by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS | In need of some inspiration to spearhead your fitness goal for the New Year? Check out how Karen King went on a simple online shopping trip that turned into a life changing decision to get healthy from the inside out. May her incredible story serve as a catalyst for anyone in search of some motivation to spring into action in 2010…

by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS
One of the greatest things about my involvement in Kettlebell Sport over the past two years has been the opportunity to travel across the US and abroad to attend various meets and competitions. Even though the commitment to travel has been challenging as a mother, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Leaving home is not only an essential part of being a competitor in this sport, but also an important catalyst for cultivating time for my own interests and sense of well being. I think many mothers have a challenging time prioritizing their own needs, and I’m certainly no exception…

by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS
Interested in learning to lift kettlebells? It’s vital that you first learn some of the technical aspects of kettlebell lifting in order to safely begin your program. In this exclusive instructional series for Athleta Chi, the first foundational movement we’ll cover is the one-handed Kettlebell Swing…

by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS
The morning of March 13, 2009 was like a scene out of an Elizabeth Gilbert novel — all the right ingredients for a perfect departure: no traffic on the Bay Bridge, printed boarding passes, and my son reaching out for mama’s big hug at curbside drop-off. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but wonder (and worry) if I would be the only girl attending an intensive WKC International Kettlebell Sport Camp in Greece…

by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS
I keep this post-it on my cork board as a reminder of how far I have come. The 30% refers to my body fat seven months after my son was born. In the spirit of the new year and renewing our healthy lifestyle, let’s talk about how some (not all) of us relate to food…

by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS
One of the most challenging aspects of my training for kettlebell sport has been wearing multiple hats as both competitor and coach. At our recent meet in Colorado, I had a hard time balancing it all. We stepped into the professional biathlon division for the first time as a team. On the surface, everything looked great…

by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS
It’s been a busy day—full of deadlines, clients, emails and of course, mommy errands. Did I remember to buy his teething tablets? Who knows… I know one thing for sure though—despite those dreadful bags under my eyes, I can’t rest tonight because it’s my night to train. An upcoming kettlebell competition looms…

by Mayachela (Maya) Garcia, CSCS
I never anticipated how much weight I would gain while growing a 9 pound boy for ten months. I planned on being one of those girls we all see on You Tube and running laps during my last trimester, but in reality all I could do was walk in straight lines…