Oh my goodness. It’s already September– time for our annual Wall of Change challenge.

This past year has been a doozy.  But, I love that we are finally settling in to our new space, and it is starting to feel like home.  I’ve been doing a lot of looking back this year. Sometimes it is immensely hard to let go and move forward.  We become prisoners of our past, harboring resentment and hurt over things we cannot change.  This September, I am challenging myself to keep my eyes on the horizon and my focus on the amazing people and opportunities all around me every day.  I’m going to spend 5 minutes daily meditating on my dreams for the future.

What will you choose for YOUR September challenge?  Choose something that you can practice daily for the month of September that will improve your overall happiness.  You could choose something physical or mental or emotional.  Write your goals and track your progress on our Wall of Change at the dojo.  Look out for the special weekly Sensei Challenge…

And remember:  Don’t look back.  You’re not going that way!

This post is dedicated to the fabulous students of Kickboxers Bootcamp Team 102!

When Team 102 commenced their journey on Oct.11th, I was inspired to set some goals myself.  I decided to detox and refrain from drinking my beloved coffee.  No problem. Until I realized how addicted to caffeine I was.  Wow.

For the first two days, I could barely form a sentence in the morning.  The headaches! Then, poor Team 102 listened to me obsess over coffee and talk endlessly about it for the next week.  My addiction was both physical and psychological.  I walked into Starbucks to meet a friend, and I swear my heart rate went up just smelling the coffee.  I almost gave up right there and then.  I began rationalizing.  Coffee isn’t so bad.  In fact, there are some real health benefits to drinking coffee. Ah, the slippery slope.

Then, I paused.  What kept me on track was thinking about how hard Team 102 was working to clean their nutrition and push themselves during class.  Their daily progress was inspirational. I couldn’t let them down.

Today, we begin week 5, the final week of their bootcamp.  I am actually excited to report that I have not had a drop of coffee in five weeks. I am feeling clearer and more energized.

And I was reminded of how amazing being part of a community that is focused on health can be. Here’s to Kickboxers Bootcamp Team 102.  I raise my glass of un-caffeinated tea to your continued success!  Mahalo for the inspiration and motivation.

See you on the mat,

Sensei Reiko

It’s September!  Kids are back in school, fall is approaching, and the end of the year will close in fast.

September means it’s time for our annual Wall of Change challenge.  We set a goal, practice it daily for a month, and reap the positive benefits.  This year I want you to shake it up and try something new.  Be bold and brave.  Choose something you’ve never done– something on your bucket list. Take a pic when you’ve accomplished your goal and put it on our Wall of Change or post it on our FB page.

Once you’ve done something new, you are changed forever.  And change is good.  

Join Team Red Lotus Hawaii for the American Heart Association’s 2014 Oahu Heartwalk on Aug 9th.  Here at Red Lotus, we believe that healthy hearts are happy hearts!  

Joining is easy.  Go to our team link: http://heartwalk.kintera.org/honoluluhi/redlotushawaii and sign up.  Friends and family are welcome to sign up, too!  The more the merrier.  Walk, donate, sponsor a friend– participate in whatever way you can!

Let’s show some Red Lotus aloha to our community and celebrate our commitment to healthy living and healthy hearts.

I used to hate being called “Ma’am.”  The first time the check-out girl called me “Ma’am” in the line at Longs, I remember being so surprised and even offended!  Who are you calling “Ma’am?”  We’ve been raised in a a society that puts a premium on youth and immaturity.  It is cool to be young and clueless, hip and self-absorbed.  Old people are passé and lame.  “Ma’am” in my mind equalled old and out-of-date.

This month we focused on shifting our perspective and re-framing our view of the world.  Sometimes, all it takes is the tiniest shift in perspective to become happier and healthier.  We discussed people and our environment, our nutrition and daily habits.  Just listening to you and meditating with you provided me with new thoughts and appreciation for the blessings in my life.

This past weekend, I was working with our pre/K martial arts keiki.  We were sitting in a circle stretching.  I gave an instruction to one of the 4 year-olds, and he looked up at me, smiled, and said sweetly, “Yes, ma’am!”  This is a student who has regularly provided challenges to instructors, who has been unwilling and difficult to engage at times.  As I watched him happily complete the task, I realized what an important moment we just had.  His whole little heart was contained in that “yes, ma’am.”  The sincere utterance of those two little words made me proud to be a sensei.  

I never want to be called “Miss” again.  Even in the line at Longs.

Seven years, hundreds of students, ninety-nine bootcamps, eleven black belt tests, and thousands of hours of sweat, laughter, and tears.  It seems like yesterday that I was laying down the red mats, installing mirrors, and dreaming of students walking through the door.  

Cade was only six years old.  

White belt- Cade, at his first test on May 26, 2007.

We sanded wood for the bench and built it together.  I had no idea how many moms, dads, aunties, uncles, grandparents, and friends would rest on it while watching our ohana train and grow.

We have created walls of change and inspiration.  We have made black belts.  We have shared our lives.

The dojo has gone through re-branding and growing pains.  However, our motto has always been to motivate, inspire, and transform our students from the inside out.

The reality as I look back over the years with my son, who now stands taller than me, is that you have motivated, inspired, and transformed Me.  And Cade has grown up with all the positive and dynamic energy of the dojo to shape him.  Everything is different.

Seven years has flown by!  

We are moving locations, more change is coming, but there is no doubt in my mind that the next seven years will be brighter, bigger, and better because of all you!

Happy Birthday, Red Lotus and much love to all of our beautiful, Red Lotus Ohana near and far.

xoxo,

Sensei Reiko

I love New Year’s eve.  Everyone is energized and hopeful.  We can shake off the old year and embrace fresh starts and new possibilities.  We can get un-stuck.  We can get moving!

Let’s live with intention and inspiration.  What makes you happy?  What moves you?  What do you wish for? What will add adventure and magic to your life?  Sometimes, I get stuck in my daily grind– work, parenting, endless driving in traffic– and I forget to dream.  I forget to imagine the impossible.

So, this January, we are making the wall of the dojo our vision board.  Pictures, words, hopes, reflections– post them all.  Our collective dreaming will be the breath of inspiration for a spectacular 2014.

Happy New Year, my loves!

xoxo