Behind the scenes at the Oakland Coliseum during a mega-conference. There was always something. The right toothpick for the pintxos. The correct size compostable cup. Straws cut shorter so they fit neatly into miniature bottles. A fountain that needed to be turned off so wedding guests could hear the vows. Four thousand tiny martini glasses purchased because they were exactly right for one particular dish. For eight years, a week before an annual concert event in Golden Gate

Sometimes the most important education has nothing to do with the job you were hired to do. When I wrote The Adventure of Becoming, I promised to share a few more stories from the journey. As I began writing this next article, I found myself returning to a question I'd never really asked. Looking back at the different careers I've had—fashion, music, event production, and now coaching—I wondered what thread connected them. For years, I probably would have answered that it was

Four careers. Four versions of me. One continuing evolution. Depending on who’s counting, I’m either on my fourth career… or I’m completely unemployable. I’ve smiled more than once when someone has asked me what my next career might be. A few well-meaning people have suggested ideas, assuming I’m looking for the next logical step. Others seem puzzled that someone with my background would choose to coach in a YMCA. I understand their perspective. We’ve all been taught to think

Walk into almost any gym and you'll find the same message: Lift weights. Do your cardio. Repeat. To be clear, I believe in both. Strength training is one of the best investments we can make as we age. It helps preserve muscle, bone density, balance, metabolism, and independence. Cardiovascular exercise supports heart health, endurance, and energy. But after years of coaching adults in midlife and beyond, I've become convinced there's another piece of fitness that deserves ju

Sometimes a phrase lands at exactly the right moment in life. At the YMCA, part of the mission is simple: Be. Belong. Become. Lately, those words have been quietly staying with me. After decades of living inside deadlines, productions, urgency, impossible expectations, and nonstop movement, I think I forgot what it felt like to simply be. For years, I lived in motion—building events, solving problems, managing teams, making the impossible happen, and carrying responsibility b

If there’s one supplement I recommend often for adults over 50 — especially for strength, recovery, brain health, and longevity — creatine is high on the list. For years, creatine was associated mainly with bodybuilders and athletes. But emerging research suggests it may be one of the most valuable supplements for active aging. And unlike many supplements, creatine is one of the most studied. Why Creatine Matters After 50 As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass, strength, po

Train Harder, Recover Faster with Alternate Day Fasting! As a high performance athlete you cannot afford to NOT fast! Fasting increases...

Here is an excellent article by Dr. Jason Fung, M.D. regarding fasting and cholesterol. Plus debunking two heart & health promoting diet...

Check out aging and longevity researcher UCS's Valter Longo's 2014 Scientific Study! It's shows how cycles of prolonged fasting not only...