“We are what we repeatedly do… therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit.” 

-Will Durant

Every action we repeat consistently becomes a well-worn path in our brain. When I work with my clients, one of the primary goals is to help them create new, healthier movement patterns. In the beginning, this can feel unfamiliar or even awkward, but that’s perfectly normal. Change takes time, and with consistent practice, we can reshape our movement, thinking, and emotional patterns.

Understanding Neuroplasticity 

Neuroplasticity is the brain's incredible ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This process allows neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to adapt and adjust their activities in response to new experiences, injuries, diseases, or changes in the environment.

For more in-depth information on neuroplasticity, I encourage you to explore the following resources:

 • The Power of Neuroplasticity 

 • Understanding Neuroplasticity 

Recommended R...

Nearer 

“If you want to get warm 

You must stand near the fire; if 

You want to be wet you must get in the water. 

If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, 

You must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them." 

-C.S. Lewis

Happy Mid-Summer, Friends!

Greetings from the countryside! 🌞 I’ve traded my bustling Bay Area life for the serene country, and it’s been a blissful change. It takes a few days to slow down, but trust me, it’s worth it. We arrived just as the West Coast heat wave hit, and wow, 110 degrees can really force you to hit the brakes. But hey, let’s embrace it and find fun ways to stay cool!

Here are some of my favorite heat-beating tricks that you might love too:

1. Early Bird Moves

Get your movement practice in early morning before the sun turns up the heat. It’s refreshing and energizing!

2. Water Fun

Dive into a river, splash in a pool, dance through a sprinkler, or enjoy a cool shower. It’s amazing how it transforms your day.

3. Watermelon Ju...

Recently, as I was chatting with my mom, she asked, "Have you heard of glimmers?”

“Is that a new makeup?” I asked excitedly. 

She smiled and said, “It’s a newer term used by psychologists that is similar to what you teach on your retreats.”

She explained that “glimmers” are tiny moments of awe that spark joy and invoke calm. These micro-moments prompt subtle positive mood shifts.

I remembered how lucky I am to have been raised by parents who taught me to enjoy and pay attention to the present moment. They both encouraged me to savor the sweetness of fresh summer fruits, the warm embrace of a loved one, the golden hues of a sunset and the coolness of the river on a hot summer day.

How awesome is that! 

By paying attention to the spontaneous things that bring us delight we can offset stress and bring ease to our nervous system. Glimmers are the opposite of triggers.

The mind is negatively biased toward things that may cause us harm and are perceived as a threat (real or unreal),...

“We were made to enjoy music, to enjoy beautiful sunsets, to enjoy looking at the billows of the sea and to be thrilled with a rose that is bedecked with dew… Human beings are actually created for the transcendent, for the sublime, for the beautiful, for the truthful... and all of us are given the task of trying to make this world a little more hospitable to these beautiful things.”

― Desmond Tutu

In my last newsletter, I shared a story about a new client, and our quest to answer the question: "What brings you joy?" Little did I know that this simple question would spark a series of delightful conversations throughout the week.

As I explored the idea of joy with clients and followers alike, we found ourselves diving deeper into the concept of joy, leading to many more questions to explore. What is joy? How do we find joy? How do we create more joy? More specifically, what does it mean to experience joy? Is it a fleeting moment of pleasure, or is it something more profound, som...

This week, I want to share one of my favorite poems with you. A poem that every time I read it reminds me of my place “in the family things.” 

Read it slowly and let the words sink in. 

From the words of the great poet: Mary Oliver

Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things

Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life.

-Mark Twain

As a movement specialist, I always begin my work with new clients by asking them two crucial questions: "What physical activities do you enjoy doing?" and "What brings you happiness in your day-to-day life?" These questions help me understand their interests and personal goals, which in turn allows me to create a wellness plan that's tailored to their unique needs.

During a recent session with a new client, I noticed that she had left these questions blank on her intake form. I paused and looked up at her, then asked, "I noticed that you didn't answer the questions about joy. What brings you joy?" She met my gaze and replied, "Right now, I can't think of anything that I enjoy."

I could tell that my client was feeling lost and unmotivated, so I took a moment to sit with her and talk. I asked her if she could recall a time when she was doing something that brought her joy, a moment when she felt tr...

“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.” - Mary Oliver

Wherever you find the sacred: those moments where you are brought to your knees in awe of this life, your life. Sometimes this happens during grief, or birth, death, or when we fall in love. And sometimes it will just surprise you. 

You could be standing at the corner of a crosswalk and notice that everything somehow is connected. You are a part of it all. As you stand there, you also realize how fleeting it all is. 

These are the moments where you may sense there is something bigger at play—something divine in nature—and that this life is indeed a gift.

When have you been brought to your knees in awe of this life?