First, let’s knock some definitions out of the way. We hear the word mobility a lot in health and fitness circles, but just what does it really mean?

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) defines mobility as: “The ability to move freely and easily.” PT and athletic trainer Bill Hartman gets a bit more specific: “The ability to achieve the desired posture or movement.”

Change is afoot! As of August 1, I have closed my Bay area bodywork practice in preparation for relocating to North Carolina this fall. It has been a fruitful decade of practice and professional growth, and my appreciation goes out to each of you who have graced my studio and table with your bodies, minds and hearts.

For those of you who wish to continue working with me remotely, I offer the following online sessions:

• Self Myofascial Release (SMR) | Neuromuscular Therapy | Stretching | Corrective Exercise

• YOGABODY® Breathwork and Mindfulness

I also invite any former bodywork clients to enjoy a complimentary initial Wellness Vision Coaching session with me. In our time together, I will guide you through a process to articulate your wellness vision–opening up new opportunities for inquiry, perspective, exploration and growth. It’s illuminating, fun…and free!

Prolonged chronic stress can have catastrophic effects on health and wellness, that can vary widely from person to person. Chronic stress can negatively affect all systems of the body–musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, hormonal/endocrine, GI (gut), nervous system, reproductive, immune–as well as impacting sleep and circadian rhythm, and contributing to mental health issues.

The problem comes when we lose our capacity to recognize and discharge stress. When we become so overloaded that we respond to small-dose stressors as if they were four-alarm-fires. When our nervous system gets stuck in fight or flight mode.

So how do we break the cycle? One way involves cultivating our body’s evolutionary superpowers–getting them working for us–to recognize and address early signs of stress in the body before they become chronic.

We’ve Moved!

Starting in July, you can find me in my new studio space inside of the Berkeley Herbal Center at 1250 Addison St, Suite G, at the south end of the Strawberry Creek Design building. On-street parking is ample on most days, but I recommend allowing a few extra minutes to navigate to the new location on your first visit.

Berkeley Herbal Center is a leading educational and clinical center for the study and practice of sustainable Western herbal-based healing. They are also home to several acupuncturists, with whom I am delighted to be sharing practice space.

Amid the over-commercialization and hype, I still find December a favorite time of year. My Sagittarian mother, sister and I celebrate our birthdays. And I have a tradition of wrangling at least some portion of the holidays into a personal “staycation” to wind down annual projects and look ahead to the new year in a good way.

But then of course there’s January, the tricky month that puts all our aspirations to the test–especially here in temperate California where there’s little to no seasonal winter pause to turn inward. To set myself up for success, rather than resolutions, I kick off each new year with intentions and practices.

2020 wasn’t just hard, it was…different and weird-hard. It seemed like each bend in the road brought a new series of bumps that challenged even our tried and true self care strategies. The silver linings were there for sure--our favorite yoga teachers moving online, more family/inner circle time, cultivating new creative hobbies. But the pain points were truly rough--sickness and loss of loved ones for many; work-from-home environments replete with jankety ergonomics and distractions for some; high risk workplaces or sudden joblessness and financial instability for others; stress and instability alternating with boredom and restlessness; and massive amounts of media saturation...all amidst the mounting tensions of racial injustice and a bitterly divided country.

How many times since March have you heard or said, “This is a marathon, not a sprint”...? With news of a vaccine shipping in December, and a post-election transition finally underway, glimmerings of light are starting to shine through.

At the same time, we still have a potentially tough winter ahead of us. Self care is key, folks. And when things feel weighty or stuck, sometimes the best self care practice is short and simple and, well, whatever you’ll actually do!

Here are some mini “keep it simple” practices to add to your home stretch.