AIR BORN 2.5

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Dear Reader,

The relationship between the body and the mind has always been a topic of speculation and spirited discussion. When we fly, run, move or explore, we access reserves of performance and self-realization that go way beyond the physical. So, what’s the connection? Let’s talk about fitness.
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What does it mean to be fit? Finding a discrete definition is somewhat difficult. According to the dictionary, fitness means: “the quality or state of being fit." (1) (The definition of “fit” is: “sound physically and mentally.") (2) If you find those words somewhat vague, you’re not alone. Me too!
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In the podcast, the theme of fitness comes up indirectly all the time. It is one of the key ingredients underpinning the ability to take on new challenges and be resilient. But, it is also elusive. Like 'finding balance', 'being fit' is not an endgame, there will be no distinct destination when you have arrived. We have the agency to set the term on what fitness means to us. So let's take this idea of defining our own terms for 'fitness' and consider how we measure it and how much is a state of mind.

You will be energized by Mandy Hoffman, a flight attendent, online fitness coach, and mom and her StrongFlight project. She helps busy people simplify their fitness and wellness routines using positivity, habits, and a balanced approach to life. The encore episode highlights Ivy McIver, a force of endurance and moxie who doubles as a pilot and endurance athlete. She is the lead product designer for Cirrus aircraft for her 'real job' and teachers spin classes, bikes, runs or otherwise tests the edges of her physical abilities in multi-day endurance events.
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A lot of energy this week. I hope you feel it! Enjoy and as, always, let me know what lights you up.

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This Week

​Episode 054: Secrets to Getting and Staying Strong with Mandy Hoffman - Flight Attendant, Fitness Coach, and Mom

Mandy Hoffman is charged with positive energy, commitment to serve, candid honesty about parenting and balance, and a persistent enthusiasm to travel. What an inspiration!
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In this episode, we discuss the complicated balance of wellness and professional - personal life in today's unhinged world. We talk about how Mandy’s online fitness program Strong Flight was inspired by aviation for busy peopl on the fly. We touch on how she sees her role in helping people meet their fitness goals, reclaiming body positivity, eliminating body shaming, ending the obsession with skinny, and so much more.
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Putting your oxygen mask on means taking care of yourself. When you fly on an airplane, the flight attendant instructs you to “put your oxygen mask on first,” before helping others. ... Because if you run out of oxygen yourself, you can't help anyone else with their oxygen mask.
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After working as a fitness professional and flight attendant, she discovered that many of aviation’s unique solutions, approaches to protocols, systems and repetitive actions, as well as a rigid adherence to safety and risk mitigation, could be solutions applied to other areas and woven into the way we approach things far removed from aviation. We talk about what happens at the intersection of fitness trainer and flight attendant with a strong dash of motherhood. We talk about the impact of StrongFlight, being an online health wellness specialist, and the power of having systems as an armature for change and transformation. We talk about what it means to serve and to bring change into others’ lives. And we also talk about being a flight attendant, soul searching, body positivity, body shaming online, motherhood, making specific goals, and and the complicated balance of wellness especially in aviation and other professions that traditionally undervalue physical and mental health.
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Mandy, thanks for bringing your energy to our show and everywhere else you show up!

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Encore Episode

​Episode 015: Cirrus Life & Moxie with Ivy McIver - Visionary, Pilot, Endurance Athlete

In this episode, I have the immense delight of sitting down with friend, pilot, visionary and strategist Ivy McIver, the Director of the SR Product Line at Cirrus Aircraft. Ivy talks about parachutes in airplanes, where planes can go and how they can change your life, why training is so critical, the importance of collaboration in the design process and bringing outrageous innovations to market. We also dig into the psychology of endurance multi-sports and how lessons learned from extreme physical challenges can be applied in other areas of life.
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Prior to joining Cirrus Aircraft, Ivy had a successful career as a software developer and sales engineer. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Technology from The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned her Private Pilot License in 1998. She holds multiple airman ratings including ATP, ASEL, ASES, and Vision Jet Type Rating as well as Tailwheel and Formation endorsements. She is the owner of a 2001 American Champion Citabria 7GCBC and has accumulated over 5000 hours of flight time.
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With an early onset of dreaming to be a pilot inspired by Top Gun, Ivy is laser focused on the things she loves. She is not deterred by apparent obstacles instead she remains focused and strategy, whimsical and collaborative, while keeping her creative spirit kicking around.
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By being nimble in mind and body we can grow and learn new things. Yes, it takes practice. Yes, being a beginner is always humbling and simply hard. Isn't this what fitness is really for though? To be able to make today's challenges tomorrow's strengths? Maybe who we can become is rooted in our fitness. Fit to fly. Fit to think. Fit to run and ski and ride. Fit to know when to take a break and when to push in full throttle and GO. What does your fitness journey look like?
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Fly On

I am still digesting this read and wanted to share. This is why: “this study has significant implications for human research studying the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives and also menopause....the interrelationship between hormones and physical activity in females, ,” said Paul Ansdel, exercise physiology at Northumbria University in England, who was not involved with the study.
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​NYTimes: What Scientists Are Learning About Estrogen and Exercise​
A study in mice raises intriguing questions about the ways that hormones influence the brain and motivate the body to move.
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If you are reading this newsletter, this topic is probably highly relevant to you. If estrogen may change brain activity in ways that could affect how physically active we are, according to new studies that looked at DNA, hormones and brain cell – let’s dig into this.

What questions does this raise?

We are in this together. Thanks, just thanks.

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Share your story and tag us: #WhenIFly #Whenwomenfly

What do you want to hear more of? Email me at hello@whenwomenfly.com​

Be bold. Be brave. And FLY!

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See you next time,

Sylvia Winter, Founder & Podcast Host of When Women Fly

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