Have you ever watched a baby move and play, content while exploring their world? If you observe their fingers and toes curl and reach, and the look of fascination on their faces, it becomes so clear that being inside a body is meant to be pleasurable.

Balancing poses in yoga used to be my nemesis. I always struggled to stand on one foot or perform any kind of balance-related yoga pose. It seemed impossible that I’d ever get there. But through my journey of incorporating functional movements into my yoga practice, I’ve discovered some really simple hacks that made balancing easier and even fun!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately, about the metaphor of the phoenix rising from the ashes. I have always had an affinity for this one, in particular the way that it seems to point toward an inner alchemical process. One of moving toward the flames of discomfort in order to reveal the pure and authentic self.

In polyvagal theory, I’ve heard that “connection is protection,” meaning that when we feel truly anchored in a safe connection with another human being, we are also sheltered from the threat of danger. Our system can relax and soften. We can access more of our creativity, insight, and wide-angle view of the world around us. I believe this doesn’t only happen with mammals, or even other creatures, though. To feel this connection with the Earth is to feel protected, but also protecting. It’s LOVE.

We often think that drinking water is the answer to keeping our tissues hydrated, and of course, drinking water is important, but the water we drink doesn’t immediately go to the tissues that need it. That’s where movement comes in.

It wasn’t all that long ago that meditation was considered ‘far out there’ or ‘woo-woo nonsense.’ But now we have information from the realm of neuroscientific research to explain the amazing benefits for all brains, woo-woo or not.

There is a subtle yet distinct difference between encouraging the body to do hard things, and unconsciously playing out dominating or oppressive narratives toward the body.

Myofascial unwinding was a huge revelation for me and completely revamped how I approached movement, both on and off my yoga mat.

Improving interoceptive awareness can improve emotional regulation, allowing for a greater ability to manage and regulate emotions. It can also give us a better recognition of emotional and physical states, bringing us into a more attuned relationship with the autonomic nervous system states.

Through my journey of incorporating functional movements into my yoga practice, I discovered some really simple hacks that made balancing easier and even fun.

Did you know that when you experience the emotion of awe that your default mode network quiets? What is the default mode network? The running theory is that the DMN is linked to our sense of self, and when our sense of self quiets we turn our focus toward social collectives and more altruistic goals.

Taking a good look at the wonderful world of fascia means approaching yoga poses in a backward and inverse way from what we are used to. Instead of general anatomy’s perspective – beginning with the muscles and moving on to the tissue that holds them together – fascial anatomy looks at fascia first, and the way it folds and turns into pockets which fill in to become muscles.

When you think about breathing from the perspective of tensegrity, you factor in EVERYTHING. One thing moves, and everything moves with it. Nothing is separate. The diaphragm can’t not be impacting everything in every moment.

Did you know that incorporating ball placement into your yoga practice can help rewire the way your brain perceives and associates pain? The science around what pain is, and how it can be addressed through the nervous system is still relatively new, but the concept of “pain memory” and “neuro-tags” is becoming more and more established in the field of pain science.

Did you know that larch trees absorb the most nutrients through their needles just as they are turning yellow?

Maybe this is one reason why walking through a field of yellowing larches feels so magical! Maybe we can feel their nourishment. Their satiety and contentment. Like a warm embrace or a gentle sigh, that feeling enfolds us… and something in us recognizes and reflects it back.

Did you know that improving your balance can also boost your mood, decrease pain, improve cognitive function and prevent injury? I’ve always been a fan of balance exercises, but when I started learning about functional movement and proprioceptive training exercises, I started to appreciate exactly why they make you feel so good!

Over the years, I’ve devised multiple maps to navigate our way back to enjoyable embodiment in simple and achievable ways. One map that holds a special place in my heart is rooted in yogic philosophy—the integration of the Koshas through somatic breathwork. It’s amazing how an ordinary act like breathing can profoundly impact our body awareness and presence. Mindful somatic breathwork goes beyond the yoga mat, infusing our lives with calmness and connection.

Practices that ground us into the present moment are crucial. It’s in our moment-by-moment attending to the present that we can reconnect with ourselves and the natural world. This is the state of being where it’s easiest to drop into harmony with the earth, our bodies, and perhaps to a source of strength greater than the individual self.

I’ve never really fit into any of the standard molds of modern society. I always felt like a bit of a misfit. But the older I get the more I realize that, really, no one fits these molds. The more I allow my creativity and uniqueness to flourish, the more I want to create safe spaces for others to do the same.