A Plea to The Broken

For The Broken

Kintsukuroi is the art of repairing broken pottery with a lacquer resin. Its earliest origins can be traced back to 15th century China when an officer in the military sent back a tea bowl for repairs. It was returned to him, patched up and completely usable. The Japanese quickly caught hold of the idea, and improved on it by adding the powdered gold to the lacquer.

These mended pots were so beautiful that people began intentionally breaking valuable ceramics just so they could be mended.

Not only did the golden veins in the repaired pottery add beauty, the broken pots were more valuable than they were when they were in their original, unblemished state.

Your Cracks Are The Source Of Your Beauty

You see where this is going…

You are not unlike these pots.

You gain value as you weather the hardships of life. Every time you chip, break, and shatter, then go through the process of healing and overcoming, is proof of your value.

It is through your trials, your imperfections, and your flaws that you gain your most valuable virtues.

These “imperfections” are the evidence of your courage, tenacity, patience, love, and strength. They are proof of the lessons you’ve learned and the growth you’ve experienced. With each struggle, crack, and repair, you add to your beauty.

So often we see these “cracks” as a reason for us to be unlovable, unwanted, or unworthy. And yet, their existence make us into the exact polar opposite.

Your cracks are what make you so different from every human on the planet. Learn to love your cracks. They are the very source of your soul’s beauty.

If you liked this post, I'd love it if you'd share it.

5 Tips To Help You Move Past a Breakup

Breakups Suck...

So, naturally, last week The Loveumentary hosted Vienna Pharaon LMFT for a webinar on how to move forward after a breakup.

Endings can be horribly painful. They require us to let go of a significant part of our identity - being a partner. We have to give up the future we have been creating in our heads for years, or even decades, with the one we love. And we have to give up the person we love... our friend, our confidant, our lover, our partner.

The pain can go very deep. But the saying "Time heals all wounds." may be incorrect. It's not necessarily time that heals wounds, but time well spent.

Here are 5 tips from Vienna to help you get past a breakup.

If you want to see the full 1-hour webinar, just click the button below and I'll send you the recording!

Get The Webinar Now!

1. Let yourself feel.

Cry. Hurt. Cry some more...you're not human if you don't.

It hurts because it mattered. Remember that, and be gentle with yourself

Pain can be good! It doesn't feel good, but it is healing.

Use your pain to learn about what you're experiencing. What information does the pain tell you? 

2. Talk about it.

Share your story with friends, family... or your therapist. Talk it through over and over again.

Recognize how you feel today. Maybe it's the same as yesterday... maybe it's a little different. Regardless, keep talking about it and sharing how you feel. Processing it is necessary.

Sometimes we have to say the same things 13 times to really feel heard and understood.

3. Stay busy...not avoidant.

Don't just do things to fill your time. Do the things you love to do because YOU LOVE TO DO THEM.

Developing important parts of your identity during this time is crucial. A big part of your identity just got wiped (being a partner) so it's critical that your other roles are intact.

You may not be a partner anymore, but you are still the rest of yourself. Do not let those parts go

4. Exercise. Every. Day.

When you work out you're not just doing a great thing for your body, you're also cleaning your mind.

When a relationship ends, we're generally pretty emotionally flooded...that means the emotions can take over, often times leaving us feeling like we're drowning. When we work out, we release endorphins, serotonin, dopamine! These chemicals boost our mood and decrease the pain we feel - both physical and emotional.

Exercise helps us think about what's happened from a clearer space.

5. Surround yourself with people who love you.

You may not be feeling particularly lovable after an emotional breakup. The personal narrative of "Am I Lovable" gets questioned... so being around people who remind you that you are loved and cared about is necessary.

As you begin to do these things, you begin to learn how to exist without your person. You're relearning how to live your days.

Slowly you will arrive.

Want to dive deeper into these 5 topics? Click here to get access to the full webinar:

Get The Webinar Now!

The 5 Seconds That Keep You From Having The Life You Want

5 Seconds Makes All The Difference!

Have you ever had somebody explain something to you and suddenly something that you've experienced your entire life just makes sense?

Yesterday I was watching this awesome TEDx Talk by Mel Robbins and it felt like Mel got all up inside my brain. (How did you do that, Mel? For reals.)

What really hit home with me is called the 5 Second Rule.

The idea is that sometimes we get these ideas, impulses, urges, or promptings to do something outside our comfort zone - It can be anything from jumping off a waterfall, to being the first person out on the dance floor, to giving someone a sincere compliment.

When you don't act on these impulses within 5 seconds of receiving them, the likelihood of you doing something about them goes straight to the crapper.

We talk ourselves out of it.

We get lost inside our own heads.

We convince ourselves it's too risky, juvenile, weird, vulnerable, or scary.

We miss the opportunity.

Yeah? So what? What does this have to do with love?

Woah, take it easy. I'm going to tell you...

Amazing love and successful relationships require vulnerability. Vulnerability means letting down your guard, or allowing potential harm to befall you.

Those impulses we get to do something wild and crazy - like complimenting someone you find attractive, or asking someone on a date, or moving in for the first kiss, or initiate sex, or proposing, or buying someone a gift, or asking them to dance - are the things that make love thrive!

If you stop acting on those seemingly crazy ideas, you lose passion, connection and playfulness in your relationship.

You defeat yourself with inaction.

All choices have consequences. Choosing to do nothing is a choice. A choice often followed by painful consequences.

Stop thinking. Start doing.

Pick up the phone. Ask for what you want. Offer the compliment. Ask her out. Pull him in tight and kiss him.

Please. Your life depends on it.

(Click below to see the video that inspired this post:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp7E973zozc#t=19m0s

To Love Is To Be Vulnerable

 

Source: Zen Pencils

Your Life Can Be Boring or Dramatic

Hey, my name is Nat and I’ve been a fan of The Loveumentary since early 2013. Mostly I sit where you sit -- reading, listening and being inspired by Nate’s genius and moved by the stories of people who love courageously and live compassionately.

Without taking any or much credit for it, I’ve helped Nate out over the years too. I’ve stuffed boxes for Unbox Love, worked through plans for Love School, edited blog posts and emails, pushed the Kickstarter campaign out to a few more people, advised Nate on tricky business decisions, and introduced him to mentors who have helped shape what the Loveumentary is today.

We’ve become great friends.

So to come ‘round to the other side of Nate’s business where you can see me and read what I think … well, it’s daunting to give you content.

I so respect the Loveumentary community and the commitment Nate has to deliver quality content that makes you a better lover and lifts the quality of relationships everywhere. I feel underqualified to serve that mission, and I have no idea if what I have to say will make you a better lover. But it’s a solid insight. It’s given me a way to combine all the hours of podcasts and all the pages of emails now in my head because of Nate.

Enjoy.

Your Life Can Be Boring or Dramatic

Doesn’t it seem that way? Like, you’re either dramatic and exciting and alive, or you’re boring and lame and lifeless?

Here’s the thing: everyone loves a compelling story.

If you need evidence, just look at a movie theater.

Is anyone selling a boring story?

No.

(Well. Some stories are boring. But they don't sell many tickets to those shows...)

So if you can’t make a good movie from a boring story, you gotta make one from dramatic one, right?

If you’re someone who’s holding out for living anything more than a life of pure banality and lameness, you probably said yes.

This is why you have so much drama in your life. Which you hate. But you also love.

If you think being boring is the worst thing in the world, then the way to not live a boring life is to live a dramatic one.

A lame life is the worst. Better to live with excitement even if it’s nuts.

Being forgotten is awful. Better to be remembered even if it means being a bitch.

Going unnoticed is unfathomable. Better get attention, even if it takes causing a scene.

Feeling nothing is death. I’d rather feel something than nothing, even if it’s horrible.

What we love about drama is that it makes us feel something.

And because we want to feel something, we look up… or stir up… drama.

It’s not hard.

We witness drama all the time, take your pick: Cheating. Lying. Deceiving. Complaining. Bullying. Aggression. Judgment. Mockery. Exclusion. Sadness. Depression. Angst. Upset. Pleasure. Gluttony. Greed. Seduction.

Look it up, any of the above: In movies. In magazines. On daytime TV. On Netflix TV. In gossip. On Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

As it turns out, it’s not hard to invent drama.

Which is why I think so many of our stories are dramatic.

And that’s a problem.

Our culture tells so many dramatic stories, we think they are the only kind that make us feel.

Have you heard Nate say why he started The Loveumentary?

He started it and you’re reading this post because he got tired of the same two dramatic stories being told over and over:

1. Unrealistic Fairy Tales. These are the glossed over, positively dramatic stories of cloud 9 romance, 20 karat rings, Prince Charmings, glittering vampires, sleeping beauties, and happily ever afters.
2. Disaster & Destruction: These are the TMI, abhorrently dramatic stories of spouses unfaithful, scandalous, forever-nagging and deserving of tabloid spreads, abuse, selfishness, and sadness.

And then there’s the story no one talks about … the story of boring.

“The fairy tale doesn’t last, and I don’t want disaster and destruction… so I guess I'd better be happy just being boring…”

But there’s a third option. There’s more than just boring or dramatic.

There’s another story that makes us feel: The story of TRIUMPH!

Triumph is exciting. And it makes for a great story.

It’s challenging. It’s hard. There’s struggle. There’s high and there’s lows.

It’s full of drama... but this drama is different.

Stories of triumph have something at stake, so the drama has purpose.

When you take on a challenge, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you attempt mastery of a new skill, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you explore territory uncharted, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you forgive a deed long past, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you let go of excuses long held to avoid growth, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you face a fear head on, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you serve someone who’s taken more than they’ve given, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you chase a new record, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you pursue consistency where you’ve never had habit, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you create what’s never before existed, you’re living a story of triumph.

When you embrace risk, you’re living a story of triumph.

And when you fall down, bruise your knees, get upset, fall behind, lose, fall to injury, have your heart broken, miss a shot or a deadline and are rejected … all while pursuing any of these things … that’s all drama that’s worth it.

Drama for the sole sake of feeling something, is empty. It’s cheap. You get the feeling and then there you are, right where you started.

This drama runs at the expense of human emotion with no return on the other side.

While instantly gratifying it’s ultimately unsatisfying.

When you first pursue triumph and drama ensues, there is meaning in it.

It’s FOR something and part of a bigger journey. Triumph-drama is an investment. It comes with feeling, and as it passes you move forward and others upward.

It too runs the expense (and the expanse) of human emotion, and ends with a return at the finale.

While initially agonizing it’s ultimately glorifying.

* * *

I think we’ll always have a desire to feel something deep in our bones. And that desire will push us to look up, and stir up drama.

Those who choose drama, will live dramatically and experience very little growth.

Some will choose boring, and will live with banality.

And now I see we have a third choice: The story of Triumph.

Triumph. A life of progress. A life of improvement. A life of extraordinary.

Want to live a life of Triumph? Come to LoveCon. What's that? Oh, just another one of those things I've been helping Nate with. 3 days of awesome: anything and everything you need to be an amazing lover and live stories of triumph in all your relationships. November 20-22 in the Salt Lake City area. Early bird tickets aren't even available yet, but CLICK HERE and you'll be the first to know when they are.

If You Could Transform Your Love Life In One Way, What Would It Be?

Hey there! Since I started The Loveumentary nearly 3 years ago, my goal has been to help other people find answers to the biggest questions and struggles in their lives.

For years I've used my own life and experiences as a template for what to write about, and share... until last week.

A good friend of mine who has been helping me produce the podcast asked me, "What does The Loveumentary tribe need the most?"

I had no idea.

You are not all like me. Your life, your struggles, your worries, your desires - they all might be incredibly different than mine.

So, in an effort to give you more of what you need, I've put together this quick survey. Please fill it out. It would mean SO much to me.

I will use your answers as inspiration for new topics to research and write about, or create courses around, or offer support for, and maybe even provide some powerful answers.

I'll also be sending out some prizes to a few of you who fill out this survey, so there's a little extra incentive!

I'LL TAKE THE SURVEY!

Thank you for helping me make The Loveumentary better! It means so much to me.

"Am I happy in my marriage?" When was that ever such an important question?

This week I was listening to some past episodes of the TED Radio Hour podcast, and I stumbled on this interview with Esther Perel. Her book and her TED Talk opened my mind to a new way of thinking. This interview feels like the icing on the cake. I wanted to share it with you because I think it will help you look at your challenges in a different way, or maybe even approach your relationships with a new lens.

I've transcribed the entire interview for you (in case you can't listen to it, or you want to re-visit specific sections). I'd love to hear what you think in the comments!

---

TED: Do you think love is like a construct or do you think it's a fact?

EP: It's an experience. It's an experience that is mental, emotional, physical, sensual, sensory. It's all-encompassing. That's part of why it's so grand, because it doesn't leave any part of us untouched.

TED: When people meet you and you say, "I'm Esther Perel, I wrote this book called Mating in Captivity." What's the most common reaction you get from people?

EP: Well, the first reaction is usually to the title, "Mating in Captivity." Some people know exactly what I mean. They understand immediately that we don't necessarily like to mate in captivity and so then the next question is, "So, can desire be sustained in the long haul? Can you reconcile the domestic and the erotic in one relationship? Can you reconcile intimacy and sexuality when you're with the same person for the long haul?"

Excerpt from Esther Perel's TEDx Talk:

So, why does good sex so often fade, even for couples who continue to love each other as much as ever? And why does good intimacy not guarantee good sex, contrary to popular belief? Or, the next question would be, can we want what we already have? That's the million-dollar question, right? And why is the forbidden so erotic? What is it about transgression that makes desire so potent? And why does sex make babies, and babies spell erotic disaster in couples? (Laughter) It's kind of the fatal erotic blow, isn't it? And when you love, how does it feel? And when you desire, how is it different?

These are some of the questions that are at the center of my exploration on the nature of erotic desire and its concomitant dilemmas in modern love. So I travel the globe, and what I'm noticing is that everywhere where romanticism has entered, there seems to be a crisis of desire. A crisis of desire, as in owning the wanting -- desire as an expression of our individuality, of our free choice, of our preferences, of our identity -- desire that has become a central concept as part of modern love and individualistic societies.

EP: Desire was never the organizing principle of sexuality for sure in marriage. We had sex because we needed lots of children and we had sex because it was a woman's marital duty. So, desire is very much a concept of our society - of our culture - today... of a consumer society, of a society that has the "I" in the center. And this "I" knows who she is and knows what he wants, and is constantly urged to define it and to want more.

TED: So what does that do? What's the result?

EP: We crumble under the weight of expectation. We've never invested more in love and we've never divorced more in the name of love. We're not having very nice results.

That doesn't mean that when we had less expectations marriages were happier occasions, but people had different expectations of life.

One of the most important things we've done around marriage is that we've brought happiness down from the heavens, and made it first, a possibility, and now today it's a mandate.

Am I happy in my marriage? When was that ever such an important question?

This idea that my marriage is supposed to give me something. That I'm supposed to get something from my partner and that my partner owes me that because somehow it was implicit in our agreement in our joining together that we were going to give each other things like:

I'll never feel alone again! I'll never worry about abandonment! I'll never feel disconnected! I'll never feel unnoticed!

TED: The thing is, marriage is great! I'm speaking for myself here of course. It is that person. That person is your best friend. And that's our expectation. 

EP: In America.

But I can tell you I go to many parts of the world where I don't ever hear people say, "My partner is my best friend."

They HAVE best friends. And it's not their partner. Their partner is their partner. That's a different thing. And frankly, many people treat their partners in ways that they would never treat their best friends. They allow themselves to say and do things that no best friend would ever accept.

Friendship does not operate along the same lines.

Excerpt from Esther Perel's TEDx Talk:

So what sustains desire, and why is it so difficult? And at the heart of sustaining desire in a committed relationship, I think, is the reconciliation of two fundamental human needs. On the one hand, our need for security, for predictability, for safety, for dependability, for reliability, for permanence. All these anchoring, grounding experiences of our lives that we call home. But we also have an equally strong need -- men and women -- for adventure, for novelty, for mystery, for risk, for danger, for the unknown, for the unexpected, surprise -- you get the gist. For journey, for travel. So reconciling our need for security and our need for adventure into one relationship, or what we today like to call a passionate marriage, used to be a contradiction in terms. Marriage was an economic institution in which you were given a partnership for life in terms of children and social status and succession and companionship. But now we want our partner to still give us all these things, but in addition I want you to be my best friend and my trusted confidant and my passionate lover to boot, and we live twice as long.

So we come to one person, and we basically are asking them to give us what once an entire village used to provide. Give me belonging, give me identity, give me continuity, but give me transcendence and mystery and awe all in one. Give me comfort, give me edge. Give me novelty, give me familiarity. Give me predictability, give me surprise. And we think it's a given, and toys and lingerie are going to save us with that.

TED: So if marriage has evolved into this thing that's so fraught with potential problems and pitfalls and obstacles, how do we save it and improve it?

EP: Oh yes, I get that question all the time, and I have a different answer every day. It ranges from, you know, the secret to happy relationship -- I don't think in those terms actually. That's the first thing. It's not my language. I don't think about secrets, nor "keys to..." nor 7 ways to..., nor "10 steps..."

TED: You don't have the answer for us -- like the bumper sticker answer?

EP: No. But I do have a sense in the American context, it's often a "can do" question. You know, this is a society that thinks that every problem has a solution. And then one of my answers is that this dilemma between our need for security and our need for adventure, and how we're trying to bring them together under one roof is maybe more a paradox that we manage, and less a problem that we solve.

5 Things You Don’t Say To Someone Who Is Grieving

My good friend Kristin over at The Healing Group wrote this post a while back, and it really resonated with me. Grief is one of those things that most of us will not escape life without experiencing in some form or another. Grief can be crippling. It can change you as a person.

It's important to be able to process the grief in your life in a healthy... and to be understanding of others in your life who might not be themselves because of the burden of grief they are carrying around with them. I know I wish more people had followed these rules during the difficult grieving period I recently went through.

I hope this post helps you feel a little less alone... or that it helps to keep you from saying something really stupid:

---

As human beings, it’s in our nature to desire and strive for “sameness.” We like to feel secure and safe as much as possible. We create systems and protocols and procedures so there is a sense of structure and predictability. We do these things because, deep down, we know and understand that nothing is really ever totally safe, predictable or or constant.

Although death is an absolute certain part of our experience, in order to keep a sense of control and security we sometimes choose to ignore this facet of our human existence until it comes crashing into our world. When that happens to someone we know and love, or someone we may not know as well, but with whom we have to interact such as a co-worker, it can sometimes be difficult to know what to say. So, we either avoid that person, or we, with very good intentions, say something awkward and walking away wishing we had said nothing at all.

While there isn’t a comprehensive list of what to say, there are definitely a few things not to say:

“Call me if you need to talk.”

Those who have lost a loved one are in a very challenging time. Their feeling of “safety and security” has been altered and they may be trying to make sense of their new reality. During this time they may not know what they need nor when they’ll need it. Telling them to call you absolves you of any responsibility toward caring for them and places it squarely on their shoulders — which are already burdened by the loss they are carrying.

If you have the type of relationship in which you would call or visit, take the initiative yourself and do it, instead of waiting for them to reach out. Your timely phone call may be just what they then realized they needed.

“I understand exactly how you feel.”

The keyword in that phrase is, “exactly.”

Nobody knows exactly how someone else feels.

You don’t know the nature of the relationship or how the person viewed it. What may seem like a small loss to you (maybe a loss of a beloved pet) may be a big loss to them. Even if you have lost someone in the past, their situation is different from yours in unique ways you don’t understand.

Instead, saying something like, “You’re not alone. I love you,” is more helpful.

“Stay strong.”

Just who do they have to stay strong for? You?

Grieving individuals need a chance to feel and express a wide range of emotions, from anger to sadness to confusion to hope and maybe back to anger.

Instead of telling them how to feel, you can be the “strong” one by giving them a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear to talk to, or a quiet someone to just keep them company.

“Well, at least she lived a long life.”

Old, young, middle, it doesn’t matter. Losing a loved one is never easy, even if the person is “prepared” and knows death is approaching. The passing of someone is final in a way not experienced in anything else this life. And your friend’s Dad was still her Dad — even if he was 92.

Instead, ask your friend about her loved one. Maybe she would like to share a memory or have someone look through pictures with her.

“What are you going to do now?”

Again, people experiencing a loss probably have no idea what they’re going to do now. Often the planning of the funeral and settling affairs makes it seem like the person is “busy” and “on top of things” when in reality they are going through the tasks associated with someone’s passing, but may still not have a clue about how to live their life without their loved one. As nice as it is to attend the funeral and send flowers, be sure to check back on your friend in a week or so, and then in a few months and sincerely ask how they’re feeling and doing?

The grief process is just that — a process. There isn’t a time-frame for anything nor an order to what emotions may be experienced. Giving your friends and family the time and space they need to feel and experience their loss is a gift and can be extremely life-enriching, life-affirming and allow for greater depth of healing.

Episode #55 with Mike and Becky

[powerpress]

Being Grateful For Your Trials

Mike and Becky seem almost too good to be true... and that's why I love them.

One thing that stood out to me as I re-listened to this interview is the attitude Mike and Becky have towards each other, and the respect and esteem they have for their marriage.

Their marriage inspires them to be the best version of themselves.

I believe they feel so lucky to have each other and have so much respect for their marriage that it has completely changed how they experience life. They don't want to threaten or jeopardize something they deem so sacred, so they put an incredible effort to preserve and nurture everything that is good within their relationship... and they find ways to turn the trials into blessings.

It takes a special kind of person to be grateful for the good in life along with the bad. During the interview Mike mentioned how one of their biggest trials was when his wife was diagnosed with diabetes... then not 10 minutes later, Becky talks about what a blessing her illness has been, and how she's been able to use it to help, serve, and uplift other people struggling with the same disease.

There is a level of love that remarkable couples tend to reach that sets them apart from others. It's a realization that their relationship with each other extends beyond personal satisfaction. Their love carries beyond their partner. It even spreads beyond their children and immediate family.

Truly incredible couples realize that they way they love each other, and they way they respond to their trials and challenges can have an impact on their community and the world. They use their marriage as a catalyst to inspire and uplift others. They set themselves as examples and role models. They see the value in sharing their struggles, and uplifting those who are hurting and suffering.

The lesson I learned from Mike and Becky is that life is what you choose to make it.

What did you learn from this week's podcast? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

I hope you enjoyed our conversation with Mike and Becky. Here are some of the things we talk about in this episode, as well as some of the resources that were mentioned:

• Waiting till marriage to have sex.

• Burn the ships. Don't use the "Divorce" word.

• Be grateful for each other and the work you do for each other

• Child rearing conflicts. Good cop vs. Bad cop

• The Love Monkey (holds love notes, and they'd hide him from each other)

• When Becky got diabetes

• Talking about sex with kids on their level

• Focus on the Family

• If you make it through one trial, you can be better prepared and stronger for the next one. There are no back doors.

• Being grateful for the good and the bad

• How much joy and excitement marriage can bring into your life

• Finding your love language

5 Partner Workouts That Will Get Your Blood Pumping... If Ya Know What I Mean

Couples That Exercise Have A Secret Advantage...

Here's the thing about working out... even though it's not always fun, it leaves you feeling AMAZING afterwards. That's because physical activity releases all sorts of hormones and endorphins into your brain that send you into a euphoric state, and reduce your perception of pain.

If you find yourself stressed out regularly, or arguing a lot... maybe it's because you're not working out regularly.

Another added bonus of working out is that it makes you look sexy! And who doesn't want to be sexy?

I know I do... which is why I work out.

Your Challenge:

I spent a bunch of time perusing YouTube in an attempt to find some really fun, relatively short, and unique partner exercise videos.

Pick one, set aside 15 minutes tonight, and do it with your partner! I promise you won't regret it.

Partner Up Yoga: Stretching & Flexibility Mat Workout

This workout is great if you're not up for any intense movements. Just sit down together and get your stretch on. You'll be using each others bodies to limber up and relax. This is a video you should not be scared of.

'Good Morning My Love' Partner Yoga Sequence for Couples

I picked this video because it just looked fun and playful. It's a good Saturday morning pajama workout to do together after some mookie (morning nookie), and before your french toast breakfast.

Partner Workout with Kelli & Daniel

This is a really basic workout that you can have fun with at your own pace. The only equipment you might need is a medicine ball, but you could get by without it.

Buddy Up! Partner Fitness Exercises

This is another pretty basic workout that most people should be able to do. You can increase the intensity if it seems to easy or modify the movements to your ability level.

Partner Up Yoga: Acro Yoga Workout with Vytas Baskauskas

Acro yoga won't be for everyone, but if you're looking to try yoga as a partnership, this is a great place to start! They break down the movements and move nice and slow so you don't get overwhelmed. This is definitely one I'll be trying this week.

Up For a Bigger Challenge?

Ever wanted to do something big? Something crazy? Something you never thought you could do?

Maybe you've always wanted to train for a triathlon, or a marathon... or maybe even an Ironman race.

If you want to tackle something big this year - especially if you want to tackle something big with your partner - send me an email.

My friend, Nat is an endurance trainer and has offered to put together a training program (geared specifically towards couples). If we can get enough people on board, he'll put together a program to help us train, and make what seems impossible into something that is SO possible.

Send me an email if you're interested! I really want to do this with you guys.

What workouts do you do together? Have you noticed a change in how you show up in your relationships when you exercise as opposed to when you don't? How do you fit exercise into your life when it gets busy? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments...