Fitness: Positive Energy for Positive Results, with Caroline Jordan

This month, Parvati Magazine interviewed fitness instructor and lifestyle coach Caroline Jordan about her “Positive Energy – Positive Results” approach.

Parvati Magazine: What inspired you to start teaching and coaching?

Caroline Jordan: Fitness has always been a part of my life. My mother is a family practice nurse, who taught group fitness for fun throughout my childhood. Movement is rooted in my mind, body, and spirit. I can’t imagine living and not sharing that joy with others. I was 14 when I started teaching group fitness at a local club and earned my personal training certification by age 20 in college. I moved to San Francisco after graduating UC Davis to pursue the career full time and by age 26 I had a career that was very blessed. In 2011 I took a leap of faith and enrolled in health and wellness coaching courses. Months of mastering positive psychology, behavior change, coaching, and wellness filled my life with a new sense of passion and purpose. All the hard work, faith, and trust paid off. My career took a turn from exclusively fitness focused to health and happiness lifestyle management. I began coaching, speaking, and presenting on wellbeing topics to others. I started collaborating with corporations as a creative consultant facilitating wellness programs. My business expanded. I discovered strengths, passions, and a voice I never knew I had. I know there will be more surprises to come, because I believe that when you follow your passions and trust yourself enough to make it happen, ANYTHING is possible.  My gift is my positive energy, my calling is to inspire it in others. I know I am living on purpose and every morning I wake up with a smile.

PMAG: When you work with clients, what changes do you help them make?

CJ: My mantra is  “positive thoughts = positive results”. You cannot live a healthy life without a healthy mind first. I work to empower others to choose positive thoughts in order to create positive actions towards positive outcomes in their lives. With a strong, positive mind, you can free yourself to live the life you want. We practice strengthening the mind with “mental pushups” (positive, affirming thoughts) in all of my classes, workshops, and client sessions. From an intentional and positive place, they are empowered to take action towards making lifestyle changes in the areas they desire (fitness, nutrition, wellness, stress, relationships) in order to continue to live a life they love.

PMAG: How important is it to have a vision or intention when it comes to fitness goals?

CJ: A vision or intention is essential if you want to be successful in achieving meaningful goals! If you don’t know where you want to go, how will you get there? Taking the time to specify a destination you’d like to go to and set SMART (Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timed) goals to help you get there is the secret to success. Remember:  A compelling vision combined with focused action is the key to a positive outcome.

PMAG: What is the power of living in gratitude when it comes to fitness and wellness?

CJ: Practicing gratitude can center you, help you live in the moment, enhance your relationships, help you overcome hurdles, improve your health, and motivate you to reach your goals. Showing gratitude is a great way to spread positive feelings in the world around you. When you think about it, reaching your goals starts with a single positive thought. Feeling grateful for what you have can produce the good feelings that keep you moving towards the happy life you want.

PMAG: What is your current favorite workout?

CJ: Lately I’ve been LOVING “HIIT” training (high intensity interval training) in my workouts and pilates-based core moves. I’ll combine a great HIIT circuit with some pilates exercises and it makes me feel energized, strong, and happy. Here are a few of my favorite routines, subscribe to my youtube channel and join me online to work out with me!

10 Minute Cardio Circuit:

Core Videos:

10616406_10102975481358333_2430691394233097959_nCaroline Jordan is a professional Health, Wellness, and Lifestyle Coach, entrepreneur, writer, speaker, fitness instructor, and athlete. She graduated from from the University of California, Davis with a degree in Communications and Dance, and is certified by WellCoaches, the American Council on Exercise, Aerobic and Fitness Association of America, Schwinn Cycling, Balletone, as well as several other health and wellness agencies. She has been recognized as the “Group Fitness Instructor of the Year” by UC Davis and rewarded the “Personal Trainer with Passion” from the American Council On Exercise. She has been featured in Shape Magazine, SF Weekly, the San Francisco Chronicle, and IDEA magazine, and writes regularly for established wellness websites.

For more about Caroline, please visit carolinejordanfitness.com and follow her Facebook page and YouTube channel.