“How human of me…” — Judith Lasater

Last week I was speaking with a friend. She was sharing her frustration and anger about a situation she’s been navigating. As she spoke about how upset she became, she also shared the guilt she felt for getting so worked up.

I immediately felt compassion for her. I could relate to the anger, the frustration, and even the shame that can come after.

And then I remembered the sage advice of one of my teachers, Judith Lasater, who said that when you find yourself in your emotions—often after they’ve run their course—you can gently say to yourself,
“How human of me.”

I shared this with my friend. She smiled, we both laughed, and something softened. Just repeating those words, we could feel a shift.

How human of me.

Emotions are part of the deal. Getting triggered, worked up, worried, angry, sad… even losing our “cool”—it’s all part of the human experience.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely someone who already reflects on how to respond in a tho...

Neurons that fire together, wire together. - Donald Hebb

 Hello Friends,

 We are having a little mid-spring summer here in the Bay Area this week. I’m not going to lie—I don’t mind it… although I did get a bit overheated in my car (these are the things that happen when it’s hot—you feel hot).

And it got me thinking… about our nervous systems. (As I do every week—it is, after all, my job.)

Lately I’ve been thinking about adaptability—our ability to change and respond to what’s in front of us, especially when things shift unexpectedly… like 85 degrees in March.

The ability to adapt quickly isn’t fixed—it’s something you build through what you consistently expose yourself to.

One of the most fascinating parts of being human is this capacity to adapt.
This is what we call neuroplasticity—your brain and nervous system’s ability to reorganize, learn, and change based on what you repeatedly experience.

In other words:
what you practice, you become.
What you practice, you wire.

The envi...

Life Lessons from a Breathing Exercise… We are always becoming more of who we are. We either repeat the version of ourselves we believe we are and call it good—and that’s okay—or we stay curious about our patterns. Why do we react the way we do in certain moments? When do we rush ahead instead of pausing? What would happen if we simply gave ourselves the time we need? Here’s the coolest part about the body and the nervous system: when given different input over time, we teach the nervous system to respond differently. We change the patterns. Life is life. And life will keep on lifing. It’s up to each of us to choose to stay connected to ourselves in a world that grows more distracting every day. Over nearly two decades of working with my clients—and with myself—I’ve come to understand that change takes the time it takes. And often, the simpler the approach, the better—especially for an overwhelmed nervous system. The other day I was working with a client who has spent the past year dil...

On repeat.

It feels harder than ever to stay focused these days. World affairs pull at our attention, our emotions, our energy. For my own mental health, I choose to stay away from the news. There is only so much one person can do for the entire world (which is very large, by the way). But there is so much we can do for the world we live in—our own personal arena.

What if you were the person who brought the feeling of an exhale into a room full of chaos?
What would the ripple effect of that be?

Where do you place your thoughts?
Because energy follows thought.

We are more than just our physical bodies. We each have an energy field around us—so do the plants, the sun, and the earth. What might change if we focused more of our attention on our day-to-day actions? On how we treat one another? What if, instead of focusing on how different we are, we focused on the similarities we share?

And what if—when we start to spiral—we catch ourselves and gently reroute in the moment?

What if, b...

anuary went by quickly. This month we explored jumping, the importance of moving the jaw, and releasing tension through simple, effective practices—including cranial nerve drills to support the nervous system. It was a powerful reminder that how we move (and where we hold tension) matters.

If you’re not in our community space yet, you’re invited to join us. Inside, you’ll find recordings, practices, and a deeper look at what we explored this month.

Coming up in February, our focus is fascia.
 Fascia is the connective tissue that weaves throughout the entire body—supporting movement, transmitting force, and influencing how we feel in our bodies. This month we’ll explore:

 • What fascia is and why it’s important

 • How fascia responds to stress, movement, and stillness

 • Ways to move, release, and stretch fascia to support ease, mobility, and resilience

If you’re part of the membership, we’ll also gather live for our community call on February 15 from 9:00–9:30 AM.

And one more n...

“Remember, the entrance door to the sanctuary
 is inside you.”
 —Rumi

I’m sitting here watching the wind move through the palm trees, the window open, a cool ocean-desert breeze brushing my face. Sounds of cars passing, sawing in the distance, and music drifting through the air.

It’s the week of my 48th birthday. Even writing that feels very strange—and honestly, I don’t really want to admit it.

I’m in Baja, Mexico, visiting my mom and stepdad, here with my sister and her family. My daughter joined us for four days of this trip, which felt incredibly special. We used to come here often when she was little, and we hadn’t been back in nine years. Being here together has brought back so many memories—time folding in on itself.

I found myself asking:
 What advice would I give my younger self at this stage of my life?
 And maybe you’ll find some wisdom in it too.

 • It all works out, even when it feels like it won’t.

 • Love your body at every stage. It changes constantly.

 • Move yo...

“If the dream is in you, it's for you.” - Amber Lilyestrom

We can hold many hopes and desires—and I hope that you do.

The thing is, we have to meet them halfway.

As a new year arrives, we often begin with the best intentions: lofty goals, big dreams, expansive visions. By all means—keep the big dream. Hold the vision. And take the next step toward it.

Without vision, we get lost among the trees.

That next step often asks us to look inward—to notice our patterns, our belief systems, and what’s really at the core of our excuses.

Surround yourself with people who get you and are all in on your vision. They may not be the people you expected them to be. Find them anyway.

We are human, after all—and we need each other to exist, to grow, to remember who we are. And still, it’s you who must take the step. Trust that when you do, there will be people who meet you there.

As we move into this new year, ask yourself:

What is one small, honest step I’m willing to take toward the life I’...

Nervous System & Gratitude Practices

Talking to Your Body Like You Would Your Best Friend, Your Lover, Your Beloved

Your body is always listening.
Your cells are always responding.

It may sound obvious — maybe even a little cliché — but it’s true:
the way we speak to ourselves shapes our nervous system, our inflammation, our energy, and the way we show up in the world.

As this year closes and a new one begins, I’m feeling pulled toward this work:
How do I speak to myself?
Do my words nourish me or stress me?
Do they offer safety… or pressure?

And I’ll be honest — this is an area I personally struggle with.

Being patient with myself.
Being gentle.
Being kind.

So let’s practice together.
Because this might be the missing piece of our well-being.

Simple Nervous System + Self-Compassion Rituals

Put a hand on your heart and your belly.
Let your body feel contact, warmth, reassurance.
Then say:

“I am safe here, in this body.”

Or:

“I appreciate you, [your name].”

And the big one — yes...

“We do not heal the past by dwelling there; we heal the past by living fully in the present.”

— Marianne Williamson

Everything passes. So quickly.
Choose wisely what you get upset about, what you belabor, what you think will last forever. Even the moments that stretch into weeks or years… they pass. This too shall pass. It makes me ask what’s really important — and somehow it’s all important, and also… not. Both can be true.

Two things I’ve been contemplating:

1) My health journey.
The last two years were rough — really rough. There were days I thought certain symptoms would never end. I catastrophized, cried, and lamented my fate. And still, I kept taking small steps toward healing. Some days I said “forget it” and did nothing. Other weeks I supplemented like a pro, ran the tests, saw the experts, and learned a lot about myself.
Today, I’m in a different place. I feel stronger, more resilient. My body isn’t reacting to everything as a threat and literally swelling up. Yay. I’m c...