Do you know why, when I teach,  I often tell you to “place a demand” on yourself?  Often it’s the legs, the core, whatever the muscle is that we are requiring most in a move when I say it.  Whether it’s high knees or push-ups, Warrior 3’s or deadlifts, you’ll often hear me coaching you to make that connection of mind-will-body to persevere through the toughest moments of a workout. 

It’s important for growth and development to not limit ourselves.  How can we ever meet our full potential or realize what we’re truly capable of if we’re not expecting more from ourselves?
 
Often times expectations of ourselves are mirrored after what others have expected of us. So, if you’ve never had anyone motivating you or inspiring you to push yourself, you might be stuck in ‘status quo’ mode, not realizing you have the potential to do more. After another instructor inspired me to reach for more, I started to believe I could… what’s the worst could happen if I couldn’t?  How else would I know unless I did?  I’m so glad I answered that call.  I not only discovered joy for fitness for the first time ever, but I went on to find a passion for teaching others. 
 
It’s time to break through your limits! Stop telling yourself you’re too old or too young or have too many kids or are too busy or not strong enough, not outgoing enough, not flexible enough,  or not smart enough… 
 
Expect more from yourself! Set the bar high. Hold yourself to a higher standard. Expect greatness. Even if you don’t fully reach the expectation, you’ll be better off than where you began. 

Who’s someone who inspires you to do more? -

Psst… that woman @ellendewerd to my right  has inspired me!

Once upon a time there was a little girl who never exercised or played outside.  Her neighbors actually thought she went away to school 😅
​
She grew up and still rarely exercised.  She joined a bootcamp in 2003 and that was it for that decade.
Then her daughter grew up and asked her to get active and become more social in late 2009.  She, of course,  waited for the new year because that’s what all good procrastinators do.

⏰Timing is everything.  Walked into a class that married music and movement.  Zumba led to Jazzercize and that led to cardio kickboxing  and sweating to  a crazy pounding beat…it was over!  Obsessed, life changed and determined to share the medicine that exercise is with everyone who will listen.

Flash forward 12 years and now this girl…me!! gets to lead others on a group exercise floor and in small group trainings.  I also get to train other instructors who are looking for continuing education and new formats to teach.  Some may think your 50s are the end but I feel like I’m just getting started.

Oh yes I forgot to mention I also lost over 25 pounds.  I forget about that because the things I’m most grateful for are the loss  of depression and negative thinking, the new friendships I’ve made, and the opportunities I used to just dream about that have become realities.  So grateful for WARRIOR Rhythm and WARRIOR Strength to be the brands I found a home with.  I continue to grow and  learn with this magnificent team,  community  and decided leadership of Ellen de Werd.

Moral of the story..it’s never too late to start something, to try something uncomfortable 📸, to believe you can make a  dream come true.

Not even close  to The  End.

Dallas was off the hook.  We made beautiful connections with awesome instructors, fitness managers, and club owners.
Our WARRIOR team represented Rhythm and Strength so well (per usual). They rocked the booth and our sessions like rock stars #OnTour.  Our Master Trainers and Instructors were a dream to work with and they were magnetic 🧲 to everyone attending the conference...including myself.
Thank you for coming or for cheering us on from afar!

Love, 

​Ellen

​Being a WARRIOR goes beyond fitness:
It’s empowerment. 
It’s standing out. 
It’s self love. 
It’s going against the grain. 
It’s being controversial. 
It’s finding your voice. 
It’s kindness. 
It’s personal integrity. 
It’s a kinship of rebel spirits. 
It’s being okay with being different.

Congrats to these top WARRIOR Master Trainers who led the most certifications in Q1 and Q2. 

Pretty impressive way to kick off 2022 as the fitness industry dusts itself off and emerges from the rubble of the pandemic. Collectively they trained 120 WARRIORS, which does not include those who opted for the self-study!

Liz, Jerome, Usha, Lana, Bess, me, and Sadie (from left to right).

Q3 here we GROW! 🌱

Love, 
​Ellen

​Producing each Lesson is a multi-step production process. Obviously, it involves creating, testing, and rehearsing each Lesson, but it also requires coordinating a LOT of schedules!

This month we filmed FOUR Lessons!!!!!!!  WARRIOR Rhythm 12, WARRIOR Kids Bonus 1, WARRIOR Strength 11, and WARRIOR Kids 2!

But we were READY for it. In fact, we produced some of our best content yet! 

I will include some BTS footage.  I hope you enjoy.  And, as always, thanks for supporting us by reading our emails and loving our formats!

Ellen

Dear yoga practice, 
Thank you for accepting me the way I am.  Thank you for asking me to breathe just a little slower and deeper. Thank you for opening my heart and mind and challenging me to grow in ways that I otherwise would not. Thank you for not judging me when I loose my balance or feel bored or lose focus. 
Because of you I’m learning how to accept my body’s flaws and limitations. I am more grateful about life. 

​Nobody cares. Work harder.

How does that statement hit you…repelling or ringing a bell??

I was SO excited to get this bold red sweatshirt! When my husband saw it, he was irritated. He felt it was a nihilistic state of mind: “It should say, ‘Lots of people care. Relax.’!”

Maybe it has to do with losing my first Mom to cancer when I was seven, but for as long as I remember, I’ve had this visceral truth in me that whatever I want for myself ultimately comes down to my own efforts to achieve it. Don’t get me wrong; my family and friends, including my second Mom, have always been fully supportive of me - physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I am never alone in this world and feel loved by many. I love them back.

Is this frame of mind negative, then? I don’t think so! The realization that you are the tiniest speck of existence in space and time is awe-inspiring. Similarly, the belief that YOU and you alone shape your destiny while you are on this earth is somehow…freeing. Thrilling. Maybe a bit scary, but in a good way! What do you think?

By Bess Ogden
​Master Trainer