My story is the story of the thousands of patients and clients I've had the privilege of knowing over the past three decades. There is no one size fits all way to thrive.  What works for me, or anyone else won't work for you. What works in research studies is not guaranteed to work either. The method that has evolved over the past three decades is a blend of stories of thriving and evidenced-based information.  It is a guide for you to find what works for you so that pain, stress, and motivation are transformed from barriers to guides to thriving. 

 

I started my career because I was inspired by the incredible power of exercise to improve health. When I obtained a master's in clinical exercise physiology, I thought this science-based information would be enough to get my patients motivated.  I quickly learned that information was not enough, even when it could reduce the risk of a second heart attack!   

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I dove into the science of motivation and obtained my health coaching certification. This gave me the skill of listening to stories and hearing how the individual is designed to thrive.  These coaching skills gave movement science-based information more power, enabling me to provide the specific information needed for each individual to use exercise to thrive.  There was still something missing though.  

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Experiencing anxiety after having my first child provided a personal experience that gave me greater empathy for my patients and clients dealing with threats to their health and well-being.  I used mindfulness to calm my anxiety,  by adding it to my exercise time.   It cured the anxiety.  These skills begin to naturally overflow into the conversations with patients and clients.  I was not surprised to find the mounting evidence about the power of mindfulness to support healing and self-motivation skills.   

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This whole-person approach became Exercising Well. It has evolved from all the stories I have heard from patients, clients, and researchers as well as my own personal experiences with a mindful, science-based approach that transforms exercise into a time to thrive, through all of life stressors and seasons.  

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