January 2021 – Alpha Maiden of the Month – Abby D.
Abby is a horse trainer & firearms instructor. She has had a passion for horses since she was 2, when you couldn't pull her off her Play-School rocking horse without a fight. She has traveled the country riding, training, teaching, managing & showing in both show jumpers and dressage. This routinely entailed hauling a truck & trailer loaded with millions of dollars of horses, stopping at truck stops in the middle of the night. It was during this time that she realized the necessity of self defense and the importance of a distance tool. With the guidance of a friend, she discovered firearms. - After working at the Grand Prix level for over a decade, Abby left the chaos of the show world to pursue a more relaxed lifestyle. During this time, her love of firearms deepened; She got involved locally with a women's shooting league, initially just looking to meet other women who shoot. Helping these women discover things that she had to fumble through, lit a spark which developed into a teaching position. Abby is passionate about teaching the rapidly increasing number of new gun owners about being a responsible gun owner and concealed carrier. She is dedicated to continuing her education as well, committing herself to taking advanced level [...]
December 2020 – Alpha Maiden of the Month – Alice Rhein
Alice is a research engineer in information security by trade, but a martial artist at heart. Her journey started in earnest some five years ago, incorporating filipino martial arts, Muay Thai, and BJJ. She considers herself incredibly fortunate to have been able to train and find kinship with so many thoughtful security professionals, fighters, and martial artists over the years. Her experiences as a student led her to start her own training group based in the DC area, @blackwingcollective, wherein one can find both virtual and in-person training focusing on the common elements on combatives and movement. For more information, check out their website at blackwingcollective.com
November 2020 – Alpha Maiden of the Month – Lisa Marini
I met Lisa in a conceal carry class I taught. She and I became fast friends. She is one strong lady, and she's used her experiences as fuel to help other people. Read her bio and check out her website and upcoming 6-Week Brain Basics Course! Bio: Lisa Marini is a Brain Health Coach and Certified Hypnotherapist. Lisa loves bringing an understanding of the brain and the critical role it plays in ALL decisions from weight loss, goal setting, stress relief and every area of life. After leaving a demanding, stressful career that was taking a toll on her health, she founded her practice to aid individuals in health, performance and personal development. In fact, Lisa has used the very same techniques in her own battle with migraines, memory loss and other massive stress related effects on her life. Lisa is the proud momma of two amazing boys. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, being active, meditating and healthy eating – she’s a foodie and has been caught several times shedding tears of joy over really delicious food. Lisa has her own private practice, as well as being on the Omnia Health Functional Medicine team as their in-house Brain Health Coach and Hypnotherapist. Also, be sure to follow Lisa [...]
September 2020 – Alpha Maiden of the Month – Brittany Mae
Chief Instructor Brittany Mae has a passion for people and training. After completing her Bachelors of Science degree in Outdoor Adventure Recreation and Wilderness Leadership she went on organizing team building, growth through risk, and leadership experiences around the world. She has also taught children and adults the English language through experience-based programs. In 2010 Brittany began her career in firearms. She has led private firearms courses, facilitated range operations, and organized range events. Brittany has served as a protective services agent, providing access control to exclusive events, secure transportation, and security surveillance with PFC Safeguards, Team Zebra and Pinkerton Security. Brittany became a supervisor for the United States Department of Energy’s Nuclear Protective Force. Here she was charged with the security and safeguarding of special nuclear material, explosive devices and governmental research projects. After graduating several DOE firearms instructor courses she became an adjunct instructor for the training academy at the Nevada National Security Site. She is now responsible for the supervision of the Department of Energy’s Emergency Planning and Preparedness Directorate at the Nevada National Security Site. Additionally, Brittany is an adjunct instructor for Progressive Force Concepts Training division. Be sure to follow Brittany and her business Point Firearms Instruction on Instagram: @brittanymae @pointfirearmsinstruction Point Firearms Instruction [...]
August 2020 – Alpha Maiden of the Month – Genevieve Jones
My name is Genevieve Jones. I am a firearms instructor, cyclist, and mental health advocate. Growing up was not easy for me. Like many of us, I have had a lot of trauma and abuse in my life. Due to this, I have had severe OCD for as long as I can remember. OCD is a debilitating, and horrible disorder that people tend to severely underestimate. The only relief for me at the time was cycling and shooting sports. I shot my first firearm at 11 years old, and my first competition at 15. I actually got to be pretty good, and had a goal of getting sponsored by Smith and Wesson! Right at the height of my shooting and cycling career, I got diagnosed with Panic Disorder and PTSD. I was having 4-5 panic attacks a day lasting anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours. I went to hospitals thinking I was going to have a heart attack at least 10 times in a month. I couldn’t leave the house, I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t ride, and I was afraid to shoot. When I went into a behavioral health center I remember sitting on the floor crying telling the therapist that I was scared that I would never [...]
Using Food As a Reward or Punishment
“I worked out today, I deserve it,” You say to yourself as you peel back the top of the Oreo box. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ “Ugh, I’m a failure, I have to eat a salad for dinner tonight because I ate a donut at work!”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sound familiar?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you’re still reading this, you’re probably familiar with using food as a punishment and reward system.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ And that is what’s keeping you from reaching your goals. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ When you use food as a reward or a punishment, you’re continuing the yo-yo cycle of “getting on or falling off the wagon.” Over and over again. You’re reinforcing a type of victimhood that leaves you at the mercy of food. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Jumping ‘on’, and ‘off’, constantly leads to inconsistency, which prevents you from reaching your goals - and it causes harm mentally and emotionally. It takes away your sense of control and ability to make decisions that serve you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Fixing this takes time and repetition. First, start with reminding yourself that food isn’t a punishment or reward. Eating nutritious food is a form of self care. Having something "off diet," is okay once in awhile too and isn't a reflection of whether you're good⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Next, healing from this takes mental [...]