The GROOVY WITH GRASS Pictoral Invitation

We've got something going here Team Iron Phoenix! As the Fitness Media Fast habit winds down, and as we come off of 2 days of BACK TO NATURE, I invite each of you to post a picture of you laying on the grass! Feel it, smell it, enjoy it - and reconnect with Planet Earth and your SELF!

GROOVY WITH GRASS IN NSW AUSTRALIA

This is going to be awesome.

Back to Nature was so groovy and feel-good that we are going to keep the luscious green momentum going.







1) Lay on the grass anytime between now and Sunday
2) Snap a picture
3) Post to your FACEBOOK pictures
4) Update your status `Getting groovy with grass`` for LE with Team Iron Phoenix!
5) Tag ME (Krista Schaus) in it.

If you we are not friends, send me a request.If you are not a Facebook gal, no problem, post it in our team's General Discussion under the Groovy With Grass thread.

GROOVY WITH GRASS IN ONTARIO CANADA

GO TEAM! United by mother earth.

Lean Eating Workshop - Summary by JMax Fitness

“A workshop or clinic is better than a workout.” Dan John.

Sunday's Lean Eating Workshop was a BANG! And it was also hosted by Bang! Fitness. It was a great opportunity for me to meet some Lean Eaters face to face and go over the finer points of form with some of their favorite (insert sarcasm here) lifts such as Front Squats. Thanks to Jason Maxwell of JMax Fitness for an awesome write up and excellent pictures. Takeaways from the Seminar: -The Three C’s -Courage – This drives us. It helps us make change within ourselves. -Compassion – You need to have compassion for yourself. -Continuum – If you do something better than last week, you have made progress. For example: deadlifting one more rep than last week, or if you only have time to workout for 20 minutes, do it instead of skipping an entire workout. CLICK HERE: Lean Eating Seminar by JMaxFitness

There are NO COINCIDENCES

"There are no coincidences, just connections." ~ Gino Acaro ~ (p. 300, Soul of A Lifter)

I don't do holidays... a day is a day is a day. Applying holiday mentality is settling for mediocrity. It's a built in excused right into the calendar year.

"I slept in - it's a holiday!"

"I didn't workout Monday. It's was Labour Day!"

"I ate like crap! But it was a holiday."

However, because I still occasionally resist myself and occasionally crave normality, I thought I would try and "do" a bit of the holiday thing. Rather than get up and carry out my routine (mix my drink of Greens, aminos... take my supplements and get to "work" on my morning "essentials"), I decided to read.

It takes me a long time to read a book for 5 reasons:

1) I rarely sit down during the day and read at night... I fall asleep in 3 minutes no matter how impactful the book.

2) I read to learn and to make an impact in my SELF and in my life - not for pleasure or for leisure. Making notes, re-reading passages and frequently stopping to reflect, have an "aha!" moment or go share a quote or tell the world about it, makes for slower reading.

3) I usually have 5 books going at once.

4) I am better at buying books and finding that ONE THING that was written JUST FOR ME than I am at reading a book cover to cover.

5) My learning style - I am an applied learner and a visual learner so reading is not my preferred or first means of learning or absorbing new information.

Today, NO COINCIDENCE, I had 2 books beside my bed:

Soul of a Lifter by Gino Arcaro
The Reconnection by Dr. Eric Pearl

I picked up SOAL (Soul of a Lifter). Opened to the bookmark - ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION? - A DC Comics Originals tag off a shirt I bought a few weeks earlier. On the back of the tag "The mark of authenticity featuring the greatest icons in comic book history!"

(Important Note: This connection ... the book marker... I JUST realized now. As I write this. I never noticed this while I was reading this morning.)

I open the book to Chapter 34 - 524 P's. The chapters are irrelevant. They don't even match or make any sense. That's the point. Read the book and you will understand... maybe.

The chapter is about his leaving a 15 year policing career. As I left a 10 year policing career.

I have read SOAL once through already. With a pen, paper and highlighter. The pages are turned over in so many places that it is moot. Laughable. If you turn the corner over in ever page, and record almost every quote, you just made a mess of the book and rewrote it at the same time.
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When a book has IMPACT, I buy two. The 1st one I read... mark up, turn corner, leave tears, coffee stains, evidence of my meals, destroy the cover from bringing it with me everwhere. The BOOK has soul! The book becomes alive. A part of you.

I also ask the author to sign it. The book is further alive. Has soul. A part of them - a CONNECTION.

I have 3 sets of books like this:
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1) Gourmet Nutrition - signed by John Berardi PhD

2) Muscle, Smoke & Mirrors - signed by Randy Roach

3)... I lied... I don't have the 2nd book yet. I need a hard copy. Signed - Soul of a Lifter - signed by Gino Arcaro

The LIVING copy is just that... a live. A part of me. A part of them. I am forever impacted.

The hard copy is preserved... to carry on a legacy. Theirs and mine.

I hope you have gotten some of the connections already - the MIRACLES all around all the time. "Answer the call. Pay attention. Don't blink". (p. 296 SOAL - the last words I read last night - at the end of the previous chapter called Don't Blink)

Chapter 34 is all about his departure from policing. Every word - ever part - every FEELING - could have belonged to me. Every paragraph except for the last one. In the brief but IMPACTFUL 2 page chapter he answers 2 questions:

1) Why he left policing (could have been written by me - exact same reasons I did)

2) What was the highlight (could have been written by me - exact same answer... except one thing)

Replace:

"A thank-you letter from a grieving mother who lost a son only seven years younger than the detective who knocked on her door at 2:00 am, with the news that changed her life forever."

With:

".... lost a daughter the same age TO THE DAY as the constable's daughter..."

After reading this 2 page chapter... (that is another favorite of mine in the book... and the most IMPACTFUL), I had a transformational moment.

I NEVER read this chapter the 1st time through. Being so short, I think I http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifaccidentally skipped it. NO COINCIDENCES! ONLY CONNECTIONS!

I then see the book on the floor beside it. The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself

"an amazing man..." "with a superb gift..." "Read this book and be transformed."

I am being bombarded by connections.



I have to leave my bed and stop being a "normal" person trying to have leisure time in bed.

I am compelled to come here and write this.

The connections keep coming.

The book mark.

Why is DC COMICS ORIGINALS important?

Why is "mark of authenticity"?

1st paragraph, last sentence of Chapter 34... of the IMPACTFUL, transformational chapter I just read. That I missed reading the 1st time I read the book:

"Original thoughts, original actions - the secret to separating from the rest." (p. 279)

Super Hero stuff.

YOU PEOPLE GOTTA READ THIS BOOK... For F's sake.

Make the damn connection.

IT's NEVER TOO LATE

HOW DO I START AGAIN?

Throughout LE I routinely get emails asking "how do I start again?", "where do I start?".

The RESTARTING thing is a great one to apply to REFRAMING.

You are not really restarting but rather recommitting to your original goals and shifting your focus and your priorities.

You are making a CHOICE to put your goals and the LE program higher on the prioritiy list - your "essentials".

And what to do?

It is VERY simple and effective and I think many of you are surprised at the answer. You may want more. You may expect something more "steps 1 through 7", but it is JUST THIS:



LOG IN
"WHAT TO DO TODAY"

That's all we want you to do EVERY DAY in Lean Eating and day by day, week by week, habit by habit, you will TRANSFORM.

If you let a day go by, that's OK, just make sure the next day to do these 2 things:


LOG IN
"WHAT TO DO TODAY"

Perhaps a week has gone by or many weeks... what to do?

LOG IN
"WHAT TO DO TODAY"

WHAT ABOUT CATCHING UP ON MISSED LESSONS?

Sure you can, but not until you have taken care of your ESSENTIALS first:

LOG IN
"WHAT TO DO TODAY"
THE BIG 3 (workout, lesson, habit)

WHAT ABOUT MY LACK OF PARTICIPATION IN THE FORUM?

It is a tool for you on your Lean Eating journey. You do not have to be highly active in the forum.

If it will benefit you, then make it a part of your Essentials (a daily part of your life).

If you have a question, want to connect with your team or you have something you want to share or discuss, then the forums are there for you.

DO NOT carry guilt about your amount of participation in the forums. Guilt only helps propel you to action. It should be short-lived and it should lead to positive action that helps you accomplish your goals.

Let the guilt GO and replace it with action.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

USE YOUR COACH AS A GUIDE AND TOOL

If you have a pattern of starting / stopping... of being highly active and committed then not so much...

USE your resources in LE - one of which includes your Coach.

It can be something as simple as making it part of your ESSENTIALS to send me an update every week.

You may have a question. You may want a strategy. You may simply need an unbiased ear.

I am here to guide you. I will always meet you at least half way. But you have to make an effort to make that connection also.

I will not judge. I will not force.

Do not assume and do not be afraid.

We have many months yet left it Lean Eating. It is NEVER too late to reach your goals. Do not let that be an obstacle to attaining your AWESOMENESS!

K

Good Dharma = Good Karma

Get your Dharma on!

No not this one...



This one...














To help you further in your Lean Eating journey, consider observing the Essential 10 Rules of Dharma in your life:

PATIENCE
FORGIVENESS
SELF CONTROL
HONESTY
SANCTITY
CONTROL OF SENSES
REASON
KNOWLEDGE / LEARNING
TRUTHFULNESS
ABSENCE OF ANGER

ABOUT DHARMA

Dharma is the path of righteousness and living one's life according to the codes of conduct as described by the Hindu scriptures.

Moral Law of the World

Hinduism describes dharma as the natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save himself from degradation and suffering. Dharma is the moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one's life. Hindus consider dharma the very foundation of life. It means "that which holds" the people of this world and the whole creation. Dharma is the "law of being" without which things cannot exist.

According to the Scriptures

Dharma refers to the religious ethics as propounded by Hindu gurus in ancient Indian scriptures. Tulsidas, author of Ramcharitmanas, has defined the root of dharma as compassion. This principle was taken up by Lord Buddha in his immortal book of great wisdom, Dhammapada. The Atharva Veda describes dharma symbolically: Prithivim dharmana dhritam, that is, "this world is upheld by dharma". In the epic poem Mahabharata, the Pandavas represent dharma in life and the Kauravas represent adharma.

Good Dharma = Good Karma

Hinduism accepts the concept of reincarnation, and what determines the state of an individual in the next existence is karma which refers to the actions undertaken by the body and the mind. In order to achieve good karma it is important to live life according to dharma, what is right. This involves doing what is right for the individual, the family, the class or caste and also for the universe itself. Dharma is like a cosmic norm and if one goes against the norm it can result in bad karma. So, dharma affects the future according to the karma accumulated. Therefore one's dharmic path in the next life is the one necessary to bring to fruition all the results of past karma.



What Makes You Dharmic?

Anything that helps human being to reach god is dharma and anything that hinders human being from reaching god is adharma. According to the Bhagavat Purana, righteous living or life on a dharmic path has four aspects: austerity (tap), purity (shauch), compassion (daya) and truthfulness (satya); and adharmic or unrighteous life has three vices: pride (ahankar), contact (sangh), and intoxication (madya). The essence of dharma lies in possessing a certain ability, power and spiritual strength. The strength of being dharmic also lies in the unique combination of spiritual brilliance and physical prowess.

The 10 Rules of Dharma

Manusmriti written by the ancient sage Manu, prescribes 10 essential rules for the observance of dharma: Patience (dhriti), forgiveness (kshama), piety or self control (dama), honesty (asteya), sanctity (shauch), control of senses (indraiya-nigrah), reason (dhi), knowledge or learning (vidya), truthfulness (satya) and absence of anger (krodha). Manu further writes, "Non-violence, truth, non-coveting, purity of body and mind, control of senses are the essence of dharma". Therefore dharmic laws govern not only the individual but all in society.

The Purpose of Dharma

The purpose of dharma is not only to attain a union of the soul with the supreme reality, it also suggests a code of conduct that is intended to secure both worldly joys and supreme happiness. Rishi Kanda has defined dharma in Vaisesika as "that confers worldly joys and leads to supreme happiness". Hinduism is the religion that suggests methods for the attainment of the highest ideal and eternal bliss here and now on earth and not somewhere in heaven. For example, it endorses the idea that it is one's dharma to marry, raise a family and provide for that family in whatever way is necessary. The practice of dharma gives an experience of peace, joy, strength and tranquillity within one's self and makes life disciplined.

Thank you LE Coach Cynthia for pointing me in the direction of dharma.