JoyList: Things that make me go OH!

I haven’t done this in a while so here are some things that are making me happy or feeding into my curiosity or making me go OH! in a big way. I hope some of them do the same for you.

This tai chi guy is one of my fave movers right now and his shorts on YouTube (and TikTok) are just the right bit of info to give me something to play with or think about with my movement.

We often think of “exercise” (not the movement play you and I do together) as activating of the fight or flight response on the brain level (and it is), but now research is showing the vagus nerve can be active too. I’m thinking that what you and I often do together is activating all kinds of safety in the body so I find this research interesting.

This podcast is delightful on many levels. The Movement Movement is hosted by a guy who talks in a way that totally reminds me of Jeff Goldblum. Same sorts of rhythms and phrasings. HY.STERICAL. BUT he also has a lot of great guests and he’s pushing the ideas around movement in ways that I appreciate and you will too. This particular episode has a section about healing touch that is compelling on an neuroscience level. They don’t call it healing touch but that’s what you, my woo sisters, would know it as. ((smile)) Here it is on Spotify and here it is on YouTube.

Speaking of Tai Chi, here’s one of my favorite choreographers whose work is grounded in Tai Chai, working with one of my favorite companies. When you’re watching, think about the body’s weight and gravity. It’s something we can all play with more.

I’m really digging this dancer who is currently in residency at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in NYC.

Pilates is notoriously NOT body inclusive. (And yes, there are exceptions…I’m about to talk to one…) THIS instructor on Instagram is working to change that (and here’s another with whom I’ve actually taken classes here in Columbus).

If you love earrings and art and artful earrings, please go and check out and support my friend Brandy Morris. She’s an amazing human doing beautiful work.

What has been bringing you joy? I’d love to hear! Please send me clips, links, whatever as you come across them. I love collecting all these shiny bits.

JoyList: things that made me think of you

Starting off with a rather heavy share, this piece is worth the read. Obituary for a quiet life immediately brought a beautiful wave of memories of my papa (my paternal grandfather). As I said in the sanctuary, it brought to mind a specific memory, a story that he loved to share.

We were visiting him and my nana in Florida and I must have been about 4. (That photo to the right is probably about the time.) We were at a small shopping area, and I was holding his hand as we made our way down the busy sidewalks. And every time someone passed and I caught their eye, I would pronounce, “ THIS IS MY PAPA!”

So yeah… be prepared for some big feelings when you read that piece. I can’t stop thinking about it and would love to hear what you get out of it.

Speaking of connections… I did it. I joined another social. But you know what? I’ve actually missed the old school twitter of 12 years ago. I had quite the following on there and it felt so authentically FUN and I could just be my silly self sharing silly thoughts. I didn’t use it for anything other than that level of connection and I’m going to use THREADS the same way. If you’re there, please be sure to connect!

Speaking of connections (and now I’m cracking myself up)… I created a new short about a really effective and gentle psoas stretch.

The book I’m currently reading, Little Gods, is freaking amazing. I’m only a wee bit in and I’m already in awe of the author, Meng Jin, especially since this is her debut novel.

I got a notebook specifically for the Re/Joy Project process that I talked about in yesterday’s post. It’s not journaling or gratitude listing. It’s noticing and naming. (Like I said, read that post.) I’ll be writing more about this as I experiment myself but I already love it.

I would be remiss if I didn’t note that a 4 week July session starts next week, the week of July 10th. If it’s been a while since you’ve taken a class, it would be most awesome to see you!

We went to the Dayton Art Institute last weekend, and it exceeded my expectations by far, considering its size. The building is WHOA! If you’re anywhere near there, I recommend it. (We’re looking at early October for a visit to Chicago and that art institute and Dayton’s just made me even more excited. It’s been too long since I’ve been to Chicago…)

I’m fully obsessed with tennis again after a couple of weeks of wonky weather and such, and if you play tennis and love those little skirts but also DON’T, look what I just found.

Finally, summer movies are, once again, FUN or at least BIG, and for the first time in a long time, I’m excited about them.

We just saw the new Indiana and I think it was actually a beautiful look at what age and life events can do to us and how there’s always hope. I’m looking forward to Barbie (it’s more than a fluff piece), Oppenheimer, and Mission Impossible (because I’m sorry but I grew up with Tom Cruise and I know he’s a nut but boy do I love him in action flicks).

What are you looking forward to this summer, movies or otherwise?

Things I love and use

There’s a new page on this site that’s not a blog page, so I thought I should alert people to it: things I love and use.

And you know I love to name things pretty literally so I don’t think there’s a need for any explanation beyond: the page is all about my favorite stuff around movement and the body and mobility and pain management.

And I’m not an affiliate or anything so this is for real my fave stuff.