So this post is by me:) This morning my sister had to be up for some work related e mails back in the US. So we  were up around 5am. I have to say that as of today, ZERO jet lag – yipee. Anyway camera in hand I decided to head over to the Sydney Opera House. Our hotel is only about 5 minutes away and the weather was already perfect.

I think if I was to reinvent myself it would be as a photographer. Taking pictures is almost like a meditation for me. It places me completely in the present moment and moves me out of my head and into my heart. I walked around Circular Quay and over to the Sydney Opera House. As I was walking up to this majestic piece of architecture I was struck by the calm and quiet of the morning and also thrilled that I would be able to get pictures of this masterpiece with not one tourist (which would also include me) in the picture. After taking several shots I turned the corner to head up into the Botanical Gardens only to be stopped in my tracks by the most breathtaking sunrise. It was so so beautiful that it did two things. It reminded me of the power and magic of the moment and also of just how amazing my life is and has been. I have been so fortunate to have traveled pretty much all over the world, both for work and for pleasure. I think that traveling is one of life’s gifts. Being able to visit a different part of the world enables us to perhaps visit parts of ourselves that we may have forgotten about. I have found that many of my life “realizations” have happened away from home and on the road.

Even though we all live in different parts of the world, we all long to belong, even though we speak different languages we all desire to be heard and on one side of the world as the sun is rising, our hearts beat as one as the sun is setting around the globe. Together we take collective breaths,and together we exhale. Together we can do magic.

This morning I was reminded of the magnificence of life and just how truly blessed I am. Thank you universe for the gift of my friends, my career, my health and my life journey that is only getting better and better with every step I take.

G’day mate. This Blog was written by my dear sister Jennie. We will be sharing the Blog during the trip down under. I will write at the top of each entry who wrote each Blog at the beginning of each new post. I hope you enjoy hearing about our adventures.

So, we land on Sunday morning at 6.00 am and it has a very surreal sense. I know I am in Sydney but somehow my brain is still thinking—Now what happened to Saturday again? So, we hop in a cab and quickly learn it is ANZAC day a HUGE holiday of enormous proportion, more on that later. So we get to the hotel and Petra’s fine hunting skills spots a Starbuck cup, with cheetah like speed she intercepts the human vessel carrying the equivalent, at this point, of the holy grail and ask the critical question. “Where did you get that?” This was an intuitive gentleman and sensing the impending danger to his hand holding the coffee, he quickly responded with “Just on the corner, you make a right out the door and it’s just there to the left.“ So, crisis averted, we completed check in and headed to the first room, anyone that knows my sister knows what comes next! It was actually a huge victory had that day with only one room change being required. Now, I’m not going to deny if I had been on my own I would have done the exact same thing but when your with my sister you just know it’s going to happen so no effort needed from me. To explain we are staying in the Marriot Circular Quay with views of either Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge. What was our view? A conglomeration of unknown buildings at this point under a grey sky, now city views in New York are great because from every angle there is a landmark building, Sydney not so much. So, one phone call later, a very friendly bell hop moved us and our luggage to a room on the 27th floor with a wonderful view of the Opera House, oh yes one small detail and extra $50 AUD a night but that’s a no brainer. Given the pending threat of jet lag, we decide to get out of the room as quickly as possible. I grab every guide book published by Frommers this century and we head to Starbucks. Just as we walk through the door someone grabbed the Primo table which had just been vacated, I scan the room and all that is left is the worst seat in the house, a communal bench next to the fixings table, but we needed to rest our legs, so Petra heads for the coffees and I go and grab the seats, we are a well oiled machine in this department. Now, usual coffee house stuff happens, nothing of note for about the next 10 minutes. Me I am plotting the attack strategy we always use for each city—Pick the things you really want to do slot them into days and then your trip is a no brainer Petra doing her best to fain interest, this is her equivalent of the room change for me, I really like the results, would do it myself but have no need because I have a sister with this particular expertise. As I am diligently trying to figure out where the zoo which you can have a picture taken with a Koala is, my sisters choice, she is texting America. Now, in normal American unlimited texting world the next question doesn’t really seem a logical thing to be wondering about at 9.30 am half way around the world, however my sister has purchased a 50 text plan for this trip so every text counts. With this in mind she looks at me and asks,

“How many words can you put in a text?”

I answer “It’s 160 characters.”

Petra now looks at me and asks, “Why do you know that?” Momentary pause as she interprets the look on my face, “ Does everybody just know that?”

I say, “I think everyone just knows that,” I turn to the gentleman on my left and say, “you knew that right?”

“Yes” he answered, “but I thought it was 140.”

Then he starts explaining to my sister how it doesn’t matter IPhone to IPhone as it will stay as a single text. Oh yes how true in IPhone world but I would like to see that argument being used to AT&T! Anyway, in the mean time I am checking my inferior Blackberry and pull up my SMS and it does have 1/160 so I show him and he goes,

“Oh you’re one of those.”

Silent rant inside Jennie’s head, yes, I am one of those always curious people who if in doubt have to check so I will have the right answer next time. Hence, why I knew it was 160 characters!!!! And I know your thinking I just always have little Miss have to be right which is a little true so that stings. But, out of my mouth comes the Get out of Jail Free card, “Maybe there are different formats.” I mean we are in Australia after all and things could be different!

Now, at this juncture my sister rapidly leaves the table. For what reason we are not going to discuss here but me and the mystery man are left chatting.

Anyway, turns out he is in Sydney as backing vocals for Tears for Fears. “Would you like to go tonight?” he asked. I immediately say “Yes” then realize I better check with Petra as our original plans had been an early dinner at the Rocks and then bed by 9! She sits down and I say,

“This gentleman,” turn to the left “what is your name by the way? “Michael” he said. “Michael is here touring with Tears For Fears and has invited us to the concert tonight.”

Without hesitation my sister says, “Yes.” And that is how we ended up at Tears for Fears and also backstage after!

Huge thank you to Michael Wainwright the man with amazing vocal cords, you must all go check him out on You Tube and then head to itunes and buy his songs. What a kind gesture to offer two strangers you had only just met the chance of a life time because they are women of a certain age that would know who “Tears for Fears” are and look trendy enough still to have been fans of theirs back in 19xx.

So I am almost 72 hours away from driving to LAX to meet my sister. It is on trips like this that my many miles of flying and weekends away from home (almost) seem like a fair trade. Thanks to my free miles I am managing to fly my sister and upgrade myself to first class on Delta. Which basically means I get to sleep lying down!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I honestly could not care less about the food, the movies or the free slippers, but give me a flat bed – yes you heard it – FLAT – completely horizontal – well I am in heaven.

I still have a few (very important) things to do before I leave. Number one is watching the Madonna tribute episode of Glee tonight:) Many of you are aware of my slight obsession with this show. I was trying to pinpoint what it was that “sang” to me, so to “speak” I think it is the sheer joy one feels when watching this show and of course the memories it brings back to anyone who was in musical theater. This show captures those memorable moments that we all have had growing up. Some amazingly joyous and some incredibly painful. How I survived my teenage years without too much baggage I am still not sure (those around me may not feel the same way)

I am also using this particular post to test my photo uploads. One of my passions is photography. To me a picture can speak a 1000 words and so I am hoping to upload many pictures during my trip down under. Let’s see if it works.

In gratitude always, Petra

So it is 5 days away and the countdown is on to my 3 week trip across the ocean and to OZ and New Zealand. My goal is to actually blog, yes you heard me, actually use technology to stay connected.
I have a feeling this trip is going to be transformational in so many ways.
Like many of you I have fears. Some that you are aware of and some that I keep close to my chest. One of my long time fears is a fear of heights. Well on my first week to Australia I will be joining in a trapeze school and climbing to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge – enough said:)
I will also have the incredible honor of (for the first time in my career) presenting with probably THE person who has taught me everything I know about the art of the breakdown in teaching – Marcus Irwin. This alone would be enough for me to fly myself half way across the world. This will be a “once in a lifetime” moment for me.
The second part of my trip will be spent with my dear sister Jennie, in a camper van – yes you heard me traveling around the Southern Island of New Zealand. We have nothing planned except the dates for picking up and dropping off our “home”
I expect this week to be filled with the unexpected. As one of my favorite sayings goes – “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making plans”
I hope you enjoy my posts from across the world. However far away I may be, I will always cherish your support.
Warmly,Petra

Well so much for me staying on top of this thing called blogging. I know technology is meant to bring us all together, but sometimes I do feel a little overwhelmed by all the different options that we have available to us as a means of staying in touch. Any how a quick update on summer. I had a busy couple of months presenting at conventions around the US and also in Canada. I have to say that I felt a strong sense of community, energy and support in a way that I may have not been aware of in the past. I was overwhelmed by the positive feedback I received from participants at these events and I am truly blessed to be able to do what I do for a living. Summer also involved the filming of two new DVD’s. One is called Boot Camp Boogie and it is a high intensity workout that infuses both athletic drills and easy to do dance moves into a non stop 60 minute workout. The second DVD is called Just Dance and the name says it all. I am in the last stages of edit and these should be available by the end of October. I will be sending out a pre sale offer in the next couple of weeks, so be sure to sign up to be on my contact list if you have not already.

I was recently nominated as one of 3 “Women Who Wow” in American Profile magazine. I am so honored to have this mention and will do my best to live up to the name. You can find the complete article on my home page.

Well fall is almost here. I can feel a slight chill in the air and am excited to ramp things up again after the sleepy days of summer. As always I wish you good health, good friends and good luck in all that you do. May you see the beauty in every moment and be blessed with the gift of the present.

So I have given in and joined the world of Facebook. If you are already a member please sign in and join the group Petra Kolber Fitness. Here I will be able to post daily updates of when and where I am teaching and any other news that is fit to print.

Warmly,

Petra

In today’s shrinking economy the one emotion that may be growing inside of us is fear. FEAR can be defined as False Expectations Appearing Real. To be fearful we either need to be holding onto the past or leaning into the future. When we live in the present moment it is impossible to be fearful as we only have room in our hearts to hold one emotion and fear cannot exist in the present moment. In between every inhale and every exhale we have the opportunity to shift our focus away from fear based thoughts and feelings. With every breath we can come back to a state of gratitude and grace. If we can remind ourselves on a daily basis of all the amazing things that we have in our life, versus the negative news around us, we can move from a place of fear to a body filled with peace and power. There are many things in our life that we cannot control, however there is one thing that we can make changes to and that is our health. Now more than ever we should be taking stock of our stress levels, our health and how ready our body is to support us in our goals and dreams. It is never about size and always about the quality of our lives. Together we can support our friends and family to be the best that they can be through a sensible nutrition plan and a well rounded fitness program. If ever you need a gentle reminder of all the blessings you have in your life, whether the stock market is up or down I encourage you to listen to the song “Grateful” by Art Garfunkel. The 99 cents you will spend on itunes to download this wonderful song is a perfect gift to give yourself. In gratitude, Petra

I just came in from placing my first ever vote in the USA. While I have been living in this beautiful country for over 20 years, it was only two years ago that I became a United States citizen. I have to admit I was motivated by two reasons. The first, and main reason was to be able to vote in the next election. At the time I was sworn in I had no idea of who the potential candidates would be and how this election would be changing the landscape of America in many incredible and inspiring ways. My second and more shallow reason was to be eligible to compete on The Amazing Race. Walking to the polls today something struck me. For amazing things to happen we need to step out of the ego and the “I ” and replace it with the global perspective of we. On our own it is always incredibly difficult to make change happen of any kind. Whether it is electing the next President, changing a job that you have been miserable in over the past 10 years,  stepping away from a relationship that no longer serves your highest self or whether it is shedding that weight that is holding you back from living your best life. Change is easier when done in the we versus the I.

Within the macro and micro levels of change it helps to work with others. With that said I am here to help you to make the changes you may need to make to elevate your quality of life and living. I want you to live a life you love, in a body that you adore and appreciate. Together we can make great strides for change. Our journey begins one step at a time. Are you ready?

I am compelled to write down my thoughts as to what I have been seeing and hearing recently in the media. As you know I am a huge fan of Dancing With The Stars and I am so excited to share with you that I am going this Monday to a live taping courtesy of the fantastic Tom Bergeron. A BIG shout out to Tom. What has become so disturbing to me is the resurgence by the media of defining a woman by her weight. Does the size of someone’s dress equal the size of her spirit? When did the number on the scale define how a woman values her own self worth as she steps out into her day? As a fitness professional and someone who has had her own battles with weight on both sides of the spectrum (high 170 and low 110) I know how dangerous this negative feedback can be, not only to the psyche but also within the world. Nothing weighs or hurts more than negative commentary on how someone looks. A casual comment to me over 25 years ago from a choreographer sent me into a downward spiral of eating disorders that lasted over 5 years. Along with the many pounds I lost I also lost five of the most valuable years of my life. I am sure that the stars of DWTS have a much stronger sense of self than I did at 20. However the fact that the media is even discussing how many pounds a star has put on over the summer, versus the incredible talent and inspiration she/they share with millions of viewers every week is a pure mystery to me. It came to a head today when I picked up a copy of “People”. I do admit to peeking into the lives of celebrityville every so often. Although I have managed to whittle my bad habit down to one magazine a month. January 1st it is cold turkey baby. So inside there is a story about Tara Ried, who now has to live with a disfigured body due to bad plastic surgery. This is someone who weighs just over 100lbs and has been called fat by the media. WHAT ARE WE DOING! The one great and amazing thing that has come from this is my renewed sense of purpose of how I should be living my life. You will be seeing a shift in the updates page. I want us to rise up together and once and for all celebrate the gift of our health and incredible bodies. I am not saying do not lose weight. However I do want you to question the motivation behind this goal. If it is to improve your health and quality of life than you must make this a priority. However if it is to fit into what the media is telling us we should look like, let’s think again and again and again if need be. I am not perfect by any means. I have weeks when I am eating to fuel my body and nourish my spirit. Then there are the lapses in between when I eat in response to an emotion. I invite all of us this Halloween to pick up a piece of chocolate, unwrap the shiny cover, place it on the tip our tongue and savor each and every delightful moment WITHOUT guilt. If we cannot begin with Halloween, then girls we have a long way to go. Wherever you are on your journey, just remember you are not alone. Never forget that you are so much bigger and magnificent than the size of your jeans.