My view of Kuwait.

Last Post

2011-08-25T18:34:00.000+03:00

My dears, for new posts, refer to http://marcianovo.blogspot.com/ where I will continue writing.
I am not in Kuwait anymore, so let's change blog.

Shokran.

Good bye.

2011-08-12T23:38:00.002+03:00

End of a Era.

Happy to end a part of my mission. Sad for letting behind the good people I met in Kuwait.

When I arrived in Bned EL Gar to start my activities as Fitness Manager, I felt it was not going to be easy…

Mentality attached to the 80’s about Fitness technique, customer service mistaken by lack of management directions, and a very clear absence of professionalism in all departments of the company made me re-think for some minutes if it was a corrected choice to leave my country to come to Kuwait. But the challenge of changing minds grabbed me deeply. I was going to face trouble, yes, and I did!

The great lesson I got from all the people I met? People are all the same everywhere: if they have principles and you give them your heart, they will take care of it; otherwise, they will betrayed and abuse you!

After many discussions about labor rights and production; management decisions done without any research or sense of direction, I conclude my mission had ended in Kuwait. They did not need me anymore. When the high management does not trust in the number you show proving instructors are making the difference, it is really time to go! What kind of business man does not believe in statistics but believe in gossip? By the way, interfering and questioning private lives is the favorite sport of the owner. Enough is enough! I always mentioned that to say “it’s over” is a very hard decision. And it happened to me! Took me long time to decide IT WAS OVER!

So God interfered brilliantly! And after some sudden events (so fast I did not notice it!), I found myself in Cairo, with a ticket back home- one way.

Yes I am going back to Brazil. I am happy and excited about it. Also have no idea whatsoever what I will do there, but I am sure it will be something meaningful and unforgettable!

Thanks for all the gentle, kind and deep personality people I met in Kuwait. You will never be forgotten.

Thanks also for the hopeless cases, empty soul people, and creatures without a mission in life I met. They showed me the road to evolution is long and I had walked some distance already. Also they tried my principles and values, and guess what? I won! It still very clear for me that RIGHT is RIGHT, WRONG is WRONG.

Good friends, that’s the report of part of a life. A life well lived, fully, fearless and happily.

See you around – the World!

HA!

2011-07-30T17:32:00.001+03:00

All right, I am doing that again!

Today, after a long time, I reviewed my last 26 years of traveling up and down around this planet. And the feeling was GOOD. Suddenly I felt I am doing the right thing, again!

First time was simultaneously breaking a relationship too cold for me and the curiosity of traveling to Europe. Italy gave me 7 kilos and a new language.

Second time was just to follow the husband (the cold one that promised to be warmer) and practice German.

Third time was a major change: moving to Saudi Arabia (with the husband that was getting better actually) with the daughter on my arms. That was heavy…

Another three times literally around the world. Twice towards East and once West. Amazing experience. Many pictures and one special trip through Europe with my parents. No money can buy their happiness from that time!

Then, a long period of small trips only, inside the country. Moving from Sao Paulo to S Jose do Rio Preto was a very good option. But that one was with another husband… And Rio Preto taught me a new form of love.

Trying to move for good to the Amazon changed my career completely. No return. A changed to Managerial levels, deeply. But did not work, God knows why. Me, no clue. No husbands at that moment.

Back to Sao Paulo, the chance to move again to the Middle East. That time alone and to work on my passion – training instructors. End up that I got married again, a “louco” like me. Two years and eleven months, many short trips (Cairo, Damascus, Khobar), a lot of troubles and many laughter after, I am about to do it again – moving.

So today I had to review all the journey of my life so far. Just to be sure that’s how I am – a gypsy, someone that never stops, always saying YES for opportunities and adventures. I don’t have a car or a flat (I had them, a lot, but I sold, changed, gave, so I don’t have them anymore), but I accomplished other values. Maybe nowadays, people don’t get impressed by my values (intelligence, culture, maturity, respect for people, love for the profession) but certainly they count. I know that because for all the places I passed by, I let seeds of my ideas and principles. And from time to time I have news from far about people following those principles. For me, it counts a lot. To have the courage to change people’s lives requests lack of fear.

And that’s who I am – a fearless person.

And I will do that again!

And again, and again, and again. By there I will be 80 years old and maybe it will be time to stop.

Maybe.

5 Simple Steps To Start Your Day Productively

2011-04-17T22:19:00.000+03:00

Article extract from http://www.pickthebrain.com/

I have being using some o f the steps described by Thanh Pham and they do work for better productivity.

Enjoy the reading.

It can be a challenge to jumpstart your productivity every day. That certainly was the case for me as I had no consistency at all. Some days I would start off my productive but for the majority I wasn’t. Over the years talking, seeing and living with productive friends (they are all self-help junkies like myself) I’ve noticed they all do similar things in the morning, so I started doing what they do. What one man can do, another man can do too. Right? After doing it myself I’ve come up with tried and tested ways to get yourself in a productive mode every single day. Here are five really simple and easy steps to jumpstart your day for maximum productivity.

1. Stoke the fire.

Before we can get any work done we have to warm ourselves up. After you wake up your body and mind are just warming up so to speak but we want to get them ready before we start working. It is like stoking a fire; you need to warm the coal bit by bit before the fire lights up. Your physical energy is your main source of fuel so we have to make sure to have it stoked before we can use it. This starts with freshening yourself up. Some people prefer to exercise before they start their workday. Others just need to use the bathroom, change their clothes and then start. Find what your routine is for stoking the fire and do that every morning before you start your day. By building a consistency in your routine you will discover that it will get easier and easier to start your day.

2. Upgrade yourself.

After stoking the fire, especially if you have exercised, is a great time to relax and upgrade your skills. Anything that will help you relax, further your education or calm your mind would be good to do. Over time when you upgrade your skills you will get better at your job and the things you do. Your productivity will increase as you learn to do things smarter, more efficient and in less time.

Meditation is a good way to spend your time before you go to the next step. Reading a book, reviewing notes and reading inspirational quotes are one my personal favorite activities. Oftentimes the nuggets you pick up during this time will affect how you get work done that day. Perhaps reading one chapter in a book changes your view on how you should do things or an inspirational quote gets you all excited on your future. We often don’t find time to educate ourselves so doing it in the morning (when there are no distractions) is the best time to do it.

3. Write down what you want to do today.

In order to for you to get work done, you have to be absolutely clear on what you want to achieve with actionable steps. When you don’t know how to achieve your outcome it becomes a lot harder to reach it. It’s like driving a car in foggy weather. Sure you might reach the destination but you will go very slow and with a lot of hesitancy. Instead, when you know what to do exactly in simple steps it’s like driving in sunny weather with a GPS system next to you. You know what to do, when to do it, you’re more motivated and you will reach your destination much faster.

Now that you know the outcome that you want, break it down backwards in actionable steps. Once you have the steps, decide which ones you are going to do first and write them down for you to do today.

4. Visualize the consequences.

One of the most powerful ways to overcome procrastination is by visualizing the consequences of your actions. Anything you do of importance will have (major) consequences for your life, be it positive or negative. By considering the positive consequences you can fabricate motivation for yourself.

Tony Robbins is famous for saying that we either move away from pain or we move towards pleasure. Would you get yourself started if you knew that doing X, Y, and Z would make you a millionaire? You bet you would if a million dollars had positive consequences for you. The reverse is also true where pain can act like your motivator. Would you act on your work if you knew not doing A, B, and C would disappoint your family and friends? I think so!

Before you do anything, take a moment to think and visualize the consequences. See how the consequences can make you get to work. Especially focus on the positive consequences because they will be your mental fuel for motivation.

5. Do it.

If you’ve come this far doing all the previous steps you’re already more productive than most people. However, what separates the best from the rest is execution. At this point you’re way passed the tipping point and now it’s time to get the snowball rolling. You have yourself set up for a productive day, the roadmap is in place, you know what the consequences can be and now the only thing remaining is to take action. So let’s get to work!

Pictures to Touch

2011-04-17T21:57:00.000+03:00

How many times you went to a gallery and wished to touch the pictures? We see it all the time.
The invitation, as u can see, is for blind people.
I did not know what to expect.
But I was curious...

Invitation coming from the Embassy. I dressed up for it!

A Table with "raw" material to touch. Some pleasant, other cold, soft seeds caught my atention.

The pictures with description in Braile.

Someone from the organization at the last moment adding written text for us that can see.

All touchable. Wood, plastic, metal, all forming butterflies shapes.

Soft cloth for the bodies of the butterflies. Also rough cloths.

Paper to unroll and play with, small balls made of soft plastic.

A big "touching sense" all over the place.

The artist was quite busy surrounded by Embassadors, blind teens, photografers, more diplomatic people, one Minister, waiters. No chance for me to talk to her.

Anyway, I let her a note on the guests book, congratulating for the awareness of the needs of a minority.

And suddenly I realized I don't know any blind person.

Also realized I am very unaware of my touching sense... There was a picture covered by a cloth and one sleeve to introduce the hand and "read it" by touching. I tried, and tried, and tried again, and could not visualize the picture. Completely "touching" ignorant. While the teens were laughing on discovering the misterious picture.

Being deprived of one sense, enhance the others - that's what specialists say.

What I realized is that, having all senses functioning well make them all very superficial and slow.

The question that remains: having all senses at half potencial or lose one or two and become a X-Men?

...

Lately the world is ...

2011-02-21T11:50:00.000+03:00

Studying human behavior we figure out we lie, we cheat, we manipulate and do all necessary unethical things to get what we want.
It has being like this for centuries...
Men lie to achieve his goals and disregard other people's rights and feelings.
All religions, trying to correct their bad attitude, set rules and more rules of interaction among the population.
It has being more than 10000 years of known history of humans on the Planet.
Apparently no solution for us, isn't it?

Suddenly the Arabs started complaining about dictatorship and corruption...
They firmly request their leaders to leave power...
They die in order to reach their demands...

They cry on TV telling how tired they are with the poverty of their lives...

They destroy the cities...

They wash the streets after the revolution...

Leaders still resisting, attached to the old, easy, full of lies lives they lived before.

But the time has come.

All books talking about a better world, with equality and honesty is now becoming true through the people's hands. Simple people that realized "enough is enough".

We cannot take fake leaders anymore.

Our lives HAVE to be guided to the best. And "the best" does not exclude anyone, we need to "include" all souls in this journey.

Surprised by the times I am living (I read in many books it will happen, I just did not know when...) I state I am for the first time in my life happy to be human! :)

And we are always learning, isn't it?

2011-01-10T11:47:00.002+03:00

This constant habit I got -"out of comfort zone" - makes me crazy sometimes. But I cannot help! I want to change into a better person everyday.
My lovely husband was reading the article below and I asked him to forward it to me. While I was reading, I felt like reading a "sutra" or part of Al Coran, when basic behavior is spread to the population for a better social environment.
Knowing the art of listening is quite a gift. But the impossible does not exist, sah?
Let's try...

“To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and it is as essential to all true conversation.” ~ Chinese Proverb

Listening is the most important part of a true connection in conversation. When we listen, we gain knowledge and understanding about people and circumstances. Everyone wants to feel heard, but most times people prefer to talk rather than listen.
Active listening requires empathy, affirmation and the ability to process and respond without taking over a conversation. When you listen to the world you will know more, build trust and increase your popularity with friends.

Slave To The Cell Phone. How many times have you put a person on hold so that you could answer your cell phone or text a message during a conversation? Not only is this blatantly rude, but you have officially disconnected from the speaker. This behavior makes the speaker feel unimportant and shows you are not committed to the moment. It is disheartening to a speaker to feel like a conversation on the cell phone is more important than a face to face moment. Turn off your cell phone or put it on vibrate answering only in case of an emergency.

80/20. Are you speaking 80% of the time or listening 80% of the time? A good listener will speak 20% of the time and listen 80% of the time. When listening, parrot back what you have heard to show you are paying attention and ask open ended questions so that the speaker will go into further detail about the topic. This kind of affirmation makes people feel heard and you will feel like a hero.

Bad Body Language. If you are visually distracted and darting your eyes around the room, the listener is likely to feel unsupported and will feel your attention is somewhere else. A good listener stands tall or sits up straight, leans into the speaker and makes eye contact. Focusing your eyes on the speaker makes him feel like the center of the universe and validates the conversation.

Enough About Me, Let’s Talk About Me. Don’t be a ball hog in a conversation by taking over with idol chatter about yourself. Sometimes in an effort to show you understand what is being said you may make a connection and inadvertently change the topic or divert attention to yourself. If you feel the need to express a connection with a personal experience, keep it short and simple and allow the speaker to continue leading the conversation until it is your turn.

Overly Critical and Judgmental. If you interrupt the person in the first sentence of the a conversation to pass judgment you have immediately lost the ability to establish a rapport. Looking for errors, being overly critical, and jumping to conclusions by passing judgment are quick ways to disengage from the speaker and leave you solo in the conversation.

Actively listening is a bonus attribute in every relationship. It requires an investment of time and effort to connect with the speaker by being present in the moment and lending your ears completely. This important skill will build rapport, enrich work environments, and ease tension in personal relationships. Give your eyes, ears and heart to another person and reap the reward of making another person feel validated and heard.

Cindy Platt

Another reason to exercise!!!

2011-01-07T18:54:00.000+03:00

Against many myths among club members, exercise is a way to prevent varicose veins and not the cause of them. Article extracted from http://www.webmd.com

Varicose Veins

What are varicose veins?

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin. They are most common in the legs and ankles. They usually aren't serious, but they can sometimes lead to other problems.

What causes varicose veins?

Varicose veins are caused by weakened valves and veins in your legs. Normally, one-way valves in your veins keep blood flowing from your legs up toward your heart. When these valves do not work as they should, blood collects in your legs, and pressure builds up. The veins become weak, large, and twisted.

Varicose veins often run in families. Aging also increases your risk.

Being overweight or pregnant or having a job where you must stand for long periods of time increases pressure on leg veins. This can lead to varicose veins.

What are the symptoms?

Varicose veins look dark blue, swollen, and twisted under the skin. Some people do not have any symptoms. Mild symptoms may include:

Heaviness, burning, aching, tiredness, or pain in your legs. Symptoms may be worse after you stand or sit for long periods of time.
Swelling in your feet and ankles.
Itching over the vein.

More serious symptoms include:

Leg swelling.
Swelling and calf pain after you sit or stand for long periods of time.
Skin changes, such as:
- Color changes.
- Dry, thinned skin.
- Inflammation.
- Scaling.
Open sores, or you may bleed after a minor injury.

Varicose veins are common and usually aren't a sign of a serious problem. But in some cases, varicose veins can be a sign of a blockage in the deeper veins called deep vein thrombosis. If you have this problem, you may need treatment for it.

How are varicose veins diagnosed?

Your doctor will look at your legs and feet. Varicose veins are easy to see, especially when you stand up. Your doctor will check your legs for tender areas, swelling, skin color changes, sores, and other signs of skin breakdown.

If you have signs of a deep vein problem or you plan to have treatment for a varicose vein, you may need more tests.

How are they treated?

Home treatment may be all you need to ease your symptoms and keep the varicose veins from getting worse. You can:

Wear compression stockings.
Prop up (elevate) your legs.
Avoid long periods of sitting or standing.
Get plenty of exercise.

If you need treatment or you are concerned about how the veins look, your options may include:

Sclerotherapy to close off the vein.
Laser treatment to destroy the vein.
Radiofrequency treatment to close off the vein.
Surgery to tie off or remove the vein.

A small view of Pilates Method

2011-01-06T20:59:00.000+03:00

The Pilates Method of exercise has its origins in the work of the late Joseph Pilates, who was born in 1880 near Düsseldorf, Germany. He was a frail child and turned to physical fitness programmes to improve his body image, becoming a keen sportsman, developing talents in sports as varied as diving, gymnastics and boxing.

Interned in the war years because of his nationality, he developed a fitness programme for his fellow internees in order to maintain their health and fitness levels whilst being held in confinement - he always claimed that his regime was the reason why not one of these internees died from the influenza epidemic that killed thousands in 1918!

Returning to Germany, he came into contact with the world of dance, in particular through contact with Rudoph von Laban, the originator of 'Labanotation', which is the most widely used form of dance notation. Hanya Holm included many of his exercises in her programme and, to this day, they are still part of the celebrated 'Holm Technique'. At the same time as working with dancers, Joseph Pilates was also instructing the Hamburg police force in self-defense!

He was, in fact, asked to train the new German army, but declined and decided to emigrate to the United States of America. On the boat trip, he met a nursery teacher, Clara, whom he later married - and with whom he set up his first fitness studio in New York, at an address he shared with the New York City Ballet.

His studio soon began to attract the 'elite' of New York with leading ballet dancers coming to him because his exercises perfected and complemented their traditional exercise programme. Actors and actresses, sportspersons, the rich and the famous were all attracted to a workout that built strength without adding bulk, balancing that strength with flexibility, and achieving the perfect harmony between mind and muscle.

In the past, screen legends such as Gregory Peck and Katharine Hepburn used the Pilates Method and, today, it is the preferred work-out regime for leading personalities from the worlds of entertainment and sport. Yet, until the late 1990’s, Pilates remained essentially unknown to the general public – how things have changed in that short space of time as an estimated 25 million people now take regular Pilates classes in the USA and some one million in the UK.

Pilates today is taught in several forms, directly reflecting the legacy of Joseph Pilates, who developed the method some 80 years ago. He did not lay down a formal training programme, with the result that, on his death, his 'disciples' continued teaching by adding their own variations to the core philosophy and exercises. This flexibility in approach is one of the reasons why Pilates has been so successful over this time period.

Pilates is remarkably effective - and medically-approved. It is of an holistic nature, being based upon a well-constructed philosophical foundation. Central to the Method is 'awareness of your own body' and each and every exercise is built around its eight basic principles:

Relaxation	Concentration
Co-ordination	Centering
Alignment	Breathing
Stamina	Flowing Movements

By working on the deep architectural structure of the body, 'core stability' is achieved, and then maintained, through increasingly complex movement sequences. Specific problem-areas can be targeted by an exercise, but always in relation to the rest of one's body.

Your body awareness is heightened by bringing together mind and body - Pilates literally teaches you to be in control of your body, allowing you to handle stress more effectively and achieve relaxation more easily.

The Pilates Method can work for everyone, regardless of fitness level! Exercises can be mat or machine based, but mat-work exercises have a great attraction in that they need no special equipment, and are particularly safe for those with back problems. Its consistent success rate in solving such problems has brought it to the attention of osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists and homeopathic doctors.

In fact, many osteopaths and physiotherapists are now setting up Pilates studios as part of their practices.

The (unacceptable!) truth about CELLULITE. IRC.

2011-01-06T18:32:00.000+03:00

Questions about slimming creams and anti-cellulite treatments made me wonder if something new had come out from labs and cosmetic science. As far as I studied, there were NO cream able to cross all skin layers and burn the undesirable fat that persecute our idle body shape. Nevertheless I am aware science evolute! So, digging in the net, I found...

Cellulite

At some point in their lives, most women -- and some men -- are bothered to a degree by cellulite, the lumpy substance that makes skin on the thighs and buttocks look like cottage cheese. Although its name may make it sound like a medical condition, cellulite is nothing more than normal fat beneath the skin. The fat appears bumpy because it pushes against the connective tissue beneath the skin, causing the skin above it to pucker.

Although the cellulite is not harmful, many women are willing to go to great lengths to get rid of cellulite, creating a big market for cellulite creams and other treatments promising smooth thighs.

Cellulite Causes

Even though cellulite is fat, having it doesn't mean you are overweight. Even thin people can have cellulite. If you are overweight, however, losing weight may reduce cellulite.

The No. 1 factor in the development of cellulite is being a woman. Genes also play an important role. If other women in your family have cellulite, there's a good chance you will too. Other factors that influence the amount of cellulite you have and how visible it is include:

· Poor diet

· Fad dieting

· Slow metabolism

· Lack of physical activity

· Hormone changes

· Dehydration

· Total body fat

· The thickness and color of your skin

Cellulite Treatments

Although there are many products and treatments that promise to get rid of cellulite on thighs and buttocks, there is little evidence that many of them work well -- or for long. Here's what you should know about some of the different options:

Cellulite creams. Touted to dissolve fat and smooth the skin, many cellulite creams contain aminophylline, a prescription drug approved for treating asthma. There is no scientific evidence these creams are effective against cellulite, and for some people they can be harmful. Their apparent effect on cellulite may be due to narrowing blood vessels and forcing water from the skin, which could be dangerous for people with circulatory problems. Furthermore, aminophylline can cause anallergic reaction in some people.

Liposuction. A surgical procedure to remove fat deposits from the body, liposuction is designed to remove deep fat, not cellulite, which is just beneath the skin. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that liposuction may make actually make the appearance of cellulite worse by creating more depressions in the skin.

Mesotherapy. A European therapy originally developed to relieve pain of inflammatory skin conditions, mesotherapy involves injecting substances such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes into the tissue just beneath the skin. Although mesotherapy may break down fat and bring a slight improvement in the appearance of cellulite, it is also carries a risk of adverse effects including swelling, infection, and irregular contours.

Massage and spa treatments. Massage and other spa treatments may have a temporary affect on the dimpling appearance of skin, but they do not remove cellulite. Any effect is short-lived and probably due to the removal of excess fluid.

What Works for Cellulite and What's Ahead

Although current therapies do little for reducing cellulite, doctors are looking at new therapies using lasers and light sources to treat cellulite. One procedure involves red and infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) to emit certain wavelengths known to disrupt fat tissue, causing it to shrink. This procedure is combined with rollers and suctions to soften the fibrous bands of connective tissue that cause the dimpled appearance.

Although such procedures may hold promise for the future, for now, the best option is exercise, and, if needed, weight loss. Experts agree that the most effective exercise routine for cellulite is one that incorporates aerobic exercise and strength training, along with a diet rich in rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

And although you can't change the thickness of your skin -- a factor in cellulite -- it could help to change the color. Cellulite tends to show up less on darker skin. If you plan to be out in a bathing suit or short shorts, applying a self-tanner may make the bumps and dimples on your thighs less noticeable.

WebMD Medical Reference

SOURCES:

MedlinePlus.gov: "Cellulite."

The Nemours Foundation TeensHealth: "Cellulite."

American Council on Exercise: "Exercise and Cellulite."

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: "Thigh Creams (Cellulite Creams)."

University of Maryland Medical Center: "Weight control and diet -- Medications."

American Academy of Dermatology: "Below the Belt" Dermatological Conditions Fact Sheet."

The University of New Mexico: "Cellulite: A Review of its Anatomy, Physiology and Treatment."

Formula for Heart Rate during exercise

2011-01-05T00:43:00.000+03:00

220 – Age: One Formula Does Not Fit All
by Jennifer Klau, Spinning Master Instructor
Two cardiologists were on a plane, poring over their data…
Although it sounds like the beginning of a joke, it’s really the story of how the Max Heart Rate, (220 – age)
equation came to be. En route to a conference, two cardiologists developed the equation for use by their
peers in conducting stress tests. Although they never intended for 220 – age to be applied outside the
medical field, it was and still is. In fact, most exercise physiology textbooks, ACSM guidelines, AFAA, and the Spinning Instructor Manual all recommend it for determining and monitoring exercise intensity, often without mentioning some of its inherent flaws.
Although the 220 – age (or 226 – age for females) equation can sometimes be an adequate estimate for some
people, it’s quite inaccurate for most. The reason? It doesn’t account for the vast differences in individuals’
fitness levels. That’s why using the formula to recommend exercise intensity can be confusing—even
frustrating. For example, sometimes you’ll see a rider who is seated upright, pedaling contently on a flat road,
reporting that his heart rate is at 85% of max. Obviously, the formula didn’t work in his case. If he were at 85% of MHR he would be sweating, breathing hard and exerting considerable effort. The bottom line: since
maximal heart rate is determined by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to genetics, physical
condition, fitness level and age, using a simple equation simply based on age just can’t work for every
individual.
Since we monitor exercise intensity using percentages of max heart rate, starting with an accurate MHR is
critical. When that number is off, the whole training plan is off. How can you ensure that you’re burning fat
effectively if you’re unwittingly training in the anaerobic zone? Similarly, how can you build high-end endurance if you’re not pushing your anaerobic threshold?
The good news is that there actually is an accurate way to safely determine max heart rate and come up with
individuals’ true target heart rate ranges for each Energy Zone™. Years ago when the 220-age formula was
developed, only a stress test conducted by a physician could safely determine the data. In recent years, sub
max testing has been available through qualified fitness professionals as well, but the testing equipment was
prohibitively expensive for most health clubs. Paul Robbins, often spotted at WSSC performing VO2
testing, uses an affordable, yet impressively accurate testing unit that any health club staff can learn to use. The
tests are safe because they’re sub-maximal—the athlete being tested is never asked to go very far beyond
his/her anaerobic threshold. That’s the point when the body can no longer flush lactic acid from the muscles
as fast as it is being produced. Lactic acid accumulates in the blood, the rider fatigues and is literally forced
to slow down. AT can occur anywhere between 80% and 92% of an athlete’s MHR – but pinpointing precisely where it occurs is difficult, unless you measure oxygen uptake as Robbins does.
In the absence of sophisticated testing, we’ve found creative ways to estimate AT. Generally speaking, if an
individual can carry on a conversation during exercise, he or she is in an aerobic zone. Alternatively, if one’s
breathing is labored and it’s a struggle to talk during a workout, it’s anaerobic. The benefit of understanding
how and when this shift occurs is obvious. A rider who knows his AT can tailor training to maximize his/her
time in the saddle. Since AT rises closer to MHR as fitness improves, and drops with improper training or time off, it is relatively easy to monitor progress over time.
Balancing the hard workouts with the easy, finding the right intensity, and putting it all together is science.
By personalizing fitness goals, we can harness the abilities of each competitive athlete and everyday
Spinning® enthusiast, factoring in individual differences and specific needs, without training at high
intensities every workout, every day.

Because the world can be a good place to live on.

2011-01-04T12:34:00.003+03:00

Old movie, nice real history.
Yes, human kind can be good and generous and deal with differences.

From Lance Amstrong site!

2010-12-23T17:21:00.000+03:00

How to Avoid a Knee Injury

Overview

The knees are an intricate joint that involves ligaments, tendons, cartilage and an oscillating knee cap. They are by far one of the most important parts of the human anatomy and also one of the most injury prone. Pain stemming from a knee injury can be acute, but it can also linger on for years, and in the worst of cases, your whole life. That is why it is important to take some preventive measures to ensure you keep your knees in as good of shape as possible and free of injury.

Step 1

Strengthen the muscles around the knees. The knees are held together by muscles and tendons that are connected to the nearby muscles and bones. To keep your knees in good working order, do some exercises that strengthen the nearby muscles. Some of these exercises include step-ups, hamstring curls, lunges, calf raises and deep knee bends. These are also no-impact exercises.

Step 2

Maintain your flexibility. Stretching the connective tissue is also an important aspect of knee injury prevention. If the tendons and ligaments do not get adequate stretching, they will become non-elastic and be subject to injury. To get a full-body stretch routine, attend yoga classes or get a yoga DVD.

Step 3

Keep moving. Perhaps one of the most important factors to avoid knee injuries is movement. Living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to stiff joints from lack of use. To avoid this, get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. To make it even safer on the knees, partake in non-impact exercises like biking, swimming, elliptical training and rowing.

Step 4

Protect your knees at all times. If you do any high-impact jumping and landing such as in plyometric training, make sure that your mechanics are good, land soft on the knees and make sure to bend them to absorb impact. Also, if you have a job where you kneel for long hours or if you are going to be doing any home projects where you are kneeling for a long time, wear knee pads.

Step 5

Keep your weight under control. If you are overweight or obese, your joints have to take a lot more shock when you are walking and even sitting still. The exercise you are doing will already help to keep your weight under control but also make some dietary adjustments. Avoid high-fat, high-calorie foods that lack nutrition. Instead, eat fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy, nuts, seeds and beans.

Step 6

Be careful where you run. If you are a runner, avoid any rough surfaces that can cause sharp jolting movements of the ankles. This can radiate up to your knees and cause an injury. An example of this would be a mountain trail that has rocks and stumps sticking up.

13 steps to a better life.

2010-12-22T23:23:00.000+03:00

Very interesting.

Extracted from the article:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/08/25/the-psychology-of-happiness-13-steps-to-a-better-life/

13 steps to a better life
What does all this mean to you? If money won’t bring you happiness, what will? How can you stop making yourself miserable and start learning to love life? According to my research, these are the thirteen actions most likely to encourage happiness:

Don’t compare yourself to others. Financially, physically, and socially, comparing yourself to others is a trap. You will always have friends who have more money than you do, who can run faster than you can, who are more successful in their careers. Focus on your own life, on your own goals.
Foster close relationships. People with five or more close friends are more apt to describe themselves as happy than those with fewer.
Have sex. Sex, especially with someone you love, is consistently ranked as a top source of happiness. A long-term loving partnership goes hand-in-hand with this.
Get regular exercise. There’s a strong tie between physical health and happiness. Anyone who has experienced a prolonged injury or illness knows just how emotionally devastating it can be. Eat right, exercise, and take care of our body. (And read Get Fit Slowly!)
Obtain adequate sleep. Good sleep is an essential component of good health. When you’re not well-rested, your body and your mind do not operate at peak capacity. Your mood suffers. (Read more in my brief guide to better sleep.)
Set and pursue goals. I believe that the road to wealth is paved with goals. More than that, the road to happiness is paved with goals. Continued self-improvement makes life more fulfilling.
Find meaningful work. There are some who argue a job is just a job. I believe that fulfilling work is more than that — it’s a vocation. It can take decades to find the work you were meant to do. But when you find it, it can bring added meaning to your life.
Join a group. Those who are members of a group, like a church congregation, experience greater happiness. But the group doesn’t have to be religious. Join a book group. Meet others for a Saturday morning bike ride. Sit in at the knitting circle down at the yarn shop.
Don’t dwell on the past. I know a guy who beats himself up over mistakes he’s made before. Rather than concentrate on the present (or, better yet, on the future), he lets the past eat away at his happiness. Focus on the now.
Embrace routine. Research shows that although we believe we want variety and choice, we’re actually happier with limited options. It’s not that we want no choice at all, just that we don’t want to be overwhelmed. Routines help limit choices. They’re comfortable and familiar and, used judiciously, they can make us happy.
Practice moderation. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. It’s okay to indulge yourself on occasion — just don’t let it get out of control. Addictions and compulsions can ruin lives.
Be grateful. It’s no accident that so many self-help books encourage readers to practice gratitude. When we regularly take time to be thankful for the things we have, we appreciate them more. We’re less likely to take them for granted, and less likely to become jealous of others.
Help others. Over and over again, studies have shown that altruism is one of the best ways to boost your happiness. Sure, volunteering at the local homeless shelter helps, but so too does just being nice in daily life.

Remember: True wealth is not about money. True wealth is about relationships, about good health, and about continued self-improvement.

Maybe they will listen to IHRSA, because to me, nobody listen...

2010-12-10T01:27:00.004+03:00

I happily read the article and wish from the bottom of my heart everyone around me read and understand it for good!

Quantum Insights At IHRSA 2011

TUE, NOVEMBER 30, 2010 AT 15:30 | JEAN SUFFIN

Healthy companies produce impressive results, says keynoter Patrick Lencioni

Patrick Lencioni, the founder of The Table Group, a management-consulting firm based in Lafayette, California, and a keynote speaker at IHRSA’s 30^th Anniversary International Convention and Trade Show, believes that American business has it all wrong.

In the final analysis, he says, traditional management principles—regarded as virtually sacrosanct—simply don’t do the job nearly well enough. All too often, by focusing intensely on such things as marketing, sales, strict personnel policies, and the bottom line, companies wind up with employees who are miserable and unimpressive financial results.
Creating an environment that encourages and nurtures qualities such as teamwork, compassion, honesty, and vulnerability, (shall we describe the meaning of each concept?) one in which people are recognized for their contributions and not penalized by politics (read it as warning letters, discount in salary, rejecting vacations, investigations with the legal department)—that’s the key, Lencioni insists, to true corporate health, vitality, and progress.

“Real success is more about hiring and retaining good people than it is about business management,” he contends.

Lencioni admits that his message is disarmingly simple and should be nearly self-evident, but, all too often, he observes, management theories, systems, and established ways of doing things trump common sense. Executives, he suggests, require gentle reminders about the importance of fostering high morale, individual creativity, and personal achievement.

The best-selling author of nine books, including his most recent, Getting Naked, Lencioni’s philosophy was borne out of his own experiences, as well as his observations of companies and their workers. His interest was piqued as a child when he realized that his father, a wine and spirits salesman for 40 years, was painfully dissatisfied with his job. Earning an economics degree from Claremont McKenna College, in Claremont, California, Lencioni thought he could avoid his father’s fate, but, in a series of positions with three highly regarded firms, found that he hadn’t.

“As I got exposed to companies, I discovered that organizations generally don’t operate in a way that makes it possible for people to like their jobs,” he explains. “I recognized then that my mission, my place in life, was to help companies become healthier.” The realization led him, along with five other consultants, to found The Table Group in 1997. Since then, the firm has worked with thousands of senior executives and corporate teams with a wide range of entities, including high-tech startups, universities, nonprofit groups, and Fortune 500 companies.

Its client list boasts the likes of AT&T, Bechtel, Boeing, Cisco, Sam’s Club, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Allstate, Visa, FedEx, New York Life, Sprint, Novell, Sybase, The Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Today, The Table Group deploys 15 consultants nationwide.

The firm’s principal offering, both in terms of the services and products it sells, is Lencioni’s core intellectual contribution: the Four Principles of a Healthy Organization. The principles, outlined in his book, The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive, require that companies take the following steps:

1. Build and maintain a cohesive leadership team

2. Create organizational clarity

3. Over-communicate organizational clarity

4. Reinforce organizational clarity through human systems

In practical terms, this means choosing executive team leaders who personify the company’s culture; ensuring that all employees are clear about the firm’s goals; explaining to each employee how their job fits into the big picture; and confirming their value through the corporate culture and through honest and constructive communication.

In most cases, Lencioni asserts, there’s a distinct disconnect between most people’s personal lives, where they enjoy a relative amount of freedom and satisfaction, and their professional lives, where, constrained by politics, rules, regulations, conflicting egos, and management’s expectations, they feel out of place and unhappy. The natural response is to adopt a false, but functional, persona.

The results: minimal job satisfaction; poor morale; hampered productivity; increased turnover; and diluted profitability.

Conversely, an environment that allows employees to be genuine facilitates outstanding outcomes.

“For years, people have been paying attention to the wrong things,” says Lencioni. “What can transform an organization is eliminating the messiness and the politics, and creating a place where people want to work. The best companies in the world do that, but, because you can’t measure the ROI on creating a functional environment, most businesses don’t. Southwest Airlines, for example, isn’t the best airline because they know more about planes, but because they treat each other and their customers well, and people like to fly them. Business schools have tried to study the company, but can’t—Southwest has a competitive advantage with no numbers to measure or tangibles to pinpoint.

“Healthy organizations,” he continues, “spend little time on sales initiatives to obtain new clients because their reputations speak for themselves, and references and referrals grow their business organically. Surprisingly, this simple concept eludes most executives.”

A healthy company, he points out, is also much more likely to be concerned about the physical health of its employees, offering fitness incentives, wellness programs, subsidized club memberships, etc.

Proliferating applications

Lencioni’s approach has produced rewarding results not only for clients, but also for his own firm and, even, his family.

Clinton Anderson, the founder of Downunder Horsemanship, a $12.5-million company in Stephenville, Texas, that produces training materials for horse owners, is a contented customer. “Our company was very unhealthy,” he says. “We had the wrong people running it, employees didn’t get along, there was backstabbing, and turnover was very high. After my wife readThe Five Dysfunctions of a Team, we hired The Table Group to come in and teach us their model.

“Lencioni helped us figure out our core purpose and core values,” Anderson explains. “When you embark on this process, you very rarely have to fire anyone. The people who didn’t fit our core values quit; and, when you hold people accountable, if they’re not doing what’s expected of them, they quit, too. Now, all of our employees are worth their weight in gold.”

Though Lencioni downplays ROI objectives, Anderson notes that his sales, year to date, are already up 2%.

With respect to The Table Group, Lencioni says, “We live what we preach. We’re a messy, but honest, firm. We have difficult moments like everyone else, but that’s part of the process. It’s critical for us,” he indicates, “because none of us would want to work where they don’t do this, and, also, because if you’re going to promote these ideas, you have to be serious about them. At each staff meeting, we ask, ‘How healthy are we? How are we doing as a group?’ We argue and debate, but we cycle through the challenges pretty quickly. We’ve gotten very good at this.”

The father of four sons, ages four to 12, Lencioni has adapted his theories to his family life and produced a book on the topic, The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family. “We’ve developed core values and a core purpose,” he says. “We have meetings, and we prioritize. It helps eliminate some of the chaos.”

Lencioni’s latest book, Getting Naked, adds another layer of insight to his essential canon. Its title suggests that bare, unadorned honesty—being vulnerable, acknowledging mistakes, and moving on—is a freeing, and an incredibly productive, policy. “For managers who have long thought they could succeed only by projecting a tough exterior and hiding their weaknesses, this is a huge departure, a monumental transition,” he reports. “Once they expose themselves, admit to a mistake, and have an honest conversation with their coworkers, they recognize how valuable and rewarding it is.”

The recent recession, he suggests, has made his message more relevant than ever. “Some companies have seen the economic downturn as an opportunity, but others have allowed fear and anxiety to drive them into the ground,” he observes. “Our business has remained steady because a lot of companies have come to realize that it’s time to make their organizations healthier. Times are lean, and they need to get more out of fewer resources.

“When morale is good, and people are motivated and enjoy coming to work, it’s amazing how much more efficient they are.

“Now’s a great time for company to invest, not a lot of money, but, rather, time and energy into making their business productive and healthy. They’ll not only come out of the downturn faster, but, also, better.”

The Great Dictator - by Charlie Chaplin.

2010-11-20T01:09:00.000+03:00

Charlie Chaplin is one of the best cinema producer, actor, music writer of all times.
I watched most of his movies and they are all full of meaning!

Here I post the Speech of the great Dictator, a pearl to be remembered!

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to be an emperor. That's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible - Jew, Gentile - black man - white.
We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other's happiness - not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there's room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.
The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way. Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate - has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical; our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in man - cries for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world - millions of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me, I say: 'Do not despair.' The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish.
Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes - men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives - tell you what to do - what to think and what to feel! Who drill you - diet you - treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men - machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate, only the unloved hate - the unloved and the unnatural!
Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St Luke, it is written the kingdom of God is within man not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power - the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful - to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy - let us use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world - a decent world that will give men a chance to work - that will give youth a future and old age a security.
By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason - a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness. Soldiers, in the name of democracy, let us unite!
Hannah, can you hear me? Wherever you are, look up Hannah. The clouds are lifting! The sun is breaking through! We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world - a kindlier world, where men will rise above their hate, their greed and their brutality. Look up, Hannah! The soul of man has been given wings and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow - into the light of hope, into the future, the glorious future that belongs to you, to me, and to all of us. Look up, Hannah... look up!"

Sources: 'My Autobiography' by Charles Chaplin and 'The Great Dictator' on Fox video

Reviewing plans.

2010-11-11T15:06:00.000+03:00

As far as I can remember I am a fighter.
Although sometimes I get into an useless level of fighting: when there is no one to fight against!
I believe I got to this point now.
When you cannot make your team happy and productive, there is no reason to continue your job.
It is hard to admit the end of a journey that you got into full of hope and expectations...
But it is time to turn the page.
So, I have to: retreat the troops, go back to scratch, re-plan, re-start, get another strategy.

That's what I did.
I gave the first step towards a new level of professional life.

God Bless us.
God Protect me.

Reading about depression

2010-10-12T10:05:00.000+03:00

Searching articles for the news letter, I ended up in WebMd.com

Depression was highlighted.

What Are the Symptoms of Depression?

For major depression, you may experience five or more of the following for at least a two-week period:
Persistent sadness, pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness or hopelessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, including sex
Difficulty concentrating and complaints of poor memory
Worsening of co-existing chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes
Insomnia or oversleeping
Weight gain or loss
Fatigue, lack of energy
Anxiety, agitation, irritability
Thoughts of suicide or death
Slow speech; slow movements
Headache, stomachache, and digestive problems

Ten solutions for depression:
Better Sleep
Depression can rob you of rest by making it hard to fall asleep or by waking you up too soon. That leaves you dragging the next day. And more important, lack of sleep can make depression more severe. Treatment for depression can help improve sleep.
Better Love Life
Some antidepressants may dampen the libido. But often, the bigger roadblock to a happy love life is depression itself. One study showed that 70% of people with depression reported a loss of sexual interest while not taking medicine. Treatment may help restore your self-confidence and strengthen your emotional connection with your partner.
Pain Relief
Treatment for your depression can make you feel better emotionally and may reduce pain. That’s because depression can contribute to the discomfort of pain. Studies have found that people who have conditions like arthritis and migraines actually feel more pain -- and are more disabled by it -- if they're depressed. Seeking treatment may help provide relief.
Improved Health
If you are depressed, getting treatment may help prevent some serious diseases down the road. That’s because depression can take a toll on your body. One study found that women who were depressed had double the risk of sudden cardiac death than women who weren’t. Getting treatment may help lessen health risks.
Better Performance at Work
Depression can make it hard to hold a job. If you’re depressed, you might lose focus at work and make more mistakes. If you think depression might be affecting you at work, getting help now could head off serious problems.
Sharper Thinking and Better Memory
Feeling forgetful? Does your thinking seem fuzzy? Experts have found that depression might cause structural changes to the areas of the brain involved in memory and decision-making.
The good news is that depression treatment may prevent or reverse these changes -- clearing away the cobwebs and strengthening your recall.
Happier Home Life
Irritable and angry? Constantly snapping at your kids -- and then feeling bad about it? Getting depression treatment can help boost your mood. And that can help reduce tension around the house and improve your relationship with your family.
Healthier Lifestyle
Why does depression cause some people to gain weight? In part, it’s behavioral -- you may withdraw and become less active, or turn to food for comfort. It’s also physiological -- low levels of certain brain chemicals can trigger a craving for carbs. Getting treatment may change that while giving you the energy to exercise and eat well.
Less Chaos, More Control
When depression zaps your energy, even the most basic tasks -- like vacuuming or paying the bills -- can become impossibly hard. The more chaotic things get, the less capable you feel. Depression treatment can restore the energy you need to take control of your life and get it organized.
Lower Risk of Future Depression
People who have been depressed have a higher risk of becoming depressed again. But ongoing therapy or medication may help prevent depression from coming back. Even if it does return, treatment now will prepare you. You’ll know the early signs. You’ll know some coping skills. And you’ll know where to get help.
Stronger Ties With Friends & Family
Treating depression may improve your social life. Depression isolates people. It can sap your self-esteem, making you feel unlikeable. While therapy and medication can help restore some of that lost confidence, you still need to decide to reach out. Reconnecting to old friends when you’re depressed -- not to mention making new ones -- is hard. But it’s a crucial part of getting better.
Getting Help
Some people with depression try to wait it out, hoping it will get better on its own without treatment. That's a mistake. Studies have found that the longer depression lasts, the worse your symptoms may get and the harder it is to treat.
See your doctor. Schedule an appointment with a therapist. The sooner you get help, the better your odds for a healthy future.

In Sao Paulo - Leadership

2010-08-31T05:15:00.002+03:00

‎"Competition between individuals sets one against the other and undermines morale, but competition between organizations builds morale and encourages creativity." - George Washington Allston

Do we need to develop the idea above?

While bosses after bosses are promoting competition between employees, we have thinkers believing that TEAM work is better for ANY ORGANIZATION.

When we have the knowledge about modern leadership approach and we see the "old school" alive in some companies, we get sad and hopeless in first place, then, after talking to some friends, we realize we have a "mission" with the workers of the companies (fed up of warning letters and investigations!) and with better results ($$$$$).

The idea is to find the right road to make everyone happy.

It will oblige us to change some concepts and measurements in our judgments.

http://special.hsmglobal.com/us/wbf2010/leadership_performance_people.php

After listening to some leaders, the only word that echoes in all speeches is PEOPLE.
They say: WHO before WHAT.

Let's embrace the idea.

Faith and reason, we will reach there!

http://us.hsmglobal.com/interior/index.php?idCMSIdioma=1

In Sao Paulo

2010-08-29T21:58:00.000+03:00

The city is still crazy and agressive.
The traffic jam as insane as never.
People in the same speed - fast mode - going up and down non stop.
Everything the same.
Well, some streets are in another direction! Some shops closed and some moved from where I used to know them!
People still struggling to survive with small salaries and having fun on simple things.
Sao Paulo is the same.
I changed. And I am happy I did.

This almost two years were good for me in Kuwait.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Went to a training with Marynes Pereira. Tools for management.
The conversations about how to do the right thing according to the owners perspective was the theme.

The tip she shared was: do the right thing thinking about profits. We will always think about the staff, the owners about the money. It is possible to do both and the staff will get benefits from money directed actions.
I just have to think... How to do it... And how to convince narrow minds to see the benefits of happy employees? That's my challenge from now on. Together with keeping hope among instructors.

I hope God gives me strength for such a mission. Power I need now.

All my experience from this life and the others be present now within me.

just few words.

2010-08-23T20:54:00.000+03:00

I am back home!

My mom's back yard and the amazing blue sky in Sampa...

Thanks God I could travel!

:)

Happy!

Frequencies

2010-08-12T03:58:00.000+03:00

My friend Edu Barbezan was chatting with me on Facebook today.
Suddenly he asked: are you ok? I got amazed by the power of this man. He knew I was disturbed by no reason.
Out of the blues he was telling me not to get into bad, low, underdeveloped people's energy frequency. And he is absolutely right! I've been so much into this job that I got trapped into the bad energy of the sick people that work with me.
Negativity and envy feelings seam to make a net of dark energy that was able to confuse me for a while.
I can see the light now!

God by my side, I can do anything!
I can face the dark, the envy, the bad energies.
God by my side, I can be who I am fearless.
The cowards will fear me. The unfair will regret talking about me.
Justice will prevail.

God by our sides, we are powerful and respected.

Thank you GOD for showing me your love.
I will be eternally grateful and will show you by my actions from now on.

Because I am Marcia Novo.

Decisions

2010-08-11T00:31:00.000+03:00

A great conversation with one of my best/new friends here in Kuwait this morning made me happy for a while.

We were talking about options God puts in front of us to chose. And depending on the amount of opportunities we have, there lies the amount of responsibilities we decided to take in this life.
No opportunities at all - you are really stubborn and life will give one path to walk as you cannot chose anything!
Simple, isn't it?!

Not that simple...
In the first case: many options, we have a huge task to accomplish- chose the right path! And who on Earth knows which is the right path, please?! Any path is a good path - consequences will come from that for sure, independently from which road we chose to go. So the multiple choices make life more complicated instead of helping. Another aspect to consider is that we might think people with more than one choice in life are superior or more able to chose. In fact they have much more trouble to go through than the opposite case.
And...the opposite case. You were left with few options or only one road to travel. Disgrace? Bad luck? Divine providence?

Maybe all of them or none of them. For sure we can say that your life will be easier than the fellows above, full of ways, full of themselves because they have options in life and you were left with one job for 23 years and are still leaving in the house you were born! You've got to be happy with that! It was designed for you to take easy in this life. Maybe next life you will have 3 job offers waiting for you: Sheraton Manager in London, Business Development Manager in Dubai and Hotel Recreation Manager in Bora Bora!

You see, life can turn into a living hell when you are a developed individual...

The days we proved we are STRONG!

2010-07-24T19:31:00.007+03:00

I recall hard times in my memories as shadows that passed by. For some reason I don't cry out my disgraces. And if I start really pulling from my brain, they were not few!

Relationships that end up not that good, mistakes I did, words I should never said, words I didn't say!

Never mind, they all belong to the past now! The past we cannot change!

Today is the only life we have. And I analyze these times as the hardest. The hardest to accept ignorance, hypocrisy, shallowness, abuse of power, bad temper, all in one person sometimes, sometimes in many people around you.

Yesterday and today I had the chance to divide these thoughts with two very special instructors and that is what I said: In some years from now, we will remember these times as the time we proved WE CAN! We proved we are strong and we survived!

...normally I live the present only, most of my acts reflects that, but sometimes...I wish the days of remembering today could come faster.... It is getting really heavy...

Latest book

2010-07-21T14:20:00.006+03:00

I find myself time to read! Amazing...

About management skills, of course.

From the many interesting chapters, I chose the following:

Analyzing Motivation

01. If you do not know what motivates a person, just ask.

02. Assess your own motivation levels as well as those of your staff.

03. Use persuasion and influence in order to encourage self-motivation.

04. Establish what the needs of your staff are, and assist in meeting them.

05. Remember that making work fun does not mean making it easy.

06. Try to motivate through the use of voluntary social and sports activities.

07.Use inter-team competition to help stimulate team spirit.

08. Keep the number of supervisors to a minimum.

09. Remember that different people are motivated in different ways.

10. Be aware that the systems that your staff use may be demotivating.

11. Look for positive responses to any criticism - they are good signs of motivation in staff.

12. Maintain eye contact with your staff whenever you speak with them.

13. Ask your staff if any changes at work would help to motivate them.

14. Learn to see the difference between work problems and personal ones.

15.Keep working as varied as possible to avoid causing demotivation.

16. Treat departures and absenteeism as warning of demotivation.

Building Up Motivation

17. Ensure staff know both their role and its importance.

18. Demonstrate your competence at every opportunity.

19. Improve order and control by using collaborative management.

20. Do not assume you are "visible" - ensure that it is true.

21. If bad results occurs, review your own motivation as well as employees'.

22. Show respect to your staff, and they will show it to you

23. Strengthen your message by using several means of communication.

24. Deliver in-company communication as soon as possible.

25. Encourage your staff to participate in decision-making.

26. Keep staff informed wherever possible - uncertainties are very demotivating.

And I will forward to ALL managers, including Chairman and all levels up to the sky!

I do hope some reaction, at least I will have the chance to speak out my ideas.

My optimism sometimes irritates me...

And in a professional level...

2010-07-05T22:37:00.002+03:00

A book (always a book) I was reading about the professional of today made me realize why I am so disturbed about my current job situation.

Actually with me the company never created any problem or stressful condition.

What happen to the others makes me fear the near future...

The well being of my colleagues is so important as mine!

I see them suffering for money shortage, waiting an eternity for their rights and it makes me wonder... would it happen to me one day?

lately

2010-06-27T11:18:00.006+03:00

Enjoying my Friday!

My pleasure lately has been using the present I got from my precious daughter...

Nature pictures are still my best choice!

And all this beautiful pieces of nature were together in a breakfast restaurant!

Just pictures

2010-05-30T22:38:00.008+03:00

Some stories.

2010-05-20T22:33:00.006+03:00

This Black Berry is really amazing! Quality of pictures is perfect. Took my asleep face exactly the way it was... Rsrsrsrs.

And I traveled to Egypt - Cairo with the mobile. BBM immediately after landing. UAU!

And my first view of the hotel room was that....

The Nile - the river that make possible life in Cairo was there right in front of me, unworried about the pollution, noise cars, people, traffic jam, boats houses.

It just runs its waters quietly and elegantly for thousand years.

Nurturing a nation that does not remember anymore its importance in their lives.

Anyway, I celebrated the Nile and paid my respect for its power.

In the night, it gets more crowded.

Weddings, tourists, dinners, parties, everything happen on its dark waters.

And in the morning, the best view: with the Sun light its beauty is enhanced!

What I can say: I love rivers!

Had a great breakfast for a heavy day watching the wonderful view...

My 30 hours in Cairo was like that: full of new feelings and observing the people a lot. Analyzing if one day I could live there. Conclusion: YES!

Changes

2010-05-18T10:54:00.002+03:00

And....the show must go on!

Many instructors leaving the club, many changes in every branch and even members changes.

Amazing.

But I have bad predictions to set here: if the high management continuous the way it is now, we will have to close 3 branches soon...

Miscommunication and panicking take over the company.

Lack of confidence and disloyalty in all relationships.

People don't honor their words.

Destruction and neglect of the talents we have in our hands.

The obvious conclusion: it will end in nothing.

Which is a shame.

We are offering trainings for free, the instructors don't come.

Motivation is very low everywhere.

Blindness in every manager, because to see it and don't act is hard for any heart.

No comfort brings evolution, right! But there is a limit on how much we can take!

The limit is here, in front of our eyes!

Pleasure X Work

2010-04-09T23:40:00.002+03:00

Many times I affirmed my work is equal as pleasure.

And the reality is that it is!

Memorable moments are happiness itself. And I had many during working hours.

My daughter raised the issue some months ago that she does not live for work. She likes to live other activities rather working only.

But me, I love go work!

She made me evaluate what sort of people I am: workaholic, obviously.

And also called my attention for which other pleasures I have in life...

And I am listing them since our conversation.

Forever???

2010-03-04T16:28:00.004+03:00

Time passes by...

I am still exercising.

I remember people asking me: till when???

The answer: why should I stop? The best time of my life I spent inside an aerobics studio. It pure fun for me. And I am paid to do it. So, why to stop?

Today, after 5 classes, I feel great.

I was telling some members I did not know what to wish before cutting the cake...

Actually I conquered my dreams already.

I stopped for some seconds and wished something I don't have yet...

Thanks to everyone that wished me happy birthday!

Iemanja.

2010-02-17T02:02:00.001+03:00

The Queen of The Seas

March 2011.

A promise is a promise.

Psalm 91

2010-02-09T09:22:00.002+03:00

...Why I don't fear anything?

Because I believe in GOD!

And for my enemies, The Powerful Psalm:

Psalm 91

¹ He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

³ Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

¹⁰ then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

GOD Bless us all from ignorance and rudeness.

That everyone is paid back by his/her actions!

challenge

2010-01-29T14:00:00.004+03:00

Sometimes all my power, all my confidence, all my competence turns into nothing.

Huge efforts was done in order to provide international training for instructors.

Some of them failed, some of them were advised to practice more, some succeed, some abused.

Many actions would have to be taken to fix the attitude issue we have with them.

And me, I am facing the ignorance and immaturity of many.

Trying to be calm and pursuing the goal of having an amazing team. As I wrote TRYING!!!

An quick over view on the team we have now:

* bad personality X average technique

* good personality X bad technique.

I guess it is easier to improve technique rather than changing personality!

My job is my life and I cannot separate myself from it.

Honestly I feel HURT!

Pisces people can turn into sharks very often.

And sharks can be friendly creatures......

So, why to tease them?

Changes on the horizon

2010-01-13T00:21:00.002+03:00

"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..."

I love the song. And what it means.

"Is gonna be a shine, bright, sunshine day!"

Many changes to be done, many lives to change (and they will), many plans to fulfill.

And I am ready for that.

And you know what: I love it.

I wanna jump!!!!

Les Mills and the world.

2009-12-30T18:16:00.007+03:00

They are like this....

Our eight group fitness-to-music classes are delivering the results people want and changing lives from Sydney to Stockholm, from Washington to Wellington and from Rio to Reykjavik.

Great music and passionate instructors inspire exhilarating workouts that more and more club members are making part of their regular fitness routine.

Our classes are currently running in more than 13,000 clubs in more than 70 independent countries, with an estimated six million participants a week.

Les Mills has stamped a huge ‘footprint’ on the industry and gained recognition in IHRSA’s Club Business International magazine for “doing for group exercise what McDonald’s did for hamburgers”.

Les Mills has produced much more than an innovative and effective form of exercise - we have created a global fitness phenomenon.

In Stockolmo...

In Philippines

Scandinavia....

Brazil....

They are everywhere.

People get easily addicted to them and bring family and friends to participate of their addiction!

We wish the addictions had the same effect: good body shape, amazing health, energy to share!

Soon in Flex, we will be sharing happiness with our members. Soon!

Competition Flex Women.

2009-12-28T17:53:00.003+03:00

It was December 22nd, 2009.

Anny did a very good job with the Competition "Resist to the limit": 4 hours of classes, all sort and many instructors.

She organized and invite instructors, listened to the members in their demands and reasonably satisfied their wishes.

Everyone prepared their 30 min class and members were excited jumping, spinning, running, dancing, crunching! Ufa!

Many entered and left, but 08 brave members did the 4 hours, non stop!

Th pictures were taken at the end.

Anny, Nathalie, Iman, Aprile, Ryhanah, Melrose and me.

Small decoration made them very happy. Good to know they like colors and balloons...

Melrose, Me, Anny, Florena, Aprile, Nath, Iman, Veronica.

2009-12-28T17:30:00.004+03:00

December 17th, 2009,

we had the Body Coach training with Mr. Kenny.

This picture is in our break. We were having fun posing... Showing off a little.

It was a moment to be together ans learn together, Very pleasant actually.

I had the chance to be with them and they, with me.

Truly we had fun!

Hehehehe!

Edition of December 2009, Feminine Magazine

2009-11-30T15:37:00.001+03:00

WAIST CLASSES???

Dear Readers,

So many times I was approached with the same question “Do we have exercises for the waist?” I decided to write about it.

Our “waist” is composed by muscles that are from the abdominal section and from the Back section.

We see old videos (or should I say “old knowledge!”) showing the side bend as a “magical formula” for the “slim desired waist”.

There I go again destroying dreams…

1. A slim waist is basically determined by genetically heritage. Some Europeans and Africans women have thin waist. On the other hand, there are some genetics for “squared waist”. It is easy to identify: check your aunties, preferably the slim ones, and, if they have slim waist, there is a chance you might have it too! If they are “squared type”, bad news.

2. Get rid of the extra fat helps a lot. So you can see the lines of your body.

Exercising the side bends, moving your waist right and left/ back and forward will not help you make it thinner!

Do instead cardio exercises and diet. You will have then the original body lines and I am sure you will like it!

And observe I did not mention abdominal exercises. Why? Because they will NOT make your waist smaller, but the muscle stronger and firmer, giving your abs a fit shape.

Bellow, the science about the side bends exercises.

Question: Do Standing Side Bends Exercise My Abdominals?

Answer: Unfortunately, many people have the misconception that holding hand weights and doing side bending exercises will trim or tone the "love handles." However, this movement (lateral flexion) is performed mainly with the deep muscles of the spine and not the internal obliques or the external obliques (read - abdominal muscles). Instead, the quadratus lumborum muscle, which attaches from the iliac crest to the lumbar vertebrae and to the lowest rib, is actually a primary lateral flexor muscle (read - back muscles). What this exercise is good for is increasing lateral range of motion in the spine, not to make it slimmer. If you do side bending exercises, make sure they are slow and controlled movements and be sure they are for the BACK not the FRONT part of your waist.

From the www.sportsmedicine.about.com

Marcia Novo - Flex Resorts Fitness Manager

m.novolopes@flexq8.com

novo.marcia@gmail.com

Edition of November 2009, Feminine Magazine

2009-11-30T15:28:00.000+03:00

Vacation from the CLUB.

Yes, it is a dream members have: to take vacation and do not exercise.

Again I apologize from destroying old myths about fitness. And I would like to raise a question: does your stomach or lungs stop to rest when you go on vacation? Of course not. They are vital organs. So exercise should be in your life: VITAL!

The moment you get used to exercise, your body improves metabolism speed, provoking higher fat burning than usual. It is a new life for muscles and internal organs. The routine of going to the gym clicks your metabolism and it makes full body working at full power. If you stop the “pull and push”,” up and down”, “ go right and left” exercises, your muscles read the breaking routine as “ she does not need me anymore”. And, unfortunately, the human body does not save muscle. Unless you use them to move, run, jump, they will not remain same size and strength in your body – they will “shrink” (horrible word!). After two weeks of non-exercise, the muscle atrophy starts (diminishing tonus and size).

So, if you’re thinking the club membership is like an English Course membership (you have vacation from it!), your body will never understand what you want from it! Give yourself good treatment, exercise differently, but exercise!

Tips to keep fit while on vacation.

1) The best is to continue weights exercise if you do them normally. Look for a hotel with a small Gym. Or find a Gym nearby.

2) No options of Gym around? Plan B is: walking or running in the streets/beach for minimum 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week; Abdominal crunches before taking a shower (normally in one minute you can do 40 to 50 crunches!); Pushups to work upper body will give you the right shape you need for sleeveless shirts.

3) Is there any pool around? Swimming is one of the best exercises ever! Cardio + Toning together. Cannot swim? Make some movements against the water, like walking, jumping, lifting knees, kicking forward. Good calorie burner and pleasant experience.

4) Prefer “tours” where you can see parks, museums, expositions, long walking afternoons outdoors. Time will pass pleasantly and you will be using your muscles properly.

5) Give yourself ONE day rest. No exercise at all. Let the body understand there is rest. So you can work out full power the day after.

6) Instead of elevators, go by stairs. Keep high level of stamina!

7) And finally, dance! No better exercise, unless you don’t like it…

Marcia Novo – Flex Fitness Manager.

m.novolopes@flexq8.com

novo.marcia@gmail.com

Article for Feminine Magazine

2009-11-30T15:21:00.002+03:00

Firm/Slim/Strong BODY????

Last edition we agreed on the subject: what should I do to have a firm/slim/strong body?

Let me start with the most common request from members around the world: “Can you make me slim for my cousin’s wedding next month? My dress is two numbers smaller than my normal size!” I normally joke with them, asking for a knife!

Most of club users see the machines and classes as “magical solution” for extra kilos or a non desirable body shape.

I have good and bad news for you:

The bad one: changing the shape of your body is not related to any party timing! It will happen according to your own “internal clock”. If you never exercised in your life (low metabolism) it will take more than 3 months, if you were used to move your body and stopped for “vacation” (we will be talking about that) probably in 40 days you can see some transformation in your body shape. So, it will happen but not according to your social events!

The good news: as soon as you get used to exercise (after one month or so) your body will start enjoying the feeling “after” physical activities. It has a name: endorphin. Hormone of happiness. After finishing a session of lower body work out, or a sprint in the Spinning Class, you feel relieved. That sensation is caused by endorphins. It is a pleasant and relaxing feeling. And you want to feel it again! Guess how? Through exercise! And you will run for the classes that will give you the good feeling again and again. It will guarantee your frequency in the club.

Of course all the numbers above change from person to person. There are individuals that within 30 days feel their legs turning stronger and firmer and abdominal smaller. For others, to wake up the sleeping muscles takes time.

Now that you know there is no “magic formula” (you have to sweat the t-shirt, no other way to change your body shape), let’s give the tips:

1Start slow: If you're new to physical activity, haven't been active for a long time, or are trying a new sport, start out slowly. Build up your activity gradually so you don't get hurt. Ten minutes per aerobics, 3 times a week, plus controlled weights in the other days. Increase time and weights as they get too easy. At least ONE day off. Minimum 3 times week, maximum 6.

2- Warm up and cool down. Always warm up your body before you begin a workout. After your workout, be sure to move more slowly to cool down and bring your heartbeat back to normal. Stretch after your workout while your muscles are still warm and to help avoid soreness.

3 - Drink up. If you're planning to exercise for an hour or more, drink more water than you think you need before, during, and after exercise to avoid getting dehydrated.

4- Listen to your body. People know their bodies better than anyone else does. A little soreness is common. But the soreness you feel should go away about 24-48 hours after your workout. If it persists, go after a doctor to check it out

5- Go for professionals. Your friend has an amazing body? Lucky woman! If she studied muscles and joints, movements and possible injuries, she can give you any tip. If she is just blessed and has an incredible abs, she is not entitled to write routines or tell you what is good or bad in fitness field. Go for professionals, preferable with Physical Education in their back ground. These coaches have gone through all sorts of trainings and injuries in sports and fitness. Listen to their advice.

6- Try something you like. I see people lifting weights and hating it! Are you sure you are paying to do something you don’t like? Clubs nowadays have a huge variety of activities. One of them will suit you. From Aqua Aerobics to Climbing Wall, you will find a rhythm that is just tailor made for you. If you are shy, go for Pilates and Yoga. They are amazing work outs and the calorie burn is considered moderate. If you are a hyper, all the cardio classes (and their crazy music) are available to make you feel happy. Just to name some: Spinning, Aerobics, Step, Dance, Running, and Jumping. Pick something that motivates you.

7- Share feelings with the professionals. Most of the times members leave the clubs without saying what bother them. Let people know how you feel. If you like it or not, let coaches and managers know it. And sometimes it was just missing someone to tell the right person the right information to change the impossible and available.

Good readers, changing is not easy. But who told it would be? Start the modifications slowly and you will succeed.

Next month: Vacation from work, vacation from the gym?

Send email for information and questions:

marcia.novo@hotmail.com

m.novolopes@flexq8.com

In the future.

2009-11-16T23:48:00.002+03:00

Let me quote Peter Drucker for while:

" In a few hundred years, when the history of our time is written from a long term perspective, it is likely that the most important event those historians will see is not technology, not the Internet, not e-commerce. It is an unprecedented change in human condition. For the first time-literally-substantial and rapidly growing numbers of people have choices. For the first time, they will have to manage themselves.

And society is totally unprepared for it."

TRX

2009-11-08T21:10:00.002+03:00

TRX Stretching Class.

Many levels.

Do we have space for that?

TRX specialists.

2010

2009-10-26T14:29:00.002+03:00

Planning 2010.

Training has to be part of our profession requirements.

More courses you have, better you are, no doubt about it!

For next year:

Pilates Equipement Training;

TRX Suspension (under research);

BODY BALANCE and BODY STEP(?);

AQUA AEROBICS (special instructor)

Functional Training.

LEADERSHIP Training for all.

Marketing our Careers

And still researching for more and more trainings.

Any ideas, let me know...

memories

2009-10-26T14:08:00.015+03:00

First picture all Instructors together.

Flex Jump Phase III

All of us (at that time).

Managers at Wafra Open Day.

Another Pic of all.

Cultural Moment - Wafra

After a Special Class. Shaab.

One of the many Fridays...

One year.

2009-10-26T13:29:00.002+03:00

October 15th, 2008 I started in Flex.

One year has passed, conclusions came to my mind:

-Building a Team takes longer than I thought.

-Creating people's development depends on their home education: if they were raised with trust and honesty or with lack of self-confidence and lies; if they were educated to be unfairly competitive or to give a hand to the work fellows; if it was shown to them only the negative side of all situations or optimism was part of their day-to-day lives;

-Human kind needs friendship to survive. The foreigner instructors made the members their friends and the misuse of this friendship causes lots of problems;

-We lack personal developing training in this part of the world. Self Analysis, FeedBack Techniques, Leadership Training are missing for everyone;

-Can you answer me now what is your mission? If you answered something, are you practising it everyday?

It sounds negative and not motivated, I admit. Nevertheless, it pushes me forward to reach higher levels of relationship with all people around me. And connecting with everyone lately has been an strong experience. Everyday a surprise and a necessity that makes me react diferently.

As time passes by, people cannot hold the masks any more: they have to show their real faces. So, NOW I see them! The real personalities rising from beautiful masks of kindness and gentle atittude. The dark side of every soul coming into my face and showing me exactly what are they made of: themselves!

I could detect some kinds of professionals here, among cleaners, reception, instructors, managers all levels:

- There are ones REALLY dedicated, they don't threaten anyone, they are always ready to make the business to move. I call them The Providers. For those, I am fighting for better conditions and packages.

-Others are only working for their salaries (they must be asking now "what do we work for?"). If the shift is up to 4pm, at 4:00 they punch out. Don't dare to ask them extra hour, and never call them on day off, they never asnwer. I call them Clock Workers, they only work if you provide them with bateries. No self motivation. No mission in life.

- There is a team (a team?) of complaining professionals, they think they are good, they claim rights they don't have, increments for arriving on time (isn't it obvious?) and skills bellow avarage. I call them Criers. Because they cry, cry,cry like babies.

------------------------------

There is a rule called 80/20. It means that 80% of your business is done by 20% of your staff. The other 20% of the job is done by the 80% left.

Look around and guess who is doing 80% of your company jobs today. Also evaluate if your are part of he 20% or the 80% of the employees.

..........................................................................................................................................................................

Changes on the way

2009-09-22T18:13:00.002+03:00

I can see changes at the horizon...

There is no way to get ready, as I don't know exactly what will happen.

I just know it will change.

Straight forward

2009-09-15T19:59:00.003+03:00

As a powerful light, I keep on going...

We continue with the training for the instructors, launching new classes, organizing schedules, planning for 2010.

As I said before: no bad humor of any one will put me down or divert my mission in life!

Promoting trainings for the instructors as much as I

can: that's the only way to have a strong team. And that's what we will do! Give them knowledge.

One miracle will happen, I know it will. To allow us to work

in peace, in the right direction, without threating. I know it will happen...

I know.

Recently

2009-09-13T12:49:00.002+03:00

Yesterday I faced the angry boss, arguing a non sense for me.

Where they see trouble, I see chance.

What to do about it?

One member complaing can change a whole project of 10 months?

Well, the asnwer is YES, he can.

And no numbers or facts could convince the nervous man.

I observed they want to get ride of the obstacles very fast, jumping into quick solutions to solve immediately the situation. Disregarding the consequences of such a hurry answer.

Soon, it comes back with a Dragon's face and asking for its rights!

My current situation does not allow me to do any sudden change. So, adapting to the poor reality of pampering members instead of teaching them reality about training and providing REAL results, not the FAKE results the managers insist to give members.

Aff, tough times.

300 days report

2009-08-16T22:18:00.002+03:00

I will post the report of 300 days here.

Also my personal comments.

First the report:

Report on 300 days Management

On August 17^th, 2009 it will be 300 days of my management in Flex Resorts.

I proudly present the report on these days.

Proud of the generosity of the company to me.

Proud of protection the company provided me.

Proud to be part of a big Family.

From the first week working in Flex I noticed a problem with Trust. I commented with Mr. Khalid and the other managers at that time (they’ve all gone!) that the employees do not trust the high management. For many reasons: miscommunication, delays, mistakes with salaries, unclear salary policy, etc. I am still trying to clarify all the issues as much as I can with meetings, memos, conversation one to one. Sometimes I am misinterpreted, sometimes they are grateful.

My only concern is the RESULT. I observed the clubs are increasing number of members/ revenue in comparison with last year, which makes me satisfied, but not entirely happy.

Still there are mistakes in the management and these same managers are the ones dealing with the instructors and receptionists that are in direct contact with our customers. The members will always suffer if we don’t break this bad circle.

Why am I talking about the managers? I remember clearly Mrs. Amani telling me: “The instructors need motivation. They are very demotivated!” And she was right.

Digging deep in the lack of motivation, I found managers against instructors and vice-versa.

That’s why I insisted in Leadership Training for ALL Managers – 17^th floor, 18^th floor, 19^th floor and branches. The leaders have to know how to deal with their staff and to do it as one voice. Same proposal=success.

Allow me to copy a small part of the book ‘The 8^th Habit’:

“THE WHOLE-PERSON PARADIGM

At the core, there is one simple, overarching reason why so many people remain unsatisfied in their work and why most organizations fail to draw out the greatest talent, ingenuity and creativity of their people and never become truly great, enduring organizations. It seems from an incomplete paradigm of who we are-our fundamental view of human nature. The fundamental reality is, human beings are not things needing to be motivated and controlled; they are four dimensional-body, mind, heart and spirit.

We can co-relate:

Body- to live- survival;

Mind- to learn- growth and development;

Heart- to love- relationship;

Spirit- to leave a legacy- meaning and contribution.

PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES

So, what’s the direct connection between the controlling “thing” (part-person) paradigm that dominates today’s workplace and the inability of managers and organizations to inspire their people to volunteer their highest talents and contributions? The answer is simple. People make choices. Consciously or subconsciously, people decide how much of themselves they will give to their work depending on how they are treated and on their opportunities to use all four parts of their nature.”

‘The 8^th Habit. – Stephen R. Covey’

Just to illustrate the problems we have in Flex are well known around the global companies.

My suggestion – that I collected in Flex and in my years inside clubs – are:

- Every department in Flex Resorts might deliver their tasks on time and without mistakes;

- Prepare the managers to deal better with employees needs and duties;

- Promote professional growth to all employees (training, trips, challenges);

- Listen to the employees solutions for company’s problems;

- “Promises” for the employees should be avoided.

Some subjects covered last 250 days (50 Days report sent on December 4^th, 2008)

- - Hiring new instructors: locals, from abroad, travelling to Syria to contract instructors (DONE, to be continued);

- - Creating set of rules to avoid bad exercises among that instructors that cannot understand principles of anatomy and exercise physiology (DONE);

- - Promoting Meetings among Managers (DONE, to be continued);

- - Detecting extra materials and equipments and relocating some among branches (DONE, to be continued);

- - Constant training and evaluation instructors (DONE, to be continued);

- - Following up with HR all instructors issues (vacation, sick leave, salary discounts, disciplinary procedures)(DONE, to be continued);

- - Following up with Mad. Iman hiring of instructors by advising her on technical levels of the candidates (DONE, to be continued);

- - Checking and reporting Accommodation conditions (DONE, to be continued);

- - Work Shops for members about "how, when and why exercise" (DONE, to be continued);

- - Reviewing PT payment procedures (DONE);

- - Preparation for Paul Brown's visit and training. Full follow up of the training. Evaluation of all staff in F2F (DONE);

- - Following up Paul Brown's suggestions for F2F improvement-commission on appointment (DONE);

- - Participation in Graduation Parties (DONE);

- - Training Syrians Instructors to Flex Standards before let them start working in the clubs. Helping me: Sara(DONE);

- - Welcoming new instructors at the Airport (DONE);

- - Support for new instructors (out of working hours) (DONE);

- - Prepared the "Fitness Pack" for managers to know what to check in instructors classes(DONE);

- - Following up with new managers in Family(DONE);

- - Helping the Family in manager vacation (DONE);

- - Special Classes all Branches (DONE);

- - Standard for schedules per colors(DONE);

- - ‘5 Steps of Costumer Service’;

- - Re-organizing Supervisors Job Description (DONE);

- - Writing articles for Feminine Magazine (DONE);

- - Collecting information and ideas from instructors for new classes and implementing the reasonable ones (DONE);

- - Promoting new class and training :"Flex Jump", created by Jonathan (DONE), AeroBoxe, helped by Jonathan (DONE);

- - Promoting full Swimming Training. Helped: Paulo (DONE);

- - Training Wa'El (new Executive instructor) in F2F, Helped: Douglas, Paulo, Sara (DONE);

To be ended in 2009.

- - Planning VIP Corner to Flex Woman with Florina, Branch Manager. (To be presented);

- - Planning new approach for Flex Family. Helping; Melissa, branch manager and Dalia, Sales Manager. (To be presented);

- - Detecting material and equipments stored in improper places (member access), helping: Mr. Ayoub. (under process);

- - Uniforms (under process) ;

- - Replacing hopeless instructors (under process);

- - Cardio Training developed by Anny, fitness instructor;

- - Jiu-Jitsu Classes in Executive and maybe for teen agers boys in Family, developed by Neudson and Andre.

It is a great honor to work for Flex Resorts.

Best Regards,

Marcia Novo Lopes

Fitness Manager

August – 2009.

My sincere feeling is that everyone improved, from bottom to top, the clubs are better organized with the exception of Family which concept is all wrong. We are going to work on it.

The financial situation is better, technically there were some improvings. New classes took place, many trainings were done, technical discussions, "forbidden exercises" appeared, thousands of emails sent and received, recognition of some talents, recognition of irreversible cases, fellowship developed, rudeness of others at the surface.

The team is still far away to happen. They cannot put themselves in other people's shoes.

To improve every and single instructor is a hard mission, just because there are some of them that don't know they don't know...

I guess another 300 days will be necessary to reach to the point of having a good team, with stars that help the sky to bright, making the small stars shining and leaders happy!

Let's go for that!

Flex Jump

2009-08-15T23:29:00.003+03:00

Third meeting of Flex Jump by Jonathan.

One sentence Iman said has to be posted:

"- Thanks Jonathan, you put as all together. It is very good."

The feeling of being part of a group makes us do unbelievable things: we go on even tired, we get inspired by the exercising fellows, we want to feel the good energy of friendship.

Instructors that does not work like a team lack this, but my experience proves we NEED to be part of a alike group.

We need to go on with some one else in our mission.

The road of excellent prefessionalism when traveled with colleagues,

is away much more intense and unforgetable.

I hope this instructors never forget the feeling of training together,

sweating at the same time in the Intense track, shouting because the legs were burning and celebrating when get to the end of a track.

They are reaching to a very good point: the point of enjoying learning.

When they get there, I can go some where else! The seed will be already a small tree, thirsty for the Good Water of feedback and tips to grown even more.

And Jonathan helping me to get there. Thank you boy! Excellent Job! We are changing the Fitness in Kuwait! Thanks.

"We get old too soon and smart too late."

2009-08-06T23:05:00.000+03:00

Amazing knowledge to be shared.

Enjoy.

Joint by Joint Approach to Training

Por Michael Boyle

"We get old too soon and smart too late." - Swedish Proverb My good friend, physical therapist Gray Cook, has a gift for simplifying complex topics. I envy his ability to succinctly take a complicated thought process and make the idea appear simple. In a recent conversation about the effect of training on the body, Cook produced one of the most lucid thought processes I have ever heard. Gray and I were discussing the findings of the Functional Movement Screen, the needs of the different joints of the body and how the function of the joints relates to training. One of the beauties of the Functional Movement Screen is that the screen allows us to distinguish between issues of stability and those of mobility. Cook’s thoughts were simple and led me to realize that the future of training may be a joint-by-joint approach rather than a movement-based approach. Gray’s analysis of the body was a straightforward one. In his mind, the body is a just a stack of joints. Each joint or series of joints has a specific function and is prone to specific, predictable levels of dysfunction. As a result, each joint has specific training needs. The following table looks at the body on a joint-by-joint basis from the bottom up: Joint Primary Training Needs Ankle mobility (particularly sagittal) Knee stability Hip mobility (multi-planar) Lumbar Spine stability T-Spine mobility Gleno-humeral stability The first thing you should notice as you read the above table is that the joints simply alternate mobility and stability. The ankle needs increased mobility, and the knee needs increased stability. As we move up the body, it becomes apparent that the hip needs mobility. And so the process goes up the chain: a simple, alternating series of joints. Over the past 20 years, we have progressed from the moronic approach of training by body part (sorry, bodybuilders) to a more intelligent approach of training by movement pattern. In fact, the phrase “movements, not muscles” has almost become an overused one, and frankly, that is progress. I think most good coaches and trainers have given up on the old chest-shoulder-triceps thought process and moved forward to a push-pull-hip extend-knee extend thought process. Interestingly enough, I now believe the “movement, not muscles” process probably should have gone a step further. I think injuries relate closely to proper joint function or more appropriately to joint dysfunction. Confused? Let me try to explain. Problems at one joint usually show up as pain in the joint above or below. The simplest illustration is in the lower back. It seems obvious based on the advances of the past decade that we need core stability. It's also obvious that lots of people suffer from back pain. The interesting part lies in the theory behind low back pain. My theory of the cause? Loss of hip mobility. Loss of function in the joint below (in the case of the lumbar spine, the hip) seems to affect the joint or joints above (lumbar spine). In other words, if the hip can’t move, the lumbar spine will. The problem is that the hip is built for mobility and the lumbar spine for stability. When the supposedly mobile joint becomes immobile, the stable joint is forced to move as compensation, becoming less stable and subsequently painful. The process is simple: • Lose ankle mobility, get knee pain. • Lose hip mobility, get low back pain. • Lose thoracic mobility, get neck and shoulder pain (or low back pain). Looking at the body on a joint-by-joint basis beginning with the ankle, this thought process seems to make sense. An immobile ankle causes the stress of landing to be transferred to the joint above: the knee. In fact, I think there is a direct correlation between the stiffness of the basketball shoe and the amount of taping and bracing that correlates with the high incidence of patella-femoral syndromes in basketball players. Our desire to protect the unstable ankle comes with a high cost. We have found that many of our athletes with knee pain have corresponding ankle mobility issues. Many times, this follows an ankle sprain and subsequent bracing and taping. The exception to the rule seems to be at the hip. The hip can be both immobile and unstable, resulting in knee pain from the instability (a weak hip will allow internal rotation and adduction of the femur) or back pain from the immobility. How a joint can be both immobile and unstable is the interesting question. It seems that weakness of the hip in either flexion or extension causes compensatory action at the lumbar spine, while the weakness in abduction (or more accurately, prevention of adduction) causes stress at the knee. Poor psoas and iliacus strength and/or activation will cause patterns of lumbar flexion as a substitute for hip flexion. Poor strength and/or activation of the glutes will cause a compensatory extension pattern of the lumbar spine that attempts to replace the motion of hip extension. Interestingly enough, this fuels a vicious cycle. As the spine moves to compensate for the lack of strength and mobility of the hip, the hip loses mobility. It appears that lack of strength at the hip leads to immobility, and immobility in turn leads to compensatory motion at the spine. The end result is a kind of conundrum: a joint that needs both strength and mobility in multiple planes. The lumbar spine is even more interesting. This is clearly a series of joints in need of stability, as evidenced by all the work in the area of core stability. Strangely enough, the biggest mistake I believe we have made in training over the last 10 years is engaging in an active attempt to increase the static and active ROM of an area that obviously craves stability. I believe that most if not all of the many rotary exercises done for the lumbar spine were misdirected. Both Sahrmann in Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes and Porterfield and DeRosa in Mechanical Low Back Pain: Perspectives in Functional Anatomy indicate that attempting to increase lumbar spine ROM is not recommended and potentially dangerous. (Is rotation even a good idea?) I believe our lack of understanding of thoracic mobility has caused us to try to gain lumbar rotary ROM, and this is a huge mistake. The thoracic spine is the area about which we seem to know the least. Many physical therapists seem to recommend increasing thoracic mobility, though few seem to have exercises designed specifically for thoracic mobility. The approach seems to be “we know you need it, but we’re not sure how to get it.” I think over the next few years, we will see an increase in exercises designed to increase thoracic mobility. Interestingly enough, in Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes, physical therapist Shirley Sahrmann advocated the development of thoracic mobility and the limitation of lumbar mobility. The gleno-humeral joint is similar to the hip. The gleno-humeral joint is designed for mobility and therefore needs to be trained for stability. I think the need for stability in the gleno-humeral joint presents a great case for exercises like stability ball and BOSU push ups as well as unilateral dumbbell work. The inability of joints to funcion normally places stress on the joints above or below. In the book Ultra Prevention (actually a nutrition book), the authors describe our current method of reaction to injury perfectly. Their analogy is simple: our response to injury is like hearing the smoke detector go off and running to pull out the battery. The pain, like the sound, is a warning of some other problem. Icing a sore knee without examining the ankle or hip is like pulling the battery out of the smoke detector. What we need to realize is that, as the opening quote says, “we get old too soon and smart too late.” Every day, I learn more and more about the body. What I learn allows me to be a better coach and a better educator. Often, what I learn contradicts what I formerly believed. Just remember, the world was once thought to be flat.

Spiritual approach

2009-08-05T15:17:00.003+03:00

You may be ready to add more meaning to your life as mundane events at work require an increasing amount of your attention. Your workmates may not even realize how detached you feel when performing your tasks, and it's probably better to leave them out of your current dilemma. But this is not about escaping from your daily routine; it's about developing a more spiritual approach to what you must do.

Exactly the way I am feeling.

Every single discussion between cleaners turns to be a great moment of learning these days.

I see evolution every where!

I feel amazed by myself sometimes: how can I be so detached from commom feelings and so connected to the invisible?

Magazine

2009-07-31T20:37:00.001+03:00

Article for "Feminine Magazine" - first edition, Kuwait, July 2009.

Fitness and Women

To start our monthly encounters on these pages, “myths” came to be a good beginning.

Working in clubs for more than 25 years, showed me that the number of members in clubs believing sweat makes you slimmer is more than desirable and lead them to lose trust in good services for not reaching their goals!

So the idea of the articles that will be posted here is to guide you to REAL RESULTS while in a Health Club.

So many articles have been written about Fitness and Women in the last 10 to 20 years.

Before, without the proper research and equipment to understand joints and their limits, instructors around the world were practicing the so called “empirical method”: only guided by practical experience rather than precepts or theory.

Nowadays we cannot excuse ourselves and believe in the old fashion “miracle machine” that will make your abs flat in some weeks! Please, we know too much to be attached to antique, non-scientific, empiric knowledge!

Shall we face the myths?

Wrapping the body to sweat more and lose more.

There is only one way to shape your body, exercise and shape muscle. Fat cannot be shaped or moved from one area to another in our bodies, or melted with high temperatures. Otherwise the steam rooms and saunas would be the right solution. Fat has a process to “disappear” from our body deposits areas (nice name for belly fat…) and it includes movement. Muscles are feed by the break of fat after some minutes of constant exercise. Start moving big muscles (legs, chest, back) and the fat will be called to nurture the muscle contraction. Walking, playing sports, swimming, running, skate rolling, aerobics, lifting weights: for more than 20 minutes, will guarantee you fat burning.

So, wrapping your body with any type of material will make you sweat more and lose water, but no fat burning is enhanced because of the high temperature or tight belt.

Heavy weights for women will make them look like men and have big muscles.

Most female members in clubs are afraid to work out with heavy weights because of the mistaken information that to build muscles is that easy.

If you research in the web about testosterone – male hormone, you will feel relieved!

Women don’t have the male hormone that turns normal men into Mr. Muscle. Even if we wish to have big muscle it will be very difficult and imply into special diet, supplements, genetics and time!

Metabolism is a word we should have in mind. Speed metabolism is the answer to good body shape, self motivation and energy to carry on day-to-day activities. Heavy weights will accelerate your metabolism to this point. And, well oriented by a professional, you can increase, step by step, weights on your work out. Your results will appear in the waste line and in an amazing good mood!

Trust in your body structure! You are a woman, born to have strong personality not a strong biceps!

If I exercise as much as I can in one day and while fasting I will burn all my fat quickly.

From all myths, that’s the most dangerous one.

Your body has a limit of calories free to burn in one day. More than that, the brain shuts down the doors of calories, you burn muscles if insist to cross the line.

Your body does not accumulate exercise. So to do a lot of exercise today does not redeem you from work out tomorrow.

Fasting and exercise are a fatal mixture: blood pressure goes down, dizziness, dark vision can provoke serious injuries and, again, no calories are being burned.

The body systems are designed to give away calories for muscles to move only if the levels of food are satisfactory in the blood. Fasting is a bad idea of burning calorie. The body feels in dangerous and protects the main organ – BRAIN – from get rid of nutrition (the same nutrition we use to exercise – glycogen). Many people feel bad in Spinning classes or other cardio class and pass out inside the room. The brain is shutting down your senses, as your decisions make no sense for the big thinker!

For all of us that know the importance of exercising, the safety should be the main concern ever.

Next edition: what should I do to have a firm/slim/strong body?

Play safe and play forever.

Send your comments:

Marcia.novo@hotmail.com

m.novolopes@flexq8.com

Never ending education!

2009-07-30T14:22:00.002+03:00

Trainings for July and August:

Flex Jump- finalize the training with the instructors.

Swimming work shop-evaluate all swimming instructors. Improve their approach to the members, specially the ones afraid of water (there are many here!); technical adjustments for all styles.

Continuing the never ending path of education.

Happy.

Alone but happy.

Book

2009-07-13T22:25:00.002+03:00

Reading The 8th Habit.

Trying to keep the "standards" as Paulinho always says.

So, the leader in me won't die.

So, I will continue helping others find their vision of life.

So, my mission will be alive in these hard days.

The enviroment will not destroy the joy in me.

The lack of efficiency will not affect my wish to be better.

I will finally prove myself the strong power I have inside.

Definitely.

Cicles

2009-06-27T15:50:00.002+03:00

Another cycle, another (same!) journey.

Yesterday a great conclusion about the goings and comings back of me and him: there is something to be done in the future, that is why we cannot get apart!

Accepted the mission (huahuahua), life become easier. Again, the saying comes to my mind: with a proposal in life, we can cross the desert, if necessary!

Let us cross the desert, so!

*************

Disappointed, humm.... I might say obviously disappointed with the speed of the arabic people to solve other lifes issues. They do no consider at all the stress they provoke on people. Now I am waiting for the decision of the managers to continue my plan of turn Flex the Number One in Fitness in KW. For that to happen we need to have special recruitment, that I WAS doing before the interruption! Grrr....

Horoscope for today

2009-06-20T17:43:00.001+03:00

Thirst for action

During this time there could well be arguments in your circle of colleagues, friends or acquaintances. You are energetic, decisive, perhaps also a bit impatient and belligerent, and have little desire to take the sensitivities and weaknesses of others into account. Presumably there is no bad intention on your part - you just want to get things done. If you, however, with your thirst for action, think you can lightly overcome every objection and obstacle, you may well find that someone puts a spoke in your wheel and brings you back to earth. If this happens, you have probably, without conscious thought, just rejected or ignored someone, which is something you would find distinctly unpleasant were the same to happen to you.

...................................
No further comments....
Exactly how I am feeling and what happend already! Aff....

Comfortably numb

2009-06-17T19:11:00.003+03:00

Again comfortably back in my well known cave...

The refugee of my fears and mistakes…

My Protection and Care.

Feeling good.

Protection

2009-06-17T00:19:00.003+03:00

And because God is always within us, you just need to activate your divine molecules , everything that looked so scary turned out to be nothing.

Divine Presence in our lives, making us feel part of Life itself.

Meditation is vital in this country of so many faked realities.

Feeling very well.

God Bless us All.

Yesterday

2009-06-13T14:26:00.006+03:00

It was Friday, a day Muslims pray a lot.

I was feeling fragile, away from God, in need to talk to Him.

Asked for help of my Brazuca collegues: Let's pray?

And hands tied together, in a circle, we prayed our prayers.

It was very good.

The feeling of unity among us, our needs of: protection, friendship and Divine presence were all called at that moment.

Thanks Douglas for leading us into a special state of mind, a special spirit experience.

In our prayer: ourselves and our integrity in a strange country, our homes, Flex, our enemies.

I am still feeling up set for the last misunderstandings and willing to change the wrong ideas about me. But, as my mom said: calm down. The right time will come.

I will wait, since waiting is the "issue" of my life, isn't it?

I hope I can be always the open person I have always been.

Looking for the best in me and in the others.

Positive, stupidily optimistic!

I hope!

Damascus - Syria

2009-05-28T00:31:00.001+03:00

Border with Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Jordan.

Spent two days interviewing fitness female instructors for Flex.

Six brave ladies are coming to Kuwait, InShallah.

They want to be better and discover new aproachs for their carees.

We will be together for 2 weeks before they start in the clubs.

Syria, is a poor country, under a kind if comunism. The people is trying hard to get in touch with modernity, but obviously they are being blocked since always.

Politics can destroy development.

History is amazing in this part of the world.

They hold the place Caim killed Abel, biblic ancient history!

The top of this mountain is the monument representing the location.

ALso they claim to have fragments of the Noeh Arc!

My God...

Scary isn't it?

Damascus is a chaotic big capital as any other one.

The trafic is amazingly scary. Again I could not cross any street!

I realized I am too civilized to be in places where people is no respected!

Dirty, noise, people staring at me as I was an allien (they noticed?), and very good food.

Souks, many mosques, most all women dress the same: Black poor abaia, white hijab or a long coat and colorful hijab.

Actually, to buy coats there must be a very good idea.

and also clothes to work, since they are discret and elegant.

I will come back, I can say. I hope with more time and more knowledge. The museums must be very interesting.

Latest News...

2009-05-19T11:11:00.001+03:00

Free lyrics
(feat. Nigel Kennedy)

And do you still touch her like you do
Kissed all over in the way I kissed with you
Or when you sleep with her do you sometimes think of me
Not if you love her the way that I see
I Had to be free
Had to be free
It's all that I wanted

I wanted to see
Wanted to be
Alone if I needed

I Had to be free
Had to be free
From feelings that haunted

I wanted to see
Wanted to be
Free

And then in the evening light when the birds are free to fall
I watch the two of you in the shadows on the wall
How in the darkness stills some of the choices from my hand
Will I began to understand

I Had to be free
Had to be free
It's all that I wanted

I Wanted to see
Wanted to be
Alone if I needed

I Had to be free
Had to be free
From feelings that haunted

I wanted to see
Wanted to be
Free

I Had to be free
Had to be free
It's all that I wanted

I Wanted to see
Wanted to be
Alone if I needed

I Had to be free
Had to be free
From feelings that haunted

I wanted to see
Wanted to be
Free

Forever learn!

2009-04-28T22:20:00.002+03:00

Training with Paul Brown, F2F Retention Program.

Amazing 3 days of knowledge.

Enough to raise the moral, motivate people and get them all in the right track!

Many talents revealed, learning with mistakes and discovering instructors that really want more!

My Dream Team is being developed.

Next trainings: LMI, Functional and Body Coach.

With knowledge and pratice they will be the best in Middle East.

My desire is big. Also my strenght to make it happen!

Team Work?

2009-04-14T18:14:00.002+03:00

Wondering, if one day they will become a Team...

Changes are necessaries.

Locate the right people.

Relocate them if necessary.

Keep the motivation high.

And make them understand, together is so much better...

Enpowerment.

2009-04-07T20:25:00.002+03:00

The power comes to my hands, but I react in different way.

The expectations on me are great...

The idea of never desappointing anyway is becoming heavier and heavier...But I keep it as a main rule.

I still insist on Leadership instead of Bossy atittude. And I believe that is the right thing to be done.

And I will do it.

For stuborn people.

2009-03-28T19:20:00.004+03:00

How to survive to the desert weather?

Adapting, conecting to the new enviroment, "changing".

People should observe more the plants.

They even change their original color, as we can see in the picture above.

So they survive, there's no death of the species.

People resist too much in old habits, scape from understand the reality, hide themselves under the fragile blanket of knowledge (they understand as knowledge, but it not but ignorance!).

And the anchor of stupidity hold us from evolute.

Imagine a plant insisting in on have the same colors or the same amount of water for its necessities? The death would be certain.

But, smartly, it changes- color, way and time of absorving water, change the shape and size of the leaves and it last.

Humans: observe, admire and COPY the plants.

Leader ship

2009-02-21T20:23:00.002+03:00

Leaders, come to me. I need real leaders, available for discussion, ready to deep conversations about weak points, into change their view of life to be better.

Where are you, leaders of Kuwait?

Show me your face, we have a lot to do in this country.

The employees are ready to be colaborators. Willing to have a positive and optimistic leader ahead of them.

Submission and punishment are not working anymore.

Time to talk and discover the real source of unhappiness and descomfort.

Time for the leaders to be revealed.

Pilates Training

2009-02-08T12:41:00.003+03:00

Continuing after perfection, we met again, instructors and I for the Pilates Training.

Amazingly they were taking pictures and joining for a section of group poses!!!

Well, a Team is being formed right in front of my eyes, which makes me feel very good!

Believing in people is an act of courage, I know. And I am very courajous!

Believe they will see beyond the day-to-day life and face the wonders of changing someone's life!

I believe they will. Because I belive in human curiosity.

And I just need them to be a litlle curious, and I will catch them all! Just a bit of curiosity will make people change!

Yes, I am optimistic. Very optimistic.

The sun is here.

2009-02-05T17:46:00.004+03:00

Walks and more walks at the Gulf...

Sunsets and colors in the sky..

Impossible not to think how life is precious and has to be lived at 100%.

The day of that picture, the commom conclusion was: Yes, God exists.

Every afternoon I can see the beauty of Nature from my window in the 12th floor.

Always thinking of the magnitude of the Creator and his proposals...

Meanings of life...

I found my mission in life and now I help people to find theirs.

Did you find yours?

Feelings.

2009-01-14T11:14:00.004+03:00

We get disappointed every time our expectations are too high, or higher than people can reach.

My thoughts today are around expectations and MY disappointments…

I have been trying not to expect anything from anyone. It is a hard task, believe me. But I found out that is the only way to excuse always the “poor mortals” from their unbalanced actions and lives! From being tired of their huge empty inside spaces. From their lack of mission in life! Must be hard to live day after day without a proposal in the dam life!

Can you imagine: pray just because you HAVE to pray, go to work just because you HAVE to work, get married just because you HAVE to be married after certain age, have kids because people ask you to….

What a miserable life of HAVING to do things without meaning or pleasure.

More and more I feel blessed…

My whole life is full of meaning and pleasure.

Just sometimes I wish….I wish people should see life in a beautiful way.

Maybe only my eyes can see the beauty.

Maybe there is no beauty at all…

Very optimistic, believing in love and life, I walk forward, enjoying every sun set and the full Moon...

Having a boss AGAIN!!!!

2009-01-10T18:52:00.003+03:00

Makes me wonder: WHY???

I fight, I travel, I change and face a boss again... What a fate! Ups, I don't believe in fate. I believe there is no coincidence in this Planet. No Sir! Every thing is here for a reason.

So what could be the reason making me crazy, that my superiors never reach my 50% capacity? What am I doing wrong? Should I work forever at 30%? Maybe I should. Or I am doing something really mistaken...

What could it be??? Any tips?

Should I be my own boss?

Or work as free lancer?

What???

I want more!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...............

Ok, I will look for more!

New Year!

2008-12-31T15:54:00.004+03:00

Always full of hope, I walk into a new year of that wonderful life of mine!

Surprises might come, dreams might take place in my brain and heart, and there we go again, enjoying life as much as possible.

This year is a bit different, since I do not have my family around but I found a company... That fellow is helping me recover happiness I have forgotten a long time ago... The happiness of enjoy life with somebody. I have been doing that alone for a while.

Anyway, 2008 was a amazing year, full of new actions and new challenges. Exactly the way I like it: full of surprises without expectations.

For 2009 I will burn my non desired behaviors, the attitudes that does not fit with me anymore and old habits. Make yourself a list of undesirable habits, the ones that put yourself in trouble, write them down and burn the paper. With the writings, the words will be burnt. And you will fell clean and fresh for the new year.

Many sunshine days for all.

Peace inside, and parties outside!!!!

December 24th, 2008.

2008-12-24T14:37:00.002+03:00

Yes it is Christmas!!!!

To say the truth: I didn't feel it coming and I don't feel it now.

Being way from the West makes us forget the comemorations that take place in this period of time.

No decorations at the houses, no Santa Claus giving gifts in the Malls, no "Red and Green" around.

I feel like today is a normal day, probably because it IS a normal day.

The clubs are opened normally, we don't have many costumers, they are maybe celebrating.

People in Brasil sending messages of Happiness and Joy. Good friends I have.

My heart is divided today: my life here and my family in Brasil.

Soon it will pass. Soon.

Merry Christmas Marcia. Merry Christmas everyone.

Dance is the hidden language of the soul.

2008-12-20T00:15:00.001+03:00

Dance has always silently expressed my deeper feelings.
The wish to find someone that could read that language was profound and discret.
What about dance up to 3 o'clock in the morning and lose contact with time and space? Thousands of unspoken words said in a variaty of languages without saying anything?
I lived the dream I haven't dear to dream: to dance and be understood by someone that also wanted the same.
Maybe it was a dream, anyway...

Surprises...

2008-12-12T18:36:00.003+03:00

What about arriving home after a stressed day and receive that surprise....

I have to say, I LOVED IT!!!!

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it

2008-12-12T17:39:00.003+03:00

It was a beautiful afternoon Sun Set.

Perfect lines and simetry. Impossible not to photograph it!

Light drawing wonders at the sea...

Before having the hair cut.

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.

It was posted on Orkut. And it is an unavoidable truth.

It seams as much you run towards the sucess, it runs away from you! As soon you get busy with something else and forgets about being "special", it knocks at your door!

Amazing life, really amazing. Maybe to be a sucess is not that important, anyway. We just have to be happy, with happy people around us!

Trying to be good does not mean you are good!

2008-12-10T12:18:00.002+03:00

"Trying" is not necessarily the answer for all questions. After trying there is a long road to reach sucess.

I feel people trying like desperately to do "something" to get results. Any results. And then, after trying to get it, they just abandon the projects. No following steps, no checking rules, no continuing developing.

And sudden forgetness.

While we are trying to reach a mark, we struggle against all obstacles, agains bad energy, and we should fight against lazyness, amateurish attitude, and lack of focus.

In Kuwait people are still "trying" to do something, it doesn't mean they are effectively doing anything. They should not rest until get it, whatever it is!

I still have to tune my expectations to that ones of my colleges'. My own expectations are very high! I always push myself to the maximum! It seams it will be misused by the "trying people"... Again full power for blowing a candle!!!

What I see is...

2008-12-07T12:43:00.008+03:00

Enjoying cold weather at the Golf.

Beauty, different from what I am used to. But definitely beauty.

Since first day I appreciate the Sun, the Mosques shadows, the Gulf and its secrets...

The amazing miscelaneous of the streets and dressing habits of this Babel TOWER.

The constrasts of believes and cultures makes me stop to observe it!

Yes, we live in the Era of acceptance of differences. And this is the place to practice it!

Jogging in the same side walk we have "hijabs", ladies covered, children from many nacionalities, americans enjoying the sun heat, teen agers talking desperately on the mobiles, ladies in full make up at 4pm, loud black music, also loud arabic music, people watching other people, people watching the Sea, and a brazilian amuzed with this garden of variety!

Most of my feelings come from the patterns I have, I am very aware of it. And it is the curious and interesting aspect of being an observer here. The antagonism that happens when we face openly the differences makes us better people. Acceptance heal us from inside.

Of course it is much easier blam

e the unconfortable feelings we have on other people nacionalities.

'Their food smells!' (as ours don't!)

'Funny accent!'(oh, nobody has accent...)

'They are all thieves!'(it doesn't matter your education, if you are born in certain country, you steal!)

And many other special expressions about other people's aspects...

Sad.

We miss the oportunity of getting in touch with real people and their histories.

It is precious and should not be neglected!

As I walk among the people, I feel the waste of time of pre jugdmenting others.

Maybe we could find a good soul among the other soccer team fan club, couldn't we?

Is it so impossible to believe?

What is so different anyway? Earth will eat us all at the end.

Don't waste your time, I don't waste mine.

And life is showing me people are all the same, anywhere, anytime, any religion.

We are all running towards the same direction, aren't we?

Towards GOD?

So.... Better do it together.

My view of Kuwait.

Last Post

Good bye.

HA!

5 Simple Steps To Start Your Day Productively

Pictures to Touch

Lately the world is ...

And we are always learning, isn't it?

Another reason to exercise!!!

Against many myths among club members, exercise is a way to prevent varicose veins and not the cause of them. Article extracted from http://www.webmd.com

Varicose Veins

What are varicose veins?

What are the symptoms?

How are varicose veins diagnosed?

How are they treated?

A small view of Pilates Method

The (unacceptable!) truth about CELLULITE. IRC.

Cellulite

Cellulite Causes

Cellulite Treatments

Formula for Heart Rate during exercise

Because the world can be a good place to live on.

From Lance Amstrong site!

13 steps to a better life.

Maybe they will listen to IHRSA, because to me, nobody listen...

I happily read the article and wish from the bottom of my heart everyone around me read and understand it for good!

Quantum Insights At IHRSA 2011

The Great Dictator - by Charlie Chaplin.

Reviewing plans.

Reading about depression

Ten solutions for depression:Better SleepDepression can rob you of rest by making it hard to fall asleep or by waking you up too soon. That leaves you dragging the next day. And more important, lack of sleep can make depression more severe. Treatment for depression can help improve sleep.

Ten solutions for depression:

Better Sleep

Better Love Life

Pain Relief

Improved Health

Better Performance at Work

Sharper Thinking and Better Memory

Happier Home Life

Healthier Lifestyle

Less Chaos, More Control

Lower Risk of Future Depression

Stronger Ties With Friends & Family

Getting Help

In Sao Paulo - Leadership

In Sao Paulo

just few words.

Frequencies

Decisions

The days we proved we are STRONG!

Latest book

And in a professional level...

lately

Just pictures

Some stories.

Changes

Pleasure X Work

Forever???

Iemanja.

Psalm 91

Psalm 91

challenge

Changes on the horizon

Les Mills and the world.

Competition Flex Women.

Edition of December 2009, Feminine Magazine

Edition of November 2009, Feminine Magazine

Article for Feminine Magazine

In the future.

TRX

2010

memories

One year.

Changes on the way

Straight forward

Recently

300 days report

Flex Jump

"We get old too soon and smart too late."

Spiritual approach

Ten solutions for depression:
Better Sleep
Depression can rob you of rest by making it hard to fall asleep or by waking you up too soon. That leaves you dragging the next day. And more important, lack of sleep can make depression more severe. Treatment for depression can help improve sleep.