What’s Your Superpower?

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Cheryl's View.

Did you know that you have a superpower? Trust me, you do–we all do. The key is to figure out what it is, and how to use it and share it with the world, all for the power of good. Using our superpower is easy, but finding it is the hard part. I’ve spent a long time looking for mine, and I learned a few tips and tricks along the way that can help you find yours. And you don’t even have to spend fifty years looking for it the way I did. So here are a few simple steps to finding your own superpower. First of all, be careful what you tell yourself, because what we believe is what we become. What we tell ourselves, and what we hear from other people, is what we eventually believe, even if it goes against our inherent belief system. There is a physiological reason for this. Our...

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Fit & Flexible Private Sessions

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Fit Tips.

Are you ready to bust the myths of aging? CAUTION! You are about to enter THE VITALITY ZONE! Cheryl’s Fit & Flexible private sessions will help you to move better, feel better, look better, and live better than you though possible, at every stage of life. Your package includes: Five weekly customized one hour sessions via ZOOM, one-on-one with Cheryl, the expert in the art of movement. Video recordings of each session–for you to incorporate into your ongoing Fit & Flexible program. Your personal questions accepted via email will be answered within 24 hours directly by Cheryl. A complimentary download of the eBook of Cheryl’s book, “Forever Fit & Flexible: Feeling Fabulous at Fifty and Beyond.” Cheryl’s monthly newsletter full of tips, recipes,...

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Mom’s Apple Pie

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Cheryl's Kitchen.

My mom learned how to make her famous crowd-pleasing apple pie from my grandmother. Our entire family loved it so much that every Thanksgiving my mom made both a pumpkin pie and an apple pie for us. What a woman! The first time I made her recipe, I was blown away by how time consuming it was, and I had to recruit help from my then college roommate to get it done. Of course, in those days I didn’t know how to cook. However, the results were well worth the effort, and I’m sure you’ll agree. This is one recipe that I did not change at all, because sometimes we just need to splurge a little. Besides, apples are healthy, and so very good for you, especially when they are baked in a pie. Crust: 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup shortening 5 to 7 tablespoons...

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Hindsight Is 2020

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Cheryl's View.

Hindsight certainly is 2020. There is nothing that gives us more clarity than looking back in the rearview mirror to see hoe far we’ve come. Or not. Looking back on 2020, I don’t think anyone is sorry to say farewell to a very challenging year. Instead, most of us are more than happy to say good riddance. However, it is interesting to reflect back on it and recognize some of the good things that came out of the Year of the Rat. Yep, according to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, 2020 was the Year of the Rat. I remember sitting in a networking meeting last January. You remember networking meetings, don’t you? Of course you do–we all do. That’s where we met in person, gave each other hugs, We all remember those. You know, where we gave each other hugs, love, handshakes,...

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Healthy Posture, Healthy Body

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Fit Tips.

Healthy posture is essential to our health, wellness, fitness, and flexibility. Not only does good posture make you look better, it makes you feel better. Besides, there are a multitude of health benefits that you can reap from practicing good posture. Consequently, there are a myriad of detrimental effects that can result from poor posture. Let’s start with the bad news so we can end on a high note. “Poor posture” is typically associated with a slumped spine, rounded shoulders, and a forward head position. This posture makes us appear timid, tired, aged, and like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. I guess that’s something we can all relate to after the year we’ve just had, as well as the fact that we have literally been glued to our computers...

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Effortless posture……finding your spine.

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Fit Tips.

Good posture is effortless. No, this isn’t a typo; it’s the truth. And the key to effortless posture is to find a way to let your spine support you. Our spines are designed with natural curves that support us during all weight bearing activities. Unfortunately, sometimes our ideas about finding “good posture” causes us to try and change the natural curves of our spines. The result? Abnormal alignment, muscle imbalances, joint pain, and joint dysfunction. So, how can we find the natural curves of our spine? By learning how to find the natural curves of our spines so that the force of gravity goes through our spine and our bones in a way that supports our skeleton and doesn’t strain our neck, back, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. This simple movement exploration...

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Declaration of Celebration

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Cheryl's View.

Have you ever made a Declaration of Celebration? If you haven’t, I highly recommend trying it. It gives you the chance to focus on the positive things in your life, helping them get bigger and more powerful until they run the negative thoughts into the ground. Trust me, I know. When I turned 50, I was determined to turn my life around. I must confess, my 30s were a nightmare. My 40s were even worse. I wasn’t even sure I would make it to 50, and neither did many of my friends. But I kept thinking to myself, “If I can only make it to 50, maybe things will get better.” So, as I found myself crawling toward 50, I started planning my life after fifty and what it would look like. I started by making a Declaration of Celebration. I promised myself that my gift to myself...

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Fit Tips to Help You Keep Moving

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Fit Tips.

During the past six months we have all been stuck at home during the worst pandemic the world had experienced in over 100 years. But, while we were sheltering in place to stay safe, most of us got little to no exercise. And even though the restrictions are being lifted, a lot of us are squeamish about going back to the gym or the yoga studio just yet. But here’s the good news–you don’t have to leave the house to stay on track with an exercise program. All you have to do is keep moving! Here are a few  fit tips that you can easily do at home to help keep you fit, healthy, and back on track. 1). Get on the ball. If you don’t have one yet, get a large exercise ball. If you do have one, start using it. Just sitting and bouncing on the ball is a great way to improve your posture, balance,...

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Mask On….Mask Off

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Health Tips.

When the pandemic hit, we were told to wear masks anytime we were in public. Unfortunately, weren’t instructed in the proper use of them. It’s not as simple as “cover your face.” As a respiratory therapist and physical therapist, I spent over 30 years wearing masks in a variety of clinical settings. I do not consider myself an expert, but there were certain precautions we were required to follow to help keep ourselves and our patients safe. 1). Once you have your mask in place, you never touch it again, for any reason. If do touch your face or your mask, you must remove your mask, dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Under no circumstance would you ever reuse a mask. 2). Your mask must completely cover your mouth and nose. Any exposure of either one, no matter...

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Reality Check and Taking Action

Written by Cheryl on . Posted in Cheryl's View.

We all need a reality check sometimes, and that can result in taking action. I got one of those reality checks last week when I went to the doctor. After having my temperature checked twice (just in case it spiked from my brief walk down the hallway), I was asked to step on the scale. Everyone’s favorite step. I wasn’t worried. Even with all the talk about the “Covid-15,” which is another unexpected consequence of the pandemic and a reference to the significant weight gain many of us experienced, I felt pretty safe. After all, even though I was stuck at home for over 3 months I felt like I was still getting enough exercise and watching my diet. More or less. Before I stepped on the scale I asked the nurse if I should take my shoes off. She replied, “It’s...

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