Show of hands: how many of us think of the ego as a "bad thing"-- something we should be trying to get rid of? 🙋🏼‍♀️ It's not uncommon...

If you’re someone who works with anxiety, you already know how overwhelming it can be. This is especially true for folks with a history...

Of course, we all know that each of us sees things a little differently. For example, if you’re lactose intolerant (or a vegan), dairy...

In 1987, Dr. Francine Shapiro went for a walk. As she walked, she noticed that her eyes were moving from side to side, and that some...

I’m going to say something a little revolutionary here: it’s possible to work hard without feeling absolutely terrible. I think our...

to your movement/wellness professional (yoga teacher, personal trainer, coach, etc.) I wrote this post the other day after a few sessions with clients who have a deep-seated apology habit– even when there’s nothing to apologize for. I always express that there’s no need to apologize, and that my job is to help this process feel as supportive and useful as it can– but I also understand that many of us have been made to feel that it’s not okay to ask for “special” treatment, or

here’s what to do. Isometric contractions are a popular (and powerful) choice for mobility & strength work. They’re incredibly useful as...

and how can we work with it in the body? Have you ever found yourself feeling really jumpy, or on edge– for days, or weeks at a time? For some folks, this can become so common they don’t even notice it anymore. Hypervigilance is an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity and reactivity. Our nervous systems are always scanning for things that might be dangerous. If everything’s going pretty well in our lives, this is a pretty low-key function. If we’re living with the effects of

The other day I was listening to a podcast. The “commercial break” was 30 seconds of “the sounds of nature.” As I listened to the sounds of a woodland scene (birds, trees, wind), I felt my body softening and relaxing unconsciously. I didn’t need to make anything happen– it happened naturally. Then, the sounds faded, and a voice told me that the 30 seconds of nature was brought to me by Nature Valley Granola Bars. I had an instant reaction of being super pissed off. I felt lik

A few weeks ago, I was on my way to get a massage and reflecting on the fifteen years I have had with my massage therapist (if you’re in Martin County, Florida, Beverly is where it’s at). Not only is she experienced, professional, and intuitive, but I also feel such an incredible amount of trust and love in our relationship– it’s a rare and wonderful thing. Throughout my career as a coach, yoga student, teacher, and studio owner, I’ve known a lot of wellness professionals. Ma

What’s your capacity to be embodied, present and engaged with anger? Before we jump into this topic, it might be helpful to reflect for a moment on your relationship with anger: When you read or hear the word “anger,” what do you notice in your body? In your personal history, what has happened when you experience or display anger? What do you feel or notice in yourself when someone around you is angry? Do you feel like you need to get away, or fix the the problem for them? Do

It’s Not Exercise, It’s Not a Workout, It’s Training (here’s why) When I talk about the kind of work that I do, or how I move my body, you might notice that I never refer to my “workouts” or “exercise.” This is a deliberate choice that speaks to the kind of work that I do and the ways in which we can disrupt what Decolonizing Fitness calls “toxic fitness culture.” Let’s take a look. Etymology of “Workout:” First, it might be helpful to look at the origin of these terms. The t

(There are definitely more, but 6 is a nice number to start with!) Endorphins. Movement releases “feel-good” hormones like seratonin,...

Mindfulness gained popularity in the past few decades as a secular way to experience the benefits of meditation. It’s become so common as to almost be cliched. Your employer is encouraging mindfulness as a means to reduce stress (and lower their own costs). Your favorite actors go on regular mindfulness retreats. And now the many folks in the fitness industry are suggesting that their version of mindful movement will be beneficial not just for your body but for your mind and

One of the things that I hear from folks quite often is that they find it hard to get motivated to exercise. “I know I should, but it’s just so hard,” they say– often in an embarrassed tone.” It’s important to understand that our species did not evolve by “exercising.” While we often think of exercise as something that must be done in order to achieve health, happiness and social standing, the truth is that our ancestors didn’t exercise at all. Sure, our hunt-and-gather foreb

So, you’ve decided you want to make a change. Maybe you’re working on recognizing and changing a bias you carry. Or you’re trying to use...

Our bodies and brains love to work in patterns-- it's a simple way to minimize brainpower and eliminate excess calorie expenditure. Many of these are useful; others may have been helpful at one time, but have become problematic. Working on changing these can be quite a challenging experience, especially if we're dealing with something like our breathing. In this article, we'll take a look at the mechanics of changing patterned behavior in our body-- and why it takes time. If

and how can we use it to "read" what our body is saying? Like many of you, I have a morning ritual. I wake up, feed the dogs, make my...

One of the things that brings me joy, that makes me feel alive, powerful, and free, is physical training. I love to sweat, to move, to swing heavy things. It helps me to complete the stress cycle, reinforces my sense of agency and strength, and (because I am often outside), gives me a chance to soak in nature. Of course, I can’t do that every day. My muscles need a chance to rest and repair– and I also need to take into account everything else that I’ve done that day (trainin

as practitioners, we can empower folks to experience their own strength (rather than fear their fragility) If you've taken a yoga class over the past decade, you've probably heard some of the following cues: a"Never let your knee travel further than your ankle-- you want to protect your knee." "Brace your abdominals to protect your back." "Never roll up to stand from a forward fold, or you'll cause damage to your spine." "Don't place your foot on your knee in Tree Pose or you