February: A Month for Self-Care and Self-Love
- Mindy Cochran
.jpg/v1/fill/w_320,h_320/file.jpg)
- Feb 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 13
February, a month dedicated to love of all kinds! In my view, the most important kind of love is self-love. By loving yourself, you lead by example for others around you, encouraging them to embrace self-love too. Thereby loving yourself is love for the universe and everyone in it.
Loving yourself can, at times, be challenging (hey, we have all been there). The good news is it can start organically simply with self-care. Self-care can take the shape of getting a restful night's sleep, nourishing your body with quality foods, and setting aside "me-time." Simply ask yourself "What would make today great?" and then do it; and this will guide you on the pathway to self-love.
This Month's Mantra:
"I carry an open, loving heart for myself and others.❤️"
What I Am Excited About
❤️Interval Training is Moving to Mondays & Wednesdays ~
My kick-butt small personal training group is moving to new days. Starting mid-January, this class will be offered on Mondays and Wednesday at 6:40 am. This month-long series is 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬, it is for anyone and everyone interested in enhancing their fitness level. No worries if you are currently deconditioned; come as you are! I am certified as a group fitness instructor, personal trainer, and life coach and have the tools to help you find your best self, no matter where you are starting from. Please reach out to make arrangements to try the class 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞!
❤️Soles of the Flathead Dance Gala ~ Please join us for the Warming Center's Third Annual signature gala. This red-carpet event will showcase local celebrities in a dazzling performance competition. Elevated Aerial is one of several dance groups performing (before the competition) in support of this important cause. Myself, along with other local celebrities, will judge the competition part of the evening. This is a ticketed event Friday, February 7th at FVCC's Wachholz Center. Get tickets here.
❤️Aerial Acts at the Firebrand Hotel ~ Come watch our aerial performers rigged high above the crowd at the beautiful Firebrand Hotel. The show begins at 4:30 pm, after the Whitefish Winter Carnival Parade Saturday February 8th. Entry is totally free to this stellar afterparty! The theme this year is "There is snow place like home," so we are going with Wizard of Oz costuming. Please join us!
Performance Week Prep
With several important performances coming up this week, it's crunch time for our performers to prepare! Here is how I prepare the week of an event:
Final review of skills and choreography I plan to perform. I finish review early in the week and take a full rest day the day before the performance (except for a good stretch session), so my body is rested and ready to go the day of the event.
Costuming selection should be pretty dialed in one week before an event, but I will try on my costume again to assess if any modifications are needed.
Focus on hydration & healthy foods. Sometimes I will also lean into intermittent fasts. I am a believer in syncing longer fasts with the power and manifestation phases of my menstrual cycle, though, which doesn't always align with my performance schedule. Such are the joys of being a woman, eh.
Menstrual Cycle & Fasting guidelines from Dr. Mindy Pelz Protect my sleep at all costs. As someone who has struggled with a bit of insomnia my whole life, I know the importance of sleep both mentally and physically. Early bedtimes with proper winddown times are mandatory the week of a show.
On the morning of the event, I set aside time for meditation. To soothe my nerves, I mentally rehearse the event, and not just my aerial skills. I imagine entering the event calmly, meeting my team, and everything proceeding as planned. If you're a new performer, remember that feeling nervous is completely normal. You might be able to consciously transform nerves into adrenaline & power on the apparatus. However, stay mindful of the pace you are moving and keep it at the same tempo as you would in practice. Feel free to reach out if you need assistance preparing for an event; I would be glad to offer my help, suggestions, and feedback.
My Newest Wellness Gadget
Better sleep goals, anyone?!?! This projection clock that projects the time onto the ceiling may help! I purchased one recently because I was previously using my cell phone to check the time when I would wake in the middle of the night. Although I have my phone set to "Do Not Disturb" between 9 pm and 7 am, it defeats the purpose when I see all of the notifications awaiting me when I would look at the phone mid-night. Now, I don't even have to sit up or roll over to see the time. I just look at the ceiling and realize it's only 4 am and then cuddle back in for more shuteye. Now, what is one thing you could do today to enhance your sleeping environment? Remember, getting a great night's sleep is good self-care, and self-care is self-love.❤️
What I am Listening To
Remember, what you consume matters, and this isn't limited to the food you eat to fuel your body. Music, conversations, podcasts can shape our realities, for better or worse.
My favorite song ~ My friend Ilsa Ryan (Ill Sauce) in Missoula is featured in this killer music video: Big Deal - feat Kwan LEE & Franki. This song is five years old, but I am reviving it in my quest to consume content with positive impact. Know your worth, that's a big deal!
A guided meditation for Self-Love: A Powerful Self Love Guided Meditation. Enjoy🙏
Self-Love and Body Acceptance
One of my favorite articles I have even written for Montana Woman Magazine focused on self-love and body acceptance. As a fitness coach and personal trainer, I never assume a client’s goal is weight loss, but often, women bring the topic up themselves. So, it should come as no surprise, when asked to write about self-love for the magazine, my thoughts jumped straight to one particular form of self-love: body acceptance. As I set pen to paper to write the column, I thought to myself, “this is a great opportunity to clarify that my goal as a fitness coach is to help women improve health and overall fitness, rather than achieve a particular type of body.” The article that resulted was profound, and I would be honored if you took time to here: Self-Love and Body Acceptance
Other articles I have written on self-compassion, self-care, and self-love include:
Whatever you take in this month—be it food, music, or literature—I hope it inspires you in your journey to your best self.
Thanks for reading my article. The Elevated Life blog is dedicated to anyone and everyone striving to find an actionable route to their best self and highest potential, and I am so happy to have you here.
Article by Mindy Cochran. Mindy is a practitioner, teacher, and performer of aerial silks, aerial hammock, and aerial hoop; as well as a health columnist for Montana Woman Magazine. Her column shares expertise for elevating health & wellness which she has acquired through her certifications as a personal trainer, nutrition coach, and life coach. To connect with Mindy on Instagram, please visit: www.instagram.com/aerial.mindy; or visit her Linktree here.
Comments