Meet Louise
Currently I am the Yoga Coordinator at Genesis Health Club in Salina, Kansas. I have been sharing my passion for health and fitness for 23 years. Throughout these years, I have been a certified personal trainer, nutrition coach, and have taught a wide variety of Group Fitness classes. I have had the good fortune of being a guest personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and yoga teacher at various resorts in Jamaica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, and Mexico.
While I truly love all activities that get the heart pumping and the muscles activated, I just can’t get enough Yoga. I fell in love with connecting breath with movement and the clarity of mind, the calmness, and the consciousness that this connection cultivated. My first true experience with Yoga was in Jamaica with Marianne Wells about 12 years ago….amazing. My primary teachers are Kathleen & Wade Mortensen owners of Maya Yoga Studio. I completed my Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training with them, and I really solidified my daily Yoga Practice during this time. I completed my 200 hour training with Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini.
Witnessing the transformations of students as they grow their practice is a very honorable experience for me. My teaching is firmly rooted in the tradition of Ashtanga yoga and I am registered with Yoga Alliance as an RYT 200. While I am a dedicated practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga, I have much respect for other yogic paths. I take every opportunity to learn from experiencing different styles of yoga in different studios throughout the country.
Health and fitness have always been a constant in my life, but I have also worked in the consumer products industry, been the co-owner of a Denver based retail business, and a medical sales representative. I hold a BS in Business from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
A Positive Outlook on Wellness
A Positive Outlook on Wellness
I am enthusiastic and hopeful as I witness more and more individuals taking control of their health and coming to the realization that their lifestyle is the key determinant of their health, well being and consequently their quality of life. According to Dr. Dean Ornish, “Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension are completely preventable for at least 95% of people and even reversible through diet and lifestyle changes”. Studies that prove this fact give hope that as more Americans choose the healthy route, all facets of life will improve. These improvements flow beyond increases in individual happiness and stream out into family, community, our economy and beyond. I find it encouraging that our government is finally beginning to turn an ear to doctors like Dean Ornish, Mehmet Oz, Andrew Weil and T. Colin Campbell.
Tend to Your Vehicle
We move through this so called “life”, in this vehicle that is our body. With a broken down and dilapidated vehicle it is difficult and often impossible to travel with ease, let alone move toward fulfilling our life’s purpose. Quite simply, when you are sick it becomes the dominating factor in your life and not much else matters. Tend to your vehicle.
My Wellness Philosophy
I see so many people on the weight loss and wellness bandwagon full steam ahead (especially in January), in the gym 3 hours a day, eating just carrot sticks only to find that a month later they have completely derailed. While there are some people capable of making permanent, drastic changes in a short amount of time, for most of us, this is a recipe for disaster. This is where consciousness comes in; what approach is most suitable for you? Are you really ready for change? Do you really need a change? Breathe, meditate, or just be still long enough to be in touch with what you really need and want. For most, I recommend making a small change, and then as that change becomes engrained, layering additional modifications to diet and lifestyle over time. Our habits have taken years to develop. Patience and tenacity are key.
For some individuals, the more information the better. They want to collect as much detailed information on workouts, how to monitor their heart rate, the latest technology in fitness gadgets, and the number of calories in 10 almonds, and so on. In my experience, things should be kept simple and over analyzing leads to “lock up”, “information overload”, and the inability to move forward. Keep it simple.
Simply said, eat “real food”. A healthy diet can be vegan, vegetarian, or include meat, but it needs to consist of “real food”, be mostly plant based, and rich in complex carbohydrates. And yes there is plenty of room for indulging. Certain things should not be given up if their enjoyment outweighs the benefit of eliminating them.
Move your body in such a way that is in tune with your natural tendencies, makes you happy, and is sustainable. It is really difficult to swim against the current; you just can’t keep it up.
The concepts are pretty simple and intuitive; it’s navigating through this world while adhering to the concepts which proves difficult.
Each individual has unique requirements to maintain physical health and equanimity. What is right for one is not right for the other. Listen, listen to your intuition and your body and spirit will be your guide.
I look forward to seeing you in class soon!
Louise