When you think about health and wellness, what comes to mind? Exercise, meditation, massage, eating well? What about just feeling good– are you prioritizing joy and pleasure for yourself? Learning to allow ourselves to feel good doesn’t come easy for some of us, especially those of us who have a history of traumatic stress orContinue reading “diversify your joy portfolio”
Category Archives: Depression
has perfectionism been your protection?
“I don’t understand why I’m so bad at this,” my client said. “Why can’t I do it?” “Have you ever done this before?” I asked her. “Why do you think you would be an expert at something you’ve never done before?” Perfectionism shows up in our movement practice much as it does in the restContinue reading “has perfectionism been your protection?”
tension holds us together
What do you feel when you read the word “tension?” When we speak or hear about tension in the context of a yoga class or a massage treatment, we might think of tension as something to be eradicated, soothed away, released, dissolved. We’re encouraged to smooth our forehead, relax our jaw, soften our shoulders. TheContinue reading “tension holds us together”
balancing the allostatic load
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 toContinue reading “balancing the allostatic load”
“failure means you’re going somewhere you haven’t been before.”
For some of us, learning that it’s okay to fail is a life skill that pays off big. In a recent Fighting Monkey workshop with the incredible Elke Schroeder, she encouraged us to try to fail at least 40% of the time (and more, if we felt up for it). In the movement “task” we wereContinue reading ““failure means you’re going somewhere you haven’t been before.””
you & your wandering mind
“My experience is what I agree to attend to.” -philosopher and psychologist William James What does it mean to agree to attend to experience? We have choice around what we will pay attention to; how we pay attention will shape our experience. The Buddha said, All experience is preceded by mind, Led by mind,Made by mind.SpeakContinue reading “you & your wandering mind”
Who the heck do I think I am, anyway?
Dear Whomever, The other night I dreamt of an orchestra. It was an odd dream (aren’t they all?)- it had nothing to do with how the music sounded. Instead it was sort of a broad overview of an orchestra as a unit. I saw my dream-orchestra clearly as a collection of people, musicians with instruments, a conductor,Continue reading “Who the heck do I think I am, anyway?”
My Big Brother: On the Gift of Compassion and Love
In the back of my closet, under a mountain of dust bunnies, there’s a packet of letters. Not, as you might imagine, letters from an old lover, or anything so romantic. These are letters that I wrote over 20 years ago to my older brother. I was in middle school, or high school, and he wasContinue reading “My Big Brother: On the Gift of Compassion and Love”