• Health & Wellness

    Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

    March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. If you’re 45 or older, ask your health care professional if you should get a colonoscopy. That’s the major screening exam for colorectal cancer. It’s not pleasant, but it beats finding out long after the cancer has had its way with you. That’s what happened to my friend and colleague Samuel Griffin, III. God bless him, he talks openly about his cancer journey. As an entrepreneur who runs a security business with his wife, he has had some especially difficult periods. But he’s now in remission. I’m so proud of how he’s handled it all! I send him, and everyone who has been…

  • Happenings,  Health & Wellness

    DONAMATRIX DAY 2022

    Saturday, April 2, 2022, it will be DONAMATRIX DAY again in Petersburg, VA. The “Hometown Fitness Festival” is led by Petersburg’s own Don (DB Donamatrix) Brooks, who is now a celebrity fitness trainer. More importantly, the event is amazing! I participated in the first DONAMATRIX DAY, in April of 2019. It was one of the most fun, and toughest, workouts I’ve had outside of Fitness Warriors training. Speaking of Fitness Warriors, there were a lot of us at Petersburg High School for the first event. Many Warriors enjoyed the opportunity to get a workout in as a participant, including our lead trainer Ricky Martin. Fitness Warrior Candace Benn led a…

  • Health & Wellness

    Breathe – Listen

    Just a reminder. Things being what they are these days, it’s helpful to pause and breathe while you do something kinda small. Get back into your body, instead of wherever you wind up while working. Or doing some household chore. Or dealing with another person while they, you, or both play whatever cards life has dealt. Try it while taking a little trip outdoors that is totally not related to exercise. One of my favorite breathe-able trips is a ride on the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry in Surry County, Virginia. Once on the ferry, it’s nice to stand outside of the car, let the wind wash your face, and listen to the…

  • Fitness Warriors Class
    Health & Wellness

    Warrior Anniversary

    Three years ago this week I started along the path to becoming one of the RVA Fitness Warriors. Time flies! There were some really tough places on that path, but it was so worth it. It still is. For people who can find a class in their area, they get a serious workout for FREE. Warriors are serving in community centers, churches, and schools. For FREE! I love the people who attend my class at the Petersburg Public Library, where we just celebrated the 2nd Anniversary of that specific class. We take Thursday at noon, and turn it into our personal power hour. Everyone doesn’t like to be in the…

  • 12/13/18 Fitness Warriors class picture
    Happenings,  Health & Wellness

    DONAMATRIX Day!

    We have a lot of fun in my Fitness Warriors classes, especially when we use resistance bands. They’re a great way to get some additional muscle work in, and a good groan out. On Saturday, April 6th, Petersburg, Virginia, will host hundreds of people in a resistance band workout led by celebrity fitness trainer Don “Donamatrix” Brooks. DONAMATRIX DAY is going to have a lot going on that promises fitness-oriented fun for the whole family. I’m even going to lead a chair workout for seniors, and anyone else who wants to give it a try. But the highlight of the day will be the huge resistance band workout with a…