Beyond Boundaries Dr. Josefina Monasterio proves anything can be accomplished

By Renee' Novelle May 14, 2015 be Inspired Dr.Josefina. Life Coach There are those in this world who act as a spark, brightening even the darkest corners of life and spurring a fire that drives others toward their greatest accomplishments. These individuals radiate hope, opportunity, and spread of sense of peace that all is not lost. That anything is possible, because we can make it so. A rare breed in this darkening world, but a guiding light toward the prospect of a better tomorrow. One such individual is Dr. Josefina Monasterio. Though our encounters have been few, I’m captivated by her tendency to energize those around her. People smile a little brighter and laugh a little fuller when Dr. Monasterio is around, and I find myself enticed by her infectious zeal for life. Even now, though we’re speaking over the phone, she emanates such positivity that I can’t help but to believe the possibilities in life are endless. I feel renewed just having spoken with her. And once a clear understanding of her personal life philosophy has been uncovered, it’s easy to understand why she has this affect. And how she’s accomplished so much with no signs of slowing down any time soon. After relocating from Venezuela, earned her PhD from Boston University. She’s been First Fitness and NET for Success certified, and became a certified Yoga Therapist from the World Yoga Society in Calcutta. A former high school teacher, she later went on to donate her time assisting pregnant teens in completing their education, and has given motivational speeches across the globe. Now, she’s a life coach, a nutrition counselor, a blogger, and the host of a popular television show in Florida - and at 59, Dr. Monasterio started her path to becoming an award-winning bodybuilder, making a name for herself with her incredible stage presence and gracious style. And though she’s accomplished so much thus far, she eagerly awaits the next project life brings her way. I can’t help but to be curious how she’s achieved so much when most would be satisfied with just a fraction of her accomplishments. “Priorities.” She explains simply enough when I make the inquiry. “You have to prioritize what’s important to you. Everybody has 24 hours a day, 8 of those hours are for sleep.” She laughs. “I’m very conscientious about my time. I have respect for my time, so I only do those things that are meaningful, and have value. I don’t waste my time because it’s something that you can’t purchase, that you can’t buy. It’s precious, it’s beautiful. It’s awesome.” She begins her day earlier than most, waking with the dawn at 3:30am to get her first exercise in and spend time in prayer and meditation. “When I start my day with those three components, then I’m in harmony. My body, my mind and my spirit. And as a result of that, my emotions are pure and good and kind. Just working in those three components is what really worked for me. It’s fabulous, it’s phenomenal. And it also means that you don’t have challenges. You may have stress here and there,” she admits, “but you know how to deal with it because you have a clarity, so you don’t stress out.” The result is a free flowing lifestyle that has guided her through an abundance of experiences. “Everything is interconnected. It’s entwined, it’s just one melody, one rhythm. And if you go with it and you dance with it, then oh my god what a dance! It blows me away every single day.” But this way of living didn’t happen by chance. It’s a philosophy that developed over time, pieced together by the experiences in her life and refined by implementation and results… starting in high school. A geography teacher had begun a gymnastics program for the girls after school, which Josefina’s mother graciously allowed her permission to participate in. “He got me into things, like a split, that I would say, I can’t do it! And he would say yes you can, yes you can.” She remembers. “He taught me that I could, even though I was going through pain.” Within two years, she was competing on a national level. Until one day, her teacher didn’t show up for class or after school practice. Concerned, she made her inquiries, discovered he was sick and immediately went to see him in the hospital. “He was on an oxygen tank, and I was shocked because he was a strong, powerful man. And within about 5 minutes of me standing there, he died.” Though saddened by the experience, it had a powerful impact on her. “And that’s when I got it, that we have a spirit. That’s when I understood. Because his spirit is always with me. He taught me, yes I could. So don’t tell me I can’t because I won’t believe you. People say you can’t do this, you’re too old, you have an accent…” She begins to list what others would use as an excuse. Her response to such claims? “Oh whatever, that’s your problem, not my problem. I know I can!” After high school, she pursued her fitness passions in college by participating in track and field, where she met a professor who had competed in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. One day, he offered her a book, telling her, “I want you to read this book because you are this book.” The book was all about mental attitude. “And that’s when I got into the mind part of it. And that’s how I started connecting the body, the mind and the spirit from those experiences.” Her path in bodybuilding is just another extension of that concept. “This is about the openness of the heart. When you’re open to life, adventures open to you.” It happened completely by chance. After several hurricanes hit her area one year, she was scheduled to speak on the radio about stress and different coping methods. Also scheduled that day was a man who owned a gym, and he began talking to her about competitions. “And I said what is that?” Though she’d remained active and fit, competing was a new concept for her, but – being in the flow of life – she wasn’t opposed to trying something new. “He took me under his wing, and trained me the first year. I beat everybody. And I was 59 years old. Of course when you start doing something and you do it successfully, how can I give up?” She laughs. “So it has become my lifestyle, my passion. I’m planning on doing it for as long as I can look awesome. The moment that I quit won’t come for a long time. I’m not giving up that easy!” The benefits to her new lifestyle have been immense – not just mentally due to her numerous wins, but it has opened doors to medical opportunities she wouldn’t otherwise have. Specifically, the opportunity to try a new hip resurfacing procedure in lieu of a hip replacement. “We would never start someone your age with this new technology,” her physician had explained, “but because of your muscle mass and your bone density, I’ll do it.” Now she’s back to her regular schedule, achieving everything, restricted by nothing. The experience further increased her personal belief that aging is a self-fulfilled prophecy. And that nothing is impossible until you believe it is. “You have to stop blaming your family, your doctor, your this, your that… Take responsibility. No one else is responsible for your perfect health. I look better today than when I was a runner in college.” She explains. “Have courage to wake up, to look at yourself and say to yourself I can be better than this. Make a commitment to yourself. Not to your coach, not to your children, not to your husband - just to yourself. You are the most important person in the world, and whatever you promise to yourself, that’s exactly what you do. Because other than that you loose your value, you loose your power. Be honest. You have to live within your own house, and within your own house it should be honesty, integrity, and character.” It’s the concept that has driven her through her entire life. Empowerment. Accomplishment. Possibility. Dr. Monasterio is the living embodiment of that, and it’s a concept she hopes to impart to others. “That they believe in their heart and in their mind that it can be done. That it is possible for them. That it’s real for them. If anything I’d like to leave behind, it would be that.”

Dr.Josefina. Life Coach www.drjosefina.com How do you picture aging? Do you anticipate wisdom, energy or Do you see yourself or weak and forgetful? Looking and feeling young as time goes on begins with believing that you can look and feel young, as you age. Being “pro-aging,” or satisfied with your own aging, can HELP you to implement healthier behavior. Being pessimistic about aging,” or perceiving aging in a negative way will do damage to your health. The way you perceive aging as well as anything else in life will influence your attitude and behavior. Aging, like many aspect of life, is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Your attitude will affect your behavioral health. Psychological HEALTH. Biologically health. Here are five powerful benefits of “pro-aging” thinking: First, it can help you live longer In 2001, researchers from Yale and Harvard University Found that participants who held a positive attitude about their own aging they lived, on average, 7.5 years longer. They found that perception of aging influenced our longevity even more than: Blood pressure. Cholesterol. Body mass index, Or our personal tendency to exercise. Second, it can reduce disability Loss of independence is among the greatest fears most people have about getting older. Staying physically and cognitively active can protect against disability. In a study published in the Journal of Gerontology: participants who held a positive self-perception of aging had a greater ability to carry out daily activities over an 18-year period, regardless of their functional health Third, it can help you to practice prevention Preventive habits have been proven to continually improve our health and quality of life at any age. However older adults are less likely to engage in preventive behaviors. BECAUSE THE OLD BELIEVE THAT AN OLD DOG CANT LEARNED NEW TRICK. THAT IS FALSE. HERE ARE SOME MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT AGING. BELIVING THAT HEART DISSEASE AND OTHER ILNESSES ARE TO BE EXPECTED. THAT KIND OF THINKING WILL WEAKEN YOUR MOTIVATION TO PURSUE HEALTHY HABITS. PROMOTING THE ATTITUD TO GIVE UP. In a study CONDUCTED IN 2004, the participants who had more positive perceptions of aging were significantly more likely to have physical exams, eat a balanced diet, AND exercise. FOURTH HAVING A “PRO AGING ATTITUD” can boost your memory. ACCORDING to RESEARCH IF YOU EXPECT memory decline GUEST WHAT? THAT KIND OF THINKING can actually contribute to memory loss over time. Negative stereotypes of cognitive aging had a 30.2 per cent greater decline in memory performance than those who held less negative stereotypes about memory and aging. FITH It can help your heart. When negative stereotypes are formed early in life, they can have a profound impact on health decades later. Young adults who held negative age stereotypes were significantly more likely to experience a cardiovascular ILLNESS over the next 38 years. However, by making a significant positive change in their stereotype of aging, these young adults could reduce their risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event by 80 per cent. HERE ARE FEW POINT THAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER. Being “pro-aging,” or satisfied with your own aging, can HELP you to implement healthier behavior. OLD DOGS CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY

How to Stop Being Constantly Tired

Dr.Josefina. Life Coach www.drjosefina.com How to Stop Being Constantly Tired Do you know that your productivity begins to decline after eight or nine hours of work? For this reason, working long hours into the night, means that you’re usually producing less and less in more time. The more sleep deprived you become, the worse the quality of your work will be and the more mistakes you will make. One way to be more productive is to find out what kind of person you are. Most people are at their best in the morning, after a good night’s sleep. Some people are better in the afternoon. A few people are most creative and productive in the evening or late at night. A major reason for procrastination is fatigue or being constantly tired and sleep deprived you have no energy or enthusiasm. You feel that you can’t to get yourself going Whenever you feel sleep deprived and overwhelmed with too much to do and too little time, stop yourself and just say, “I can only do one thing at the time. Sometimes the very best use of your time is to go home early and go to bed and sleep for ten hours straight. This can completely recharge you and enable you to get two or three times as much done and of a higher quality. According to many researchers, Americans are working in a state of mental fog that is the consequence of working too much and sleeping too little Take care of yourself by: First. Sleeping one extra hour per night can change your entire life. Second. To rejuvenate to recharge take at least one full day off every week to do nothing. During this day, either Saturday or Sunday, you must absolutely refuse to do anything that has to do with the office or do anything else that taxes your brain. Instead, you go to a movie, spend time with your family, exercise go for a walk or any activity that allows your brain to recharge completely. Third Take regular vacations both long weekends and one and two-week breaks to rest and rejuvenate. You are always the most productive after a restful weekend or a vacation. You will feel refreshed You have more energy you will get going with on your major responsibilities faster and with greater resolve and it will help to stop procrastinating Fourth be more productive by Taking care of Your Physical Health. To keep your energy levels at their highest, be careful about what you eat. Feed yourself as you would feed a world-class athlete because in many respects, that’s what you are Start the day with a high protein, good carbohydrate breakfast Example oatmeal and eggs. Fifth Exercise everyday at least 30 minutes per day; go for a walk before or after work, or walk short stretches during the day. By eating clean and healthy, exercising regularly and getting lots of rest, you’ll get more work done, and with greater satisfaction than ever before. When you are rested you are less likely to procrastinate and the more eager you are to get the job done and get on with other tasks. High energy levels are indispensable to higher levels of productivity, more happiness and greater success in everything you do. Here are few points that I want you to remember First when you feel exhausted and sleep deprived, go to sleep early in that way you start the next day with power and energy. Second when you guard and nurture your body, by right eating, right exercises, right thinking, and you allow your body to rest success will follow. Wisdom comes when we allow the body to rejuvenate.

Your life is mainly determined by your own personal choices

Dr.Josefina. Life Coach www.drjosefina.com Your life is mainly determined by your own personal choices Sometimes people feel that they are controlled by external circumstances. But the fact is that your life is mainly determined by your own personal choices in every area. Example You’re in Control of Your Health Destiny The new field of epigenetics has shown that the choice of which of your genes are “activated, is strongly affected by external factors One implication of this is that many health problems -- ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease to neurological disorders -- can be caused by your life style It’s your environment and lifestyle that dictates your tendency to express disease, and this new understanding is set to make major waves in the future of disease prevention including one day educating people on how to fight disease at the epigenetic level. You have gotten yourself to where you are as the result of the choices and decisions that you have made in the past. If you want to be somewhere else in the future, it is up to you to make new and better choices in the present. Let look at the definition of Action– An action is defined as something with a consequence. Using this definition, even no action can be considered to be an action, because inaction, or a failure to act on your part, has a consequence that can dramatically impact your life. The most important actions that you can take is determining the quality of your life that quality of life is based on your values when you are living consistent with your values, you feel good about yourself. If you want to be somewhere else in the future, it is up to you to make new and better choices in the present. The great philosophers broke new ground in thinking that all of human action is aimed at achieving the happiness of the individual that we are all the same in this one respect. We all seek happiness, however we define it. Everything you do is merely a step in the direction of achieving the ultimate happiness you seek. If you have been brought up without clear values, you can develop values by deciding upon the kind of person you want to be and then by acting as if you had the values that that person would have. Shape Your Life and Your Future The wonderful thing about being a human being is that you are free to shape and sculpt your own character. You can make new choices and decisions at any time of life, especially with regard to your values, and begin acting as if you had those values already. Perhaps the way we can evaluate the essence of happiness is by our ability to achieve the three common goals of self-respect, self-esteem and personal pride. It is only when you have these three in sufficient quantities that you feel really good about yourself. So the action is Be Happy and Feel Good

Dr.Josefina. Life Coach www.drjosefina.com. How to cultivate your A Spiritual Life. 90% of us pray -and more than half of us do it on a daily basis. Whether we meditate or we say the rosary, or we sit in silence. Research shows that praying for others might improve their physical health -- if the sender and the receiver are right beside each other. Your spiritual health is somehow connected to your physical well-being. Research also shows that 1. Prayer can help your heart, your blood vessels, your brain, your immune system. 2. Going to religious services, can protect you against age-related memory loss and thinking problems. 3. Going to religious services once a Week and regular religious study at home may cut your risk for high blood pressure by 40%. And they have Half of the risk of major depression. 5. Had it up to here with your mate? Sending up a simple prayer for his or her well-being just once! Could help you feel less aggravated and more ready to forgive. 7. People with major depression who believe in GOD are 75% more likely to get relief from medication. Here are others benefits of cultivating your spirit. According to new research from the University of Toronto. Thinking about God or other spiritual beliefs will keep you calm which it may explain why deeply spiritual people tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The following steps can help you to strengthen your spiritual life. 1. Talk with a spiritual counselor. 2. Do some spiritual studies and invest time looking within to help you to figure things out. 3. Follow a spiritual tradition. Or create your own. 4. Set aside a few minutes every day to center yourself, in whatever way is most meaningful for you. 5. Create a special place in your home where you practice and strength your spiritual life. 5. Make spirituality a tool for better life. 6. Use prayer or meditation to help you stay calm and compassionate. 7. Tap into your heart. Be the best person that you can be that is what life is all about.

Dr.Josefina. Life Coach www.drjosefina.com How to cultivate your A Spiritual Life. 90% of us pray -and more than half of us do it on a daily basis. Whether we meditate or we say the rosary, or we sit in silence. Research shows that praying for others might improve their physical health -- if the sender and the receiver are right beside each other. Your spiritual health is somehow connected to your physical well-being. Research also shows that 1. Prayer can help your heart, your blood vessels, your brain, your immune system. 2. Going to religious services, can protect you against age-related memory loss and thinking problems. 3. Going to religious services once a Week and regular religious study at home may cut your risk for high blood pressure by 40%. And they have Half of the risk of major depression. 5. Had it up to here with your mate? Sending up a simple prayer for his or her well-being just once! Could help you feel less aggravated and more ready to forgive. 7. People with major depression who believe in GOD are 75% more likely to get relief from medication. Here are others benefits of cultivating your spirit. According to new research from the University of Toronto. Thinking about God or other spiritual beliefs will keep you calm which it may explain why deeply spiritual people tend to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. The following steps can help you to strengthen your spiritual life. 1. Talk with a spiritual counselor. 2. Do some spiritual studies and invest time looking within to help you to figure things out. 3. Follow a spiritual tradition. Or create your own. 4. Set aside a few minutes every day to center yourself, in whatever way is most meaningful for you. 5. Create a special place in your home where you practice and strength your spiritual life. 5. Make spirituality a tool for better life. 6. Use prayer or meditation to help you stay calm and compassionate. 7. Tap into your heart. Be the best person that you can be that is what life is all about.

Positve Action

Dr.Josefina.Life Coach www.drjosefina.com
Having knowledge but not applying it is like begging for unrealized potential. As Will Rogers said “Even if you are in the right track, you will be run over if you just sit there”. But not just any action will suffice. If you hard with just one oar in the water, you will really go fast but in circles. Activity along doesn’t get the job done nor relieve stress.
You need to take the right ACTION. That means actually doing what you know you should do. And yet why do we continue to do the things than don’t bring the desire results?.
The right ACTION for your Health.
Eat clean.
Exercise.
Meditation.
Positive Mental Attitude.
Open heart.