Episode #49: Interview with Gloria Cardona

Ready for a dose of inspiration? Meet the incredible Gloria Cardona! 🌟 Have you ever wondered how the Complete WellBody Method can truly transform lives? Gloria’s journey is living proof, and today, she’s sharing her secrets with us. Buckle up!" 🌿🌸🌟

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Show Notes:

• Introduction:

• We welcome guest Gloria Cardona to discuss her experience with the "Complete Well Body Method" program.

• The program, designed to instill pain-free movement pillars, has positively impacted Gloria's life.

• Gloria's Initial Struggles:

• Gloria shares her pre-pandemic struggles with back pain due to a disc bulge.

• The pain affected her daily life, hindering activities like driving and exercising.

• Transformation through the Program:

• The transition from in-person to online program during the pandemic.

• Gloria's pain rapidly reduced, ultimately disappearing, allowing her to resume activities.

• Program Becomes a Lifestyle:

• Gloria emphasizes the program's role in creating habits for pain-free movement.

• The flexibility of the program allows integration into daily routines, even during travel.

• Impact on Mental Well-being:

• Gloria experiences not just physical but also mental well-being improvements.

• The program fosters a strong mind-body connection, reducing anxiety and creating a sense of relaxation.

• Relationship Transformation:

• Gloria reflects on becoming a more relaxed person and improving communication in relationships.

• The program's positive effects extend beyond physical health to enhance overall life satisfaction.

• Permission for Imperfection:

• Gloria appreciates the program's permission to not strive for perfection.

• Finding joy in life by embracing flexibility and self-compassion in the program.

• Gratitude and Invitation:

• Both host and guest express gratitude for each other and the life-changing impact.

• Listeners are invited to explore accessible solutions like the "Complete Well Body Method" in future episodes.

Key Takeaways:

• Holistic Transformation: The "Complete Well Body Method" not only addresses physical pain but also fosters mental well-being and positive lifestyle changes.

• Flexibility and Integration: The program's flexibility allows users to seamlessly integrate pain-free movement into their daily lives, even during travel.

• Mind-Body Connection: Building a strong mind-body connection is emphasized, leading to reduced anxiety and a more relaxed mindset.

Transcripts:

Welcome back to Better Than A Pill. Today, I am so excited to have Gloria Cardona on as a guest and Gloria is a client of mine in the complete well body method online program that I've found in. And she's been doing the work now for quite some time. And I'm just so excited that she was able to come on today.

And she's going to share a little bit about her experience with the program. And for those of you who don't know what that is, I created it. Complete body methods several years back. And it is to help women everywhere, nationally and some internationally now to instill the pillars for pain free movement into their lives.

And that's not, there's like a learning curve, right? So learning those pillars and then making them habits and also improving their total wellbeing. So I'm super excited and welcome Gloria. I'm so glad you're here today. 

I'm glad to be here. Thank you. 

So, you know, I know we have been working together a long time and I was kind of thinking back, you know, to the point where you began this work, um, that we do in the complete body method.

And I want you to speak a little bit about first off the physical place you were in with what was going on with your back and, and, and all of that when we first met. Okay, so, um, back when we first met, that was pre pandemia, and I was, um, experiencing a lot of pain, uh, due to a disc bulge in my back, and that was, um, pressing a nerve, um, doing these horrible things to, in terms of pain in the left part of my body, my left leg, and my My left foot.

It was really very difficult because I was coming out of some other health issues and I was so eager to be back and exercising and all that. And this was basically ruining my everyday life. I couldn't drive. I couldn't do a lot of things. So, I started, I believe I was at the diet and fitness center with, uh, that's where we started.

Yeah, we first met at the Duke Medical Center and then we continued this work online and exactly. Yeah. And so I'll let you continue. Go ahead. Yes. So I was, um, I then came the pandemic and we started the work online. And, you know, this. This work that I do with Carrie has changed me profoundly. I started doing the exercises and my pain increased, I wouldn't say slowly, it was really fast.

It went away. And up to this day, I haven't had any more of this horrible pain ever. So, it was Wonderful. Yeah. It was so, and it's, it just brings me such joy to see Gloria, cause I know the struggles you had and you, and you put it very mildly, but I, I know the pain and how it's affecting you because you are a natural mover.

You love to move. You're, you used to swim, right? So you, yes, you know, yeah, yeah, actually we were in the water sometime. before going online, but I still go, uh, to the pool and walk and do some exercises there. I mean, I have always exercised and I always swam and all that, but I didn't stick to it for a long time.

After I couldn't swim because of a shoulder issue, I, I I didn't stick to any, any program and I think that was one of the things that came out of this, because even though I know I sometimes don't do as good of a job at staying, um, connected with the, with the program, I do it. I've been doing it for years now and, and It's because I don't want pain to come back, and also because I feel so good.

I, I, I move around, I exercise every day, I walk every day. I'm able to do the things that I wanted to do at this time. time of my life. Um, I want to travel, you know, I travel a lot and everywhere I go, I take it, I take the program with me. I do as much as I can. Sometimes Not as much as I should but, um, I stick to it.

That's what I'm, I'm saying and, and you make it easy for me to, to stick with because you teach me how to do things in bed instead of on the floor, etc, etc. And, and, you know, I, it's easy. It's very rewarding for me to know that I am on this stage that I have, that I can stick to this and, and reward myself with good.

Health. Yeah. That's so great. It's so great to see too. And what I hear you saying is that, you know, you're at the point now, and this is my goal for everyone where it's become a lifestyle, right? And that's right. And just like we've talked about this, Gloria, you know, myself included is that, you know, I, we, it's not that we are going to do it a hundred percent perfect all the time.

We're going to have things come up in our lives, right? But we get back on track. And that's what I see you doing. And it's amazing. Exactly. Yeah. I think that the permission that you give, we give ourselves. To not do it a hundred percent of their time is what makes us come back or stick with it because it's not that you have to, it's that you want to.

It's relaxing. It's not that you have to do something every day, like, you know. Right. Do the workout. Yeah, because you, you can speak a little bit about that because it's like, you know, the goals of, of all the work you're doing is optimal back health, foot health, neck health, shoulder health, knee health, hip health, you know, that's incorporated, but in different ways.

Right. So. There are things we're working on, um, where you can have a more relaxed, calming connection to your mind and body where you can focus on those aspects of the pillars where it's different from a lot of different types of exercise. There's that mind body component. Um, and then, and then there's other components where you're working on your strength and in other areas as well.

So it's, it's all encompassing and it's just great to see where you started. and where you are now and, and my question is, you know, Since, since coming in and doing this work, you know, you've said you're, you're feeling so much better and that's what motivates you, right? Mm hmm. That's right. How has the program also affected you, your mind and your relationships?

Oh my goodness, in so many ways, uh, let's see, um, I am a more relaxed person. I know my body. Much better than I used to in my mind as well. I sort of like I talked to myself a lot like, you know, it's quiet up here. It's not like I. I was very anxious and I think I, I, I have an anxious mind and it has quiet down and allows me to hear myself, like, like hear my mind and you have time, you can do this, you know, things like.

I, I, I received these messages from myself, from my, my mind, it's, it's amazing. And breathing is relaxing and warm ups. I believe that all that has, it has built up to where I am now in terms of, of myself. Yeah. And that's so powerful because you know what, you know, you have developed a, um, strong sense of mind body connection and, and, and you're also, I love what you said about knowing your body and that's what it's all about.

And that's my goal with everybody is to empower you to know your own body and that's a gift. Yeah. I sometimes push myself. Let's say I used to, because I don't, I, I come back now, but for example, I was trying to do the 10, 000 steps as well as everything else. And I was too tired. I didn't have time for other things that I really wanted to do.

So I shared that with you and you. said you don't have to do that many. It's that I give myself permission to say I'm tired, you know, I don't want to do this, or what do you think, but asking you and, you know, verbalizing it is. It's powerful because I was the kind of person that was like, what do you mean I cannot do 10, 000 steps plus everything else?

You know, that was me. And now I understand that, why should I do that? Yeah. Yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah. No, that's, that's really well said. You know, It's like we get caught up in and we've talked about this is like we should and all these should and you know It boils down to that level of loving ourselves and that and you know How I feel about it this body that is given to us by God, right?

And that's how I feel to take care of as a steward. We are here To, to optimally just take care of our bodies. And so what good does it do thinking that we have to, to achieve this expectation that somebody else has made a standard, um, when it's not serving us, right, exactly. And that's where the mindfulness, you know, yeah, you're doing something different.

It doesn't have to be the 10, 000 steps. If I went that way, I would have quit something. Something would have had to quit and I decided that that was not it. Yeah, that's good. And I feel as happy as. Doing the 10, 000 or whatever. Yes, I know. I, and I, and I relate to that even on the level of myself, cause that, you know, everything you share resonates with me because I do this stuff for the same reason, the same reasons why you do this stuff, I don't just sit here and.

teach it. I live it. And so, you know, that point in my life to where the over exercising and all that stuff just wasn't serving me. I get it. I think there's a lot of pressure in this world today that we have to, you know, do what they call it. I don't even like to use the word cardio. I hate the word cardio. I don't even want to hear the word it's about movement, right?

It just boils down to what we need to be doing is moving our bodies in a way that feels good for our bodies. And then with the pillars, we're doing those things that are going to sustain our movement so that we can have that joy. Yeah, exactly. I have been. I'm blessed with finding you and finding myself through you really in terms of this because it's been very life changing for me and it's affected your relationship and like you're saying, even your relationship with your husband and definitely, I mean, I was becoming very angry.

Old lady, really, against, against my will and I was battling that, but I didn't know how to. Yeah, honestly, every, every time I put out something, it came out the wrong way or because I wasn't. And now. Maybe something you say doesn't bother me as it used to or, or now I'm, I can converse, I have, I can have a conversation.

I can say, well, this is my view. It changed me a lot in terms of how I relate to others. And, and that is that, that is The miracle, it comes back. It comes back. Yeah, then others relate to you some of the way you want them to be relating to you. So it's a process and, um, but it's very good. I, I, I love it.

Yay. Well, I am, I'm so grateful to have you on here today and, and thank you so much for taking the time to come on here. And, you know, if you were to say to somebody that might be thinking like, okay, you know, I'm, I'm skeptical. I'm not, I'm not really sure, you know, you know, does this really work? Is this online?

I don't know. What would you tell somebody that? I want people to know by My actions, not by my words, because we live in a world that is too commercialized. For example, my brother has these problems, neck problems, and he was telling me about it in a phone call last week. And so I tried to, I didn't say it, but I try to move the conversation to how good I feel, what the movements that I do are so very good, and I don't know if it's gonna work, but, you know, I, that's what I do, because I find it very, I find that talking sometimes doesn't do it, because people like to talk to fill out the space.

They are not really listening. I don't know. I, I, those are my, my, that's how I feel. Yeah, no, that's well said. And that totally makes sense. I think that we are inundated with so much talking and what you just said just really resonates. That's, yeah. Other examples are my, my. When I go to Puerto Rico and I meet, uh, with friends that are more or less my same age and they have so many obstacles in their lives and I try, I try to let them know, but I don't know.

Yeah. You're right. I think that leading by example and, and you're doing that, you're living the life you want, you're doing the work and it's paid off. And I think that really says enough right there. Yeah. And sometimes, you know, you have to let people connect the dots because they always say, for example, my friends, Oh, I would love to be living your life, traveling so much and doing that.

So I say, well, you know, it's because. Every day I do these things and, and they will maybe connect the dots or not. I don't know. Hopefully they will. Yeah. And I think too, it's like not in our timing, right? It's, it's, it's, um, well, in my belief, it's God's timing, not ours. Right. And so like, so, you know, and I know I have to get out of the way a lot myself in this, you know, and this is what, one of the reasons I do this work, because, um, by nature I am high strung.

I am. I am driven. So this work really helps to ground me. Um, and so that's why I'm excited to share it. And I get to see the benefits and clients like you and all levels. And so thank you so much again, just for coming on today. And you know, a lot of our calls will say, okay, what I'm grateful for today.

And I just want to say, I'm just so grateful for you and for coming on to share today and for the work you're doing, and I'm going to turn it over to you, Gloria, and ask what you're grateful for. Well, I am grateful for having found you because I am grateful for my life and you are so, so much of a part of it, Carrie, that it's, uh, it's so much, it's really amazing what you do, really.

Thank you. I, I, I feel that and, and I, I feel doubly blessed. And, um, and, um, for those of you listening, I hope that this has, has reached you. And I just want you to know that there are solutions out there. And this program I've created is accessible for women everywhere. And, I designed it so that you can do things, you can travel and you can make this work into your life anywhere.

So. Thank you again, Gloria. And, um, remember we do new episodes every week on Wednesday and I look forward to having you join me then.