Why I left NYC and my beloved martial arts practice
*In NYC, training Capoeira (circa 2010).
When I was 30 years old I had been living in New York City for ten years and training the Brazilian martial art, known as Capoeira for six years. I love both that city and that martial art more than words can express…in fact, to this day, I’d say a big part of how I show up in the world (with tenacity, integrity, and forthrightness) come from those two teachers - my father, a gritty city and my mother, a rebellious martial art.
At the time, I was also teaching mindfulness to at-risk and incarcerated youth as well as yoga in several studios all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. In addition, I worked with a non-profit that had implemented a program I created called BAMM (body awareness through mindfulness and movement) into several all-girl schools in underserved areas of New York City.
Life was good. I had broken through so many self-implemented barriers (such as becoming a teacher - which terrified me for at least two solid years before I ‘found' my voice, discovering that my scars were my sermon) and I had given up many self-destructive habits (such as cutting myself) that were giving me a false sense of release and power. And yet…there was this vision that I had for myself of who I intended to become in this lifetime. One that was born long before I landed in that city that never sleeps or at the feet of my Capoeira Mestre. In fact, I believe that very vision brought me to those places and was now calling me forth into my next level expansion. I had a vision of a woman who was confident, self-trusting/accepting, and powerful in the most connected and loving way.
There was a time in my life when I pretended I was those things, but in truth, I was deeply wounded and only allowed so much joy and love into my world before sabotaging it. Fortunately, in my early 20’s I discovered a world of healing - therapy, holistic health, yoga, coaching, and supportive communities that didn’t let me be less than who I could be. And it was within this place that I saw clearly who I wanted to become truly and fully.
Since then, my life mission has been to step into that woman’s shoes - a confident, self-trusting, self-accepting, powerful woman of depth, wisdom, and love. The thing that comes with that mission is two folds - life becomes rich with possibility, wonder, and potential. And you also have to agree to stay awake…to listen to the still, small voice and show up for her, even when life feels messy. I realized I don’t get to become her only when it’s convenient for me and only when life asks of me the things that fit well with my ego’s sense of certainty and security. If I was to become her, I was going to have to surrender.
I don’t always listen right away. I get it! It’s challenging when life calls us up to our potential. We are strange humans who question the very opportunities that will move us in the direction we say we want to go. We come up with elaborate and clever excuses for why it’s not the right time. We are both vying for expansion and also afraid of it.
And I understand why. Because that still, small voice often requests of us something that is hard to bare at first. It’s asking us to leave ‘good’ and ‘safe’ relationships, careers, homes, and ideals. This is the voice that dares to ask us to try things we aren’t sure of, feel ready for, and don’t know if we can succeed at. It also asks us to notice more clearly the difference between running from something and running towards something. That’s a very different energy and creates very different results. After years of coaching, I think most of us don’t trust ourselves because when we do ‘take chances’…it wasn’t our still, small voice guiding us towards expansion and our potential - it was our ego guiding us to run away from pain. THIS is why having a vision for who you want to become is so essential. That’s a running towards kind of life and will produce very different results than a running away from kind of life.
What I now know in my bones is this…the voice of our soul never sends us requests (nor does it ask us to run from something). That still, small voice is not asking us politely to do this or that. Rather than a request, it’s inviting us into our unique life quest. And if we’re brave enough to unwind from the safety of the status quo, taking our rightful place on the ship called, ‘who I really want to become’…well, my friends, it will take you on adventures both intrinsically and extrinsically that will no doubt, bring you home to yourself - to your wholeness.
So…why did I leave the good and safe NYC and martial arts? Because the still, small voice invited me into a new quest. The stories I have and the places I went (both within and without) are priceless to me. I didn’t know it at the time, but a few years later I realized I had to leave NYC and that martial art. Not because they were holding me back, but because my personal quest required that of me so I could become fully who I am. It was time for me to discover who I was without ‘mom’ and ‘dad.’ These two that I had said saved me from myself. These two who I identified with so deeply that without them, I wasn’t sure who I was or that I could survive this world. I had learned great skills from them and it was time for me to trust I could ‘fly’ without them. It was time for me to become boundless.
My friends…there are just a few days left to register for my upcoming course, community, and coaching experience, Boundless. This is not just a program - it’s a way of being, a spiritual and leadership deep dive, a soul bath, a confidence igniter, a clarity balm, and a union with your still, small voice inviting you into your unique quest towards becoming who you truly want be….are meant to be.
Please don’t pass this opportunity up - if you are feeling drawn to it TRUST THAT feeling, trust that voice that is encouraging you. The voice that has a million clever excuses why ‘this is not the right time’ is not in service to your highest self. If you have hesitations, book a call with me. I won’t pressure you…I’ll simply listen, answer questions, and let you feel the genuineness of my mission. I have no desire to go alone on this lifetime quest to bringing my full self to the world…so I am as committed to you as I am to myself.
Let’s play! Drink in the divine! Soften, tenderly and Rise, boldly…together.
BOUNDLESS includes: (all sessions take place via Zoom - a virtual meeting space)
• 8 LIVE Transformational Trainings. These take place within the first 9-weeks (of the 8-month experience). I have set this experience up so that by April 1st, everyone involved will have so much clarity and power that they will be ready to fly into quarter two of 2020 with grace and confidence. The trainings will cover everything from the Law of Resonance (think the law of attraction - but deeper, truer, more authentic - we’ll go into the neuroscience and consciousness of co-creation) to teaching you love and abundance ‘spells.’ Oh, and I did say this would be fun, right! Of course, these are not actual spells…but it will feel like it because the magic of (self) love and abundance will be all around you.
• 14 LIVE Coaching Circles. The first 8 will take place within the initial 9-week immersion and then the final 6 will take place in the last six months (happening once a month). You will have access to a senior coach with more than a decade of experience and a black belt equivalence of certifications in training -> I have a degree in public relations and advertising (a blend of psychology and business), I'm a yoga therapist, a holistic health counselor, a master level coach in the transformational coaching method, a neuro-linguistic programming practitioner, and a martial artist for many, many years. I have also successfully created and launched products, virtual and live programs, certificate trainings, and retreats. I know what I’m doing and I’m devoted to supporting my people. The group coaching circle will be game-changing in exposing your blind spots, supporting you to be stronger and clearer than you ever thought possible, and will soothe your soul on a deeply nourishing level.
• 6 LIVE Leadership lessons. These lessons will take place during the six months following the 9-week immersion. They will happen once a month. The topics will be chosen by the group. Essentially you will submit any leadership-related topic and I will teach a lesson on it as long as it falls within my expertise. I already have several lessons that can be chosen from as well, such as, Conscious Cashflow for Conscious Changemakers, Communication Skills for Dealing with Conflict and Creating Positive Influence, and The Artistry of Public Speaking & Rapport.
• FUN Accountability with Contribution. During the 9-week immersion, there will be light, yet deeply impactful soul/leadership homework. Those who fully participate in this will be entered into a drawing to win a few prizes, along with the opportunity to donate up to $1,200 to a cause of their choice. I will take $50 from the investment of every person who enrolls and that will be pooled together to create a total amount to be donated (in your name) to a charity that you believe in. Contribution is at the heart of fulfillment and will impact not only you but the lives of those who you have given to by being a stand (showing up fully) for your own growth and potential. After the 9-week immersion, I will be pairing you into small groups of 3-4 people. These souls will become your ‘boundless buddies’ for your once a month power-up circle. You will have six of these sessions with your group (once a month for six months). They will support you with your vision, your beautiful life/work in the world project(s), and hold your heart tenderly as you move through the inevitable ups and downs that come with playing big in life.
• A Virtual Home Base + Boundless Atheneum. You will have access to a private Facebook group for the entirety of 2020. This is a space for us to connect between seeing each other for the live sessions. You can ask questions here, ask for support/or simply be seen, & share wins. You will also have access to our virtual Atheneum (a sanctuary where poets and scholars went to learn and study) where I will store all the replays of the trainings, lessons, and coaching sessions (along with any other material we touch on for the purpose of your growth and expansion).
• PLUS a $500 discount to FLOURISH! This is my destination retreat for the precious unfolding of your wild soul (2020 we go to Tuscany, Italy!) Oct. 3-10. The beautiful thing about this is it happens right after Boundless ends (what a way to celebrate!) and is an opportunity to meet your new incredible friends in person. Your investment into Flourish is the lowest price possible, at $1,995. Essentially, you could curate almost an entire year of support for yourself, ending with an epic trip to Italy, for less than $3,600!
As you can see, joining BOUNDLESS is so much more than a program…it’s a chance to set yourself up for not just success, but deep soul level fulfillment.
Will you join this expansive community…in becoming boundless?
