(2609,1,'2012-03-22 21:14:31','2012-03-23 01:14:31','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_2738\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2738\" title=\"joyhannah\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />[/caption]\n\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joy1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','Joy Top - Yellow','','inherit','open','open','','2601-autosave','','','2012-03-22 21:14:31','2012-03-23 01:14:31','',2601,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2601-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(2610,1,'2012-02-20 20:49:10','2012-02-21 01:49:10','','joyhannah_thumb','','inherit','open','open','','joyhannah_thumb-2','','','2012-02-20 20:49:10','2012-02-21 01:49:10','',0,'http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah_thumb.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2611,1,'2012-02-20 20:47:52','2012-02-21 01:47:52','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2602\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2602\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joy1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','Joy Top - Yellow','','inherit','open','open','','2601-revision-3','','','2012-02-20 20:47:52','2012-02-21 01:47:52','',2601,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2601-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(2612,1,'2012-02-20 20:49:31','2012-02-21 01:49:31','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2602\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2602\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joy1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','Joy Top - Yellow','','inherit','open','open','','2601-revision-4','','','2012-02-20 20:49:31','2012-02-21 01:49:31','',2601,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2601-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(2613,1,'2012-02-20 20:50:51','2012-02-21 01:50:51','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2602\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2602\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joy1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','SALE! Joy Top - Yellow','','inherit','open','open','','2601-revision-5','','','2012-02-20 20:50:51','2012-02-21 01:50:51','',2601,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2601-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(2622,1,'2012-01-31 21:54:25','2012-02-01 02:54:25','<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">OUR 1st EDITION HAS SOLD OUT!</span></h2>\r\n<h3>We\'re working hard on a new and improved 2nd edition, which will be out soon (you can pre-order now). Follow us on <a href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/BelieveIAm\">twitter</a> to stay updated.</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/C_2EHx7vK-k?rel=0&amp;hd=1\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"></iframe>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Our love of journals inspired us to design our <em>ideal</em> training journal to share with our sisters!</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We <em>cherish </em>our training diaries &amp; know why they are such an important tool.  A training diary is integral in tracking progress, and the patterns that emerge help us figure out what does and doesn\'t work for us in training and racing. But, we also believe that a training diary can be <strong><em>so much more</em> than a recording device.</strong></p>\r\nWhat we\'ve created is an inspirational <em>training tool</em> for athletes that is fun to keep up with. Between the two of us, we have competed for over 35 years at the highest levels of sport: from youth track clubs up to the biggest stage in the world: The Olympic Games. Our biggest breakthroughs haven\'t come from physical preparation alone...they\'ve come from approaching our running more holistically, with attention to the mind and spirit as much as the body. This training diary includes the secrets and tricks we have learned along the way to accomplish that.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Training Journal Front\"]<img title=\"Training Journal Front\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fronttrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>The result is a special training journal that we believe will do the following:</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Make your training more rewarding and fun to track with a simple, beautiful design.</li>\r\n	<li>Provide a framework for keeping your running as an integrated piece of your <em>life as a whole.</em></li>\r\n	<li>Help you set, stick to, and accomplish your goals.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Designed by pro-runners, endorsed by pro-runners, and made for YOU!</h3>\r\nWe want to encourage you to use a training diary and we aren\'t alone!  Inspiration to use your training diary is provided by 12 amazing current professionals in the sport from around the World who share a love of training diaries: Olympians, National Champions, NCAA champions, CEO\'s.\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Other unique highlights of the journal include:</h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Beautiful and clean design that allows you to see an entire month\'s training, making it easy to find patterns and rhythms in your training and racing at a glance.</li>\r\n	<li>Beautiful encrypted floral designs that become your \"cue\" for each month.</li>\r\n	<li>Insight into mental training tools used by professional athletes.</li>\r\n	<li>Goal-setting tips &amp; work-sheet.</li>\r\n	<li>Lo &amp; Ro\'s <strong>Map to BELIEVING</strong> in yourself &amp; your dreams.</li>\r\n	<li>Inspiration to keep up your training diary by 12 women leaders in the sport.</li>\r\n	<li>\"Bigger Picture\" page allows you to chart important variables that affect your training &amp; racing.</li>\r\n	<li>Reversible design! Flip it over to use it as a blank notebook, using the lined pages and blank pages for whatever you wish.</li>\r\n	<li>Made in the USA in the city of Pittsburg, PA, with printers powered by alternative energy.</li>\r\n	<li>Printed with vegetable based inks on 100% recycled materials. Beautiful foil-stamped covers.</li>\r\n	<li>Every page is hand-illustrated by Lo &amp; Ro.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThis special diary is truly a labor of love by two professional runners who want to bring their biggest discoveries in sport to women and girls everywhere.\r\n\r\nSpecial thanks to the Sisters who shared their wisdom for this journal!  Find out more about each amazing contributor by following the links below:\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Molly Huddle\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Huddle\" target=\"_blank\">Molly Huddle</a>, <a title=\"Mary Cullen\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cullen\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Cullen</a>, <a title=\"Kim Smith\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley_Smith_%28athlete%29\" target=\"_blank\">Kim Smith</a>, <a title=\"Stephanie Reilly\" href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steph-Reilly/137511029602851\" target=\"_blank\">Stephanie Reilly</a>, <a title=\"Malindi Elmore\" href=\"http://canadianrunner.ca/\" target=\"_blank\">Malindi Elmore</a>, <a title=\"Georgie Clarke\" href=\"http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=16933&amp;PageNum=1\" target=\"_blank\">Georgie Clarke</a>, <a title=\"Mary Wittenberg\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wittenberg\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Wittenberg</a>, <a title=\"Amy Yoder-Begley\" href=\"http://www.yoderbegley.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Amy Yoder Begley</a>, <a title=\"Ann Gaffigan\" href=\"http://womentalksports.com/profiles/view/3\" target=\"_blank\">Ann Gaffigan</a>, <a title=\"Dottie Lessard\" href=\"http://www.dottielessard.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Dottie Lessard</a>, <a href=\"http://asklaurenfleshman.com\">Lauren Fleshman</a>, <a href=\"http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/teamnb/roisin-mcgettigan/\">Roisin McGettigan</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1541\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Back of Journal\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1541 \" title=\"Training Journal Back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backtrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1542 aligncenter\" title=\"writingdiary\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/writingdiary1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"365\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1550 aligncenter\" title=\"decoding\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/decoding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1551 aligncenter\" title=\"racereview\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/racereview.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1554 aligncenter\" title=\"months\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/months.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />','Training Journal','','inherit','open','open','','1137-revision-107','','','2012-01-31 21:54:25','2012-02-01 02:54:25','',1137,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1137-revision-107/',0,'revision','',0),(2614,1,'2012-02-20 20:47:18','2012-02-21 01:47:18','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1665\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Black\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1665 \" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah-joy-black1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1161\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1161\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joyhannah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1727\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joy3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','Joy Top - Black','','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-66','','','2012-02-20 20:47:18','2012-02-21 01:47:18','',819,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/819-revision-66/',0,'revision','',0),(2615,1,'2012-02-20 20:51:15','2012-02-21 01:51:15','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2602\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2602\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joy1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','SALE - Joy Top - Yellow','','inherit','open','open','','2601-revision-6','','','2012-02-20 20:51:15','2012-02-21 01:51:15','',2601,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2601-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(2616,1,'2012-02-19 22:33:22','2012-02-20 03:33:22','</a><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1122\" title=\"Tinfogrey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" /></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2024\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Eco-Grey\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2024\" title=\"mbs_tank\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs_tank2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1266\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Moonstone\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1266 \" title=\"hannah_mbs\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1729\" title=\"mbs\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/mbs3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" /></p>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs_tank_back.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1495\" title=\"hannah_mbs_tank_back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs_tank_back-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWear our super-soft, sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you to keep your life in balance.  The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :) ! Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from Sustainable Organic Cotton &amp; Recycled Polyester. Imported. Machine Washable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Tank is sustainably made from Poly-Cotton blend. Imported. Machine Washable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','Mind Body Soul Tops','','inherit','open','open','','823-revision-88','','','2012-02-19 22:33:22','2012-02-20 03:33:22','',823,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/823-revision-88/',0,'revision','',0),(2618,1,'2012-02-20 20:32:53','2012-02-21 01:32:53','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1122\" title=\"Tinfogrey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" /></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2590\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Majesty Scoop Neck - Purple\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2590 \" title=\"joy_purple\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joy_purple.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2595\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Eco Lilac - Grey\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2595\" title=\"hannah-strong-grey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah-strong-grey2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2032\" title=\"strong\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/strong3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n\r\nWear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that \"It\'s not how big you are, it\'s how big you play!\" The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special.Shirt runs slightly small for its size Lo &amp; Ro xx\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirts made from Sustainable Organic Cotton &amp; Recycled Polyester. Imported. Machine Washable.\r\nThese shirts run true to size.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our model Hannah Davidson.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a title=\"Myles Dumas\" href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','Strong Tops','','inherit','open','open','','824-revision-130','','','2012-02-20 20:32:53','2012-02-21 01:32:53','',824,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/824-revision-130/',0,'revision','',0),(2619,1,'2012-02-19 22:26:30','2012-02-20 03:26:30','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1122\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" /></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1250\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Orchid\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1250 \" title=\"emerbeautiful\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/emerbeautiful.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2028\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Athletic Blue\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2028\" title=\"beautiful tank\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/beautiful-tank_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1685\" title=\"beautiful\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/beautiful2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Wear our super-soft and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you of your true beauty. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :) !  Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from Sustainable Organic Cotton &amp; Recycled Polyester. Imported. Machine washable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Tank is made from 50% Cotton &amp; 50% Polyester. Machine washable. Made in the USA.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','Beautiful Tops','','inherit','open','open','','826-revision-92','','','2012-02-19 22:26:30','2012-02-20 03:26:30','',826,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/826-revision-92/',0,'revision','',0),(2620,1,'2012-02-20 20:56:02','2012-02-21 01:56:02','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2602\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2602\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joy1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','SALE - Joy Top - Yellow','','inherit','open','open','','2601-revision-7','','','2012-02-20 20:56:02','2012-02-21 01:56:02','',2601,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2601-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(2621,1,'2012-02-20 21:00:28','2012-02-21 02:00:28','<img class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Ro lo\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2602\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Yellow\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2602\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joyhannah.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2603\" title=\"joy\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/joy1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that just like an Olympic Flame Tulip reaching for sunshine, we can feel joy when reaching for our goals. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :). Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from super soft, sustainable, organic cotton &amp; recycled polyester. Imported.  Machine Washable. Enjoy!</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas.</a></p>','SALE - Joy Top - Yellow','','inherit','open','open','','2601-revision-8','','','2012-02-20 21:00:28','2012-02-21 02:00:28','',2601,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2601-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(2623,1,'2012-02-20 21:02:06','2012-02-21 02:02:06','<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">OUR 1st EDITION HAS SOLD OUT!</span></h2>\r\n<h3>We\'re working hard on a new and improved 2nd edition, which will be out soon (you can pre-order now). Follow us on <a href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/BelieveIAm\">twitter</a> to stay updated.</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/C_2EHx7vK-k?rel=0&amp;hd=1\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"></iframe>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Our love of journals inspired us to design our <em>ideal</em> training journal to share with our sisters!</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We <em>cherish </em>our training diaries &amp; know why they are such an important tool.  A training diary is integral in tracking progress, and the patterns that emerge help us figure out what does and doesn\'t work for us in training and racing. But, we also believe that a training diary can be <strong><em>so much more</em> than a recording device.</strong></p>\r\nWhat we\'ve created is an inspirational <em>training tool</em> for athletes that is fun to keep up with. Between the two of us, we have competed for over 35 years at the highest levels of sport: from youth track clubs up to the biggest stage in the world: The Olympic Games. Our biggest breakthroughs haven\'t come from physical preparation alone...they\'ve come from approaching our running more holistically, with attention to the mind and spirit as much as the body. This training diary includes the secrets and tricks we have learned along the way to accomplish that.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Training Journal Front\"]<img title=\"Training Journal Front\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fronttrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>The result is a special training journal that we believe will do the following:</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Make your training more rewarding and fun to track with a simple, beautiful design.</li>\r\n	<li>Provide a framework for keeping your running as an integrated piece of your <em>life as a whole.</em></li>\r\n	<li>Help you set, stick to, and accomplish your goals.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Designed by pro-runners, endorsed by pro-runners, and made for YOU!</h3>\r\nWe want to encourage you to use a training diary and we aren\'t alone!  Inspiration to use your training diary is provided by 12 amazing current professionals in the sport from around the World who share a love of training diaries: Olympians, National Champions, NCAA champions, CEO\'s.\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Other unique highlights of the journal include:</h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Beautiful and clean design that allows you to see an entire month\'s training, making it easy to find patterns and rhythms in your training and racing at a glance.</li>\r\n	<li>Beautiful encrypted floral designs that become your \"cue\" for each month.</li>\r\n	<li>Insight into mental training tools used by professional athletes.</li>\r\n	<li>Goal-setting tips &amp; work-sheet.</li>\r\n	<li>Lo &amp; Ro\'s <strong>Map to BELIEVING</strong> in yourself &amp; your dreams.</li>\r\n	<li>Inspiration to keep up your training diary by 12 women leaders in the sport.</li>\r\n	<li>\"Bigger Picture\" page allows you to chart important variables that affect your training &amp; racing.</li>\r\n	<li>Reversible design! Flip it over to use it as a blank notebook, using the lined pages and blank pages for whatever you wish.</li>\r\n	<li>Made in the USA in the city of Pittsburg, PA, with printers powered by alternative energy.</li>\r\n	<li>Printed with vegetable based inks on 100% recycled materials. Beautiful foil-stamped covers.</li>\r\n	<li>Every page is hand-illustrated by Lo &amp; Ro.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThis special diary is truly a labor of love by two professional runners who want to bring their biggest discoveries in sport to women and girls everywhere.\r\n\r\nSpecial thanks to the Sisters who shared their wisdom for this journal!  Find out more about each amazing contributor by following the links below:\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Molly Huddle\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Huddle\" target=\"_blank\">Molly Huddle</a>, <a title=\"Mary Cullen\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cullen\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Cullen</a>, <a title=\"Kim Smith\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley_Smith_%28athlete%29\" target=\"_blank\">Kim Smith</a>, <a title=\"Stephanie Reilly\" href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steph-Reilly/137511029602851\" target=\"_blank\">Stephanie Reilly</a>, <a title=\"Malindi Elmore\" href=\"http://canadianrunner.ca/\" target=\"_blank\">Malindi Elmore</a>, <a title=\"Georgie Clarke\" href=\"http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=16933&amp;PageNum=1\" target=\"_blank\">Georgie Clarke</a>, <a title=\"Mary Wittenberg\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wittenberg\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Wittenberg</a>, <a title=\"Amy Yoder-Begley\" href=\"http://www.yoderbegley.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Amy Yoder Begley</a>, <a title=\"Ann Gaffigan\" href=\"http://womentalksports.com/profiles/view/3\" target=\"_blank\">Ann Gaffigan</a>, <a title=\"Dottie Lessard\" href=\"http://www.dottielessard.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Dottie Lessard</a>, <a href=\"http://asklaurenfleshman.com\">Lauren Fleshman</a>, <a href=\"http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/teamnb/roisin-mcgettigan/\">Roisin McGettigan</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1541\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Back of Journal\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1541 \" title=\"Training Journal Back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backtrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1542 aligncenter\" title=\"writingdiary\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/writingdiary1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"365\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1550 aligncenter\" title=\"decoding\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/decoding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1551 aligncenter\" title=\"racereview\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/racereview.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1554 aligncenter\" title=\"months\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/months.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />','Training Journal','','inherit','open','open','','1137-revision-108','','','2012-02-20 21:02:06','2012-02-21 02:02:06','',1137,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1137-revision-108/',0,'revision','',0),(2624,1,'2012-02-20 21:04:13','2012-02-21 02:04:13','<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">PRE-ORDER The Second Edition Now!\r\n</span></h2>\r\n<h3>We\'re working hard on a new and improved 2nd edition, which will be out soon. Follow us on <a href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/BelieveIAm\">twitter</a> to stay updated.</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/C_2EHx7vK-k?rel=0&amp;hd=1\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"></iframe>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Our love of journals inspired us to design our <em>ideal</em> training journal to share with our sisters!</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We <em>cherish </em>our training diaries &amp; know why they are such an important tool.  A training diary is integral in tracking progress, and the patterns that emerge help us figure out what does and doesn\'t work for us in training and racing. But, we also believe that a training diary can be <strong><em>so much more</em> than a recording device.</strong></p>\r\nWhat we\'ve created is an inspirational <em>training tool</em> for athletes that is fun to keep up with. Between the two of us, we have competed for over 35 years at the highest levels of sport: from youth track clubs up to the biggest stage in the world: The Olympic Games. Our biggest breakthroughs haven\'t come from physical preparation alone...they\'ve come from approaching our running more holistically, with attention to the mind and spirit as much as the body. This training diary includes the secrets and tricks we have learned along the way to accomplish that.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Training Journal Front\"]<img title=\"Training Journal Front\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fronttrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>The result is a special training journal that we believe will do the following:</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Make your training more rewarding and fun to track with a simple, beautiful design.</li>\r\n	<li>Provide a framework for keeping your running as an integrated piece of your <em>life as a whole.</em></li>\r\n	<li>Help you set, stick to, and accomplish your goals.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Designed by pro-runners, endorsed by pro-runners, and made for YOU!</h3>\r\nWe want to encourage you to use a training diary and we aren\'t alone!  Inspiration to use your training diary is provided by 12 amazing current professionals in the sport from around the World who share a love of training diaries: Olympians, National Champions, NCAA champions, CEO\'s.\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Other unique highlights of the journal include:</h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Beautiful and clean design that allows you to see an entire month\'s training, making it easy to find patterns and rhythms in your training and racing at a glance.</li>\r\n	<li>Beautiful encrypted floral designs that become your \"cue\" for each month.</li>\r\n	<li>Insight into mental training tools used by professional athletes.</li>\r\n	<li>Goal-setting tips &amp; work-sheet.</li>\r\n	<li>Lo &amp; Ro\'s <strong>Map to BELIEVING</strong> in yourself &amp; your dreams.</li>\r\n	<li>Inspiration to keep up your training diary by 12 women leaders in the sport.</li>\r\n	<li>\"Bigger Picture\" page allows you to chart important variables that affect your training &amp; racing.</li>\r\n	<li>Reversible design! Flip it over to use it as a blank notebook, using the lined pages and blank pages for whatever you wish.</li>\r\n	<li>Made in the USA in the city of Pittsburg, PA, with printers powered by alternative energy.</li>\r\n	<li>Printed with vegetable based inks on 100% recycled materials. Beautiful foil-stamped covers.</li>\r\n	<li>Every page is hand-illustrated by Lo &amp; Ro.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThis special diary is truly a labor of love by two professional runners who want to bring their biggest discoveries in sport to women and girls everywhere.\r\n\r\nSpecial thanks to the Sisters who shared their wisdom for this journal!  Find out more about each amazing contributor by following the links below:\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Molly Huddle\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Huddle\" target=\"_blank\">Molly Huddle</a>, <a title=\"Mary Cullen\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cullen\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Cullen</a>, <a title=\"Kim Smith\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley_Smith_%28athlete%29\" target=\"_blank\">Kim Smith</a>, <a title=\"Stephanie Reilly\" href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steph-Reilly/137511029602851\" target=\"_blank\">Stephanie Reilly</a>, <a title=\"Malindi Elmore\" href=\"http://canadianrunner.ca/\" target=\"_blank\">Malindi Elmore</a>, <a title=\"Georgie Clarke\" href=\"http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=16933&amp;PageNum=1\" target=\"_blank\">Georgie Clarke</a>, <a title=\"Mary Wittenberg\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wittenberg\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Wittenberg</a>, <a title=\"Amy Yoder-Begley\" href=\"http://www.yoderbegley.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Amy Yoder Begley</a>, <a title=\"Ann Gaffigan\" href=\"http://womentalksports.com/profiles/view/3\" target=\"_blank\">Ann Gaffigan</a>, <a title=\"Dottie Lessard\" href=\"http://www.dottielessard.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Dottie Lessard</a>, <a href=\"http://asklaurenfleshman.com\">Lauren Fleshman</a>, <a href=\"http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/teamnb/roisin-mcgettigan/\">Roisin McGettigan</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1541\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Back of Journal\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1541 \" title=\"Training Journal Back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backtrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1542 aligncenter\" title=\"writingdiary\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/writingdiary1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"365\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1550 aligncenter\" title=\"decoding\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/decoding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1551 aligncenter\" title=\"racereview\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/racereview.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1554 aligncenter\" title=\"months\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/months.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />','Training Journal','','inherit','open','open','','1137-revision-109','','','2012-02-20 21:04:13','2012-02-21 02:04:13','',1137,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1137-revision-109/',0,'revision','',0),(2625,1,'2012-02-20 21:04:35','2012-02-21 02:04:35','<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">PRE-ORDER THE 2ND EDITION NOW!\r\n</span></h2>\r\n<h3>We\'re working hard on a new and improved 2nd edition, which will be out soon. Follow us on <a href=\"http://twitter.com/#!/BelieveIAm\">twitter</a> to stay updated.</h3>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/C_2EHx7vK-k?rel=0&amp;hd=1\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\"></iframe>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Our love of journals inspired us to design our <em>ideal</em> training journal to share with our sisters!</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">We <em>cherish </em>our training diaries &amp; know why they are such an important tool.  A training diary is integral in tracking progress, and the patterns that emerge help us figure out what does and doesn\'t work for us in training and racing. But, we also believe that a training diary can be <strong><em>so much more</em> than a recording device.</strong></p>\r\nWhat we\'ve created is an inspirational <em>training tool</em> for athletes that is fun to keep up with. Between the two of us, we have competed for over 35 years at the highest levels of sport: from youth track clubs up to the biggest stage in the world: The Olympic Games. Our biggest breakthroughs haven\'t come from physical preparation alone...they\'ve come from approaching our running more holistically, with attention to the mind and spirit as much as the body. This training diary includes the secrets and tricks we have learned along the way to accomplish that.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Training Journal Front\"]<img title=\"Training Journal Front\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fronttrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>The result is a special training journal that we believe will do the following:</h3>\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Make your training more rewarding and fun to track with a simple, beautiful design.</li>\r\n	<li>Provide a framework for keeping your running as an integrated piece of your <em>life as a whole.</em></li>\r\n	<li>Help you set, stick to, and accomplish your goals.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Designed by pro-runners, endorsed by pro-runners, and made for YOU!</h3>\r\nWe want to encourage you to use a training diary and we aren\'t alone!  Inspiration to use your training diary is provided by 12 amazing current professionals in the sport from around the World who share a love of training diaries: Olympians, National Champions, NCAA champions, CEO\'s.\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Other unique highlights of the journal include:</h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Beautiful and clean design that allows you to see an entire month\'s training, making it easy to find patterns and rhythms in your training and racing at a glance.</li>\r\n	<li>Beautiful encrypted floral designs that become your \"cue\" for each month.</li>\r\n	<li>Insight into mental training tools used by professional athletes.</li>\r\n	<li>Goal-setting tips &amp; work-sheet.</li>\r\n	<li>Lo &amp; Ro\'s <strong>Map to BELIEVING</strong> in yourself &amp; your dreams.</li>\r\n	<li>Inspiration to keep up your training diary by 12 women leaders in the sport.</li>\r\n	<li>\"Bigger Picture\" page allows you to chart important variables that affect your training &amp; racing.</li>\r\n	<li>Reversible design! Flip it over to use it as a blank notebook, using the lined pages and blank pages for whatever you wish.</li>\r\n	<li>Made in the USA in the city of Pittsburg, PA, with printers powered by alternative energy.</li>\r\n	<li>Printed with vegetable based inks on 100% recycled materials. Beautiful foil-stamped covers.</li>\r\n	<li>Every page is hand-illustrated by Lo &amp; Ro.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nThis special diary is truly a labor of love by two professional runners who want to bring their biggest discoveries in sport to women and girls everywhere.\r\n\r\nSpecial thanks to the Sisters who shared their wisdom for this journal!  Find out more about each amazing contributor by following the links below:\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Molly Huddle\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Huddle\" target=\"_blank\">Molly Huddle</a>, <a title=\"Mary Cullen\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cullen\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Cullen</a>, <a title=\"Kim Smith\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley_Smith_%28athlete%29\" target=\"_blank\">Kim Smith</a>, <a title=\"Stephanie Reilly\" href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Steph-Reilly/137511029602851\" target=\"_blank\">Stephanie Reilly</a>, <a title=\"Malindi Elmore\" href=\"http://canadianrunner.ca/\" target=\"_blank\">Malindi Elmore</a>, <a title=\"Georgie Clarke\" href=\"http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=16933&amp;PageNum=1\" target=\"_blank\">Georgie Clarke</a>, <a title=\"Mary Wittenberg\" href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wittenberg\" target=\"_blank\">Mary Wittenberg</a>, <a title=\"Amy Yoder-Begley\" href=\"http://www.yoderbegley.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Amy Yoder Begley</a>, <a title=\"Ann Gaffigan\" href=\"http://womentalksports.com/profiles/view/3\" target=\"_blank\">Ann Gaffigan</a>, <a title=\"Dottie Lessard\" href=\"http://www.dottielessard.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Dottie Lessard</a>, <a href=\"http://asklaurenfleshman.com\">Lauren Fleshman</a>, <a href=\"http://www.newbalance.com/performance/running/teamnb/roisin-mcgettigan/\">Roisin McGettigan</a>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1541\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Back of Journal\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1541 \" title=\"Training Journal Back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/backtrack1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1542 aligncenter\" title=\"writingdiary\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/writingdiary1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"365\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1550 aligncenter\" title=\"decoding\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/decoding.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1551 aligncenter\" title=\"racereview\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/racereview.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />\r\n\r\n<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1554 aligncenter\" title=\"months\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/months.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"367\" />','Training Journal','','inherit','open','open','','1137-revision-110','','','2012-02-20 21:04:35','2012-02-21 02:04:35','',1137,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1137-revision-110/',0,'revision','',0),(2626,1,'2012-02-20 20:58:30','2012-02-21 01:58:30','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1122\" title=\"Tinfogrey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" /></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2590\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Majesty Scoop Neck - Purple\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2590 \" title=\"joy_purple\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joy_purple.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2595\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Eco Lilac - Grey\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2595\" title=\"hannah-strong-grey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah-strong-grey2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2032\" title=\"strong\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/strong3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n\r\nWear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that \"It\'s not how big you are, it\'s how big you play!\" The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special.Shirt runs slightly small for its size Lo &amp; Ro xx\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirts made from Sustainable Organic Cotton &amp; Recycled Polyester. Imported. Machine Washable.\r\nThese shirts run true to size.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our model Hannah Davidson.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a title=\"Myles Dumas\" href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','Strong Tops','','inherit','open','open','','824-revision-131','','','2012-02-20 20:58:30','2012-02-21 01:58:30','',824,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/824-revision-131/',0,'revision','',0),(2627,1,'2012-02-20 21:06:45','2012-02-21 02:06:45','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1122\" title=\"Tinfogrey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" /></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2590\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Majesty Scoop Neck - Purple\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2590 \" title=\"joy_purple\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/joy_purple.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2595\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Eco Lilac - Grey\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2595\" title=\"hannah-strong-grey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah-strong-grey2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2032\" title=\"strong\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/strong3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" />\r\n\r\nWear our super-soft, organic, and sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you that \"It\'s not how big you are, it\'s how big you play!\" The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special.Shirt runs slightly small for its size Lo &amp; Ro xx\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirts made from Sustainable Organic Cotton &amp; Recycled Polyester. Imported. Machine Washable.\r\nThese shirts run true to size.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our model Hannah Davidson.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a title=\"Myles Dumas\" href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','NEW Strong Tops','','inherit','open','open','','824-revision-132','','','2012-02-20 21:06:45','2012-02-21 02:06:45','',824,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/824-revision-132/',0,'revision','',0),(2628,1,'2012-02-20 17:53:32','2012-02-20 22:53:32','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" /><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2578\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2586\" title=\"hoodyback\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/hoodyback1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">These uber-comfy hoodies are selling like crazy! Now back in stock after popular demand.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2576\" title=\"relaxed\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxed2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Made in the USA. Comes in One-Size only.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Looks super cute on its own or over leggings or skinny jeans. Flattering on a range of body types as slouchy or form fitting. Wear our super-soft and American made \"Superhero\" costume and use it as a \"cue\" to remind you to relax and unwind while feeling snug and cozy.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The tag on your dress is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>','Relaxed Hoody-Dress ','','inherit','open','open','','1776-revision-64','','','2012-02-20 17:53:32','2012-02-20 22:53:32','',1776,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1776-revision-64/',0,'revision','',0),(2629,1,'2012-01-28 19:45:34','2012-01-29 00:45:34','We\'ve hand picked this little four-pack of cards especially for you. Each card is printed on textured paper and feels lovely to the touch. The image on the front of each card contains a hidden word, (or visual cue,) that will inspire the receiver.\r\n\r\nThe inside is left blank for your personal message and the back of the card includes a little description by Ro and Lo about the value in that particular word or mantra.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2100\" title=\"card_4up2\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/card_4up21.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"700\" /><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;\">The four cards contain the following visual cues, followed by suggestions for how you might use the card:</span>\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>I Am Here, Now, Present</strong> (Evergreen)<em>- good luck card or to inspire someone to enjoy the moment</em></li>\r\n	<li><strong>Mind, Body, Soul </strong>(Orchid) <em>- get well card or simply a friendly note</em></li>\r\n	<li><strong>I Am Grateful</strong> (Rose) - <em> thank you card</em></li>\r\n	<li><strong></strong><em></em><strong>I Am Joyful</strong> (Tulips) <em>- \"just because\" card or announcement card</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nPrinted in the USA on recycled paper. Card dimensions are 4.25\" x 6.00\"\r\n\r\nEnvelopes included of course!','Greeting Cards','','inherit','open','open','','1871-revision-51','','','2012-01-28 19:45:34','2012-01-29 00:45:34','',1871,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1871-revision-51/',0,'revision','',0),(2630,1,'2012-02-20 21:11:00','2012-02-21 02:11:00','We\'ve hand picked this little four-pack of cards especially for you. Each card is printed on textured paper and feels lovely to the touch. The image on the front of each card contains a hidden word, (or visual cue,) that will inspire the receiver.\r\n\r\nThe inside is left blank for your personal message and the back of the card includes a little description by Ro and Lo about the value in that particular word or mantra.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2100\" title=\"card_4up2\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/card_4up21.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"700\" /><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold;\">The four cards contain the following visual cues, followed by suggestions for how you might use the card:</span>\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><strong>I Am Here, Now, Present</strong> (Evergreen)<em>- good luck card or to inspire someone to enjoy the moment</em></li>\r\n	<li><strong>Mind, Body, Soul </strong>(Orchid) <em>- get well card or simply a friendly note</em></li>\r\n	<li><strong>I Am Grateful</strong> (Rose) - <em> thank you card</em></li>\r\n	<li><strong></strong><em></em><strong>I Am Joyful</strong> (Tulips) <em>- \"just because\" card or announcement card</em></li>\r\n</ul>\r\nPrinted in the USA on recycled paper. Card dimensions are 4.25\" x 6.00\"\r\n\r\nEnvelopes included of course!','Greeting Cards','','inherit','open','open','','1871-revision-52','','','2012-02-20 21:11:00','2012-02-21 02:11:00','',1871,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1871-revision-52/',0,'revision','',0),(2631,1,'2012-02-19 22:19:10','2012-02-20 03:19:10','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1122\" title=\"Tinfogrey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"368\" height=\"176\" /></p>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1520\" title=\"hannah-dress\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" /></a><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress-back.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1521\" title=\"hannah-dress-back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress-back.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" /></a>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft and sustainably made “Superhero” costume &amp; use it as a “cue” to remind you of your true beauty. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another “cue” to place somewhere special <img src=\"../wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif\" alt=\":)\" /> Dress runs large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from 100% Sustainable Cotton by Alternative Apparel. Imported. Machine Washable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','Butterfly Dress','','inherit','open','open','','1509-revision-31','','','2012-02-19 22:19:10','2012-02-20 03:19:10','',1509,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1509-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(2632,1,'2012-02-20 21:17:33','2012-02-21 02:17:33','<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1122\" title=\"Tinfogrey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"368\" height=\"176\" /></p>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1520\" title=\"hannah-dress\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" /></a><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress-back.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1521\" title=\"hannah-dress-back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/hannah-dress-back.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" /></a>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Wear our super-soft and sustainably made “Superhero” costume &amp; use it as a “cue” to remind you of your true beauty. The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another “cue” to place somewhere special <img src=\"../wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif\" alt=\":)\" /> Dress runs large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from 100% Sustainable Cotton by Alternative Apparel. Imported. Machine Washable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com/\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','Butterfly Dress','','inherit','open','open','','1509-revision-32','','','2012-02-20 21:17:33','2012-02-21 02:17:33','',1509,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/1509-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(2638,1,'2012-03-10 10:00:16','2012-03-10 15:00:16','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668 \" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro: </strong><em>Before any major race, my dad’s final text was always “relax n enjoy.” I used to think \"how does my dad know what I\'m going through, I\'m so nervous, etc.\" and “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he DID have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for. When I AM able to \"relax and enjoy\", I usually have my best performances! Go Da.  </em>\r\n\r\n<em></em>Like Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670  \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Benefits of Relaxation</span></h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Tools to Help You Relax</span></h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582 \" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\"\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">We have a 25 minute guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist Dr. Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (<a href=\"https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&amp;SESSION=wf6Vbr7w94Ap9Zj5V9rMUMhysb2JAzqgcsNXt6g7pY34-bLfV-WPUfE5eJO&amp;dispatch=50a222a57771920b6a3d7b606239e4d529b525e0b7e69bf0224adecfb0124e9b61f737ba21b08198d7a214dbf6ac4f3cd23680b71ef37df3\">Download the mp3 for $2.99</a> and we will send you a note from Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr. Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D, with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques. <strong>Once you complete your payment you will be emailed a link to download the mp3</strong>).</span>\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Reasons To Relax ','','publish','open','open','','relaxed-blog','','\nhttp://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/','2012-03-22 20:57:37','2012-03-23 00:57:37','',0,'http://believeiam.com/?p=2638',0,'post','',0),(2636,1,'2012-02-20 20:57:21','2012-02-21 01:57:21','<img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1122\" title=\"Tinfogrey\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Tinfogrey-300x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" />\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2024\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Eco-Grey\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2024\" title=\"mbs_tank\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs_tank2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1266\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"550\" caption=\"Moonstone\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1266 \" title=\"hannah_mbs\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"825\" />[/caption]\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1729\" title=\"mbs\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/mbs3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"550\" height=\"600\" /></p>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs_tank_back.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1495\" title=\"hannah_mbs_tank_back\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/hannah_mbs_tank_back-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>\r\n\r\nWear our super-soft, sustainably made \"Superhero\" costume &amp; use it as a \"cue\" to remind you to keep your life in balance.  The tag on your shirt is also a sticker, giving you another \"cue\" to place somewhere special :) ! Shirt runs slightly large for its size. Lo &amp; Ro xx\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">T-Shirt made from Sustainable Organic Cotton &amp; Recycled Polyester. Imported. Machine Washable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Tank is sustainably made from Poly-Cotton blend. Imported. Machine Washable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Thanks to our models Hannah Davidson &amp; Emer O\'Shea-Curran.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Photography by <a href=\"http://www.mylesdumas.com\" target=\"_blank\">Myles Dumas</a>.</p>','Mind Body Soul Tops','','inherit','open','open','','823-revision-89','','','2012-02-20 20:57:21','2012-02-21 01:57:21','',823,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/823-revision-89/',0,'revision','',0),(2637,1,'2012-02-26 20:44:11','2012-02-27 01:44:11','Tick, tick, tick...\n\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\n\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\n\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\n\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\n\nBring on the next 6 months.\n\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-2','','','2012-02-26 20:44:11','2012-02-27 01:44:11','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(2639,1,'2012-03-08 22:12:43','2012-03-09 03:12:43','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision','','','2012-03-08 22:12:43','2012-03-09 03:12:43','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(2640,1,'2012-03-08 22:01:20','2012-03-09 03:01:20','Tick, tick, tick...\n\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\n\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\n\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\n\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\n\nBring on the next 6 months.\n\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-3','','','2012-03-08 22:01:20','2012-03-09 03:01:20','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(2641,1,'2012-03-08 22:19:41','2012-03-09 03:19:41','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-4','','','2012-03-08 22:19:41','2012-03-09 03:19:41','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(2642,1,'2012-03-08 22:20:08','2012-03-09 03:20:08','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<br />','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-5','','','2012-03-08 22:20:08','2012-03-09 03:20:08','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(2643,1,'2012-03-08 22:20:14','2012-03-09 03:20:14','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<br />','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-6','','','2012-03-08 22:20:14','2012-03-09 03:20:14','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(2644,1,'2012-03-08 22:20:15','2012-03-09 03:20:15','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<br />','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-7','','','2012-03-08 22:20:15','2012-03-09 03:20:15','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(2648,1,'2012-03-08 22:14:26','2012-03-09 03:14:26','Ro:\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\n\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\n\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\n\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\n\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\n\nWhen to Relax\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\n\nHow to Relax\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\n\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\n\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.50 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\n\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-2','','','2012-03-08 22:14:26','2012-03-09 03:14:26','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(2645,1,'2012-03-08 22:20:29','2012-03-09 03:20:29','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<br />\r\n<br />','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-8','','','2012-03-08 22:20:29','2012-03-09 03:20:29','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(2646,1,'2012-03-08 22:20:41','2012-03-09 03:20:41','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<br />\r\n','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-9','','','2012-03-08 22:20:41','2012-03-09 03:20:41','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(2647,1,'2012-03-08 22:21:37','2012-03-09 03:21:37','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business from 7-9am (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the Mountain Buggy really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<br />\r\n','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-10','','','2012-03-08 22:21:37','2012-03-09 03:21:37','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(2649,1,'2012-03-08 22:23:12','2012-03-09 03:23:12','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.50 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-3','','','2012-03-08 22:23:12','2012-03-09 03:23:12','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(2650,1,'2012-03-08 22:24:42','2012-03-09 03:24:42','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others.\r\n\r\nWe have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\n','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-4','','','2012-03-08 22:24:42','2012-03-09 03:24:42','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(2651,1,'2012-03-08 22:25:28','2012-03-09 03:25:28','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\nWe have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\n','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-5','','','2012-03-08 22:25:28','2012-03-09 03:25:28','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(2653,1,'2012-03-08 22:26:45','2012-03-09 03:26:45','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\nWe have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-7','','','2012-03-08 22:26:45','2012-03-09 03:26:45','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(2652,1,'2012-03-08 22:25:44','2012-03-09 03:25:44','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\nWe have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n<br />\r\n\r\n','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-6','','','2012-03-08 22:25:44','2012-03-09 03:25:44','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(2654,1,'2012-03-08 22:26:49','2012-03-09 03:26:49','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\nWe have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-8','','','2012-03-08 22:26:49','2012-03-09 03:26:49','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(2655,1,'2012-03-10 13:48:00','2012-03-10 18:48:00','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n<strong>Ro: </strong><em>Before any major race, my dad’s final text was always “relax n enjoy.” I used to think \"how does my dad know what I\'m going through, I\'m so nervous, etc.\" and “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he DID have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for. When I AM able to \"relax and enjoy\", I usually have my best performances! Go Da.  </em>\n\n<em></em>Like Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\n\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\n\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Benefits of Relaxation</span></h2>\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\n<ul>\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\n</ul>\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\n\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\n\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Tools to Help You Relax</span></h2>\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\n\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\n\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\n<strong></strong>\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582 \" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" /></a>[/caption]\n\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\"\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist Dr. Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (<a href=\"https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&amp;SESSION=wf6Vbr7w94Ap9Zj5V9rMUMhysb2JAzqgcsNXt6g7pY34-bLfV-WPUfE5eJO&amp;dispatch=50a222a57771920b6a3d7b606239e4d529b525e0b7e69bf0224adecfb0124e9b61f737ba21b08198d7a214dbf6ac4f3cd23680b71ef37df3\">Download the mp3 for $2.99</a> and we will send you a note from Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr. Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques. <strong>Once you complete your payment you will be emailed a link to download the MP3</strong>).</span>\n\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\n\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\n\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Reasons To Relax & Guided Relaxation MP3','','inherit','open','open','','2638-autosave','','','2012-03-10 13:48:00','2012-03-10 18:48:00','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(2656,1,'2012-03-08 22:27:16','2012-03-09 03:27:16','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\nVerbal Cues: When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\nListen to guided Relaxation: For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-9','','','2012-03-08 22:27:16','2012-03-09 03:27:16','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(2657,1,'2012-03-08 22:28:14','2012-03-09 03:28:14','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<strong>Verbal Cues:</strong> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<strong>Listen to guided Relaxation:</strong> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-10','','','2012-03-08 22:28:14','2012-03-09 03:28:14','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(2658,1,'2012-03-08 22:28:23','2012-03-09 03:28:23','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<strong>Verbal Cues:</strong> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<strong>Listen to guided Relaxation:</strong> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n<br />\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-11','','','2012-03-08 22:28:23','2012-03-09 03:28:23','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(2659,1,'2012-03-08 22:29:07','2012-03-09 03:29:07','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<strong>Verbal Cues:</strong> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<strong>Listen to guided Relaxation:</strong> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-12','','','2012-03-08 22:29:07','2012-03-09 03:29:07','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(2660,1,'2012-03-08 22:29:11','2012-03-09 03:29:11','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<strong>Verbal Cues:</strong> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\nDo Yoga! Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<strong>Listen to guided Relaxation:</strong> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-13','','','2012-03-08 22:29:11','2012-03-09 03:29:11','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(2661,1,'2012-03-08 22:29:45','2012-03-09 03:29:45','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<strong>Verbal Cues:</strong> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<strong>Do Yoga: </strong>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<strong>Listen to guided Relaxation:</strong> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-14','','','2012-03-08 22:29:45','2012-03-09 03:29:45','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(2662,1,'2012-03-08 22:29:55','2012-03-09 03:29:55','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\nWhen to Relax\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\nHow to Relax\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<strong>Verbal Cues:</strong> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<strong>Do Yoga: </strong>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<strong>Listen to guided Relaxation:</strong> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-15','','','2012-03-08 22:29:55','2012-03-09 03:29:55','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(2663,1,'2012-03-08 22:31:18','2012-03-09 03:31:18','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-16','','','2012-03-08 22:31:18','2012-03-09 03:31:18','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(2664,1,'2012-03-08 22:31:22','2012-03-09 03:31:22','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-17','','','2012-03-08 22:31:22','2012-03-09 03:31:22','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(2665,1,'2012-03-08 22:32:08','2012-03-09 03:32:08','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-18','','','2012-03-08 22:32:08','2012-03-09 03:32:08','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(2666,1,'2012-03-08 22:32:12','2012-03-09 03:32:12','Ro:\r\nBefore any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy”. It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be or you get run down.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to stay relaxed for as long as possible in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is critical for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\nRecognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #993366;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\nVisual Cues: We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture savassana is extremely helpful to encouraging full relaxation and regeneration. (insert photo or video or link).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #800080;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3x per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\nSee it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share! Thanks, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-19','','','2012-03-08 22:32:12','2012-03-09 03:32:12','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(2840,1,'2012-03-25 12:31:41','0000-00-00 00:00:00','','Auto Draft','','auto-draft','open','open','','','','','2012-03-25 12:31:41','0000-00-00 00:00:00','',0,'http://believeiam.com/?page_id=2840',0,'page','',0),(2668,1,'2012-03-09 11:34:08','2012-03-09 16:34:08','Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan (C) leads the field over the water jump during the 3000m steeplechase round 1 at the National stadium as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 15, 2008.  AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)','Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan ','','inherit','open','open','','irelands-roisin-mcgettigan-c-leads-th','','','2012-03-09 11:34:08','2012-03-09 16:34:08','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2669,1,'2012-03-09 11:45:30','2012-03-09 16:45:30','','IMAG0802','','inherit','open','open','','imag0802','','','2012-03-09 11:45:30','2012-03-09 16:45:30','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMAG0802.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2670,1,'2012-03-09 11:50:41','2012-03-09 16:50:41','','Sympathetic','','inherit','open','open','','diagram1','','','2012-03-09 11:50:41','2012-03-09 16:50:41','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2671,1,'2012-03-09 12:22:32','2012-03-09 17:22:32','<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Ro racing in Beijing\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>Ro:</strong>\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\n\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\n\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\n\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2670\" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Sympathetic System\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\n\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\n<ul>\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\n</ul>\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\n\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\n\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\n\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\n<strong></strong>\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\n\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\n\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\n\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-20','','','2012-03-09 12:22:32','2012-03-09 17:22:32','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(2672,1,'2012-03-09 12:23:20','2012-03-09 17:23:20','<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Ro racing in Beijing\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2670\" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Sympathetic System\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by a sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from a professional sports psychologist with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-21','','','2012-03-09 12:23:20','2012-03-09 17:23:20','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(2673,1,'2012-03-09 14:55:12','2012-03-09 19:55:12','<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Ro racing in Beijing\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>Ro:</strong>\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\n\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\n\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\n\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2670\" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Sympathetic System\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\n\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\n<ul>\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\n</ul>\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\n\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\n\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\n\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\n<strong></strong>\n\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\n\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\n\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\n\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\n\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\n\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-22','','','2012-03-09 14:55:12','2012-03-09 19:55:12','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(2674,1,'2012-03-09 15:10:14','2012-03-09 20:10:14','Tick, tick, tick...\n\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\n\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\n\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\n\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\n\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment.... <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp_1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-1932\" title=\"nhp_1\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp_1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>\n\nBring on the next 6 months.\n\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-11','','','2012-03-09 15:10:14','2012-03-09 20:10:14','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(2675,1,'2012-03-09 15:21:31','2012-03-09 20:21:31','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment.... <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1931\" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-12','','','2012-03-09 15:21:31','2012-03-09 20:21:31','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(2676,1,'2012-03-09 15:21:35','2012-03-09 20:21:35','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment.... <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1931\" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-13','','','2012-03-09 15:21:35','2012-03-09 20:21:35','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(2677,1,'2012-03-09 15:21:42','2012-03-09 20:21:42','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a lofty goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment.... <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-1931\" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-14','','','2012-03-09 15:21:42','2012-03-09 20:21:42','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(2678,1,'2012-03-09 15:26:19','2012-03-09 20:26:19','','Here & Now','A rare snowy day in Providence, RI ','inherit','open','open','','img_7879','','','2012-03-09 15:26:19','2012-03-09 20:26:19','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(2679,1,'2012-03-09 15:31:04','2012-03-09 20:31:04','Tick, tick, tick...\n\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\n\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\n\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678\" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\n\nBring on the next 6 months.\n\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-15','','','2012-03-09 15:31:04','2012-03-09 20:31:04','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(2680,1,'2012-03-09 15:32:37','2012-03-09 20:32:37','Tick, tick, tick...\n\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\n\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\n\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678\" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\n\nBring on the next 6 months.\n\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-16','','','2012-03-09 15:32:37','2012-03-09 20:32:37','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(2681,1,'2012-03-09 15:35:45','2012-03-09 20:35:45','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678\" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-17','','','2012-03-09 15:35:45','2012-03-09 20:35:45','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(2682,1,'2012-03-09 15:36:12','2012-03-09 20:36:12','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678\" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-18','','','2012-03-09 15:36:12','2012-03-09 20:36:12','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(2683,1,'2012-03-09 15:38:12','2012-03-09 20:38:12','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my Mountain Buggy baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678\" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-19','','','2012-03-09 15:38:12','2012-03-09 20:38:12','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-19/',0,'revision','',0),(2684,1,'2012-03-09 15:40:04','2012-03-09 20:40:04','Tick, tick, tick...\n\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\n\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\n\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678\" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\n\nBring on the next 6 months.\n\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-20','','','2012-03-09 15:40:04','2012-03-09 20:40:04','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-20/',0,'revision','',0),(2685,1,'2012-03-10 12:00:11','2012-03-10 17:00:11','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678\" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-21','','','2012-03-10 12:00:11','2012-03-10 17:00:11','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-21/',0,'revision','',0),(2734,1,'2012-03-10 14:10:45','2012-03-10 19:10:45','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668 \" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro: </strong><em>Before any major race, my dad’s final text was always “relax n enjoy.” I used to think \"how does my dad know what I\'m going through, I\'m so nervous, etc.\" and “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he DID have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for. When I AM able to \"relax and enjoy\", I usually have my best performances! Go Da.  </em>\r\n\r\n<em></em>Like Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670  \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Benefits of Relaxation</span></h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Tools to Help You Relax</span></h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582 \" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"270\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\"\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist Dr. Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (<a href=\"https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&amp;SESSION=wf6Vbr7w94Ap9Zj5V9rMUMhysb2JAzqgcsNXt6g7pY34-bLfV-WPUfE5eJO&amp;dispatch=50a222a57771920b6a3d7b606239e4d529b525e0b7e69bf0224adecfb0124e9b61f737ba21b08198d7a214dbf6ac4f3cd23680b71ef37df3\">Download the mp3 for $2.99</a> and we will send you a note from Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr. Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D, with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques. <strong>Once you complete your payment you will be emailed a link to download the MP3</strong>).</span>\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Reasons To Relax & Guided Relaxation MP3','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-55','','','2012-03-10 14:10:45','2012-03-10 19:10:45','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-55/',0,'revision','',0),(2686,1,'2012-03-10 12:08:12','2012-03-10 17:08:12','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-22','','','2012-03-10 12:08:12','2012-03-10 17:08:12','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-22/',0,'revision','',0),(2687,1,'2012-03-10 12:08:46','2012-03-10 17:08:46','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-23','','','2012-03-10 12:08:46','2012-03-10 17:08:46','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(2688,1,'2012-03-10 12:09:04','2012-03-10 17:09:04','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"216\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-24','','','2012-03-10 12:09:04','2012-03-10 17:09:04','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(2689,1,'2012-03-10 12:09:22','2012-03-10 17:09:22','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931  \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-25','','','2012-03-10 12:09:22','2012-03-10 17:09:22','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(2690,1,'2012-03-10 12:09:33','2012-03-10 17:09:33','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931  \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-26','','','2012-03-10 12:09:33','2012-03-10 17:09:33','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(2691,1,'2012-03-10 12:09:37','2012-03-10 17:09:37','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931  \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-27','','','2012-03-10 12:09:37','2012-03-10 17:09:37','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(2692,1,'2012-03-10 12:09:39','2012-03-10 17:09:39','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931  \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute changes of schedule, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-28','','','2012-03-10 12:09:39','2012-03-10 17:09:39','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(2693,1,'2012-03-10 12:10:19','2012-03-10 17:10:19','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931  \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute schedule changes, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-29','','','2012-03-10 12:10:19','2012-03-10 17:10:19','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(2694,1,'2012-03-10 12:10:21','2012-03-10 17:10:21','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931  \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute schedule changes, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-30','','','2012-03-10 12:10:21','2012-03-10 17:10:21','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),(2695,1,'2012-03-10 12:10:45','2012-03-10 17:10:45','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute schedule changes, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-31','','','2012-03-10 12:10:45','2012-03-10 17:10:45','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(2696,1,'2012-03-10 12:10:47','2012-03-10 17:10:47','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute schedule changes, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-32','','','2012-03-10 12:10:47','2012-03-10 17:10:47','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(2697,1,'2012-03-10 12:11:47','2012-03-10 17:11:47','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute schedule changes, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-33','','','2012-03-10 12:11:47','2012-03-10 17:11:47','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-33/',0,'revision','',0),(2698,1,'2012-03-10 12:12:06','2012-03-10 17:12:06','Tick, tick, tick...\r\n\r\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\r\n\r\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute schedule changes, the jogger really saves the day!\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\r\n\r\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\r\n\r\nBring on the next 6 months.\r\n\r\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-revision-34','','','2012-03-10 12:12:06','2012-03-10 17:12:06','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-revision-34/',0,'revision','',0),(2699,1,'2012-03-09 15:01:00','2012-03-09 20:01:00','<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Ro racing in Beijing\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2670\" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Sympathetic System\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-23','','','2012-03-09 15:01:00','2012-03-09 20:01:00','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-23/',0,'revision','',0),(2700,1,'2012-03-10 12:40:25','2012-03-10 17:40:25','Tick, tick, tick...\n\nThe baby is down for a nap. This one usually lasts 30 minutes and it has taken me 10 minutes to get laundry on, dinner organized and settled in this rocking chair with my tunes playing at just the right volume (Ray La Montagne Pandora station).\n\nSo...focus. Here, now, present. This blog. I want to write but just cant seem to pin my butt in a seat long enough to get anything of substance. I\'ve been told to just discipline myself.\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_1931\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"180\" caption=\"Present, Here, Now.\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/words2/present-here-now/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-1931 \" title=\"nhp\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nhp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"194\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nWell what a day! Mid February, New England, and it\'s sunny and warm (high 50\'s)! This wasn\'t the winter I was expecting, but it is the winter I\'ve wished for. Can my wishes really change the seasons? Some people are upset because they think Global Warming is to blame. I don\'t know, but this year, in the circumstances I\'m in, I\'m very happy its warmer than usual. Here I am 3000 miles away from my family with my four month old daughter and attempting to train for the Olympics this Summer in London. I\'m lucky to have a loving and supportive husband but since he works from 9-6, I\'m forced to train around that schedule. That\'s fine, but when he has to work on some Believe I Am business before his normal workday (which means I can\'t get out for my run early), I\'m soooo lucky to have my<a href=\"http://mountainbuggy.com\"> Mountain Buggy</a> baby jogger at the ready. So on a day like today, when its sunny and 56 out, an hour run on the bike path with my baby girl brings me great joy. She\'s getting her fresh-air and I\'m getting my training in. We make it work. When I don\'t have a babysitter on the ready for last minute schedule changes, the jogger really saves the day!\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_2678\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"225\" caption=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2678 \" title=\"IMG_7879\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_7879-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"A rare snowy day in Providence, RI \" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\n\nSo I\'m back into training &amp; hoping to make my second Olympics. I want to defy the theory that in order to be the best you can be at something (i.e. running), you have to be fully self-absorbed with single-minded focus in order to achieve your dream. I went to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and fulfilled a lifelong dream. However, it didn\'t give me the lasting satisfaction you would imagine such a goal would. Instead, I was left exhausted and thinking \"Now what?\" Well I got my answer: I over-trained my body and was forced to take a break. During that time off I had the time to realign myself and the energy to get married and start a family and a business (the last two in the same month). Now I feel very balanced (albeit busy) and content. I don\'t \"need\" to make the Olympics. I don\'t have what Buddhists call \"attachment\" to my training and racing (although I\'m sure it will creep in from time to time.) I do want to make the Olympics and I\'ll train hard every day, I\'ll eat right, I\'ll sleep right, I\'ll do my core and my physio and my mental training. But my self-worth wont be tied up in a time on a clock on an oval track. Does having a family and being balanced mean I\'m less hungry or have lost the edge? I am willing to test this out. So far I feel good and I\'m getting fitter every week, so who knows? What I do know is, when I\'ve chosen to listen to my heart and my instincts, I\'ve been more balanced, happy and ultimately successful.\n\nIll look at Lo\'s drawing of a tall rooted tree and use it as cue to remind me that when I\'m dreaming of the future &amp; making plans, I must remember to really only focus on the present, the here &amp; now so that I make sure I do not miss one teeny tiny precious moment....\n\nBring on the next 6 months.\n\nGotta go... The baby is waking!','Here & Now ','','inherit','open','open','','2633-autosave','','','2012-03-10 12:40:25','2012-03-10 17:40:25','',2633,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2633-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(2701,1,'2012-03-10 12:13:42','2012-03-10 17:13:42','<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"Ro racing in Beijing\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. <a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2670\" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"Sympathetic System\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-24','','','2012-03-10 12:13:42','2012-03-10 17:13:42','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-24/',0,'revision','',0),(2702,1,'2012-03-10 12:14:20','2012-03-10 17:14:20','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-25','','','2012-03-10 12:14:20','2012-03-10 17:14:20','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-25/',0,'revision','',0),(2703,1,'2012-03-10 12:14:24','2012-03-10 17:14:24','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-26','','','2012-03-10 12:14:24','2012-03-10 17:14:24','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-26/',0,'revision','',0),(2704,1,'2012-03-10 12:14:56','2012-03-10 17:14:56','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-27','','','2012-03-10 12:14:56','2012-03-10 17:14:56','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-27/',0,'revision','',0),(2705,1,'2012-03-10 12:15:01','2012-03-10 17:15:01','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></a>As you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n<strong><a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-28','','','2012-03-10 12:15:01','2012-03-10 17:15:01','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-28/',0,'revision','',0),(2706,1,'2012-03-10 12:25:32','2012-03-10 17:25:32','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-29','','','2012-03-10 12:25:32','2012-03-10 17:25:32','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-29/',0,'revision','',0),(2707,1,'2012-03-10 12:25:38','2012-03-10 17:25:38','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro:</strong>\r\n<em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-30','','','2012-03-10 12:25:38','2012-03-10 17:25:38','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-30/',0,'revision','',0),(2708,1,'2012-03-10 12:26:48','2012-03-10 17:26:48','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro: </strong><em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2>Benefits of Relaxation</h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-31','','','2012-03-10 12:26:48','2012-03-10 17:26:48','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-31/',0,'revision','',0),(2709,1,'2012-03-10 12:27:11','2012-03-10 17:27:11','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro: </strong><em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Benefits of Relaxation</span></h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2>Tools to Help You Relax</h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-32','','','2012-03-10 12:27:11','2012-03-10 17:27:11','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-32/',0,'revision','',0),(2710,1,'2012-03-10 12:27:56','2012-03-10 17:27:56','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro: </strong><em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Benefits of Relaxation</span></h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Tools to Help You Relax</span></h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-33','','','2012-03-10 12:27:56','2012-03-10 17:27:56','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-33/',0,'revision','',0),(2711,1,'2012-03-10 12:28:00','2012-03-10 17:28:00','[caption id=\"attachment_2668\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Ro racing in Beijing\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2668\" title=\"Ireland\'s Roisin Mcgettigan \" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ro_beijing-300x240.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"240\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Ro: </strong><em>Before any major race, my dad’s last text was always “relax n enjoy.” It used to annoy me to no end because “he didn’t have a clue” but now I see that he did have a clue and was more in tune than I gave him credit for.</em>\r\n\r\nLike Ro, I spent a lot of my career getting too wound up before competitions. I thought I was doing what an athlete was supposed to do...get pumped up! At first, nervous energy is fun. It’s like being caffeinated...you feel heightened; alert; excited. But the closer it gets to show time, being wound up becomes a huge liability. Let me explain why.\r\n\r\nYou see, before every single performance event, no matter how good you are, seeds of doubt and fear will blow into the garden of your mind. When you are in a relaxed state, you can see these weeds for what they are, (ridiculous lies trying to get in the way of your awesomeness). Relaxation allows you to bring a steady hand over to these weeds, and remove them gently. But when you are nervous and wound up, these natural doubts and fears get fertilized and nurtured and your hands are too shaky to remove them. They multiply until you are miserable and all the fun is sucked out of it. Under-performance awaits you.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2670\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\" caption=\"Sympathetic System\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1.jpg\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-2670 \" title=\"Sympathetic\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diagram1-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\nThere is a myth that you need to get yourself all pumped up before a big event in order to compete well. Yes, in the actual moments of competition, adrenaline and stress hormones, when timed properly, help you perform better. This is because essentially you are getting your body to activate it’s sympathetic nervous system which is designed for fight or flight (the same exact system that would help you flee from a lion.) When this system is activated, blood gets pulled away from your organs and rushes to all your muscles. Your most basic survival instincts are prioritized (pupils dilate, senses amplified, heart rate increases) and anything extra (reproductive system, digestion, detoxification, recovery) gets shut down. As you can imagine, you don’t want those things shut down any longer than they have to be.\r\n\r\nThe key Ro and I have learned over the years is learning to<strong> stay relaxed for as long as possible</strong> in the lead up to a big event, trusting that in the heat of the moment of competition, your body will know what to do and will bring out your best performance.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Benefits of Relaxation</span></h2>\r\nThis isn\'t voodoo stuff. Everywhere from my college Biology texts to the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Complete Idiots Guide to Yoga</span>, you\'ll find the same effects of chilling out.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>a decrease in heart rate and the rate of respiration.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in blood pressure.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in muscle tension.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in metabolic rate and the consumption of oxygen.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in general anxiety.</li>\r\n	<li>a reduction in the number and frequency of panic attacks.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in energy levels and in general productivity.</li>\r\n	<li>an improvement in concentration and in memory.</li>\r\n	<li>an increase in focus.</li>\r\n	<li>a decrease in fatigue, coupled with deeper and sounder sleep.</li>\r\n	<li>improved self-confidence.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nNow if those don\'t sound like they\'d help performance and wellness, I\'m a one footed duck.\r\n\r\n<strong>WHEN TO RELAX</strong>\r\nTo the body, all stress is the same. Anxiety about a competition, work expectations, or an upcoming exam causes the same effects in the body as being chased by a lion. We live in a culture where we get used to operating with low grade anxiety and stress all the time until we don’t even notice it anymore. We forget that it is possible to perform optimally in most situations without allowing ourselves to get worked up about it. The truth is, it is more than possible, it is <em>critical</em> for our health and well being. When we are stressed, we don’t regenerate, detoxify, digest, or rebuild. Instead we are primed and ready to fight or flee...a total over-reaction that can be corrected with practice.\r\n\r\n<strong>HOW TO RELAX</strong>\r\nRelaxation starts with awareness. When I’m stressed out, my stomach tightens up. I never used to notice it, but then when I asked my doc about having trouble sleeping, he suspected stress and brought my attention to it. I was told to keep my belly nice and loose, like a Buddha belly. Throughout the day I would bring my attention to my stomach and make sure it was relaxed. I was SHOCKED that at least 20 times that day, it was tightened up when I checked on it! I’d relax it and two minutes later, it would be tightened up again! This was a huge wake up call for me. How had I become so stressed out? How hadn’t I noticed it before? Why was I reacting this way to insignificant things? This means that I wasn’t recovering fully, digesting my food properly, my liver couldn’t detoxify things the way it’s supposed to, and who knows what else was being affected. Long term, this would manifest in all kinds of illnesses and diseases (just thinking about this stressed me out!) Learning to relax would not only help me become a world class athlete, it would improve my quality of life and help me become a healthy, vibrant old lady one day. It was time to take action and learn to become more aware.\r\n<h2><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Tools to Help You Relax</span></h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2588\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-2588\" title=\"relaxed_thumb\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/relaxed_thumb-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" />[/caption]\r\n\r\nAs you know, Believe I Am is all about sharing tools to help you achieve a particular state of mind that will improve your life. These are the tools we have to help you achieve relaxation:\r\n\r\n<strong>Awareness:</strong> Recognize that getting all worked up over things destroys your health and dampers your performance. Get in touch with your body and mind and learn to recognize when you are stressed (tight stomach, anxious feelings, nail biting, bouncing one leg, etc).\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Verbal Cues:</strong></span> When you recognize stress, stop what you are doing, take a deep breath and repeat the simple phrase “I Am Relaxed.” Notice how you regain control and peace within your body and mind quickly and efficiently. It’s really amazing! Go back to your task with your new state of mind.\r\n<strong></strong>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2582\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"200\" caption=\"Relaxed Hoody Dress\"]<a href=\"http://believeiam.com/featured/relaxed-hoody-dress/\"><img class=\"size-full wp-image-2582\" title=\"relaxedhoody\" src=\"http://believeiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/relaxedhoody5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" /></a>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Visual Cues:</strong> We’ve created a visual cue of a flower that has the words “I Am Relaxed” hidden it it. This is the design that we like to use in our own practice. You see the word, wear the word, and become the word. When you put on our Relaxed hoody dress, like all our apparel, it works like a superhero costume, helping you channel the state of mind you are seeking. Put it on first thing in the morning to help you wake up gradually and get the day started off on the right foot. Use it before a big competition, or while traveling, or in any other situation where you want to be relaxed.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do Yoga: </strong></span>Yoga guides you through movement of body and breath. The posture <a href=\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavasana\" target=\"_blank\">Shavasana</a> is extremely helpful to encourage full relaxation and regeneration.\r\n\r\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Listen To Guided Relaxation:</strong></span> For some of us, it’s harder to relax than for others. When we say relaxed we mean \"every tiny muscle in your body goes soft &amp; tingly-relaxed\" not \"watching tv or catching up on facebook- relaxed.\" We have a guided relaxation mp3 created by professional sports psychologist available for download and we highly recommend you use it as a tool. Listening to this 3 times per week for a couple of months will train you to associate the feeling of total relaxation with a word, therefore allowing you to become totally relaxed whenever you want to be! (Download the mp3 for $2.99 and we will send you a note from  Clinical Sports Psychologist, Dr.Samantha O\'Connell Ph.D,  with proper instructions and more information on the benefits of progressive muscle relaxation techniques).\r\n\r\n[paiddownloads id=\"3\"]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>See it, Wear it, Be it, Share it...</strong>\r\nDo you have any tricks or tools that help you relax? Any experiences using our tools? Let’s make this blog post a great community resource...share!\r\n\r\nBelieve, Lo &amp; Ro. xx\r\n\r\np.s. Since both Lo &amp; Ro are notoriously \"always running around the place\" we invite you to join our challenge to each other of listening to Dr.Sam\'s mp3, at least three times per week for the next two months. Let the relaxation begin oooohhhhmmmm','Relaxed Blog','','inherit','open','open','','2638-revision-34','','','2012-03-10 12:28:00','2012-03-10 17:28:00','',2638,'http://believeiam.com/uncategorized/2638-revision-34/',0,'revision','',0);
