By Nashima Harvey
Many people struggle with trying to identify who they are and where they are going in life. They contemplate their existence and often feel insecure about where they fit in this 21st Century fast paced tech savvy world that we live in. There is a constant need to belong to a group or to be a member of the “in” crowd. I encounter these people on a daily basis. When I approach them in dialogue the number one thing I realize is that they could tell me about Kanye West and Kim Kardashian getting married but could not answer the question of, “ Who are you?” The responses I get are usually something like, “ I am a writer, I am an educator, I am a model, I am designer.” I am often left feeling that I truly did not have an understanding of whom the individual was.
New Beginnings – My Journey from Classroom Teacher to Educational Consultant and Holistic Life Coach
By Nashima Harvey
There is always an opportunity to have a new beginning. Each day that you wake up lends itself to an opportunity to start again and put your best foot forward. There are no right or wrong ways of doing things, there are just pathways to learning the good, the bad, and the indifferent. I started my journey as a classroom teacher about 13 years ago and the most amazing part of teaching in the beginning of my career, was challenging and helping to mold young minds by instructing and providing knowledge. However, the more that time passed I remained stationary and stagnant personally and professionally, a strong void quickly became apparent.
A Question of Balance – Symmetry in Life and Fitness
The definition of wellness has changed drastically over the past 10 years or so. As technology has changed, so has our lifestyles, and along with it, the meaning of what it means to be in a state of physical and emotional health. It seems that the medical community gets a number of illnesses and diseases under control, only to have others pop up and become challenges to our health. There may be some simple solutions to the changing face of health problems. Maladies caused by technology can be avoided by some simple steps that can yield big benefits.
From Binge Eater to Successful Wellness Coach
BINGE EATING DISORDER….. MY STORY
BY: JOSEPHINE CHAMPION
I was a binge eater for 20 years and began this way of eating when I was 8 years old. I would easily eat a whole box of cereal, ice cream bars and basically anything that I could find in the house. I would eat when no one was looking and it became part of my life. Even though I am Italian, everyone just thought it was a growing spurt and was a good eater. My parents always cooked healthy meals, but when guests would come over, there would be desserts, soda, pizza etc. Then I would love to eat any of the left overs.
On the Go Stress Management
On the Go Stress Management
by Suzanne Taylor-King RDH, WC, CWC, HLC
The kids need a ride to school, your husband can’t find his shorts, your boss has just scheduled an online meeting, and your best friend desperately needs your help — all at the same time.
Is it any wonder that you can’t find a minute for relaxation? In fact, if you’re like most women, you may have even forgotten how to relax.
And though experts say that some stress is good for you — it can sharpen your senses and your mind — too much stress is bad for your mental and physical health. At the same time, relaxation can do wonders to restore balance in your life — and may even reduce some of the health risks associated with stress.
Body Image and Life Coaching Techniques
I looked in the mirror this morning as I was getting dressed and I’m sure it was tampered with. This is not how I looked yesterday, I swear! Yesterday I wore the slim blue pants and pink blouse and everything looked tucked in, pulled together and altogether lovely (if I do say so myself)! Even my hair looked good! Today, it seems, is another story. These black dress pants don’t look the same and this blue shirt is not cutting it. Or rather, it is cutting it – me! – in half. The button at the waist is straining and where did this roll of fat come from overnight that is threatening to obscure my view of my feet? This shirt is only helping to make that unidentifiable roll look more like a sausage. How did this happen in one day?! I wrack my brain and do a one minute review of my own show, “Everything I Ate Yesterday”.
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Arousal, Stress and Anxiety – Coaching Techniques for Better Outcomes
by Martha Munroe
Stress was defined as a perceived imbalance of demands and ability to respond, arousal as the physiological and psychological continuum of activity, and anxiety as a negative emotional state of being nervous and worries and includes cognitive, somatic, trait and state components. Things that are important or where the results are uncertain create more state arousal – this makes sense because if you didn’t care about the results you wouldn’t be hyped up about it.
Stress is influences by personality factors including self-esteem, train anxiety, and physique anxiety which you can see in people who seem like they are always stressed out or draw stress to themselves.
Leadership an Overview for Managers and Coaches
Written by Katie Bielefeld
Leadership, defined as the ‘behavioral process of influencing individuals and groups towards set goals” (Barrow, 1997) is significantly different than management. A manager is generally more concerned with plans, schedules, employees, and organization. There are more differences between the two, managers and leaders, than one might think.
Leaders specialize in their ability to influence personal growth. They aim to improve character and quality of life, both for themselves and those around them. A leader can use influence to create a desire in people to follow advice. They are not only people centered, but can also be activity centered. Leaders are futuristic. They look toward impacting results in the future. They use tools and activities that teach attitudes and ideals. Leaders are concerned with what is happening to those they are influencing, how they will perform and what goals and values they will reach for.
Helping Elite Athletes Battle Addiction: What is the role of the sport psychologist?
by Joanne L. Charnetski, Wexford University
Abstract
There are many definitions of an elite athlete. Some common elements are that an elite athlete performs best in class, has the potential to turn professional and is prone to injury. Using the definition according to McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine, an elite athlete (EA) is defined as an athlete with the potential for competing in the Olympics or as a professional athlete; elite athletes (EAs) are at an increased risk of injury, given the amount of training, for psychological abuse by coaches and parents, and self-abuse. It is estimated that about 80% of EAs suffer from minor depression (Schall et al. 2011). The purpose of this paper is to show how sport psychologists can help EAs battling addiction. Sport psychologists recognize the addictive nature of exercise, and how anxiety as well as burn out can lead to injuries, decreased immune functioning and psychological symptoms of depression (Greenspan et al., 1991). This leads to increased substance abuse as an attempt to gain control and enhance performance. The paper will define addiction and question whether it is a disease or set of extreme behaviors. It will highlight the primary areas of addictive tendencies amongst elite athletes and discuss root cause for the addiction. By using examples of real athletes, the paper will conclude by outlining various ways that a sport psychologist can help identify the addiction as well as design a program to help treat the addictive tendency.
Motivation Techniques, Strategies and Considerations for Coaches
by Richard Bernier
Motivation is a very complex issue with a lot of implications. It is agreed that top athletes have a lot of motivation but the question is how can this motivation be replicated and maintained? A coach can be a factor in which motivation can be enhanced or destroyed. Athletes have varying reasons for their individual motivation. Capabilities, autonomy, and connectedness are some motivating factors.