Emma Contaoe

Hyrox Ottawa recap! My first solo womens open race and I’m super happy with how I did! 🤩 For me it was all about completing it while having a positive attitude and having fun! 🔷 Hardest strength station: Sled pull 🔷 Hardest cardio station: Burpees 🔷 “Easiest” station: Farmers carry 🔷 Favorite station: Wall balls 🔷 Worst & Longest: the running 🙃 Finish time: 1:22:23 This wasn’t an easy one – I was at around 80% of my max HR all the way through. When you think you’re done and your mind wants to stop, you just have to keep going. The mental resilience it takes to do everything by yourself is next level. It’s about not allowing one single negative thought take over the drivers seat. It’s about focusing on one step at a time and having a positive self talk. Believing that you can do it. And to get there, training in discomfort helped me push through, especially when you cannot rest. Exactly a year ago when I did my Doubles race I couldn’t imagine doing this on my own. Of course I can always do better, but I’m just so proud of where I am. I am so grateful for God for guiding me, and for my body for its resilience and strength 🙏🏽 I would do it again!! 🤩🥰 #hyroxworld #hyroxottawa @hyroxca

The energy at Hyrox is something else!! When you step into the venue a wave of excitement just takes over, I can’t explain! Love seeing everyone compete, everyone is so inspiring 😍 here’s to a good weekend! @hyroxca @hyroxamerica #hyroxottawa 🇨🇦

A few months ago I couldn’t imagine doing a full race on my own. But as the seeds got planted I wanted to believe it was possible. Even if it felt far away. It always comes down to choosing to believe that you are capable of impossible things. Believing in yourself completely. It is only until you believe it is possible that it will be. For anything in life! So proud of myself for coming all this way. This full simulation felt so good. Feeling strong and ready for Ottawa! 💪🏾 🎥 @leanapaparella 📍 @sweathousestudio #hyroxtraining #hyroxworld

Half Hyrox recap from a week ago with @evenements.hsq This felt way harder than expected! You would think: half the distance, much easier! But it felt like a sprint. The 500m runs didn’t give me enough time to recover in between stations. I struggled to eat my gel (which I couldn’t keep down) so I didn’t get the kick of energy I hoped for at the end. I felt soo slow on my runs compared to others, but it goes to show that even if everyone around you goes fast, stick to your own pace. And I eventually I ended up catching up. Exposing myself to a race scenario gave me an idea of how I deal with race-day anxiety. I was able to practice regulating myself and staying calm, focusing on one thing at a time. Also you can plan all you want but ultimately your body decides. I woke up to my period that morning so the priority chaged to listening to my body and not pushing too hard. To my surprise, I ended up 9th in my age group so I am very happy with that!! I finished in 37:59. ☺️ And now for the full Hyrox in 3 weeks!!

Blessed because I am loved by God, by my family, by my friends. Blessed because I woke up today and was given a new day to keep trying, to keep going.😌🙏🏽🌞

The last time I laid colouring pencils and drew on the floor was probly when I was 5 years old, maybe 8. I recently did a profound breathwork session with @the_breathdance that reconnected myself to my Light and the playfulness i had as a child. I felt like being her again. So I put on some Lion King, danced and sang and drew as I felt. Scribbled with no agenda or need to follow any form that already exists. Free flowing, to let myself free. I invite you to try it 🤍🌊

some thoughts I’ve been sitting with lately… realizing how paralyzed I’ve felt to share the less exciting parts of life, like they aren’t worthy of being seen but they are an (equally important) part of the human experience and this is the start

I have this love hate relationship with goals. Because I tend to get very fixated on them. So the last few months I’ve been doing the opposite: no goals, no pressure, just going with my flow. 🌊 And so the thought of training for a goal again made me unsure. But I’ve been wanting to do another Hyrox race and when tickets for Doubles sold out, it was time to give space to that little part of me that kinda wanted to try it solo. It’s like that “impossible but possible” kind of challenge. So here we are. I’m kinda scared but then I remind myself that this is all Bonus. I have gratitude that I’m already healthy. I’m doing this because I want to believe in myself. And to see how much more I am capable of, beyond my beliefs.

A lil layover in Istanbul 🇹🇷 I had 10 hours before my flight to Montreal. The time to get to the city and come back to the airport left me with 4-5 hours to explore. I saw the sunrise over water I wandered the Old City Had the Blue Mosque almost to myself Ended up in the maze of the Grand Bazaar And having tea and sharing stories with a stranger Having a peaceful breakfast by myself —- Traveling to a new place inspires me Strengthens my intuition And allows me to practice my confidence and courage Getting out of your comfort zone is necessary To get shaken a little in order to build trust with yourself, to learn how to figure things out, and grow. This little trip was the exploration I needed to fill my cup of adventure. I will certainly be back ✨

Snippets of simple moments that have inspired me lately. ❤️‍🔥 Waves flowing and crashing Sunlight piercing through the trees Palms dancing in the wind Colorful shades reflected onto the clouds… There is no same moment. There is no same sunset. No same wave. And so when I see it I can’t help but absorb the beauty that nature has formed at that moment in time. The little colorful miracles. Thankful for mama nature. 🌿 Thankful for mama Bali. 🌸

I could feel a difference between the version of me last year and this year. A version that’s more calm, balanced. And I’m proud of myself for going through the mud. 🪷 For deciding to face discomfort in order to set myself free from dependance on others, to let go of trying to control, to overcome fear and instead, to trust, and to cultivate happiness that comes from within me, rather than outside of me. Difficult situations arise to show us where we are not yet free. They become an opportunity for us to face what is hidden, rather than avoiding it. And when we decide to face it - feel the pain, fear, hurt, or work through the discomfort - we allow it to exist, set it free and give space to joy, happiness and peace. I wanted to share are a few shifts that have helped me so much in feeling more certain, more calm, more balanced and more free. 🤍

Little snippets of coming back to this island that brings me back to myself. 🐍 I came here to reset Refill my cup Get clarity, without the external influences Receiving energy from this island The space found in simplicity and doing less Love - feeling deep love Accepting the balance of movement and rest Expanding my consciousness Deepening and embodying my faith And being so fully in the present And in doing so I feel so much certainty. That everything, like absolutely everything in this life is meant for you - that even in the toughest times I no longer doubt or ask myself, Why me. I accept, and completely surrender to the truth that we do not know anything that is planned for us, but that what is to come is much greater than what we can ever imagine. Blessings and miracles are everywhere, happening in the background - we might not know or understand what the are, but they are. I wake up every day grateful. Blessed. ✨