Tag: spiritual

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The Power of One

Never underestimate the power of your thoughts, and without question, never ever underestimate The Power of One.

For the third time in 20 years I’m reading Bryce Courtenay’s , The Power of One. An amazing tale of a young boy’s travels and heartfelt metamorphosis – not to mention his spiritual influence on everyone he meets – that’s “part Charles Dickens, part Horatio Alger”, as described by the Raleigh News & Observer. More specifically, this magical journey filled with heartache and pure elation inspires anyone really listening to its deep-rooted message…to always listen to yourself and believe in the power of one:  one idea, one heart, one mind, one plan, one determination.

Before I leave you with a paragraph from the novel that rings true no matter what your occupation or calling, take time to reflect on 2016 and set your thoughts on an even better 2017! Mine was quite amazing, with several milestones that set the course for my one idea:

  1. Created my unique style of Tola Yoga after 10 years of teaching 2k classes & 25k students,
  2. Produced the original Reality TV series pilot, YogaStyles of RICH and the Almost Famous,
  3. Celebrated 50 years of fitness – 40 years of weightlifting plus over 10 years of Yoga,
  4. Celebrated 10 years as an Entertainer/Producer and Yoga Teacher (and Yogatainer),
  5. Lived in three amazing cities: Chicago, Las Vegas and Seattle (love it here!)

And whatever your goals are for the New Year, remember to respect yourself with a daily fitness program. And just like young Peekay says, dare your courage to follow your thoughts:

“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better. Hoppie’s dictum to me, “First with the head and then with the heart,” was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts.”

Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone! Peace – R

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Domestic Violence, Yoga & Hollywood Sneak Peek

We’ll soon begin a 30,000 journey across America visiting all 50 states – 100 Cities in 100 Days – to raise money for my charity, The Boulevard Zen Foundation. We teach yoga to women and children living in domestic violence shelters. Ambitious? Yes. For a great cause? Yes. Impossible? Certainly not! I expect it to be life changing. For all of us, as well as all of you because we intend to EDUCATE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER and ENTERTAIN you with cool, trivia-filled workout videos from historical sites everywhere.

Here’s me teaching the women and children at the San Diego domestic violence shelter:

Here’s the Hollywood Sneak Peek Trailer for my Fat Burn America Tour. Enjoy! – R

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Get your Mojo back

Last night I watched the Dodgers game with a friend who said he needed to “get his Mojo back”.  When I asked him in reference to what, he replied, “everything”.  Although everything pretty much covers it all, what he was specifically referring to was his lack of motivation to pursue 1) a new job, 2) a new girlfriend, and 3) a daily fitness program. Thus, my friend is temporarily stuck.  And I say temporarily because losing one’s motivation and getting stuck in life is only a phase – if you want it to be.  So for anyone out there who can’t find their Mojo like my friend, no worries!  Take it upon yourself to kick-start your life with a daily fitness program.  Because when compared to finding a new job or a new love, exercising for at least 5 minutes a day is a breeze.  So enjoy opening your heart today with my 69th consecutive 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout.  – R

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Sometimes you have to dig deep

Sometimes you have to dig deep inside yourself to stand tall in the face of adversity.  Like the tornado stricken residents of Alabama and the South.  In memory of the 77 residents who have perished, survivors must now dig deep within themselves to overcome this horrific tragedy.  But they will recover.  And they will thrive. Because as humans, that’s what we do – we dig deep and thrive.  So please send your positive thoughts and energy to the storm ravaged residents, and enjoy becoming a steel rod of energy in today’s 5 Minute Fat Burning Workout #64 – Forearm Plank.   My condolences & prayers – Rich

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Happy Birthday Mom

My mother turned 70 today and she looks amazing!  What’s her secret?  Well, about 31 years ago when I joined my first gym she was this 39 year-old mother of three who never worked out.  One year later – at the ripe age of 40 and after much cajoling on my part – she joined a health club and never looked back.  Thirty years later she’s been working out 4-5 times a week – and it shows because she doesn’t look a day over 60.  Kudos to your workouts and your healthy lifestyle Mom!  So for anyone not currently on a daily fitness program, let’s get you started with Workout #15.  And I’ll see you next time – R

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What are friends for?

Thursday's Fat Burning Workout

This morning I met this fifty-something gal in the gym with a great body who’s always there.  The first thing I asked her was if she worked out everyday.  She said yes.  Then I said, 5 days as week, and she gave me this look like are you crazy, and emphatically says, “No, 7 days”.  Then along comes her fifty-something guy friend who meekly says, “ahhhhh, I won’t be here tomorrow so Merry Christmas”.  She then gives him the exact look she gave me and asks why not. The man hesitates and says he won’t be there because he has to baby-sit his grandkids.  So she proclaims, “At 5 o’clock in the morning, oh come on Johnny, you better be here!”  Now what are friends for, right?  Just that.  To care about you, to support you, to motivate you, and to make you accountable when things get hard  – like working out everyday at 5am.  I totally understand why some people have more success with a fitness or weight loss program when they have a partner, or network of like-minded, mutually supportive individuals to help them through the tough times. So if you’re that type of person who benefits from the extra push from your friends, then embrace it and find your workout partner today!  And get started with your daily fitness program – whatever it may be.  Because who doesn’t have 15 minutes a day to respect themselves?  R

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Break the cycle

The cycle of domestic violence occurs when abuse or victimization is passed down from one generation to the next.  More specifically, it’s when children learn destructive behaviors from their parents, and then carry these acceptable behaviors with them into their lives. It must be broken.  Case in point:  Last night a friend called me to talk about his 22 year-old neighbor who was being verbally accosted by her drunken boyfriend.  He said the screaming and shouting from the jackass was so bad that he was concerned for her safety and wasn’t sure what to do.  And this wasn’t the first time this has happened.  In fact, he said it was a regular event.  He also said that when he passes the young gal in the hallway, he feels her insecurity and lack of self-confidence as she always looks away, avoiding any type of eye contact or conversation.  Why does she put up with that crap, and what can he do to help her gain the self-confidence to get rid of the bum, my friend asks?  Breaking the cycle of violence begins with re-building one’s self-worth and turning acceptable behaviors into non-acceptable behaviors.  Like choosing to respect oneself everyday by making healthy choices and by constantly strengthening your body and your mind.  Because it’s all about the choices we make.  And each good choice leads to another good choice, and so on and so on.  So respect yourself and make the healthy choice.  Because anything is possible…if you believe you can.