realize I was doing it for the wrong reasons.  It was coming from a place of not feeling like enough.  So I decided to start and try to just listen to my body.  Well I got a bit lazy for many years and also grew in size.  Although because I was doing a lot of personal work through Polarity and Shamanism, I started to really like myself.  Although thee was a big discrepancy in how I felt inside and out.  It wasn't about size it was about resonance on all levels.

Then when I heard about Soul Cycle, I remembered enjoying spinning in my past.  I wasn't ready to go to a "gym".  I also needed to have my workouts come from a place of wheeeeeeee!!!!!  Soul gave that to me but at this time I needed more.  Although I did some weight training, I was more of a cardio girl...I like the adrenal high.  Although now, about to have my 50th session, working 2-3 times per week with Cara, I have become a fan...of both weight training and her.

I have found dead lifts to be great therapy when I am in a place of angst.  No matter how defeated I feel when I start, I feel a sense of accomplishment and strength when I leave.  It certainly helps that Cara is one of the most upbeat and inspirational people I have met.  It also doesn't hurt that we share a love of Burlesque, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and so many other things.  Again, I could have kept some of that severance money in my savings account but so delighted that I did not.  So not only is strength training great for an aging woman, as myself....yes I have a fear of osteoporosis, but it has also helped my emotional and mental health even more.  Also working out in the old Limelight at David Barton Gym, brings back happy memories.  Also lifting weights next to stain glass windows, prayer candles and a safe filled with disco balls is perfect for this playful shaman at heart.  And it is a new flavor of wheeeeee!!!!, that I didn't even know that I liked.  As they say, try it, you might like it and I did.  So I definitely feel like the little engine that could going from I think I can, I think I can to I know I can, I know I can.  And will continue and can't wait to see the ripples into the many aspects of my life.