Show notes –
Join Shannon & Christine as they chat about Physical Wellness with Nicole Hairston Thomas.
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This week’s resources and references:
https://www.switchenergyfitness.com/
Insanity by Shaun T –
SWITCH H.I.IT Cardio kickboxing turned up on Thursdays at 7:30p at Worldwide Fitness Center. GLOW-UP Fitness experience Thursday October 14th at 7:30
https://www.switchenergyfitness.com/
Email Nicole – nicole@mpoweredfit.com
Show Transcript –
NOTE: While it’s not perfect, we offer this transcription by Otter.ai for those who are hearing impaired or who don’t find listening to a podcast enjoyable or possible.
Christine Gautreaux 0:08
Let’s do this.
Shannon M. 0:08
Okay ladies, welcome to our podcast. I am Shannon Mitchell, a black female, millennial entrepreneur, the founder of shallow glow, a handmade shea butter company. I am a champion for your self care, business care and intentional wellness.
Christine Gautreaux 0:25
And I am Christine Gautreaux, a white social justice advocate, an international speaker, coach and published author who helps you upgrade yourself in community care.
Shannon M. 0:35
Yes. And together, we are women connected in wisdom, a podcast grounded in the eight dimensions of wellness. Welcome, welcome to our show. Every week
Christine Gautreaux 0:44
we get together and we have intentional conversations about how to be wise and well in business and relationships. And we bring on some pretty awesome guest. Yeah, I’m excited that today with our guest and to have the conversation that we’re about to have, what is our topic about today, Shannon, what are we doing today?
Shannon M. 1:07
Who, oh, today we were talking about physical wellness. physical wellness is the ability to maintain a quality of life that allows you to get the most out of your daily activities without undue fatigue, or physical stress. physical wellness recognizes that our daily habits and behaviors have an impact on our overall health, well being and quality of life.
Christine Gautreaux 1:33
You know, every week when we talk about the eight dimensions of wellness, I don’t know if it’s heaven happened ever. You know, my mom taught me not to use the words never and things always are, you know, but but almost always, physical wellness comes up dependent no matter what topic of wellness we are talking about. Because to me, it is like one of the key stones of wellness. We can’t and a lot of ways we can experience the other dimensions of wellness if we’re not physically well.
Shannon M. 2:04
Absolutely, absolutely. This week, I was doing research for shallow glow. And looking at why it’s important to take care of your skin and taking care of your feet taking care of your scalp, right, we’re about to start teaching people how to glow from head to toe. So I was doing my research. And it was specifically talking about how if you have pain in your feet, then you’re probably going to walk different, right? That’s going to change your posture that changes your spine. It also changes what you want to do, you might limit visits with family and friends and now everything is affected because of your feet. But that’s how it is with your whole body. You get a paper cut on your thumb and all of a sudden, that’s the most used part of your body you know, so yes, interesting how it comes back up?
Christine Gautreaux 2:48
Right. And I put sleep under physical wellness too. And I just know like when I’m sleep deprived my wellness level goes down
Shannon M. 3:00
Yeah, quickly though, really quickly. And we talked about that on Monday with our with our ladies our manifestation Monday group and how what the schedule is changing now. Our sleep schedule needs to change. And I’ve been really intentional about that. Okay, I get off work now started a new job. Gonna be up and out the house later. It’s not realistic to get up at 630 in the morning anymore. What’s What What time do I need to get up? What time can I commit to? To get up that time every day and we’re trying it out? But me with no sleep? When I was working 14 hour shifts in getting bit every night when I was getting bitten my own apartment and didn’t know was biting me every night. I was like this is a this is a What did I say a torture tactic that they use in war is messing with people asleep like we can’t have this. Yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 3:53
Right. Yeah. So important. So important. Well, I am so excited to talk to our guests today. Are you okay? If I go ahead and tell everybody who it is and bring her up? Of course, yes. You know, I get I just I just love her.
Shannon M. 4:14
In general, that’s why we started the podcast, right? Right, because we
Christine Gautreaux 4:19
know some pretty amazing people and we wanted to share with the world and let their voices get lifted up. So today’s guest Nicole is a coach, a certified personal trainer, and a licensed nurse practitioner and the co owner of switch Energy Fitness. They are a business that helps you help you switch your mindset and create the energy to reach your life and body goals. I’m going to read that again because that so goes in with the physical wellness definition. They help you switch your mindset and create the energy to reach your life and body goals. Oh my gosh, let’s bring Nicole up here so we can have this Conversation. Welcome, Nicole.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 5:05
Thank you so much for having me on today.
Christine Gautreaux 5:08
Of course, I’m so excited. I went to your website. And because I was doing a little pre show stalking. I want to share with everybody I want to share my screen, because this is what you see, when you go to your website. Yes, yes. Tell me what we’re looking at here because it got me so excited. Just looking at this.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 5:34
Yes, this is the glow up. This is my signature glove fitness event that, um, you can only find that switch Energy Fitness. Um, so the glow up is a fitness event that I had the idea I call them God downloads from God, by the way, when I had these really bright ideas, because I’m like, wait, I’m not that cool. That was a download from God. So I got this download from God to create an event that there’s lots of glow events, right, but I wanted mine to be different. So um, get the idea to use already do kind of a kickboxing class called switch hit with switch Energy Fitness. But I wanted to take that that workout, take it to the next level with the glow sticks, make it a black light party, have vendors have a DJ and have another guest trainer. So not only are we going up literally because it the the event is a blacklight party, we’re using these very cool glow sticks that almost make you feel fun and childlike when you’re using them. But then the idea is the glow is not just about what we’re doing physically, but we’re going up everywhere. The vendors get the glow up and have an opportunity to share in front of clients that they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to DJ is going up. You know, the guest trainer has an opportunity to do something in environment they don’t usually do so we all get to go up together, meaning, you know, take our lives in different ways to the next level. And I also hope it’s a catalyst for clients when they leave. They’re like, they say, Okay, I want to do that again. Oh, I realize how fun it is to work out. So they continue that in their lives.
Christine Gautreaux 7:12
Wow. That is awesome. And I also heard the rumor that our sponsor Shayla glue has been at that event before.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 7:23
Yeah, it was perfect. Right? I was on IG where I go shop around for most of my vendors, right. And I’m Shay low glow, and Shayla glow, and I see glow. And I see our products, and I see the person behind the products, because it’s very clear when Shannon is sharing her products. She’s also sharing part of herself. And I see her glow and I said oh this will work this will be perfect partnership to have shell ago as part of one of the vendors at the globe. So yes, she’s Shana was there?
Shannon M. 8:01
Yes? Isn’t
Christine Gautreaux 8:02
sample of women connected in wisdom? So Shannon, I’m a little envious at the moment that you were at an event that cool. I’m having like that. What is it Fear Of Missing Out FOMO. So I’ll have to tell us, Nicole when your next one is so I can be there. But Shannon, what was it like from your perspective?
Shannon M. 8:24
Oh my goodness. So one, I love how long it was right? I like how we got to talk to the guests at different parts, they got to meet us as the vendors. And really the I didn’t, I knew I would be excited for the glow sticks in the light. But if mine wasn’t crying in the light wasn’t coming out. I felt like that little kid like why is my light not working or light works, you know? And it made me so excited to dance. I felt like I learned new dance routine I got some new moves that kind of stiff sometimes in certain places. You know, I’m great at doing the choreography but coming up with choreography is a whole nother thing. So had a good time for that. And I love the the guest coach as well because he kind of switched the energy of the event. You know, instead of following this one person, we actually got to follow to and talk to her as a vendor as well. So, you know, a lot of women connected in wisdom and doing stuff like that in general. So it was great to do it in a workout environment. Especially after you know being used to Zumba classes and mixing in a new flavor with the kickboxing. I don’t know if we talked about this, Nick. Yeah, I think like three years. Wow. But it’s interesting. I didn’t lose all the weight because I was eating whatever I wanted. And that’s why we’re talking about physical owners. Right? So like, the kickboxing the dance, the whole energy of it was great. I love it. Yes,
Nicole Hairston Thomas 9:52
Shannon was front and center when I’d say she was bad back there. Not if I was conscious, she was punching. I was like, Oh, you have a mirror now All right, that’s it. Yes. Come on, Shannon.
Shannon M. 10:01
Yeah, I appreciate it.
Christine Gautreaux 10:04
So what a fun way to have physical wellness. Yes. You know, that’s we’ve talked about that on the show before and Nicole, but I would love for you to say more about it. About like, when you think about that definition of physical wellness, that Shannon read out and you think about the work you do in the world. Just give us your viewpoint.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 10:27
Yes, wellness, physical wellness, physical fitness movement is, um, is just something that I love and found to be like, a therapy for me is therapeutic and it’s also a way to express myself like an artist as a creative. And so when it comes to other women, I It’s easy, it oozes out of me to share that love. And what I attempt anything that I do whatever kind of workout and believe me they get a workout I kick their butts, okay. They call me the the smiling assassin, like I’m smiling as I’m like, let’s get it right, they’re getting a workout. But under under their under their besides a great workout. I realized that I’m here to help women fall in love with themselves through movement, fall in love with fitness, do through having a community environment of like minded people doing something that they love that they’re that it’s an opportunity for self care in that moment. So it’s not just about the workout, it’s like, yes, they’re falling love, they’re building confidence, because now they’re moving their bodies in ways that they weren’t sure that they could do. Or maybe a month ago, they couldn’t do that push up, and now they can and they’re excited to tell me about it. Or maybe a month ago, they didn’t see as much definition, this definition, but now they see it. So um, I realized that in everything that I do, when it comes to physical fitness, physical wellness, is to help but clienteles mostly women so in particular really helped women because that can be hard for us to gym can be intimidating. Um, we can have interesting relationships with even muscle building and, and feeling like it makes you somehow less of a woman to kick in punching, squat and lift. And that’s totally not true. Anything that you do to fully express yourself and confidence as a sole woman. It’s so womanly, you know, to live and express your way, that way. So I find that whatever I’m going to do, I’m going to help people build a better healthy relationship with themselves through movement.
Christine Gautreaux 12:41
Oh, I love that Nicole. And for our listeners who are listening on audio and aren’t watching a stream live you just miss something awesome, because Nicole just totally flexed her guns. And I am like, oh, my gosh, like so freakin awesome. So Nicole, have you always been into fitness? Have you always been like, this is my jam and.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 13:11
Right, right. Good question. So I grew up I didn’t grow. I did grew up playing sports, you know, with the guys with the girls, st football, basketball. I went to college I worked out but I definitely gained the freshman 25 As I got older, um, so I was always kind of active. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t until I had a really tough time in my life as I got older episodes of depression and anxiety were when I use fitness as a tool. It was something as you mentioned, Christine, it was a keystone habit. It was something that it started with on just doing this workout. I’m just doing Insanity by Shanti. But I’m realizing and doing this as anybody Shanti now I’m eating better. Now I want better relationships with myself. Now I’m creating a better relationship with God because all of this is feeling very good. And I’m really like realizing how it’s all related. I’m realizing how it’s all related. So as soon as I realized that fitness as a keystone habit as I started to move more feel better, and a crave better things for myself. I really fell in love with it. And then the next level outside of me High Noon was really something for me to do on this earth is when I did it and shared it with others and my heart just went three sizes is the right. So oh yeah, this is this is what I’m supposed to do.
Shannon M. 14:38
Yeah, I would say mine is kind of the same. Right? And this is something we talked about Nikki Oh, I have a weight loss story to write and have worked out was in band so you know, we’re marching around the field. I had weightlifting and stuff senior year, actually worked at the gym, on college campus. So I was working out consistently freshman year. But then the uniform requirement actually changed. And with that, I didn’t have my goals on me took an extra step I didn’t take the extra step started working out less. And it was actually through. And I will actually, I will say they land in multiple places are so it’s right through how I felt after certain relationships, tired of being cheated on people not keeping their word, whether it’s at work or in relationships, and I’m like, what’s going on? Well, I didn’t keep my word to myself. That’s what I had to realize. And so getting closer to God, I said, let me be dedicated for the beginning of the year. I’m going to do this because if I say, I’m gonna eat some hot Cheetos, they’re gone. Okay, no problem. And with me being committed to God for the Daniels fast, I started losing all this weight again, that I hadn’t lost in the three years that I had been kickboxing, and I said, Oh, wow. Okay. And again, I love how you said started to crave better things for myself started to crave better seeing that it was more so just the habit of discipline in all areas, instead of this huge mountain of stuff that I thought it might be. So I love that that story that you have to thank you.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 16:15
And that’s so good and discipline discipline is, is not a bad word, you guys is discipline is such a huge part of self love. Um, it takes discipline. I don’t look whenever I sat down, I always feel like getting up someone who knows me like get him to work out someone who always knows we go tattooed on my shoulder like maybe yes, you do. You always want to work. But no, for real, sometimes I don’t want to work out. And it takes that discipline to know outside of myself later, my myself later. And so going to appreciate this discipline. Bigger than that, I love food. And I’m talking about real food and not always good food, okay? And but it takes that discipline to know that if I eat too much of that consistently, that’s going to show up physically, it also affects my mood. And so it might, you know, might feel really good to eat six donuts right now. And I can put them down is not good for me long term. So discipline is not a bad word, you guys, it is one of the biggest form of self love, even if it comes to another realm of wellness, like in your relationships, and sometimes we’re triggered or something happens in a relationship. And it takes discipline, not to hit them with the really hard words that you want to hit them with. But actually try to understand their perspective and be like the bigger person and even apologizing without as discipline is super hard. That’s part of it a gym, but it pays it pays also discipline. I love this. Not a bad word.
Christine Gautreaux 17:50
That is some real talk. Now, I for somebody that’s listening. That may not have been to the gym in a while yet, maybe you know they got that report back from their doctor that their cholesterol is high or that they need to lower their blood pressure. What what did they do? Nikki like how would you start? How do you when you think about physical wellness because I know you’re a certified personal trainer, your practitioner like you’re the whole shebang? So how would what what’s the first incremental step for somebody
Nicole Hairston Thomas 18:26
find something that you love and do that because you’ll do it you will be excited to do it. So even when is a little bit harder you’re you’re you’re becoming less motivated after that doctor’s visit. If it’s something that you really enjoy you kind of now have a secondary game. Oh I really liked him because like the Zumba crowd, the music is fun. I love my instructor and the group is cool and we talk afterwards. I really liked that. Do what you love you don’t just because you see Nikki and I’m doing kickboxing she’s in great shape. I need to do that. No Do what you love because you’ll be able to stick with it is going to you’re going to find your tribe. So you love the walk and you do a walking group or whatever you’re going to find like minded people and that builds so much for when it comes to wellness. So I say with do what you love, and if you don’t know what you love, then go walk this walking, if you’re having done something in a very long time, walking is underrated and such a great way to get back in shape or elevate your health and fitness 10,000 steps a day is walking five miles so if you can take your meetings, your zoom meetings, if you can walk around your house instead of sitting down just starting there parking further away and they’ve really been intentional. Maybe walking to the store instead of driving. You get the extra burn no make a big difference. cardiovascularly and physically
Christine Gautreaux 19:58
hmm, such good Practical info, what I heard in there, too. So, Nikki, when you were talking about self care, that’s my jam, because I’m the author of a book about self care. And in the book, we talked about one of the skills of self care being partnership power. So what I heard in there was, you know, join that group or join that class or join that community. Because sometimes, you know, and I’m one of these people, I need a partner, I have a walking buddy that comes and walks me every morning. It’s her dog. And I’m like, because halfway through the pandemic, I was like, oh, because I wouldn’t go into the gym. I wasn’t doing my regular routines. And I was funky, like, I was not doing well. And I said, she said, Well, I walk right by your house, I was like, we’ll come walk me, please. Because I like I grew up playing Team sports. And so I’m a team person. So like, I like that, oh, I’ve got to be somewhere, or Oh, somebody is counting on me to be there. And I just want to put that out there for our listeners. Because don’t beat yourself up. If you’re not, like, motivated individually, to oh, do this by yourself that it can be a partnership power thing, where you have a buddy and I love to combine socialization with my exercise, because then it’s like, Layer Layer Layer.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 21:22
Right? Yeah. That’s the cool part. That was very, a very unexpected, I call it like a side effect of creating switch Energy Fitness is a bit business. And, um, you know, how I how I train, you know, I don’t Train one on one, I train in groups. And that’s because, you know, again, my hearts big, I got a lot of energy. And so I have the energy one or 100, you’re going to get it right. So I love to train in groups is fun. What I didn’t realize is that the people who would come consistently to the classes would, would connect and create relationships with each other outside of me. So I love to hear like, you know, oh, hey, Nikki. But then they go over here, like, there’s just me No. Good to see to Nikki, and they’re over here with their friends and their colleagues. And that was, and they’re supporting each other. And sometimes you see serious conversations, and there’s tears, and they’re like, able to provide, I only have my perspective. But she can tell you something about experience that can help that I have an experience. Wow. And I saw that I said, I didn’t even expect that. But what a blessing that that comes from the fitness community.
Shannon M. 22:36
Yeah. Yeah. And I can tell you that I’m a horrible workout partner, because I might not show up, or I’ve been in so many different positions and jobs where the schedule is not normal to human cardiac cycles, right? Oh, not cardiac cycle, but their circadian rhythm that we sleep that you might be at a certain time, I thought I was gonna get up. But that wasn’t realistic when I said it. And so I know what you’re talking about. Definitely have been the classes. But I feel like for me, I had even before committing to somebody else, I really had to decide, are you going to be faithful to what you said for yourself? You know, for me, it goes back to the self love thing, because I fell in love Christine, all day long. But if I let myself down, I’m more comfortable letting her down too. And I thought it was I Aisha Christine, who had the comment about discipline being so important. Yes, discipline is key. Like to me now discipline is a way to say yes. A lot of people think a budget is all you have to say no, well, no, it’s actually a way to say yes to this $56 that I’m about to spend because I said that it was allotted for this, I get to spend it over here, me having the discipline to run the details. Hopefully one day I’ll be turned in flips with my grandkids instead of a weekend. We can do it from there. And again, the last point out point back to Nikki, we’re talking about how it helps in relationships and stuff. I definitely agree with that. And I know we’re women connected in wisdom, but just like I want the men to give the women credit for all the stuff we do. I want to give a shout out to your husband and how you guys work as a team because when I see you he’s there, you know, he does the videos did everything for the ladies to be able to do that. I know. We talked about partnership power, there’s a lot of stuff that my partners helped me do to be able to show it for the ladies you know, so shout out to all the partners and all the men and husbands helping us ladies stay connected and be well and what we’re doing.
Christine Gautreaux 24:39
Absolutely I think this is your sweetheart Bradley Thomas is having that great community is so important. Yes, my I gotta I gotta give a shout out to Joe since we’re shouting out partners because my husband and I love to go do Zumba and dance. together and it’s I always laugh because, you know, I’m trained as a clinical therapist, and I believe in therapy. So it’s not that I don’t believe in therapy. But I always say when we dance together and work out together, sometimes that’s better for us than therapy. Because our bodies get into rhythm. And we have the mirror neurons that are going with each other. And it is pretty amazing. Yeah, so we have another comment from inspire everyday fitness. And they say discipline is a way to say yes, those are bars. Yeah,
Nicole Hairston Thomas 25:32
that was a bar chain.
Shannon M. 25:37
Yes. And now I actually am a better workout partner, we do run me and my partner since we’re given specific shout out to make sure I say his name native Pharaoh, for running up and down these hills with me, I feel like do COVID Then mountains and valleys and hills and sidewalks we’ve been running around the world. But yes, it’s been great. And to be able to do that have a community that is committed to being committed to ourselves as individuals, I think is so central to what I want us to do it when they connected and wisdom, you know, me taking care of myself first is not me not choosing you. It’s making sure that we can both stay here in a healthy way and continue to learn new things. Yes, absolutely.
Christine Gautreaux 26:22
Love that.
Shannon M. 26:25
So Nikki, I do have a question about your weight loss journey, especially in, in a life where you were always active, I feel like a lot of people that I talked to who asked me about my workout regimen, or what I did to maintain my healthy lifestyle, they aren’t coming from again, coming from that place, especially as women I don’t I don’t think we’re usually taught how to work out I would because of the organizations I was in, but outside of that we’re usually, you know, pointed in different directions. So how did that come together?
Nicole Hairston Thomas 27:00
I agree. Um, yeah, when it when I when it all started for me again, I am, I started my fitness journey. Many years ago, looking back, I was again, really in a hard place, depressed, anxious, and, and treating my you know, treating those feelings with alcohol and food and unhealthy relationships. And so during, during that time, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Shanti, no affiliation. But and insanity was a place where I started moving and moving. I mean, he really kicks it up a notch, okay, and that’s when I started to see the changes. And then when it comes to finding out what works for me, you know, that Shaunti and insanity, there’s a lot of like, by the way, pile of metric type, high intensity movement training. But as I got from graduated from that, and on into the gym, I fell in love with the weight room. So there’s so much you could do, you finish journey, but I fell in love with weights, I fell in love with lifting, pushing, pulling, flipping, I fell in love of getting in there, putting on some really good trap music, you know, the more trap the better and really getting in, and it’s the energy behind it. That was so and I would always feel so much stronger after I will feel empowered afterwards, I will start to see natural changes in my body. Naturally, luckily, I do tend to build muscle. But even if you’re not an unnatural building muscle, if you do things like this consistently you will build. So that’s where I found and fell in love with lifting. And that turned into a lot of different things. It is one of the primary ways that when I am training my training clients, oh yeah, as women we aren’t, we aren’t used to so men, if you play sports, or women who play sports, maybe you’re from a book, but most of the time when us women are working out, we go right to the treadmill, and that’s not the dog, the treadmill or the Zumba class or anything like that. But there’s so much benefit in resistance training. And so that is definitely a primary way where I help my clients get into the best shape of their life by by lifting and showing them how to do bicep curls, squats, all kinds of fun stuff. But then bigger than that is I am also helping them be more functionally fit. So yeah, we’re lifting barbells and we’re feeling strong, but that’s also how we pick up our children. And that’s also how we pick up our groceries and that’s how we prevent back pain. And now you don’t have to be out of work because you have chronic back pain. Now you know how to squat down ergonomically the right way and protect your knees and now you’re able to continue to hike up that mountain for many, many years now. Okay, so that’s the cool thing about the resistance training that that started for me I’m able to share that with other women. And then when it comes to cardio is all thing again, the Energy Switch energy fit is all about the energy, right? So we’re gonna play some music that’s going to get you pumped and going. And one of the best ways I found to do that is in a kickboxing style is just so much pop, you you’re not mad, but this is just fun. You know, it’s just fun to move. Move your yourself in a way that’s empowering, that I feel strong, that’s different from what I do naturally. And it’s a great way to be rhythmic. Have fun, and now I’m doing cardio. If you’re not, if you don’t love running on a treadmill, 30 minutes on the treadmill feels like work. Okay? But if you’re able to get in there with a group and move and you got fun music and someone hyping you up, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go that 30 minutes, that 45 minutes, that hour, no goes really fast. And so I’m really intentional about finding ways, oh, we’re gonna burn we’re gonna burn those calories. But at the same time, you didn’t feel like you were working, then you felt like you got your book. But you didn’t feel like working working the timer really fast. So that’s that’s the key. So Nicole,
Shannon M. 31:13
when specific? No, I
Christine Gautreaux 31:16
have another question on that. When you talk about resistance training, you’re doing it in a group setting. You’re doing it to music? Am I hearing that? Right? Like, you old school, like when I was in the gym, and you go in and it’s felt a little bit like drudgery, right?
Nicole Hairston Thomas 31:36
No, no, of my resistance training classes. I’m there, the music is still going. And actually we still everything is to the beat. The beat is the life of a music is going to carry the heartbeat. Okay, so even when we’re lifting, we’re going to find that rhythm because it helps us we’re doing this now together one and two. Yeah, we’re finding it. And now we need to double time a little bit we can find we can ride that beat a little bit. Not one, two, and three or four. It really helps you stay in the game. Um, it’s a great it’s a great distraction. So yes, not the old school, I come in and lift that, you know. It’s it’s still fun. And they fuss Believe me, I’m like, again, you know, they first Oh, Nikki like you’re killing us today. Um, but they’re always happy afterwards. It’s so empowering to be like, I survived that workout. And I actually think that’s some of the bonding because they’re like Nikki was crazy today. And then some of the bonding that they have. It’s like this workout was tough. We survived it together. Let’s go have drinks later.
Christine Gautreaux 32:47
I love that I want to lift up pun intended. A comment that proudly said we choose you just made resistance training, so practical and relatable to life empowering for sure. Thank you love that. Yeah. I want to talk about lifting up, I want to lift up. The first person that got me into lifting and athletics was my coach, Coach Lorraine deal in red oak, Texas. I want to lift her up because she passed over this week because it COVID And she has really been on my heart and even having this conversation though, like the joy of the joy of this, like the joy of being powerful in your body. And and knowing the things that you can do. Like this is a mentor who taught me that starting when I was in seventh grade, I think So how old are we when we’re in seventh grade, y’all, it’s been waiting for me to know those numbers,
Shannon M. 33:50
right? You’re like, oh, 1330
Christine Gautreaux 33:57
Yeah, I will just never forget, like, we were she was my track and field coach, and she was my cross country coach. And she looked at me and she said, You’re a long distance runner go run two miles. And I did because I didn’t know any better. For sure, not a sprinter that was not in my wheelhouse at all. But you know, if my click Show me go run, I’m gonna go run. Right. And so that has served me I was writing about her today. And just thinking about the lessons I’ve learned from, from working out, like you know, that that you can do hard things and that you can keep going even when it’s tough, and that you’re going to get through it. And so, and the other thing I said is, is that everybody has a role to play as a part of a team. So I was thinking about that today. So I just want to lift her up because huge woman in my life who just made a difference For years, so she was my junior high coach. And then we moved she moved up with us to high school. So she was my coach for six years. Yeah. Yeah. And and also just being one of our she rose about how many women she impacted over her career. I think she taught for 42 years. Wow. So like you imagine the I’m just one of 1000s that she impacted. And yeah, so I think about that with you, Nicole, like I see your energy. And I think like, how much of a difference you are making in people’s lives and doing it joyfully. That’s what I’m like, what I’m like, Okay, how can I sign up for this? Like, how can I? Because in, and I’ve been an athlete for a long time, but in all transparency, y’all like, I just got a report from my doctor that was like, Oh, girl, you’re not doing as good as you think you’re doing over this pandemic? Um, so I’ve got to step it up. I got to bring that what’s it called with the energy?
Nicole Hairston Thomas 36:07
We need to switch? Switch it up? Because
Christine Gautreaux 36:12
something’s not quite working. Right. I need a little bit of tweaks going on? Yes, no, Adam, people find you how do they get connected to you? How do they get on this incredible energy train?
Nicole Hairston Thomas 36:24
Yes, absolutely. So switch energy. fitness.com is where you can find information about my classes. You can also find my social media and email contact if you want to reach out so that’s switch Energy Fitness comm. You can also find me on Facebook, switch energy, fitness, and Instagram, switch that energy, that fitness. And so yeah, and you can reach out. And again, the specialized for swingy fitness is group fitness training. So if that’s the way that you love the workout, if you’re not sure you want to try it, I do have opportunities. First Class free, I just want you to try it out and see how you’d be surprised how much fun you can have, while really, you know, working towards your life and body goals. And so what you’re saying, when you mentioned about your coach, and how she’s impacted so many people, I mean, that’s literally one of the prayers that I pray all the time, is that God used me today use me today to help oblate even if I’m not feeling it, because I’m just human. And I don’t always feel very capable, but use me today to help someone feel a little bit better about their, their bodies. And today, and hopefully long term. And it also made me think about when you say, and I have so much joy. You guys asked him a great question, the definition of success. What is Success to me? And I really had to think about that question. That’s a great question, by the way. And I said success is doing what I love. And the you know, first first starts with God, using something that God gave me that I love, that then blesses many other people and goes beyond me, is success. That’s success to me. So yeah, that that’s, that’s the energy behind and that’s why I find so much joy in. And when I do, it’s just, it’s just natural, it just oozes and so I’m I get excited to share that with other people.
Shannon M. 38:35
I love that. And I love what you said about using something that God gave me that I love to help other people. And that’s what I think about when I think about Shayla glow and the shea butter I had when I needed it. So even if I stopped selling it, I’m still making it. You know, we’re still making it. And Linda lifted up her coat. I unfortunately have somebody and I will say fortunately to lift up this week too, who just passed away from pancreatic cancer. When my I would actually say my entrepreneurial mentor, Linda, before I had Shiloh as part of a network marketing company. And she walked through me, you know, with me through my mom passed away from pancreatic cancer. So with us talking about physical wellness, what I think about is chronic illness and how do I you know, be mindful of my time who I’m around the food we’re eating like you said, Nikki, I love some food, no matter but I had to realize that food doesn’t love me. Okay, so are we in healthy relationships, and lift up Linda for being an example of exponential living. That’s a book that she gave me and it really, I feel like sums up our conversation about prioritizing time being connected, but not living 100% of who you are on 10% Is that Is it stop living 100% of your life on 10% of who you are. I love that book. She gave me so. Yeah. Yes. A good one, isn’t it Christina? Book, exponential living by Sherry Reilly.
Christine Gautreaux 40:10
Alright, we’ll put that in the show notes. And we’re gonna put Nicole in the show notes. Also how everybody can reach you and things like that. But say that one one more time, Shannon?
Shannon M. 40:20
Yes. Stop living percent stop living 100% of your life on 10% of who you are. Yeah. And that it pulls in the discipline and frees me to stop apologizing for rest. Because I’m living all my life the work that doesn’t make sense. Let me make sure I rest so I can go back to work. Like you said, Nick. In the days when I don’t feel like it. Lord, give me the energy and the words to say and the way to say it. So that I’m still in your will and doing what you have me do. But yeah, to do it with joy, because I’m doing what I love, you know, I’m doing something that I used to take care of myself, or were connecting women to resources that they needed. And that that was definitely necessary for me too. So thank you so much, Nikki, for being a guest on our show today and bring in your insight with switch Energy Fitness.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 41:10
Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a pleasure. Lots of fun.
Christine Gautreaux 41:14
This has been so such a great conversation and motivating and energizing. And I want to give a shout out again to Bradley because he’s been with us this whole time and just thank you for all our listeners Bradley lifted that up stop living 100% of your life on 10% of who you are. Wow. Yeah. And so grateful for this conversation. And Nikki one last question before you pop back to the green room. When is the next global event because I need to be there and my husband needs to bit now. Oh, that’s another question. Women and men invited to
Unknown Speaker 41:55
this women and men.
Christine Gautreaux 41:58
Okay, awesome. When is the next like, when is the next like with the glowy lights and the Yeah,
Nicole Hairston Thomas 42:05
yes. The next one will be October October 14. That’s a Thursday Let me double check my calendar. I’m pretty sure it is. I checked it before we came in. Okay for yes Thursday October the 14th will be the next glue up at 730 You’ll be able to RSVP and purchase tickets at switch energy fitness.com it if you’re a vendor, and you are you need an opportunity you want to share your service or products also contact me a switch Energy Fitness calm. Okay, because I’m looking for vendors as well. And if you’re a guest trainer you’re looking for a place to share what you love to do. And group fitness switch Energy Fitness comm I love to. I love to have you so yes, October. The October glow up is going to be the homecoming edition. Okay, October’s homecoming. We’re gonna have homecoming type energy. You know, we took a break for last couple of months we’re coming back with a homecoming energy. So I want people to come out and wear their their favorite college gear, or their favorite sorority fraternity gear. And if you don’t have that there’ll be plenty of switch Energy Fitness you you’re part of our fit, fam. So either way you’re coming home. Um, yeah, lots of opportunity is going to be such a fun event. So switch Energy Fitness comm is where you can find out
Christine Gautreaux 43:30
more. Oh, Nicole, I am so excited to know you. Thank you for introducing it now. Do you might make your Nicole I should ask that at the beginning of the show. You’re
Unknown Speaker 43:42
what? I like Nikki? No, Nikki is
Christine Gautreaux 43:45
Nicole. Okay, Coach Nikki, well, I’m going to be reaching out to you because I need to kick this up in gear and I probably need your help before October so I don’t fall over during the glow. Thank you. So yeah, thank you so much for being on today. Oh, before we put you in the green room. Yeah, Mr. Min action, we do a hashtag wisdom and action. When we think about physical wellness. What would you hashtag your wisdom and action for this week? Oh, oh, oh, that’s tough.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 44:21
The hashtag would be do do what you love. And often that’s too long. Do what you love.
Christine Gautreaux 44:28
You love great advice. Great advice. Thank you so much for being here today.
Nicole Hairston Thomas 44:35
You’re very very welcome. I’ll see you guys see you soon.
Christine Gautreaux 44:39
What a great guest Shannon.
Shannon M. 44:42
Yeah. Like you said so energizing. Right.
Christine Gautreaux 44:46
What would your wisdom in action be this week my friend.
Shannon M. 44:51
Mine is so I have to not eating out. Okay, okay. And working on this sleep schedule. So I changed the time to wake up, actually getting out of bed and breaking up with the snooze button. No snooze, I need to get up. What about yours?
Christine Gautreaux 45:12
Well, mine is for physical wellness, like I’m used to make some appointments. So like mine is going to be make those appointments. So make an appointment with my chiropractor make point with the acupuncturist, like I need to call make an appointment with Nikki like, I got to get back on the on track with with my fall schedule. So you know that sometimes I’ll do really well for a long time. And then I’ll get off track. And you know, I was taking that youngest to college, I was life a little got in the way and I’m maintaining my two mile walk a day, but it’s just maintenance. It’s not, it’s not pushing the bar where it needs to go. So
Shannon M. 45:55
yeah, that’s really Yeah, when I was talking about chronic illness and stuff like that, I definitely now think about maintaining wellness, you know, but we had the episode when I was at the beach, it was great. And I wanted to get my hair done before my birthday trip. And she advised me not to because it would be better for my hair to actually wait because it wasn’t maintained. And that comment from a lot. Titian made me think about the rest of my, my wellness and my maintaining it you can get there, you know, but how long are you gonna stay there? Are you staying there in a healthy way? So absolutely make appointments, I hear well, and
Christine Gautreaux 46:37
I think just checking in with ourselves. So you know, I do a lot of things by seasons. And as we are about to move into a new season and things are shifting. I think that checking in with ourselves, and where are we and doing that annual physical and getting those numbers back. You may not like them, but get them so you can make a difference if you need to make some changes. Because I know that the pandemic especially has been hard on a lot of people and they may not be getting as much movement as they’re used to or, or you know, they’ve been may have been doing some comfort food eating. Understandable, right. completely understandable. But yeah, I think about that, so. Oh, Bradley, he gave his hashtag I love this Bradley maintaining my wellness. Yes, yes. I love that. Well, Shannon before we jump off that out of here. You know I talked about Coach deal being one of my shoot, Shea rose. But will you tell folks about Shea rose and Shiloh glow?
Shannon M. 47:39
Absolutely. So just like the two ladies that we mentioned, and Nikki who goes out and intentionally makes the lives of of her workout partners better. Who is somebody like that in your life and your community that’s poured into you and you think she could use a little help or free free gift of self care to make sure that she’s prioritizing and maintaining her wellness? That’s who I want you to nominate? Okay, so it can be more than one person. Nominations are open for this month. It is officially September 1 2021. So email my Shay row to Shayla glow@gmail.com. I will put her in the nomination. Let you know when she wins what she’s getting. And we can go from there. But absolutely, let’s take care of our ladies who take care of our community.
Christine Gautreaux 48:28
I love that. And thank you thank you, Shayla Glo for sponsoring this podcast and for uplifting women. That’s what we’re all about with women connected in wisdom. And I’m grateful to be on this journey with you my friend.
Shannon M. 48:43
Yes, yes. And me with you. Oh,
Christine Gautreaux 48:47
yeah. Any last thoughts before we kick it out of here? Mm hmm.
Shannon M. 48:52
Always have more thoughts, but I will save them for season five.
Christine Gautreaux 48:58
That’s right. Well, we have one more show. And then one more. One time it’s just moving. I love it. All right.
Shannon M. 49:10
Okay, ladies, thank you and men. Bradley’s been here the whole time. Right. Thank you guys for joining us this week. We will be here next Wednesday Live at Five. And don’t forget, be well be wise. And we hope to see you next time.
Unknown Speaker 49:33
Thanks for listening. This has been the women connected and wisdom podcast on air live on Wednesdays at 5pm. Eastern via Facebook and YouTube. Be sure to like, share and SUBSCRIBE be part of the conversation and get connected at women connected in wisdom.com.
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