We were lucky to catch up with Tamara Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tamara, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?
On some level “self-care” may sound like a simple concept. However, when we really start to explore our own personal needs we can actually get quite overwhelmed by the idea. I believe that self-care, while essential for effective productivity and balance, can be a very different experience for each of us. I’ve been studying the components of personal growth, care, and development for over a decade in my Strategic Activation Life Coaching Practice and I think there are practices and strategies that we can use to develop better balance and self care in our lives. In fact, I am currently writing a workbook to help with this very topic.
Personally, I have found that physical movement, nature, and volunteering help to provide the kind of balance to my life that empowers me to be more present and more effective in my work and in my relationships. For other people however, it may be horseback riding, dancing, or performance that creates opportunities for self care and emotional equilibrium. When we ask ourselves honestly what parts of our lives fulfill our basic needs for connection, significance, and growth and also what areas we lack we can look towards new habits, hobbies, and interactions for better balance, for better self-care. Resources for personal care vary as widely as our own histories and personalities. I hope that everyone finds routes to better care, balance, and productivity.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been a certified personal fitness trainer for over 20 years. In the beginning of my career training offered me the opportunity to help people improve their lives while raising two daughters and helping my husband through his journey into Veterinary Radiology. I have always worked with all kinds of clients with a wide variety of goals, needs, and capabilities. Within few years I realized that for my clients “it” is always more than about how many sit-ups or squats you can do. There is always an emotional component and I wanted to be able to help each client in a more wholistic way. With more training and education I became certified in Strategic Coaching and opened my personal studio on the Central Coast in 2016. Aspire -Strategies for Living was born and served both personal fitness and life coaching strategies to clients in Grover Beach. Since then I have remodeled part of my home to serve my clients in Pismo Beach, offer scheduled appointments by phone, and walk-n-talks in our beautiful local environment. I am proud to offer very personal programming to each client because I have witnessed the watering down of other training programs in the industry and with fitness apps that do not offer programs based specifically on an individual’s capabilities and goals. I have always valued continuing education and have maintained my certifications consistently. I find both fitness and coaching interesting and intertwined and I think that my sessions reflect my personal integrity and wholistic approach to health. I am honored to work with each person. Together, we discover how to set and achieve a wide variety of goals.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Integrity, education/experience, and flexibility… these qualities remain on the top of my list. Integrity involves a wide variety of values and behaviors including truly listening to your clients. My service is meant to enrich the lives of my clients. It is not about me. Our relationship and interaction is focused specifically on their truth, their reality, and their progress. Through my education and training and my experiences I can often offer perspectives that are helpful. Truly being present for each individual is an essential practice for any service provider. Then, with a combination broad and narrow focus strategies and nurturing flexibility and adaptability, new thought patterns and new possibilities can surface.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
If I knew that I had only 10 more years to live…. two areas of life come to mind… Am I doing what I can to support and enjoy my family and am I doing what I can to contribute sufficiently to my environment/relationships? That may sound a bit unrealistically altruistic. However, I happen to believe that I experience more pure joy when I am giving of myself. I love being with and caring for my family and my husband and I feel deep reward when I am able to help my friends, clients, and community. Even better is when any of these experiences also involve being outside in nature. So, I think if I knew my time was limited, which it is actually for all of us anyway, then I would use time more efficiently to engage and contribute in all areas of my life while also maintaining personal energetic balance.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aspire-strategies.com
- Instagram: aspire_strategties_for_ living and talks_with_tamara and sandy_feet_guardians
- Facebook: Aspire Strategies for Living
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