Have you ever thought of growing your service-based business far beyond what you can personally serve yourself? On March 9, 2011 we're featuring a special program with a panel of service-based entrepreneurs who have all built million dollar businesses.

Register now. Attendance will be limited to the first 50 registrants.

As coaches, our message, speaking style, and body language are only parts of the equation when it comes to our overall persona. Our bodies themselves, and by association, our health, have a tremendous impact on our credibility. Fitness shows discipline. People respect people who are disciplined.

If you're like most adults in America, your physical activity level dropped at about the same time that your metabolism slowed down. Whether or not you were athletic in high school, there are certain transition points in life when our physical activity levels tend to change. I call these points "slowdowns." For most people, graduation from high school is their first slowdown. For most people, their football, basketball, softball, and cheerleading "careers" are over at that point. This time period coincides with going to college or getting a full-time job. For college students in particular, the unlimited food available at the dining hall, the studying, the partying, and the lack of physical activity all add to this slowdown.

Another slowdown is the start of a career, and with more and more careers becoming desk jobs, the sedentary lifestyle begins. Some people manage to maintain their health and weight during these times, but then get derailed at other slowdown points such as marriage or having children. Has one or more of these slowdowns affected your health?

The degree to which we've successfully (or unsuccessfully) negotiated these points has likely determined where we are right now with our health.

The good news is that we have the power to change our health as soon as we decide to. Regardless of whether you are 10, 20, 50, or 100 pounds overweight, or if you're just feeling "out of shape," the answer might be as simple as scheduling regular exercise into your days. Nutrition matters, of course, but focus on getting moving. Walking is a perfectly fine exercise. The keys for any exercise regimen are to get exercise most days of the week and for a sustained period of time. Schedule an even hour into each weekday. It forces you to fit exercise into your workday schedule, and allows you to devote the weekend to your family or personal activities. If you're walking, then you can do it on your lunch hour, or on a treadmill while watching TV, or outside while listening to the radio, or with a friend. If you like to run, do it for 30 or 40 minutes and you still have time in that hour to shower afterward.

Take heart! Your health is largely yours to control. Our bodies were designed for movement. Let's give them what they crave!

Brian O'Keefe is a software engineer turned fitness coach and writer. His goal is to help people find the fountain of youth without traveling to Florida! He can be found online at Gather No Moss and at Webozoic.

The Pittsburgh Coaches Association is delighted to announce our newest members:

• Deborah Dobransky-Fasiska
• Wendy Maletta
• Michelle Donovan
• Cynthia Corsetti
• Ann Gatty
• Bette Novak
• Evelyn (Evy) Severino

We're happy to announce that PCA has been developing new ways to connect with coaching clients, fellow coaches, and anyone interested in learning more about the coaching profession. We invite you to become a fan on Facebook and follow us @PittsburghCoach on Twitter for coaching tips and insights, meeting announcements, and other updates.

Please also check out our PCA blog www.pittsburghcoaches.org/blog. Our coaches are sharing their expertise on a variety of topics to help you and your business thrive throughout the year.

Duquesne University's School of Leadership and Professional Advancement is offering 2 continuing education opportunities for Professional Coaches. Each class is $450 per person. To register or for more information, please contact Coleen Wierzchowski at leadership@duq.edu or 412-396-5600. www.duq.edu/coaching

Establishing an Online Coaching Presence (15 hours CCEU)
WEB/TELECONFERENCE Tuesdays, March 22 - April 19 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Instructor: Ann McIver McHoes, MSIS
Create your own website with guidance using excellent free software. This course will give you a unique hands-on understanding of good web site design principles, build on competitor research to improve visitor usability on your current or new site, understand the fundamentals of Internet search engines and learn the pros and cons of managing your own web presence. What you'll learn from this course can also be used to create sites for your other interests or business ventures.

Coaching the Team, the Organization or the Relationship (15 hours CCEUs)
FACE-TO-FACE AND WEB/TELECONFERENCE:
FACE-TO-FACE:
Friday, April 15 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 16 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
at Duquesne University's campus in Pittsburgh, PA
WEB/TELECONFERENCE:
Tuesdays, April 26 & May 3, Thursday, May 12 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Instructor: Jane Patterson, PCC
Perfect for coaches who desire to work with teams in organizations. Learn to identify the need for a team development solution that optimizes the human and process dynamics among its members. Develop your skills to promote teamwork, cross-company communication and information sharing while encouraging uniformity of processes and procedures.

Don't miss these great opportunities to complete CCEUs and expand your coaching presence.

We invite experienced coaches, as well as those new to the profession, to join the Pittsburgh Coaches Association (PCA).

Not a coach? Now you can join PCA as an Associate!