Thank You - means the world...

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!
I woke up feeling good, happy, and blessed send out gratitude to everyone and everything that has shaped me. I know that we have a little over a month left of 2011, but so much has happened this year that has made me happy, sad, excited, frustrated. Every experience has made me look further into my future. I believe we have a tendency to give thanks during troubled or tough times, and that doesn't exclude me. 2011 has been a trying year for this hyperactive, overcommuting, fitness professional. May I share some events that has literally brought me from tears of anguish to tears of happiness and some thankful experiences. 

• Loss of a 6 yr relationship + sale of my house:  I love having someone in my life. I loved owning a home, especially in the Santa Cruz mountains. However, stress killed it all and now I'm single and living with my brother in a condo rental in South San Jose. The good? I'm having the time of my life!! I'm so much closer to all my friends and family and I love having my brother as my roommate. My commute to SF is closer.... I'm happy, happy, happy!
• Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: On March 11, I just happened to stay up late, 11:30p, browsing Facebook when my friend's status update changed to, "Earthquake!" Sendai, Japan was where I was born, where my mom's family lives.... Watching the Tsunami swallow up the coast in disbelief, I felt hopeless, anguish, sadness... From then on I was awake for 40hours straight..... During that time, I chatted with my cousin in Osaka since she and her brother were scheduled for an America visit, the day after. Only four days later, I found out that I had lost a childhood friend to the Tsunami.... This experience has drawn me closer to my friends and family. I cherish all my moments with them and I try not to work so much that it compromises the ability to see them!
• Advanced Instructor Module (AIM) Training for Les Mills. This training happened only two days after the earthquake and I was going to postpone it. However, I decided to go.... for my friend in Japan who got stuck at Tokyo Narita Airport who was supposed to be at the training and for the fact that there was really nothing I could do until more news was heard from my mom's family. My Les Mills family was the BEST! They let me cry and they kept me strong.... I achieved ELITE status for BodyPump, which is the highest distinction as a Les Mills instructor.... This allowed me to go on stage at a Quarterly the following weekend in San Ramon. In 7 days, I literally went from anguish and sorrow to absolute euphoria.



San Ramon Quarterly - With Glen, Josef, and Ingrid (another Elite Instructor)

• My cousins from Japan were here for 3+ weeks!!! They were the shining light in the dark times... We had a blast and they were here long enough to celebrate my birthday with me. I got be a tourist along with them and that's awesome! I saw Alcatraz for the first time  :)
• Trip to Japan in June/July: This was to continue to send my grandmother on her journey... It's been a few years since her passing but was also an important trip for me for healing my heart and soul and feel my motherland under my feet. This was the FIRST time I've traveled SOLO!! Wow... I don't do anything alone. I taught BodyPump and BodyCombat with my friend in Japan at Atsugi Naval Base (COOL to teach overseas!) and took some classes at Konami Sports Club (a very different gym experience) and was able to see my family and a couple of other friends as well. 

In Nara, Japan

• Job stress.... I love my job. My job loves me back. I help people, and they help me back. Fitness is the most rewarding career I can imagine being in. Unfortunately, the economy isn't helping and I am losing part of my job in SF.... Now I need to start all over again. However, when one door opens, another one opens!
• Facebook has reconnected me with friends from High School and my fitness family, especially Les Mills and U-Jam and Zumba.... It's such a great tool for connecting with people ALL OVER THE WORLD! I just went dancing with a friend I haven't seen in 18 yrs!

These are my biggest events of 2011. Gigantic THANK YOU for reading my blog  :)

<3 always... Kimi

Life: The Biggest Treasure

It's been a while since I've written down my thoughts, my experiences (and there has been many!), and any tips... Why? This year has been a whirlwind so far... The Year of the Rabbit is supposed to mean? This year was supposed to represent calm and serenity. I was born in the year of the Rabbit and that makes me born under a 'lucky' sign; I'm unconfrontational, friendly, outgoing, social, sensitive, and compassionate... According to my birth year, I'm a Wood Rabbit, spending my time doing for others so they can be content. Wood Rabbits don't realize that they are being stepped on or taken advantage of until it's too late...  I work as a Fitness Professional and spend LOTS of time caring for others and I LOVE it! I realized that my long commute and hours, though were taking me away from people I loved and my social life was going down the tube. I did 5 cycling events last year compared to two this year. I had to work... the economy is bad and Personal Training was being considered a luxury... with business down, gotta pick up other stuff elsewhere.


No, this is not a sob story. I am not looking for pity. Out of many life changing events that have happened this year, one BIG event has changed how I look at life. The Japan Earthquake on 3/11/11. Sendai, my birth place, ravaged by mother nature, not knowing where family was and ultimately learning of a friend's death from Natori city. Yet, I faced life, because that's all you can do sometimes. I welcomed outpouring of love and support from friends and coworkers and then I spent lots of time away from work... enjoying my cousins from Japan, who just happened to plan a 3 week vacation to see me and my family here in the US the day after the big quake, sightseeing (and I live here!), eating and drinking, seeing other friends and my siblings, and not caring about "How do I pay my bills?" EXACTLY what I needed to derail myself from the currently path my life was following.


I still think to myself: I should've probably worked a little more because I'm behind in some payments!... but I don't freak out too badly because I'm liking life right now. The good, the bad, and the ugly.


"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."  - Oprah


Now I see my family more often. I hang out with some friends. I smile a lot more (and I already smile and laugh a lot!). I still get discouraged and feel emotional and face setbacks... but now I feel like in FINALLY ready to dive into the finest treasure!...... L-I-F-E!

Emotions Run... or Hop?

I'm going to be tan. Well, I'll have just a little more color on me today because I'm going for a run, which ends up to be more like a run-walk-jog-walk. Sometimes we just have bad days... or week... or month. Mine was a month long. I decided I was going to embrace the Chinese New Year as my new year and start new years all over again. It's the Year of the Rabbit and that's me! 

I had a tough and emotional week and as a fitness gal, I know that I can use those endorphins to run well and feel better in general. Many people attempt to calm themselves with the help of alcohol, chocolate, or other means. I, myself, am guilty of the need for chocolate to ease heartache or stress. However, much literature exists about the benefits of exercise to reduce stress and quell detrimental emotional tendencies. 

Exercise helps lift your mood, reduce depression, and ease anxiety by releasing endorphins into the blood stream. The surgeon general says, exercise "reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression and fosters improvements in mood and feelings of well-being.”  Release pent up emotions and burn calories while improving your fitness at the same time!

In addition, brain seratonin is increased with more repetitive prolonged activities such as jogging, walking, running, and cycling. Have you ever been "in the zone" feeling awesome while jogging or riding your bike? That's the seratonin kicking in, elevating your mood. Low seratonin levels lead to depression and it is found that those who exercise get the same benefits as prescription drugs to combat depression. 

So, scream to let out pent up frustration; cry yours eyes out until the well runs dry.... Then put some music on (or not) and get some exercise so that you can be in control of you. Here's to a healthy mind, stronger body, and increased well-being!

Juice Plus+ is in the Body!

I don't endorse stuff unless it's really cool, amazing, and addicting (like my Apple products). I recommend stuff like eating healthy, staying away from fads, and trying certain exercises for whatever ailment or goal. When people sell me things, I am skeptical.... VERY skeptical. Why? Health and Fitness is a billion dollar industry. People sell you things all the time to make the quick buck.


Do you get sick all the time? Does it take a while for your body to recover after exercise? Does your hair and skin feel healthy? Do you eat healthfully? Are you eating enough fruits and vegetables? These are questions I've asked myself. Here are my answers: I kept getting sick from overdoing life in general; My body was sore all the time from overdoing classes and activities; My hair felt brittle and my skin could've been better; I was eating as well as I could with the hectic schedule; and NO, I was not eating enough fruits and veggies, although I really did try.


I was introduced to Juice Plus+ a while ago and while a friend was talking about it, I thought to myself, "Oh come on.... Another product... blah blah blah" all the while smiling, nodding, nodding, smiling... because I'm nice like that.  Now, there's one, just one, product that I recommend - Juice Plus+.


What is Juice Plus+?  Have you heard of fruits and vegetables? That's what it is... in capsules!


Check it out!  www.kimijuiceplus.com