Hello my lovelies! Today I am deeply honored to introduce you to the fabulous Tonya Leigh. On March 24th, Tonya published a blog post titled "Why I'm Not a Fan of Weight Watchers." My life coach sent me a link to the post - I had never been to Tonya’s website before that day. Interestingly, March 24th was my final day as a Weight Watchers leader, after four years of working part-time for the company.
The synchronicity was just too strong to miss, because what Tonya wrote in that piece pretty much summed up the personal discoveries that lead me to leave the job. I've continued to follow Tonya's work, and I'm continually inspired by her vibrant, passionate, gutsy approach to life and health. It is my pleasure to share her with you today! Ya'll make sure you give her a warm Being Joy welcome, okay?
Joy: My blog is all about joyful living, which is a pretty broad topic! What does it mean to you to live a joyful life?
Tonya: Joyful living is too big to encapsulate in words. It’s a feeling. An appreciation of life. It's sensual.
It’s looking a person in his/her eyes and really seeing them. It’s having the courage and the humor to laugh at ridiculous thoughts. It’s dancing under the moon, and sipping Champagne on a Monday. It’s sprinkling each day with your uniqueness and desires. It’s having sore abs after belly laughing the night before. It’s about breaking rules and taking risks. It’s about treating your body as a divine temple, nourishing it with delicious foods and yummy movement.
Joyful living is all about diving into life and feeling it in every cell of your being.
Joy: You're a Martha Beck Certified Master Coach. My readers know that I'm a huge Martha fan, and I'm currently in her coach certification program. Tell me, what is your favorite Martha Beck book and what is one of the most important things you've learned from working with Martha?
Tonya: I adore all of Martha’s books, but her last one, Steering by Starlight, is my favorite, because it has one foot in the practical and the other foot in the woo-woo, which is so indicative of my own life approach.
Martha is full of wisdom, but my biggest takeaway from our work together is to let your body (not your mind) guide you through this crazy ride called life. Our bodies are are like these really cool GPS systems that are always trying to lead us to our best selves, but you’ve got to listen when it tells you to “turn left” or “stop” or “back the hell out of here...quick” or “press the pedal to the medal and enjoy the ride.”
Joy: Tell us about your Slim, Chic, and Savvy program. I LOVE the "Slim, Chic, and Savvy Manifesto"! How can my readers get a copy?
Tonya: The Slim, Chic and Savvy program is a stop obsessing - feel good now - restyle your mind - look fabulous - eat delicious foods - feel great in your own skin - never diet again - focus on something other than food - eat with pleasure - stop comparing yourself - step into your own beauty - quit half-assing life - start living like you mean it - and finally lose the pounds for good weight loss approach! Yep. That sums it up:)
You can grab a FREE copy at www.tonyaleigh.com. Enter your name and e-mail address in the upper right hand corner, and it will be delivered to you in a flash! You’ll definitely want to read it if you desire to rule your own world.
Joy: The tagline on your website is "Helping Women Rule Their Own Little World." Say more about this phrase.
Tonya: “Ruling your Own Little World” is about living with self-sovereignty, never handing over your power to another, but deciding what you desire your kingdom to look and feel like and then ruling your world from the inside out.
Joy: Not too long ago, I had a get-to-know-you activity on my blog where readers picked one word from each of five word pairs. I asked them to choose from their essential selves, without over-thinking. I'm curious to know what your words would be.
Tonya:
Vivacious or Symmetrical? Vivacious, definitely!
Wings or Depth? Wings, until I see something interesting, then I dive into deep depths.
Thunder or Autumn? Thunder. Electrifying. Ignition. Bold.
Hope or Simple? Hope. Drives. Life.
Rest or Trust? Rest. It takes trust to believe the Universe will support you when you slow down and rest.
Joy: I love making mixed CDs and sometimes have mixed CD giveaways on my blog. Name a few songs that would definitely be on a Tonya Leigh mixed CD.
Tonya: It’s hard to fit me in a box, and, no doubt, you will know that by looking at my playlist.
Here’s what I'm currently listening to:
“Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra
“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaac
“Black” by Pearl Jam
“Soldier of Love” by Sade
“The Dog Days are Over” by Florence and the Machine
“Somebody to Love” by Justin Bieber (I’m the mom of a 12 year old daughter, so what can I say?)
Some other artists/composers I love:
Ella Fitzgerald, Yo-Yo Ma, Chopin, Eminem, Diana Krall, Led Zeppelin, U2
Joy: You are a total foodie, yes? Give us a favorite recipe!
Tonya: Yes, j’adore delicious food. Back in the day, I attended sommelier school and was a freelance food and wine writer, which allowed me to travel, eat and financially break even.
However, from that experience, I developed my food philosophy: freshness, simplicity and presentation should never be underrated. But, don’t get me wrong, I can totally do a slice of New York pizza as well.
My favorite quick, less than 30 minute dinner is baked salmon with dill and roasted veggies (sweet potatoes, broccoli, parsnips, cauliflower) with a nice glass of Pinot Noir followed by a sunset stroll.
Joy: What else can you share with us about the art of savoring life?
Tonya: To savor life, you’ve got to slow the hell down. Seriously. Take time to enjoy this moment. Don’t go through life so fast that don’t notice when your daughter gets that first twinkle in her eye when she spots a boy. Don’t be in such a rush that you overlook the nice old man looking at you begging for a “hello.” Don’t be so tied down to your beliefs that you don’t go out salsa dancing because you “think” you’re too old/conservative/not Latin enough. Don’t get so caught up in chasing money, fame or a perfect body that you fail to notice how perfect your life is right now.
Read books you love. Don't wait for a special occasion to use your best china. Do something bold and daring like skinny dip or travel to a new country alone.
Suck the pleasure out of life like a hummingbird sucks the nectar from the foxglove.
The irony is that by savoring life, you give so much back to the world: your joy, passion and joie de vivre.
Oh, and don’t forget to love, love, love....and smile!
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Somehow I managed (probably through rooting around in the links I found on your blog, Joy,) to discover Tonya’s blog and learn about her ” suck all the juice out of life whenever you can and then find MORE to enjoy” philosophy. I aspire to live like that but have a long way to go, being a sort of work-a-holic type person. I think it might take awhile, but I am getting myself freed of some “shoulds” and maybe a few “oughts” and awareness is half the process, I think.
When you have been a safe eater (fish for lunch, count –those –points kind of woman) and have been grateful for the safety, it is hard to launch out into muffin land. But I had two buttery muffins yesterday and have not gotten on the scale today. I am planning my regular weight workout, however, complete with a lot of nasty ole boy push-ups which I have been putting off by doing the computer thing. I guess it will take a few more muffins for a breakthrough, huh? Oh, I had two delicious cookies, too. Big homade cookies! But lunch was fish—-sigh.
Seriously, I love both you and Tonya and consider you both (along with Christi Inge) as pioneers in territory women have, in the past, feared to venture.
Keep going and holding out the carrot (or, maybe the pizza) and we will follow as best we can.
Love you both,
Jean
You’re doing GREAT, baby. Gently, gently, gently. Keep following your bliss, one teensy step at a time.
LOVE you!
Awesome interview, Joy! Tonya’s words are definitely inspiring. I love her point about slowing down, though, I’d love to hear how she does that, since I bet she’s a very busy person. I’d be curious to know how she balances a busy schedule, family and all that, while finding time to truly breathe in life.
Her definition of joyful living is so wonderful!
Thanks so much for bringing us this interview.
Margarita @ Weightless´s last [type] ..Body Image Booster– Finding People of Substance
Thanks for reading and commenting, my dear. And that is a GREAT question for Tonya, because she is a definitely an in-demand lady with a lot on her plate!
TONYA!? How DO you do it?
Hey Ladies–
Jean, I love you right back.
And Margarita, you ask the million dollar question:), and here’s how I do it:
1. I say “NO” to a lot
I let the “I shoulds” go and started to really prioritize what was important to me, and come to find out being a member of the PTO wasn’t that important. Neither was hanging out with certain people who didn’t bring me closer to JOY.
Hello extra time!
2. Skip the Middle Man
We’re always after a feeling, but we often have all of these “middle men” to getting it. I’ve learned to skip the middle man, which means that I might go straight for the Champagne on a Monday to feel a sense of celebration of life rather than waiting for the next holiday!
3. Slowing Down is about Presence
From the outside looking in, my life does not at all look slow, but it feels slow when I’m in the present moment, fully engaged. So, sometimes slowness is a state of mind instead of an actual clock ticking. Being fully present with my daughter feels more “slow” than an hour of being there without really being there. Make sense?
4. Use a timer
Yes, I set time limits for my little tasks and I sit my butt down and just do it!
5. Delight in IT
One of the tools I use in the Slim, Chic and Savvy program is called the 3 D’s, and one of those is to “delight” in it, which means that whatever you are choosing to do, delight in it! Yes, even washing the dishes! That’s Savoring baby!
I hope this helps!
xoxo,
tonya
Oh my gosh — love, love, love what she said about rest. “It takes trust to believe the Universe with support you when you slow down and rest.” So believe that and so needed that.
Me, too, Valerie. Might be my favorite line from the interview.
I’ve enjoyed reading some of Tonya’s stuff that you’ve referenced or linked before so this was an extra treat!
Thanks for sharing and great to *meet* you Tonya!
Thanks for commenting, Melissa! Glad you enjoyed!