Certified Personal Fitness Trainer: Success!

After a long & tedious year of studying I have finally gained my title of being a certified personal fitness trainer . I can no longer be hard on myself about getting this certification because the hard work finally paid off .  Now to move on to the next thing because this little lady is checking this right off of her  to - do list !

Hmmmm what to tackle next  : ]

California Internship Makes Plattsburgh State's Home Page!

As of this past week my internship at The Oaks has been broadcasted on my college website : www.plattsburgh.edu for all to see =]
(( Click the link provided here then click on the homepage ))

It feels VERY rewarding to have the support from so many people about what I have a STRONG passion for in life !  Not only do I have the support from my family , friends & co - workers , but the faculty & staff members here at Plattsburgh State as well .  Sharing an experience such as this with those interested in wanting to make a name for themselves is something every person should shrive for .  Not many individuals have the confidence to speak in front of a crowd of people , so I myself would like to help encourage those interested.  Having such a strong character trait such as this will not only enhance your personality & public speaking skills , but it will make yourself more marketable to the work force !

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AGAIN & YES anything is possible !

Be Positive - Stay Determined & always put your best foot forward at all times .

Wolfpack !

Well , week three of classes has finally come to a close & a numerous amount of mileage has been racked up in these legs thus far .   Tomorrow morning my team & I will be traveling to Middlebury , Vermont for our first away cross country meet of the season .  We have been training super hard & we are definitely ready for what this season has in store for us ! !

At the close of last week our coach had mentioned to us that he would be leaving us due to another job offer this week . . . .  It came by COMPLETE SURPRISE to all of us & many were heart broken .   Emotions were at it's highest peak but thankfully we had our assistant track coach to fill his shoes for this season !   Just because we have lost a very important aspect of our team , does not mean we have not learned anything from the years before or aren't capable of moving on . . . Both the men & woman's squads are on a mission this year and that is to prove to our selves we DO have the self motivation to compete fiercely with our season as we anticipated to !  All this means now is that we have more of a hunger for competition & to dedicate this season to our Coach John Lynch in honor of all of his hard work and dedication for our team throughout the years !

Tomorrow as we begin to line up as a squad on the starting line , a few thoughts will be running through our minds . . .   THANK YOU LYNCH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE MADE US TODAY - THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK & DEDICATION - & MOST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT !   Progression is key . . .

"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.''

A Long Way From.... California

Good Morning all '

So it is day two of this HORRIBLE weather & man . . . . What's a girl gotta do to get some pleasant sunshine & warmth around here ! ?  As titled from a previous post & the article that a coworker from The Oaks wrote about me , " A Long Way From Long Island "  I decided to turn the tables a bit and reflect how California has impacted me for the better .  As I sit here with my pumpkin spice coffee and begin to reflect my thoughts on how I have grown . . . I became very aware that this past summer was a HUGE turning point in my life.  For many reasons than just one -

Working as an intern at The Oaks allowed myself to grow mentally , spiritually , & without a doubt MUSCULARITY because of the numerous hours I set forth towards teaching - leading hikes - running - etc . . .  Because of this I have been able to make stronger connections with myself to truly understand what my purpose in life is . . . . & that is to inform - educate - and motivate those who are in need to focus on what should be a huge factor in their lives .  Which should be their health & well-being , and more importantly how to better connect with themselves to live a positive - regret free life style .  Because of this strong connection , clients I may work with or friends / family members I may provide advice to will start to hold their heads up a little higher than usual knowing they are making positive & rewarding changes within their lifestyle .

In addition to my recent posts , I will continue to provide some more photos from my trip knowing that some may be curious as to what my 1800 plus photos may consist of .   On that note , I look forward to teaching my first ZUMBA class here at the college for the Fall 2011 semester on Thursday night as last school year's classes were such a great SUCCESS =]  Ciao

"....Back to school. To prove to Dada I am not a fool."

Happy back to school week !   Well as I mentioned before , I promised to continue my blog through out my time here at Plattsburgh State.  Hopefully your interests will continue to follow as I'll discuss fitness & wellness and how it plays a role into my life . . . .  and into my career as well !  Working at The Oaks this summer has been a TREMENDOUS confidence booster to help enhance my complex knowledge of fitness training & running an actual business as well .  During my senior year I will be working at the fitness center here on campus as a supervisor , will be teaching ZUMBA and Total Body Blast classes , compete in my final seasons of cross country & track , & oh yeah taking 18 credits worth of classes !

I'm not quiet sure as to what my main emphases will be for this next chapter of the blog ,  so please any ideas would be great !  I'm sure most of you can relate to the hectic schedules we may come across through out our lives . . . . So a few things I would like to emphases is be sure to take care of your health , manage your time properly , & allow your self to have some down time away from the ciaos we encounter! G'Night xo

* The Top 10 *

Hey all !  Well as most of you may know - my internship finally came to an end this week. . . . sadly .  I just would like to thank EVERYONE who made this experience for me eventful , special ,  & of course MEMORABLE !  I have learned many new tools for my toolbox , and I look forward to sharing them with everyone once I am back in Plattsburgh !  I returned to Long Island Wednesday afternoon & let me tell you I DO NOT MISS THIS HORRIBLE HUMIDITY one bit !  But as promised from my last post , here are my TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY INTERNSHIP =]

1.  Power outage in all of Ojai, Guests flip out as they were watching the season finale of The Bachelor & the power shuts down .
2.  Hiking to the HOLLYWOOD sign & going to LA INK =]
3.  The smell of ALL of the citrus fruits growing in the town .
4.  THE AMAZINGLY HEALTHY MEALS served at The Oaks !
5.  The Oaks guests & EMPLOYEES .
6.  Six Flags , Universal Studios , MUSCLE BEACH , Ventura County Fair , etc
7.  Having my photos taken for a NEW & UP COMING SHOW on the Oxygen Network called , Love Scouts .
8.  Learning new routines for classes
9. Ben comes to visit! Exploring the Matilija Canyons to the Hot and Cold Springs & almost getting ran over by an old man on the bike path . . . HEADS UP ! ! ! !
10.  LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, the true beauty that the state of California carries !  From the
mountains , to the chic boutique stores ,  & the smiling faces of every person you pass while walking through town !

[ This list can totally continue past 10 & it was even hard to just list 10 ]

Well there you have it . . . . now to continue with yet another adventure . . . . SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE !   Stay posted as I will continue to share information about fitness & wellness , and share the life of a wild and crazy runner as she tackles all obstacles she faces ( school , work , personal training , teaching , competing in her last year of XC & track , etc . . . )  <3

"Closing Time, Open All Doors & Let You Out Into The World"

Stay tuned for my TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS from working here at The Oaks this summer . . . .  As I begin to pack my things, say my "see you later's", & gather my last minute photos as I head back to the east coast with a bang!


. . . . every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end .

The New Galls Have Arrived, Claire & Courtney!

Hey all , I cannot believe I am about to say this but I SADLY have 3 more working days here at The Oaks ! ! !   Leading 3 more hikes , teaching 3 more fitness classes & working with the front desk for remainder of my time here - I will soon be turning the tables over to the lovely Courtney & Claire  . . . .  The newest interns for the next 3 months =]

Who would have thought that 71 days would just fly by so quickly . . . .  I sure didn't think it would !  Well since I do have a few days left I will begin to say my "see you laters" to the employees who work here as this may not be the last time they see me !  Who knows where I will be within the next year or so , or even living . . .  or WORKING !  I may just end up in SUNNY CALIFORNIA . . .  Only time will tell as I progress throughout the remainder of my studies at Plattsburgh State.

On a quick side note , my brother Ben spent the last 3 days with me in Ojai !  We had a great time with one another and had our selves a VERY busy schedule , so I may add .   DAY ONE we biked for 40 miles around Ojai and down  to Ventura Beach ( and back ) , DAY TWO we went on a private hike w / a GREAT GROUP OF GUESTS from The Oaks to the Matilija  Canyon : Hot & Cold Springs , & DAY THREE we tackled Santa Barbara by the horns during the night time ! YeeeHaaaa

Well there you have it a quick post before I hit the sheets , good night " blog watchers " & THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK =]

( The picture posted above is a highlight from this week . . . . NINJA STYLE )

A Long Way From Long Island

Take a look at the article that was written about me here at The Oaks !  This article was written by Christine Denney, the head chef here at the spa =]

Click on the photo above to make it larger to read .

My Face Will Soon Be Sold In The Nest!

For one portion of this internship, I am required to have completed a project with the head internship coordinator.   My project is actually very interesting & pretty fun .   Currently  at The Oaks they have a boutique store called The Nest where they sell novelty items , products , clothing , CD/DVD ' s , work out equpitment , etc .  This is where I come into the mix . . . .  One of the items for sale are resistance bands with a book of various exercises & stretches provided to the buyer .   This book was last updated in the 80 's and now I am the new and improved figure in which I demonstrate easy - to - do exercises & stretches for the busy traveler looking to get a quick fix right in the convenience of their hotel rooms or getaway escape!   Posted above are a few photos from this book just to give you a sense for what I am describing  =] There are series of shots that where taken to provide the user with step by step moves to safely & effectively perform these exercises . 

Remember POSTURE is the utmost important aspect for practicing effective SAFE training .
- Stand tall/sit upright while drawing the core in towards the spine .
- Keep shoulders level , back ,  & retracted.
- Chest is held high & head is in neutral position.

Day 50: If only I wasn't an intern I would be The Oaks' best customer!

Today sure does mark 50 days that I have been here at The Oaks !   WOW for me to even believe I have been here that long is amazing in it's self ,  haha .   Well , today was yet another day off of mine and I for sure kept busy .  Started my morning with some oatmeal , muffins , fruit , & milk ( the morning routine ) , checked out the Ojai Valley Athletic Club which has amazing outdoor pools , many many MANY tennis courts , and a pretty decent indoor facility - all in which has a BEAUTIFUL view of the mountains ! ! !  While I was there I participated in a morning ZUMBA class . . . . . . . .  Let me just nicely . . . . that the woman who taught this class should have NOT been advertising her class as a ZUMBA class !  From what I found out she isn't even a licensed ZUMBA instructor & was not providing her class with ANY of the ZUMBA Fitness Program .  This class really left me upset & frustrated all day : /  Ughhh

On a brighter note, later this afternoon I road down to Ventura Beach on the bike path again .  If you can recall from one of my first posts on this blog I mentioned that this bike ride is roughly 34 miles round trip !  Woo Wee - I ' m going to feel like a million bucks tomorrow going with how I am feeling now , haha  The bike ride of course wasn't complete until I made a pit stop at a Ben & Jerry's shop and went to heaven with chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream = ]

But I have better news to share . . . . in 2 weeks I will be having someone come and visit me ! ! ! !  This of course is my brother Ben who I normally only see once a year because he lives in Colorado .  I AM SUPER EXCITED to see him because I haven't had a family member visit me yet , & he's going to love this place ! 

Well there's a little information I though I ' d share since it ' s been a while since I posted .  Again I do apologize & I ' ll share some more fun stuff within the next day or so .  Check out the left side of this blog to see all of the physical activity I 've been getting myself into , on top of the actual work here for this internship .  Then you 'll understand the slight delay <3

PS : I saw a bob cat on the bike path today as well, haha

Day 42: With One More Month To Go!

Sorry for not posting anything in a few days !  I have been crazy busy with tons of projects , teaching classes , and trying to catch up on some rest !  I have met some more amazing people here at The Oaks as well as enjoying the company of other fellow fitness enthusiasts .  I look forward to my day off tomorrow as I will unwind & relax .  I am also in the process of scheduling a rock climbing session here in Ojai & preparing a video to submit for a ZUMBA Fitness contest ! !  All sorts of busy . . . . .

Stay posted for new updates & enjoy some more photos in the meantime .  They are just a few of many meals that are served here at The Oaks ! DELISH  =]

I would also like to make a side note & thank everyone for making this blog a great success ! !  I have over 1200 page views & I look forward to continuing this blog after my internship . 

Matilija Canyon & Meditation Mountain

At the close of this week, myself & a friend hiked a trail that was said to be 9.1 miles . . . . This hiked turned into a 6.5 hour trip & I'm pretty sure we created another trail along the way !  Once we started climbing huge boulders at a VERY STEEP incline & nothing in site , we knew for sure this wasn't a part of the marked trail .  But that didn't stop us from enjoying the challenges that came our way . . . . . esp when we came across a rattle snake .  After a long day of hiking , climbing , & running this trail I think it is safe to say we covered about 16 miles .  Wooo Weeeee , cross training to the EXTREME ! ! !

Later in the night we then visited another mountain called Meditation Mountain .  This is a private area where people can come to relax , let their minds at ease , meditate, and maybe even take a snooze on this well kept - BEAUTIFUL sanctuary.

6:30 AM Hikes

Here are some photos of what my mornings begin with everyday !  Either starting at 6:30 or 7:00 AM the guests at The Oaks , myself , & another hiker tackle on the great mountains in Ojai .  With it's great elevation gains ,  fantastic smells of the citrus fruits & sage , my morning cannot get any better then this !  That is unless I actually lived in these beautiful mountains like some people do =]

Look how high above the fog we are ! Uhh I am in LOVE <3
Here is also a picture of the sun setting one night .

Long Island Girl Turns California Life Style

7:30am this morning began yet another chapter into this life of mine .  With an additional trail brought to my attention , I am really starting to fall in LOVE with the true beauty of this state .  Ojai Valley Land Conservancy is the name of this beautiful place which is the home to many wild life !  Bob Cats , Mountain Lions , Bears , Rattle Snakes , even Cows are roaming around freely , just as the humans are breath taken by their surroundings .  As some will soon to discover , this location is also known to have river pools which are occasionally forming throughout the conservancy.  During my 60 minute run today , I came across two pools .  Both being different depths , yet BOTH sharing it's own kind of beauty .  In the larger of the two , I kicked off my sneakers , let my hair run wild & took a nice huge plunge off the rocks !  This is for sure something I am not used too, but would LOVE to get used to doing all the time !  Yes , that's right . . .  a future in California living may come into effect sooner then later =]

As I was trotting my way through one of the trails in the conservancy , my mind began to travel as well . . . creating another path of possibly beginning a new interesting idea . . . . what would be an "eye catching" way to document my " Lift, Love, ZUMBA " exploration ?  What I started to develop is having a way to capturing different video clips from the many trails I run on . . . . then some how create a montage to share my LOVE for fitness , AMBITION for successful / safe / effective training, & STRENGTH OF MIND to train in exigent conditions .  For the time being I will be recording footage from my phone as it is very convenient for me at the moment .  If this idea expands to a much demanding extent , I will begin to develop more creative techniques , ideas , and invest in a hand held motion camera that could attach to a hat . . . . . or something along those lines .

Tomorrow is day two of two for my days off .  And for whats in store is what I just briefly discussed above .  I am completely thrilled for what is planned .  Now that I may have caught your attention a wee bit more , enjoy a few photos from today & please be patient as I begin to develop this fun new idea . <3

PS : The last photo on this post is a bear foot print .  Draw your eyes away from the sneaker footprints & bike tracks, and really focus on the left side of this photo =]