Break it down now!
WHAT IS STRONG BODY/JOYFUL HEART?- A fitness/fundraising endeavor to benefit myself physically and the Joyful Heart Foundation financially.
- I'm glad you asked! Joyful Heart is an innovative and groundbreaking non-profit, established by award winning actress Mariska Hargitay, that "provides healing, hope and possibility to survivors of violence and abuse".
- Personally, my main goal is to become a healthier, stronger and more active person. Losing weight and toning up would be an added benefit!
- The goal for the fundraising aspect of SB/JH is to raise a minimum of $500. The more money we raise, the more people Joyful Heart can help. So open up your hearts and your wallets please!
- Sponsor a week of my fitness journey with a minimum $10 donation to the Joyful Heart Foundation.
- Send me a note of encouragement so I can keep working hard because the more I lose, the more Joyful Heart gains! What do I mean by that? Keep on reading...
- For each pound and every inch I lose, I will double the total and donate that amount to JHF!
So here are the details...
On January 11th, 2010 I started a fitness journey known as the Ultimate Bodyshaping Course (UBC) at ATA Black Belt Academy. UBC is a 10 week long course that "combines fitness kickboxing, resistance training, flexibility and a
sound nutritional program"--this per the UBC website. I signed up for this kickboxing/kick-my-butt challenge
because...well...to plainly state it...I let myself go. And not in the
good kind of way. I've never been a twig, but I used to be much more active and in recent years that came to a halt for various reasons/excuses.
But I am making a change for the better and that change is UBC.
In just my first week my body has been sore, but my soul has felt rejuvenated. I am confident that I have already greatly benefited from participating in this course--my sleeping and eating habits have improved, there's more structure to my daily routine, I have an effective way to relieve stress, and I have more energy.
I've made a commitment to myself to become healthy and active and fit. In the process of this journey, I'm hoping to learn more about myself as a person and really find out what I'm capable of. This UBS business isn't just about looking good on the outside, but also feeling wonderful on the inside and to boost that I have an idea I like to call Strong Body/Joyful Heart.
I'm the kind of person who is happiest when I am giving back in some way. So if I'm going to be giving myself a second chance, I want to do the same for someone else. Therefore, I want to use my UBC course as a way to give back to others. What I'm asking is for you, your mom, your grandma, or whoever possibly can to sponsor one week in my fitness/soul journey. Since this course is ten weeks long, I think a $10 donation is fitting. You have my promise that 100% of the proceeds will benefit my favorite charity, the Joyful Heart Foundation.
Joyful Heart's mission is to "heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues." (www.joyfulheartfoundation.org) JHF was established by Mariska Hargitay of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and is ever growing, helping more and more survivors each and every year.
This journey I'm on towards a healthier me will be a challenge, but it pales in comparison to the healing journey survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse embark on. But we can help these survivors by supporting the Joyful Heart Foundation. In supporting Joyful Heart we will aid them in reaching out to survivors and providing innovative programs and services to them. We will assist Joyful Heart in making the road to recovery a much brighter path.
My goal is to raise a minimum of $500, so that means I just need fifty splendid sponsors to support my efforts. I feel like that is a very obtainable goal because I'm blessed to have so many generous and proactive people in my life!
If you can support me and in return support JHF with a minimum $10 donation, you have my sincerest thanks. I will most certainly recognize you for your generosity. Please email me (annie@articulate1.com) for information on how you can sponsor a week of my UBC. If you are unable to support Strong Body/Joyful Heart financially, I would appreciate if you could spread the word about it. Each donation and/or note of encouragement will push me to work as hard as I possibly can.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
- Please refer to my blog for periodic updates pertaining to Strong Body/Joyful Heart.
