Christian Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do taught from a Christian perspective.

The Holiday Unshakable Eights for Stress Release and Happy Holidays

Family, Health

The Holiday Unshakable Eights for Stress Release and Happy Holidays

Walk away from worries

“The rhythm and repetition of walking has a tranquilizing effect on your brain, and it decreases anxiety and improves sleep,” says nutrition-and-wellness expert Ann Kulze, MD. Aim for a brisk, half-hour walk every day.

Do less, enjoy more

“We go overboard to please others during the holidays: shopping, cooking, sending cards, and attending every event,” says George Pratt, PhD, a psychologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla in California. “Instead, take care of yourself by saying no at least once—and maybe more.”

Stick with your daily routine

Prioritize your workouts, book club, etc., and don’t try to squeeze in more holiday than you can handle, says Katherine Muller, PsyD, an assistant professor of psychology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City

Go tech-free

Constant cell phone buzzes and email alerts keep us in a perpetual fight-or-flight mode due to bursts of adrenaline. Not only is this exhausting, but it contributes to mounting stress levels, especially in women. What better time to turn your gadgets off than during a holiday get-together? Enjoy spending time with your family and friends without worry

Turn up the tunes

Anxious? Listen to your favorite music, whether it’s Jingle Bell Rock or the latest from Jay-Z. Research from the University of Maryland shows that hearing music you love can relax blood vessels and increase blood flow. That not only calms you down but is good for your heart, too.

Fit in exercise

It may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re stressed out, but going for a run or hitting the gym can actually make you feel better. Research has found that workouts can boost your mood for up to 12 hours.

Stay Positive

Positive thoughts and thinking transfer to positive actions.   Look of the best and make  active appreciation part of your daily routine.

You may want to consider starting a martial arts class this time of year. 

I know you may be thinking “What – something new this time of year?”  A true martial arts class is all about mind, body and spirit, according to Greg Silva, president of Black Belt Schools International.    “You get healthy exercise and flexibility training, a positive atmosphere and stress release.”   Getting started now will be beneficial for your health, stress level as well as jump start  your healthy goals for 2018.

We are have beginner Martial Arts classes with open enrolment allowing people to join at any time.

5 Genius Fitness Tips Every Full-Time Working Mom Must Try

Family, Health
Why Every Working Mom Feels Short On Time Most Of The Time. Lifehack.org
 
Working moms struggle with a lack of time more than most people do. From getting the kids ready for daycare or school to making sure they are safe and sound, every waking hour seems to be given to your children. It’s for good reason: they are your pride and joy.
 
You also have a house to maintain: laundry to be done, bathrooms to be cleaned, a kitchen to be maintained, a husband to tend to — everyone and everything demands your attention. It seems that you’re the only one that can maintain calm and order amongst the chaos.
 
What’s more is that you have a full-time job. No matter what your income stream looks like, it demands your time and attention. From taking care of your boss’s calendar to keeping order in the office, meeting deadlines, and organizing meetings, you are the heartbeat of your organization.
 
So, how do you get it all done? Well, most working moms don’t all the time. Sometimes, the house stays dirty. Sometimes, the laundry piles up so high it looks like a miniature version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. And sometimes, just sometimes, the chaos at work is too much.
 
Eventually, you start to play catchup with everything that’s befallen you. You might squeeze in an exercise session or two, but when those chaotic days come, you feel like quitting altogether.
 
Trust me, I get it. Overwhelm can set in and crush your spirit. You can only keep calm and order in your life for so long. And even as you struggle day by day, the temptation to give up your fitness dreams grows and grows.
 
And yet, some working moms seem to make a huge splash. They make time for exercise. They make time to prep nutritious meals. They make time to clean the house. They make time to do the laundry. They make time for their family. They have more energy. They lose the extra weight. They get fit.
 
How do these moms get it done? In one word: structure.
These working moms create a structure that puts them in full control of their weight loss goals.
 
Here’s how you can regain control of your schedule and turn things around.
 
1. You Must Prioritize Exercise
Ask yourself this question: Is exercise a top priority in my life?
You might think it is because fitness is on your mind daily, but here’s a little secret: a should is totally different than a must. When something is not a priority, you will always make excuses not to do it.
 
Why should fitness be a priority? Because if you can’t take care of yourself, how are you going to take care of your family?
 
Every day, we’re constantly bombarded with new-and-improved research that shows the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise. More energy. Less stress. A body geared for fighting off viruses. Now, don’t get me wrong, you’ll still have a sick day here and there, but not as often as you would if you weren’t active or eating healthy.
 
2. Specify The Reasons That Prompted Your Desire To Change
 
Here’s the thing about fitness: it will only work if you have the right mindset. You can have all the resources at your disposal, but without a compelling reason to exercise, you are likely to quit.
 
I’m not talking about having motivation or trying to pump yourself up on days you decide to work out. Motivation will only take you so far. Your reason is what will prevent you from veering off track or quitting altogether.
 
Your why will always keep you going.
 
Your why will help you develop discipline. You’ll be able to find the strength to exercise and eat healthy during times when it’s hard to do so.
 
An effective strategy is to keep a journal where you write your reasons for working out. Remember, your reasons are, well, your reasons. Don’t ever think that your reasons aren’t good enough. As a mother, you are a prime example for your family. Think about the impact on your husband and children when they see the dedication and drive you show for changing yourself.
 
3. Think Family Fitness
 
Involve your children in your fitness routine. Why? Because it’s tough to find a babysitter to watch the kids for an hour or so, and just because you can’t find care for your children doesn’t mean that you can’t exercise. There are tons of ways you can include the kids in your fitness routine.
 
Some moms like to play games with their kids. They’ll race each other or play a game of tag. Invest in a children’s seat for your bike, or if your children are age-appropriate, buy them a bike of their own so they can join you on a bike ride.
 
Plus, there’s a new wave of what moms are calling “stroller fitness.” A lot of moms are walking or jogging with their kids in their strollers.
 
Don’t let your babies be an excuse for not exercising. Not only will you be active, but you can even form a strong bond with your kids just by having them around while you work out.
4. Know That Some Days Are Going To Be Easier Than Others
 
There are going to be days when you’re full of energy and feel like you can do extra. And then there are going to be days where you’re just happy to have put your workout clothes on. No matter what you feel on the difficult days, make sure that you at least try to get some activity in.
 
You might not be able to get in that full mile or strength train for 30 minutes. That’s fine. Each day is going to present its own unique obstacles. You might be fatigued. The kids might get sick. You might have to put in extra hours at work. Whatever the case, don’t give it the momentum that will make you give up.
Just keep going.
 
5. Don’t Go At It Alone
 
Try to find a community that will support you. Fitness and nutrition are more difficult if you have no one to fall back on. The important thing for this tip is to find a community that will 100% have your back. It could be your husband, a close friend, an online community, or another working mom. You can even seek the services of a life coach or fitness trainer.
It’s important that your community understands your goals and desire for working out. Why? Because they are the ones that are going to keep you accountable. You will not achieve your fitness goals if you have a community that accepts every excuse you make. This is why I believe that the services of a life coach are a beneficial investment.
You want someone that will give you the kick in the pants you need to keep going. At the same time, you want someone that will be motivating and uplifting instead of critical and doubtful.
 
Create your community and you’ll increase your chances of making fitness a habit.
You Can Do This!
 
Moms, we need you! Not just to be alive, but to be involved and active in our lives. Your husband needs you. Your babies need you. Hell, the entire world needs you.
 
What would life be like without moms? What would life be like for your children without the warm and caring love of their mom? What would life be like for your husband without your intimate love and support for him and the family?
 
It is true that if you follow these tips, you will lose weight. But most importantly, if you follow these tips, you will create a mind and body that will give you the energy and strength you need to guide your family through the beautiful journey that is life.
So, when does your fitness routine start?
 
Many ladies choose martial arts for fitness.  Both traditional martial arts and fitness martial arts provide the flexibility, cardio and strength training needed for a lean, thin athletic look.  The structure,  group support and positive coaching is just what you need to stay active and motivated.

MY GOALS IN TAEKWONDO

Family, Self Esteem, Testimony

I normally don’t share an entire essay written by a student.  This essay written by a parent for her gold belt test is honest, and I think it portrays how most older people feel about wanting to try Tae Kwon Do.

COUR“I started out very humbled, as I do in most things, excited for change and new opportunities; but fearful of inability to keep up with the challenges laid out by a very well trained & disciplined leader.  Months before I joined the school, I found myself whispering silent wishes while watching my son: “I wish I could do that or try that”.  All the while thinking, there’s no way, no way that I’d keep up or even be able to have the coordination to carry out the sequences of patterns and fundamentals.  I had to supress a fear of failure just to try a session. It felt like throwing myself off a cliff no knowing if my bungie cord was actually attached – I know that sounds extreme.  As I drove to that trial session my stomach had butterflies, my hands were sweaty, and it felt as though my heart rate didn’t need any physical exercise to elevate!  So my first goal in TaeKwonDo was to just try it and hope to keep up, physically, with my classmates.  I met that goal, not with finesse or skill, but with encouragement and praise from Mrs. Voisey who was instructing that evening.   I left that night with a new goal – to keep coming back…..for as long as my physical body will let me!!  With every class I expect my nervousness to subside, and those butterflies to disappear as I drive, but they don’t!  So my next goal was and is to always have those feelings.  I realized that it’s not nerves anymore, its excitement and I yes, my goal is to never lose that excitement as I shuttle to each session.  

Becoming a parent changes your perspective on life entirely.  Your priorities change, your life isn’t absorbed by thoughts of me, myself, and I any longer; it’s replaced with little her, or little him and then little them.  It’s an all-consuming, all-encompassing, paradigm-shifting change to your life.  Nothing can prepare you for that and I think most parents would agree that it really is shocking how much it changes how you think and live.  I realized, after joining TaeKwonDo, that maybe I lost some perspective on how important it is to take care of my health and well-being as well; which brings me to my next goal.  I need to feel well and healthy in order to be the wife and mother my family needs me to be.  I love that I feel stronger and I can work hard and continue to work harder and push to reach that next level of training.  It is so satisfying!  This goal is the one that will sustain my drive to continue when I’m tired or sick or feeling overwhelmed.  

This last goal is paramount amongst everything shared here so far.  The tenets and creeds are more than just words to recite each lesson.  They really are verses to live by and that is my goal – to love and to live by those tenets.  TaeKwonDo strengthens and builds not only our physical bodies, but our spirit and minds as well.  It’s also been so spiritually refreshing to be reminded of the scripture that is so simply stated and yet power in its impact on my daily life!  I’ve witnessed a turn-a-round in my son as well over this past year.  If it were not for TaeKwonDo and the foundations of strength, love, and discipline it stands for, I’m not sure what state he’d be in right now.  I hope that in living by these tenets, I too can be continually transformed for the better throughout the entirety of my TaeKwonDo training.”

~ J.L