Live the prayer.
Last week I was interviewed by Laura Conley, a weight loss and mindset coach, whom I’ve known for nearly 10 years. She has more energy than me and a ‘live out loud’ sorta vibe that makes her so endearing to her clients and to all who know her. Her podcast is called the Yummy Mummy Podcast and my episode airs…today, I think.
Toward the end of our interview she asked me how I managed to move past the cultural stigma of body image and how I was able to lean into my theme of ‘agelessness’. You’ll have to listen to our wackadoodle discussion to hear the full answer but days later I came across a statement from the one and only Carolyn Myss that summed up my feelings in the most beautiful way.
If only I’d had heard this prior to recording…
“Don’t just say a prayer, live it. Live your prayer every day.”
Upon finding this quote from Carolyn Myss, I exhaled. That’s it. That’s how I choose ‘embodied agelessness’ every day. I live my prayer.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the inner monologue theory. Some folks have a running narration in their head that sounds like their voice and is basically providing a play by play in life.
Do you have an inner monologue?
I 100% experience this and I’m certain it’s been integral for my overall mental well being. I speak an on going prayer of good health, abundance, joy, grace, and wisdom as I go about my daily life. Don’t get it twisted, I still have moments of self sabotage however I’ve been vigilant to nip those as quickly as I can recognize them. It goes without saying the inverse of this “on going prayer” could be quite damaging. If that internal narration is hyper critical or fear based, we can expect a much different outcome.
There’s a good Harvard business article about the inner monologue that goes into further detail - this line stood out to me:
There are additional scientific elements at play. Scientists are discovering that chemicals like cortisol, dopamine and oxytocin are released in the brain when we’re told a story. Why does that matter? If we are trying to make a point stick, cortisol assists with our formulating memories. Dopamine, which helps regulate our emotional responses, keeps us engaged. When it comes to creating deeper connections with others, oxytocin is associated with empathy, an important element in building, deepening or maintaining good relationships.
Humans evolved around campfires and with tribes of ancestors who lived and died by story telling. Whether for entertainment or education we molded life from the stories we heard (the ongoing prayer). Your relationship with yourself is intimately connected to your belief system which reverberates within you all day, every day. If neurotransmitters such as cortisol, dopamine, and oxytocin are involved then you can bet that an unconscious pattern is at work. The story you tell yourself is your truth.
If this concept of “an ongoing prayer” is new to you, start small. I tell my students in MAY FIT for the 35 minutes we’re together training our bodies, we are affirming why it works and how beneficial it is now and later. Your inner monologue/on going prayer molds you. That neurotransmitter cocktail you create while training (or walking, working, showering, driving, playing, etc.) can be sweet or sour.
Craft your prayer.
Craft your story.
Craft your life.
OKAYILOVEYOUBYEEE,
Xx
Nic.
ps. Classes this week:
* Tuesday (today) QUICKIE YOGA 12-12:30pm pst. $10. All levels yoga...this is a feel good, mobility based sesh…you might sweat a little but overall it’s just a great break in the day. This class has always been $10 as it began as a community class. If you need financial assistance with any of my classes, just ask - we'll make it work. Sign up here.
* Friday YOGA FLOW 6:30-7:05am pst. $20. This is part of the my May Fit program but open for anyone to drop in. We breathe and flow, sweat and stretch. I always sneak CARs into the sequence and we end with a 5 minute meditation or savasana. It’s a nice counter to all the strength training we’ve been doing. All you need is a block. Sign up here.
* Saturday FULL BODY STRENGTH 7:30-8am pst. $20. This is part of my May Fit program but open for anyone to drop in. The group energy is excellent and we begin with CARs, strength train and sweat it out with friends. Bring a glute loop/resistance band, lighter and heavier weights. Sign up here.
* Saturday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW 9-10am, 10:15-11:15am.
In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
* Sunday KINSTRETCH 9-10am pst. $20. This is a 60 minute joint specific training that acts as the flossing of your joints, the veggies of all healthy movement. We do the CARS routine, strength train different joints each week, and end with breathwork. Sign up here.
* Sunday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW. 10:45-11:45am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
pps. Save the Date: AUGUST 18-19TH, 2023 I’ll be in Denver, CO speaking at Samantha Joy’s FEMPOWERED live event among the likes of Amberly Lago, Brooke Hemingway, Sharon Land, Anjali Bhimani, Jaime McFaden and so many more. This is a 2-Day women’s transformational experience helping us let go of who we were, to step into who we are. If you’ve ever felt as though you’re keeping your head just above water yet you have a deeper calling to make a shift, we see you. In order to flip the script, you need community and support. This event will be exactly that and more! I have a $100 off code (SWEATSTILL100) and would love to spend some quality time with you. More details to come…
ppps. I’ll be hosting a book signing Saturday, June 10th at the chic and classy LEYLIE boutiquein Brentwood CA. Leylie makes the 7 shirts every woman needs in her closet. Her ‘Weekender shirt’ is one of my favorite grown up pieces. I get loads of compliments when I’m wearing her styles. Stay tuned for more details on this collaborative event. In the meantime, grab my book YOLKED and please leave us a 5 star review. This is a shameless ask but it means the world to me and helps get the word out. Hardcover (my fav), paperback and Kindle are available on Amazon or purchase from Barnes & Noble if you prefer.