I was 4 years (old at T-ball practice), when I first learned about “the ready position”. Or what Dr. Michael Yessis (considered this country’s foremost expert on sports technique), would rather term, “the athletic” position. My 4 year old son learned about “the ready position” before his 2nd birthday, as soon as he was old enough to handle a ball. As a sports performance and strength and conditioning coach, my job is to prepare you to come out of that ready position (in the direction, and with power your sport demands of you). Some sports also require you to absorb a hit, or to deliver one. We have all seen athletes prepare to receive… We have all seen athletes prepare to deliver... “In the ready position you are preparing yourself for some action; exactly which action is as yet, unknown. Thus, this position should prepare the athlete for movement in any direction.”-Dr. Michael Yessis Two days ago, my car died... again... I say "again" because this is the 3rd time, in my 10 years with her. Each time I've prepared to launch the next phase of my career...she dies. She died the first time in spring of 2009, right after my time as a full-time fitness director, (at the gym across the street of my apartment) had run it's course. I had secured personal training positions at two different gyms, 30 minutes from each other. And then I wrecked her... Last spring, she died the second time, as I was set to leave for the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. I had just spend my savings, to secure 3 high end certifications in nutrition, strength, and sport, including the trip to Olympic Training Center for my cert for Sports Performance Coach. And then she overheated... This last Tuesday afternoon I was set to launch again. After my regular day of running the fitness center of the Sulgrave Regency, I had a meeting with the CEO of a company that recently added me to their leadership team. Next, I had a meeting with my pastor to discuss what was was coming next. I had a olympic lifting session scheduled with my coach after that. After meeting with my pastor, I got in my car (to head over to my coach), and turned the key… She wouldn’t start. Maybe it was because I had experienced this two times before... Maybe it was because my pastor (just moments earlier) had prayed on my behalf, that God would help me to stand and not be knocked down by anything that may be coming... Maybe it was because I have been diligently practicing methods of keeping my mood in a calm state, in order to handle the many challenges of an entrepreneur. But as I turned the key a second time...and a third just to be sure... I felt peace wash over me. As I sat there for a moment, three things came to my mind... The first was to take this hit... like and athlete in the "ready" position. The second was scripture (from Ephesians 6) "Stand firm then...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." The third was that my pastor had prayed over me to have the strength to stand back up, if I did get knocked down. My car is fixed… And here I stand...firmly...with the readiness... that comes from peace. The best thing about things repeating themselves in my life, is the opportunity to handle the challenge with the new tools I’ve learned from the times before. I know how it feels to be haunted by the same hardships year after year. I know how it feels to get slammed to the ground when you weren’t expecting a hit. I know how it feels to get sucked up into the tornado of chaos, found within a broken mind. But there is peace. There is finally peace... fitted on my feet. I am called to share my methods of restoring the heart, mind, and soul with you. I would love to have you come along with me.
If you feel moved to follow me, join my list and you will be the first to see what is coming next. Aloha, Maile
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