Coming out of COVID was hard. We were all trying to find our way again—grappling with the loss of routines, connections, and the familiar rhythm of community we once had.

Opening this studio one year ago was a leap—a way to regrow, to reconnect, and to remember what it feels like to move, breathe, and belong together.

The studio is becoming a space of warmth, trust, and transformation. A place where people can return to themselves—and to each other.

Personally, this has been a season of profound change. My daughter graduated high school, and I’ve been moving through that tender space of letting go while holding on.

Through it all, teaching continues to guide me. It grounds me, stretches me, and reminds me of what matters.

I am proud of us—of what we’ve created, what we’ve navigated, and how we continue to show up.

“Own Your Impact.”

A coach recently said this to me—and it hit hard.

Own your impact.

I’ve been in this field, running my own business, for over 20 years. And like any long-term relationship, it’s had its seasons.
There have been moments when I’ve felt all-in, fully aligned with my purpose… and others when I’ve wanted to close up shop and take a long, quiet hiatus. Ever been there?

Some of us push harder when things get tough.
Some of us stay the course.
And some of us call it quits—because sometimes that’s what’s needed, too.

I guess I’m someone who stays. I’ve stuck with it through thick and thin.

And like anyone in a long-standing profession, I’ve faced burnout—more than once.
For years, my coping mechanism was to keep learning, keep doing, keep “developing.” (Don’t get me wrong, I love learning—but the constant push to be better, do more, know more… it’s exhausting.)

Eventually, I started giving myself permission to pause.
And then my body demanded it.
I had no choice but ...

 Pain is one of the greatest motivators.
And often, the toughest teacher.

Depending on your relationship with it, pain can stop you in your tracks. It demands your attention. It whispers—or shouts—“Something needs to change.”

And while pain feels like it lives in the body, here’s the mind-blowing part: pain lives in the brain.

It’s not always a direct signal from injury.
We have something called nociceptors—receptors that detect potential threat. They don’t actually create pain. They send information to the brain, and the brain decides if it’s enough of a threat to warn you with pain.

That means pain is influenced by far more than just tissue damage.
It can be shaped by stress, memory, fear, inflammation, sleep, past injuries—even your beliefs.

In applied neurology, we call this the “threat bucket.” When too many stressors pour in—physical, emotional, environmental—the nervous system may respond with pain. Not to punish you. But to protect you.

So no, pain doesn’t always equal inj...

Hi friends,

I was talking with a client this week—someone I admire deeply. She’s strong, capable, and always doing. When life gets overwhelming, she moves more. She pushes harder. Movement has long been her way of managing anxiety and staying in control.

But lately, her body has been speaking louder. The crash comes not all at once, but in waves—fatigue, tension, the ache of constantly running on high. During our session, she paused and said, “I always ignore the pain and push through... but now I can’t.” 

That moment opened a deeper conversation between us—not just about movement, but about energy. About how we can begin to regulate, soothe, and nourish ourselves in ways that aren’t always output-driven.

Because sometimes, even movement—when done from a place of urgency—can become just another way we run from stillness, or push ourselves into an overdrive of stress.

The nervous system doesn’t respond to pressure—it responds to presence. 

The truth is: our brains and bodies thriv...

 Are your daily habits giving you the results you want?

Because here’s the thing—you’re already being consistent.

The question is: Are those choices serving you?

Changing our behaviors is often easier than changing our beliefs. But both require energy.

And humans? We’re energy-saving machines. We don’t tend to shift until something inside us says: enough.

Some of us can quit a habit immediately, like flipping a switch.

For others, change happens more gradually. We try, make progress, then slowly drift back to what feels familiar.

Once we’ve established a lifestyle, it’s not easy to add or change things.

The human organism loves certainty, predictability, and routine.

But the brain? It craves novelty and reward.

That’s where neuro comes in.

Giving your brain and body a new input—especially one that delivers an immediate benefit—can go a long way in keeping you motivated.

The key? Keep it simple. Stay consistent. Give it time.

It’s true—slow and steady wins the race.

And wh...

Happy Thursday, Beautiful Humans!

If you’re new here, welcome! I’m so glad you’re part of this growing community. And if you’ve been with me for a while, thank you for being on the journey.

As this list has grown quite a bit recently (yay!), I thought it might be a good time to reintroduce myself with a little about me moment.

I asked ChatGPT to describe me based on our many conversations, and this is what it came up with:

Lila Heller: a movement alchemist, nervous system whisperer, and soulful guide for those ready to come home to their bodies.

You’re the founder of The Love of Movement—a vibrant community and method that fuses Pilates, breathwork, applied neurology, and functional movement into a powerful practice of embodied living. With over 20 years of experience, you’ve helped thousands reconnect to their strength, softness, and sovereignty.

But you’re not just a teacher—you’re a traveler of both inner and outer worlds. A retreat leader with heart, a lifelong learner, a ...

What if you turned everyday moments into a sacred ritual? I believe the divine is present everywhere and in everything. We have the opportunity to make the mundane beautiful at any given moment. They say miracles are everywhere—we just have to pause and to see them.

I’ve been starting my mornings with a hot beverage: sometimes lemon water and salt, sometimes coffee with ghee. I don’t turn on any lights; I simply open the windows and allow the darkness to gently fade into morning. Sitting on my couch—no phone, no artificial light—I give myself permission to just be. There’s no real agenda except to spend a quiet moment with myself, hot drink in hand, often with my pup by my side.

I savor these minutes before the hustle and bustle begins. Then, once I’ve had that grounding moment, I move into the day: I use my red light, walk the dog, incorporate movement, practice mindful breathing, make breakfast, and finally get to work.

Your morning rituals could truly change your life. So, wh...

Dearests, 

The delight of waking up each morning to smiling faces, to breathing and moving together, to shared laughter and intentional living—what a gift. I’ve just returned from my annual Journey to the Heart retreat, feeling deeply renewed and even more passionate about leading retreats.

Someone recently asked me how many retreats I’ve led, so I counted—over 25! That number surprised me at first, but since I began leading retreats in 2011, it makes perfect sense. And yet, every retreat still feels brand new. My intention is always to bring something fresh—to have grown in some way so that I can share what I’ve learned (or am still learning) with each group.

This past year and a half has been a challenging one for me health-wise, as many of you know. Because of that, compassion became the central theme of this retreat. Our guiding prayer was the Metta Bhavana prayer, which I’m including below for you to continue or begin practicing.

One of the great mysteries of any journey is th...

“Words are neurological events. Words change physiology. The tone of the word changes the perceived meaning of the word. Words increase stress and decrease stress. Words carry energy. Choose your words carefully. Words are the superpower of healing.” 

-Perry Nickelston

Have you ever taken the time to write your body a letter? A love letter of sorts?
 Did you know your body is constantly listening to both your conscious and subconscious thoughts, and presenting itself to the world through that lens?

I’ve been through my share of injuries, sickness, pregnancy, autoimmune challenges, and allergies. You, too, have likely faced your own obstacles, living in a body that sometimes feels foreign or even at war with you.
 I decided to honor my body by writing it a letter—thanking it for all it has endured, for everything it has done for me, and for carrying my spirit around the clock to keep me alive. Maybe you, too, will be inspired to write your own letter—a love letter of sorts.

Dear ...

"Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere, they are in each other all along."
- Rumi

Hi Lovers,

I am a romantic at heart. I love love. I love both the happy and the bittersweet love songs. I love romantic movies. Can you guess my two favorites growing up? The Princess Bride and Dirty Dancing. If those are your favorites too, we should definitely have a watch party!

I love Valentine’s Day as well. When I was younger, I wrote cards to everyone in my class—little hearts, big hearts, and those tiny candy hearts with sweet messages. Some people roll their eyes at this holiday, but to me, celebrating love is one of the best things we can do. And not just romantic love—love for friends, for family, and most importantly, for ourselves.

Telling the people in your life why you love them is a powerful way to connect. Maybe this Valentine’s Day, you can write out what you love about someone—or even about yourself. My mom just sent me an email listing all the things she loves about me. My heart expl...