Strengthening our muscles… and spirit. (Video)

Today the readers of AlexShalman.com are in for a special treat. Carla Birnberg of MizFit Online made this video ‘guest post’ just for us.

I’d also like to welcome the regular Mizfit readers that are going to be coming over here today. I’ve humbly watched Carla’s blog, and have seen first hand that you are some of the greatest bunch of people on the blogosphere. Feel free to look around, comment, and stop by anytime – mi casa su casa.

On with the show!

You can find all of Carla’s MizFit Monday Facetimes here ( http://www.youtube.com/user/chickenbus2006) and the rest of her daily musings at MizFitOnline.com, and if you’ve seen Carla’s arms in the video above, then you know that she can snap you like a slim jim!

Tweet This Post

Subscribe to Alex Shalman

Advertise on Alex Shalman

Subscribe By Email

http://www.jungleoflife.com Lance

Hi Miz!

Great to see you here today!! And I love the analogy between muscles and spirit. How the challenges in our lives really are ways in which we can get stronger in the process – great thought!
http://www.yo-yonomore.blogspot.com Berni

Hi Alex, great site, looks like you;ve got some important things so say.

Miz, I LOVE this facetime. I have often thought about who and where I’d be if I hadn’t had the setbacks I have had in life, and I often feel and think I’d much rather be here, than there. I’ve had some humbling lessons and am grateful for them everyday. Now, time to breakdown some muscle!
http://mizfitonline.com MizFit

ooh Im not a fan of the gravatar thing where we all look weird

THANKS for having me Alex. This post is something which has weighed on my mind for a while & I appreciate the chance to share.
http://www.tri2cook.blogspot.com/ ttfn300

great facetime! hits home, and i’ll definately work on it…
http://www.crankyfitness.com Crabby McSlacker

Great analogy! What a great way to reframe the inevitable stresses and strains of life–as a possibly positive thing if we build our “spirit” muscles back even better than before!

(I plan to use the crappy economy to take my Crabbiness to new levels never seen before! Oh wait, perhaps that’s not what you meant by building your spirits back…)
http://www.nataliaburleson.com Natalia Burleson

Great post Miz! Love the correlation between muscle breakdown and spirit breakdown. Off to ponder!

Thanks Alex for having Miz, she’s the best!
http://thegreatfitnessexperiment.blogspot.com charlotte

It always amazes me – probably because I’m ridiculously unselfaware – how much our bodies and spirits influence each other. I think the trick for me is getting the latter to influence the former rather than the other way around. I know you don’t want to be a therapist anymore but it must be said: you are gooooood at it!
http://mizfitonline.com MizFit

for me it was the CLARITY of the fact I cant lift too often or on too many back to back days or Im always torn down.
So clearly related to the beaten down spirits I see all around me as people are laid off or salaries are cut or stock portfolios become virtually worthless.
http://www.oliveandoz.com kelley burrus

G-R-E-A-T Monday focus and reflection. It shall be my “go-to” meditation all week. How timely, how timely, how timely…..but still expected from MizFit.

Also, good to discover Alex’s blog. Thank you.
http://debbyweighsin.wordpress.com debby

This was excellent, and I know and believe it is true. It’s just that I’m in the middle of a big spiritual tear-down, and sometimes its hard to see the good in it. Thanks for the reminder. Now, to work on building some physical muscles as well!
http://livinghealthyintherealworld.wordpress.com/ Sagan

Great site, Alex!

Miz, I love how you’re always thinking about how you can apply these things to both yourself and to others. I think too often we end up focusing on one over another and then the other person gets neglected (whether its ourselves or other people). A little tear down on our muscles and spirits can make us stronger!
http://www.heathereatsalmondbutter.com Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)

Awesome analogy Mizfit. I know exactly what I’m going to do for myself and for another person in my life this week. Thank you for this!
http://www.heathereatsalmondbutter.com Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)

P.S. Thanks for the guest post Alex!
MizFit

It is that huh, Sagan? the needing of the tear down to get stronger and be able to handle whatever is coming down the pike.
and Debby?!

Oh. No. Whats happening? and yes with the application of iron and mo’ muscles you can overcome all.
http://www.imadedinner.net Mara @ What’s For Dinner?

Mizfit, you are seriously my hero… I know i tell you that all the time, but seriously
http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

Wow, you guys are the best group of MizFits — ever. Thank you so much for visiting, and compliments. You guys are very *real* and love and respect Queen Mizfit, which is awesome.

@debby – don’t try to run away from the tear-down, learn from it, accept it, and then move forward. That’s what I would try and do at least. What do you think?
http://www.staceyshipman.com Stacey Shipman

Amen! I couldn’t agree more with your analogy. We go and go and go without rest, or peace or doing something nice for ourselves and those around us. Thank you for helping people understand the importance of slowing down to repair.
http://www.seejessrun.com Jess

Great post, MizFit. We need rest days from exercise, we need relaxing weekends away from our jobs, we need days when we promise to only be kind to one another.
http://www.workoutmommy.com workout mommy

wow….so applicable for me today you have no idea. My spirit is just about shredded at this point. I’m going to absorb all of this and see what I can do.

Meanwhile I’m going to pick up my damn free weights and work on my arms because your veins were trying to talk to mine, but mine could not hear b/c they are covered in flesh!!!
http://nicelydonetemplates.com Best Web Templates

I would like to thank you for this video, I’m going to focus on one thing to help my spirit and at least one other persons spirit, I look forward to more videos keep them coming!!!
http://www.acontentlife.com Roger – A Content Life

Nice analogy! It may not seem like it at the time, but we really do learn the most through adversity and difficulty (tearing down). I also believe helping another makes you happier and helps you as much or more than the person you help.
http://oppositelife.blogspot.com Pubsgal

Great video post, and much food for thought, especially after overdoing it in BodyPump class and trying to figure out restful recovery and how I’ll know when & how much to jump back in to my workouts.
http://mizfitonline.com MizFit

love this Jess:

we need days when we promise to only be kind to one another.

and in a way it should be every day (pauses to hoist self up onto her soapbox) in that life is a simple (& as challenging) as do unto others for me.
Many times I know what kindness I would choose to have done unto me and need to STOP and MAKE the time to do unto someone else.

and, always, I feel better for doing it.

(leaps off soapbox into the waiting arms of her Toddler Hercules)

HUGS, WO Mommy.

I wish I had more words than that— but they fail me.
http://momgrind.com/ Vered – MomGrind

Our former nanny is going through a rough time right now. We are helping her out. It feels at least as good as spending on ourselves. There’s something in the human psyche that makes us feel so good when we help others.
http://www.alexshalman.com Alex Shalman

@Vered – MomGrind – I know exactly what you mean. It’s just nice to have a purpose… u know?
http://www.ratracetrap.com/ Stephen – Rat Race Trap

Marvelous metaphor. Healing the tears in your spirit is like healing the tears in your muscles. Thanks Mizfit!