awareness – Cheryl Ilov International

Mindful Meditation or Back Yard TV

Written by Cheryl on June 7, 2022. Posted in Cheryl's View.

Ahhh, meditation. Every “expert” I know sings the praises of mindful meditation along with the many health benefits including stress management, reducing negative emotions, and increasing patience and tolerance. I have often been told by multiple experts, “You need to meditate. You’re so high strung, and it’s the only way to calm your mind.” To say I’m high strung is an understatement, but I prefer to think of it as high energy. One of my ballet teachers once said that I had “big energy.” I took it as a compliment until one of the dancers said, “That’s a nice way of putting it.” Hmmm….I wondered what she meant by that. The look on her face indicated it wasn’t a compliment. Along with having high energy, I...

What’s Your Superpower?

Written by Cheryl on March 3, 2021. 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...

Groundhog Day–Again

Written by Cheryl on January 30, 2020. Posted in Cheryl's View.

It’s Groundhog Day. Again. It always reminds me of the movie with Bill Murray where he finds himself living the same day over and over again. Repeating the same day and the same patterns drives him bonkers, until he sees a way of turning the situation to his advantage. Quite simply, he changes his patterns, and magic happens. We all get stuck in habits and patterns that aren’t serving us well, and we end up getting stuck in a rut. The good news is that we can crawl out of that rut with just a few simple changes. Here are a few tips that sound really easy and downright silly, but trust me, they work. 1). Sleep on the “wrong” side of the bed. It might sound strange, but it can give you an entirely different perspective on bedtime. You might even sleep better. 2). Change...

Episode #35: The Body Freedom Project

Written by Cheryl on November 6, 2019. Posted in Femininja Podcast.

Physical therapist Ashley Zimmerman returns to the FemiNinja Project to talk about her recent trip to Costa Rica where she worked as a volunteer in a safe house for girls who have escaped the horrors of human trafficking. Ashley is determined to do her part to bring education and awareness to the public regarding this heinous practice, and to help bring it to an end. Learn what you can do to help. Education is power! https://www.faceofjustice.org/ https://yourstrengthwithin.com/ https://www.stayinvincible.com/ FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245291079688942/

Episode #32: Natural Healing and Functional Health

Written by Cheryl on October 28, 2019. Posted in Femininja Podcast.

Our bodies have an incredible ability to heal itself, naturally. In this episode, Kimsey Self, the owner of Progressive Health and Wellness talks about whole foods, natural healing, and functional health. She busts the many myths of food and health while she also clears up some of the confusion regarding what to eat, what not to eat, what’s going to make you live forever and what is going to kill you long before your time. Download this incredible informative, educational, and fun episode to learn valuable tips for ultimate health and wellness. It’s also full of surprises! https://www.facebook.com/ProgressiveHealthandWellness/ Website: www.progressivehealthandwellness.com

Be Aware, or Beware!

Written by Cheryl on October 15, 2019. Posted in Ninja Notes.

Last week I was honored to deliver my information packed, educational, motivational and interactive signature speech “Be Aware, or Beware” to the members of Rising Tide Business Network. I have decided to share a brief synopsis of the presentation as well as one key life lesson or take home point which was emphasized under each topic that was covered. Keep in mind, this is simply a sneak preview. BE AWARE…..OR BEWARE I. Introduction: My personal story, as well as first martial arts class and how my journey into the strange new world of men and martial arts began. Life lesson and key point: I was stronger than I thought I was, and so are you. I firmly believe that there is an incredible amount of strength and power in each and every one of us, just waiting to be discovered. II....

Episode 9: Ninja Body Talk

Written by Cheryl on August 7, 2019. Posted in The FemiNinja Project.

The way you stand, walk and move communicates to the world what kind of person you are, and what kind of day you’re having. People pay attention to your body language more than you think they do, and it leaves a lasting first impression. Even more important is the fact that the way you carry yourself can make you a desirable target for a potential attacker. Or not. Perpetrators are looking for an easy target. If you stand, walk, and move like a ninja, you present yourself as a strong, confident person, and less likely to be target for an attacker. Especially if you look like someone who would fight back. Attackers are bullies, and one thing they do not want is someone who looks like they would present a challenge. Download this episode to discover how to step out in the world with strength...

Episode 3: Simple Ninja Safety Tip

Written by Cheryl on July 17, 2019. Posted in Femininja Podcast.

In my previous episode, Super Special Ninja Secret, I shared the nifty little trick of how to avoid an attack. However, you can’t get out of the way if you can’t see it coming. Which is how I ended up getting a glass of wine thrown in my face. It was a waste of good wine, but also a powerful reminder of what can happen when we let our guard down. I am not talking about being paranoid. I am talking about paying attention to yourself, to your environment, and to other people around you. Looking back, there were very subtle signs that the situation was escalating. But, I simply thought I was having an animated conversation with someone I knew well and cared deeply about. I was wrong. The truth is that we can’t always see when a hit is coming. But, we can certainly increase...

Karma Cooties Can Really Bug You

Written by Cheryl on January 21, 2019. Posted in Cheryl's View.

Karma cooties can be a real threat to our health and well-being. We all get exposed to them every now and then, and they can be very infectious. And contagious. However, just like we can protect ourselves during cold and flu season, there are precautions we can take from being susceptible to the little buggers. And the first step is knowing that they exist so you can avoid them. The first time I heard about karma cooties was about 20 years ago from a friend who was a massage therapist. She told me she had a client that she had to cut loose (in other words, she fired her) because her karma cooties were so bad. “Karma Cooties,” I responded in confusion, “What are those?” She explained that we all experience hurts and transgressions in life. You got that right. After...

Blinded By The Light

Written by Cheryl on December 20, 2018. Posted in Ninja Notes.

“Blinded by the light” made for a great song title by the Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in the early 1970s. But, if you’ve ever had a bright light in your eyes, you know that it does literally blind you, at least temporarily. Those rods and cones that live in your retina start going absolutely bonkers trying to readjust to the sudden burst of bright light, leaving you confused and disoriented. Which is the reason why you should always have a strong, high powered flashlight with you at all times, day and night. And, you should be holding it in your dominate hand. I know, you probably don’t have the personal real estate available for something as frivolous as a flashlight. After all, that is where your cell phone lives, even when you’re walking around in public....

All of her experiences, training and practice contribute to a truly customized workout/core-strengthening program for each of her clients.
-Claudia D.
She not only helped alleviate the pain, she helped me regain flexibility and got me back on my center.
-Misti M-K
She gently guide you so that ultimately you understand your body better and are able to move with greater ease and less pain.
-Gwendolyn P.
Some of the numbness around my knees has subsided and I’ve regained some feeling as well as had deep joint pain reduction. Flexibility and overall strength has increased.
-Melinda C.
Her gentle, loving approach is just what my body needs to fully recover from a recent car accident. I leave each session with a slight tingling sensation and movement seems much more fluid.
-Shannon G
Cheryl’s background in physical therapy, dance, Pilates, Feldenkrais, and martial arts make her very capable of not only understanding movement but helping others achieve their goals!
-Sheila S.

Tag: awareness