this beautiful autographed book of poetry appeared in my mailbox recently.
along with a lovely note from an inspirational client who is now a dear friend.
(thank you, sheila.)
i was quite taken with this inscription by j.a. jance:
“april, who helps those walking through fire.”
touching, befitting, meaningful, exquisite.
all of those things, wrapped up at once, in a perfect gift to me.
yes.
i help those walking through fire.
those who are going through the journey of reshaping their essence.
those who are reinventing themselves after suffering from an eating disorder.
next week i will be going deeper into this analogy.
probing into what it means to walk through fire to the other side.
to the coolness and relief of a calm oasis of well-being.
i attempt to quench the searing heat in many different ways.
interestingly, one of the tools i use is the physical act of walking.
and so today that will be my focus.
walking.
i’ve led groups of walkers at a community center.
i’ve walked with a small circle of women at my studio.
i’ve walked 1:1 with clients inside and outside.
all the while talking, coaching, unraveling, deciphering, laughing, connecting.
magical motivation for both body and soul.
moving meditation.
i walk with my family.
i walk with friends.
i walk by myself.
inside, outside.
with DVDs, with music.
walking is my go-to workout.
for staying in shape.
physically and mentally.
walking is something people at all levels can do.
and, as we take each step, we soon begin to realize the inherent metaphor.
we are putting ourselves in control.
of our health, of our situation, of our lives.
one step at a time.
in my work as an eating disorders aftercare coach, i see strong women.
women grieving their anorexia and bulimia, but ready to move beyond.
women eager to reclaim their lives.
it’s not easy though.
there are the inevitable setbacks.
victory after victory, but also obstacles and defeats.
sometimes, after food-related behaviors have ceased, i witness a natural progression.
a somewhat crooked path leading to compulsive exercise.
a seemingly “valid” reason to hang onto remnants of the eating disorder.
and that is when i love to introduce walking.
specifically leslie sansone-style walking.
i am a certified leslie sansone walk leader.
these workouts became part of my personal exercise routine many years ago.
and i have been a faithful fan ever since.
it seemed obvious to all who knew me when i became a walk leader.
and started spreading the word.
they are multi-muscle walks that work the legs, the upper body, and the core.
and they are easy to follow (with four basic steps).
walking is a perfect way to rejuvenate the body without abusing it.
it alleviates stress, clears the mind, guards against heart disease.
it boosts the immune system and keeps the brain sharp.
i find it crucial to have a reasonable – rather than overly rigorous – fitness plan in place.
walking is not only an effective and energetic workout.
it’s a sensible and safe one as well.
it is an ideal way to gently ease my clients back into a solid fitness routine.
one that they can continue forever and one that they can have fun doing.
exercise is no longer seen as punishment.
but as something to look forward to and embrace.
it is often the exact transition needed.
the final push into an overall healthy and happy lifestyle.
walking.
magical indeed.
hippocrates said that “walking is man’s best medicine.”
who would like to walk alongside me?
Loved how you reminded us of all the ways and benefits of walking. Walking is such a simple concept and so powerful.
exactly, eva – simple yet powerful (thanks).
I love love love that you have walking meetings with clients. Walking is my favourite exercise, our bodies are simply built for it. I always feel rejuvenated after a long walk with my adorable puppy (she’s actually 10) in the provincial park where I live. I am sharing this, because I believe in this message!
thank you for sharing, krystal! 🙂 love the image of you with your 10yo puppy – i remember many wonderful family walks in the past with our karelian bear dogs.
My husband and I walk after dinner about 4 times a week. It’s a time for us to talk, move a little after our meal, and reflect on our days. We treasure those moments a lot. Great post!!!
what a sweet (and healthy) way to connect/catch up. thanks, sarah.
I walk 3 times a week no matter what. It’s my time for me to clear my head and often feed me with ideas. And it often picks me up! I too find walking,”Magical indeed.” Loved how you talked about it here.
I’ve never heard of ‘Walk Leaders” I am intrigued. Would love to hear a little more about what that is about…
thanks for sharing your walking ritual here, elizabeth. and i’d be happy to talk to you about the fantastic walk leader program anytime!
“Walking through Fire”…this really captures the scalding pain involved in “…reshaping their essence and reinventing themselves…” How wonderful for them to have someone like you to walk beside them, guiding them into their new skin. Enjoy your beautiful gift, and thank you for walking with me through this B School experience. X.
thank you very much, marg. i have so enjoyed walking alongside you.
Walking and talking is such a great way to connect while getting the blood flowing. This reminds me of when my son was younger and would get quiet, I would often ask him if he would take a walk with me around the neighborhood and before I knew it he would start talking about whatever was on his mind. #walkthisway
walk this way indeed, susie! i love hearing about how your son would open up while walking. 🙂
That is so great! I just made a new offering to have a Coaching? mentoring session as we walk and talk, in nature, in a park etc! so thanks I will add in some of these benefits! thanks so much
hooray, deb – you will love your coaching walk sessions! let me know how they go.
April I love that you are an eating disorder coach. You are the first that I have run into. I suffered from an eating disorder in my teens and twenties. I wish I had had someone like you to turn to. You do something very important and I am so glad it is available to those seeking help from this debilitating affliction.
i am sad to hear that you’ve struggled with an eating disorder, lorna. but happy that you now refer to it in the past tense. congratulations to you on your brave journey to the other side.
What a beautiful gift and acknowledgment of the value of what you do. My daughter suffers from eating disorders. She is a health coach now too. It is a difficult disorder to understand and to live with. You are doing what all health coaches set out to do…make a difference in the lives of others.
thank you, cathy. and yes – an enigmatic illness, with both physical and mental characteristics. i hope your daughter is able to get the help she needs to conquer her eating disorder.
Oh April, I love you that you wrote this. I believe the most powerful things in life, are the simplest. Walking is definitely one of those simple things. I love how you put so much meaning behind it and use it as a tool to help women. That is a very special gift you have. xo
i appreciate your kind words, tania. as both you and eva have stated, simple can be so powerful at times. walking has been a gentle yet useful tool in my coaching.
April, I love walking as well, and love how you align it with putting ourselves in control. I will take that with me on my next walk. 🙂 I admire you for the work you do. I grew up with a family member who had an eating disorder, and it was so very difficult. What a beautiful light you are! Much Love.
what a lovely sentiment, marci. there are so many women (and men) struggling with this illness. i hope i can make the journey to recovery a bit smoother for some.
You’re writing is beautiful April!
I walk every day with my pups and husband. My pups get sooo excited when they know we’re going for a walk, which makes me happy and I enjoy these special times with my family.
oops, ‘Your’!
kathleen – i remember fondly our karelian bear dogs’ excitement when we would announce our walks 🙂 (makes me miss them). definitely a special time with family.
Yes! I will walk alongside you! May Bella come, too? She loves her daily walkies. 🙂
i would absolutely love taking a walk with you and bella, michelle – come on over!
I like having walking meetings at work, too. What a great excuse to get outside and get your blood moving!
exactly, erin!
I’m totally a walker and a talker. I love the idea of having walking meetings! Gonna find a way to make that happen.
let me know if you try it, karen! i used to lead a support group called “talk and walk.” we would talk in a circle for 45 minutes, then actually walk inside (also in a circle) for 30 more minutes. we got some exercise in and also continued the conversation, but lightened the mood a bit before the participants had to leave.
I love walking with my dog my the lake! Unfortunately for me she is 80 pounds and still loves to chase squirrels and geese with me on the other end of her leash.
that’s quite an image, denise – you flying through the air after your dog! 🙂
I use to be a runner. And then I had a back injury which meant I had to give it up. So I took up walking instead – and you are so right: it is so therapeutic to simply walk.
i hope your back has since fully healed, laura. yes, i find walking very therapeutic – for me and my clients.