March: International Women's Day
- Mindy Cochran
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- Mar 1
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Falling on the March calendar is International Women's Day (IWD). In 2025, we will celebrate IWD on Saturday, March 8th. International Women's Day is a global day "celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women."1 The day also marks a call to action for groups to come together to rally for women's equality and celebrate women's achievements.
Supporting women's rights is crucial. Equally important is consciously empowering the women in our lives. Simple actions like expressing appreciation can be incredibly valuable. You can also give them encouragement when they are learning; dream with them! Remind them of their strength. Women need to hear this even if they seem to have it all together. In fact, sometimes type "A" women especially need to hear your appreciation and encouragement because they [we] are prone to burnout.
This is why I believe in group fitness with all my heart. In the right fitness community, you will be immersed in a supportive group who will encourage you throughout your practices and workouts. At Elevated Fitness, one workout can elevate your mood on any given day. And if one workout will improve your day, just imagine what many workouts will do for you.
This Month's Mantra:
"I am unstoppable not because I am without doubts or failures, but because I continue on in spite of them."
This mantra holds significance because, while we consciously uplift the women around us, we often neglect to do the same for ourselves. This tendency becomes evident when we face failure. Why do we criticize ourselves so harshly in such times? In truth, it's crucial to celebrate failures as they are a sign of progress. I recently came across the concept of "failing forward." Failing forward involves accepting responsibility, learning from errors, staying hopeful and positive, and persisting. If you're failing, it means you're trying hard things. Great job, keep going.
A guided meditation for Unstoppable Courage: I AM Affirmations ➤ Unstoppable Courage & Inner Power Enjoy🙏
What I Am Excited About
❤️Flathead Food Bank Mardi Gras Gala ~ This Mardi-Gras themed gala is a fundraising extravaganza for the Flathead Food Bank. Join us in our mission to eliminate hunger in the Flathead Valley. This is a ticketed event Saturday, March 22nd, 2025, at the Red Lion. Get tickets here and come bear witness to some incredible aerial acts and stiltwalking by our team!
❤️Women's Day Zumba Party at Logan Health ~ I have to miss this incredible party because it is the same weekend as an important banked slalom at Lost Trail. But, if you are here in the Flathead Valley on Saturday, March 8th, you will definitely want to be at this event 3-6 pm! If you go, dance extra hard in my absence...I will be there in spirit!
❤️ Certified Once Again ~ My many certifications include group fitness instruction, personal training, nutrition coaching, life coaching, aerial silks, and pole fitness. On top of my certifications, I have training in:
➡️health coaching & behavior change
➡️midlife fitness for women,
➡️pilates,
➡️pre-hab vs. re-hab,
➡️flexibility flow, and
➡️yoga essentials
I recently completed the renewal of all three of my certifications with the accredited National Academy of Sports Medicine. What do I do with all of this knowledge? Well, I have used it to develop some pretty incredible curriculum and create an entire community of movers. One of the classes I am most passionate about is an interval training class. Interval training simply means timed periods of work and rest. Each class has exercises carefully selected to lead participants to incredible breakthroughs in strength and mental resiliency. Regulars of the class swear that the twice-per-week class has changed their life. This class is NOT just for aerialists, but if you ARE an aerialist who feels like you aren’t progressing in their aerial or pole skills, this class will definitely help! The class has recently moved to Mondays and Wednesday, 6:40-7:40 am. You can try a class free anytime, please reach out if you are interested. We have space for two or three more participants, and I would be honored to have you!
❤️Soles of the Flathead Dance Gala Photos ~ The Elevated Aerial team was honored to share our talents and provide the aerial acts at the 2025 Dance Gala fundraiser for The Warming Center, which raised over $100,000. We are passionate about fundraisers because we have a true desire to serve our community. I am excited to share these photos from Jacq Guertin.
❤️Whitefish Winter Carnival Photos ~ More photos from Jacq surfaced after Elevated Aerial performed at the Whitefish Winter Carnival the very next night. I am excited to share his photos here: Winter Carnival 2025.
My Newest Wellness Gadget
Like many women, I struggle with fatigue, so much so that I mentioned it to my doctor at my last annual. She talked me into purchasing an Oura Ring which tracks sleep and activity metrics. It connects to an app on my phone, which then tells me metrics like how much time I spend in bed, how much REM and deep sleep I am getting, and how active I have been. As a believer in movement medicine, I already knew that I sleep better when I am active during the day. But the ring has helped me to further narrow down that I am not getting very much deep sleep, so I am trying to improve that by limiting screen use before bedtime and doing high intensity exercise earlier in the day (before 6 pm). At a $300 price tag, the ring was a big expenditure for me, but it was covered by my Health Saving Account (offered through my employer), so that helped. The one downside to this ring is that I can't wear it on the aerial hoop nor pole, but it doesn't seem to bother me for silks or hammock. But, as my doctor pointed out (regarding my inability to sleep well) "if you don't know what the problem is, you can't fix it," so I was sold on giving it a try. If you think wearable technology would help you improve your health, you could certainly consider smart watch options as well.
What I am Munching On
I am loving Protein Biscuits made with chicken, yogurt, eggs, and almond flour. These little snacks are yummy and rich in protein, supporting muscle maintenance. Find the base recipe here, but keep in mind you can easily customize this recipe to your preferences. Vegan cheeses or meats are easy substitutions, as is the yogurt (in case you are like me and need a dairy-free yogurt), or if you prefer a different type of flour or seeds.
Empowered Women
In honor of International Women's Day, I would like to share some past articles I have been honored to write highlighting some amazing women:
In summary, while you are out empowering others, don't forget to do this for yourself as well. Believe in your strength, your beauty, your wholeness, and know that you are enough! If you need a friend to validate any of this for you, don't hesitate to reach out; I would be honored to be that friend for you. Wishing you an incredible March and empowerment every day. ~Mindy
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.
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