Michelle Mark- movement

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Cumberland, BC
Michelle Mark- movement

Together we will explore your potential to move naturally, efficiently, and functionally.

Personalized movement sessions crafted to connect, coordinate, and build confidence in mind + body
-Kinesiology
-Anat Baniel Method Neuromovement (adults+children)
-Pre+ Postpartum Fitness specialist
-Hypopressives I have years of experience as a Kinesiologist, ABM Neuromovement practitioner, Nurse, pilates teacher, and mother.

10/14/2026

Close your eyes for a moment and visualize yourself? What do you see? What do you feel?

This past weekend I played in a pickleball tournament, one morning I was feeling very disconnected. My mind and body were not working harmoniously. My paddle was not where I thought it was, my eyes were slow, everything was a bit off. It was loud, bright, and I had drank too much coffee… my nervous system was cranky.

So I popped into the change room by myself, closed my eyes and sat. I felt my bones, where I met the bench, where my feet were in space. Then I rose and moved through space in familiar positions to the game I was about to play, connecting my mind and body. Maintaining awareness of my breath…

My daughter came in and laughed, (as good as it feels I’m well aware it’s not the norm). But at 13 I’ve already seen her do the same. Enroute to games, closing her eyes and feeling her body from the inside out. The interoceptive advantage.

So now as you sit here,

What do you notice about yourself?
Are you feeling happy in your body?
Do you love your curly hair?
Adore each freckle that dots your face?
Do you love your legs?
Or Do you feel miserable? Embarrassed? Pain?
Are there vacant spaces you cannot feel?

Without judgement, just notice.

Now pause and consider, what age are you in this visualization?

Our self image can “quickly” become outdated if you don’t make time to regularly pause+connect.

A body scan is probably the simplest way to connect, lying flat on the ground removes gravity from the equation making it even easier… allowing more space to focus on your sense of self.

There is no right or wrong way to do this. Find a way that works for you and play. The benefits are paramount in sport, work, family and beyond… what a gift to be able to sense ourselves deeply.

mindfulmovement

10/09/2026

This summer we took our daughters to Hollyhock retreat centre on Cortes island to spend an afternoon in the spa soaking in hot tubs and cold dipping in the ocean just steps away.

My daughters are athletes, they like to train, grind and compete. But it’s become so much of their world that I often worry that’s all they know. To push their bodies to their limits on repeat.

And like so many of us, the harder they train the more resistant they are to slowing down (especially when the advice is coming from mom!)

Initially they resisted this “activity” I had planned. But as soon as we entered the property and started the walk down the garden path in blissful silence, my “grittiest” daughter turned to me and said words that melted my heart,

“I feel so special”.

We all deserve to feel so special. But sometimes we need a little helping hand to guide us to slow down and remind us of how special we are.

Today, a client gently rose from the table after I had given her a Neuromovement lesson. She had arrived in a hurry, squeezing this appointment in where it didn’t seem to fit, but now she sat calmly and breathed a deep sigh of satisfaction before she said,

“I feel so special”.

Between all of your training, working, studying and serving of others, what can you do to remind yourself how special you truly are?

10/06/2026

In a past post I talked about running ultramarathons and yet still feeling unsatisfied (and really hungry🤣).

There is nothing wrong with ultramarathons, but my dissatisfaction stemmed from my actions being out of alignment with my values and goals …. or a real lack of clarity in that area. I was doing a lot, but with no clear vision.

Truthfully there are worse distraction techniques than running ultramarathons, but shifting the pattern and seeking clarity has been worthwhile.

🤔How clear are you on your values?
✔️How aligned is your life?
🤯Or are your values murky, and every decision is a struggle because you don’t quite know where you want to go?

09/29/2026

Finding my path took a few detours. But the compass has settled and for the last 2.5 years I have been learning and expanding as I work towards completing my Masters in Counselling Psychology, and now I will graduate in less than 3 months!

I started my psychotherapy practicum 5 months ago with a virtual clinic, I love going to work, I adore my clients, the journey, the process, the learning and the collective effort towards healing and growth.

This title acts as the glue that connects all of my different parts. Nursing. ABM Neuromovement. Kinesiology. First responder. Athlete. Mother. Partner. Chinese/Irish biracial Canadian…..

That’s where this part of the story comes to a close, this is where I transition, and my messaging on this page may shift as I head into my forever career where all of the paths I’ve traveled merge. Where the mind and body are addressed as one holistic being that is you within a complex web that is your world.

I strive to work from a place of curiosity and spaciousness, slowly and patiently. I am a fellow traveller, climbing my own mountain…. And I may be able to see your route from a different angle.

09/25/2026

For the last few years I have been working as a first first responder (while still balancing my soul-filling Neuromovement work). Tethered to a desk but mentally traveling up and down the island in and out of worlds both familiar and foreign, with a primary focus on getting help to those in need, and quickly.

Parts of my nursing communication skills have been put to use, along with the nervous system training from my ABM Neuromovement education. But despite the degrees and certificates on my resume, the learning curve has been steep.

The neuroplastic growth I have experienced has been challenging and exhausting, especially the auditory and mapping skills. As someone who has gotten lost more times in races than not…. I am now (***) fully cognizant of my location (I will have to put this to the test in a race again one day). Not to mention my ability to be sedentary for 12 hour shifts (not as impressive but probably more challenging), and to work into the wee hours of the morning.

But more valuable than my navigation skills has been the experience I have gained in being transported into other homes, families, and lives… to bear witness to how uniquely we each define “normal”. To show up without judgement, and to think both critically and compassionately simultaneously.

As well as the skill of walking away from work, putting on a different hat and stepping into a different role… as a parent, partner, Neuromovement practitioner, coach, student, friend and daughter (in no particular order).

All valuable that has and will forever support me in this next season….

TBC

09/24/2026

What transpired next was as topographical as the Finlayson course on a clear day. Beautiful views, demanding climbs, and descents that make your quads feel like they are snapping with each gingerly step.

I had entered a stage of transformation quite familiar to many a mothers who have delicately, deliberately, or maybe even unwilling placed their “self” on the side for a season of life.

I questioned everything, primarily myself. I explored and withdrew from many things during this time. I learned a lot about my own way of making decisions (experiential learner over here!), what I could tolerate, what topics caused me anguish, and conversely what opened the flood gates for excitement to rush through my veins.

I took a stroll down various avenues. Not making mistakes but instead recognizing my passions even better by mistakingly moving further away from them. Delicately balancing the balance of process based living while searching for clarity in direction.

…TBC

09/22/2026

I’d like to share a bit of a multi part story…. Inspired by the time of year, “finlayson arm”season ;)

5 years ago I tackled the feat of training for and running the Finlayson 50k.

As you can imagine the training occupied a great deal of physical and mental time.

When I crossed the finish line I expected to feel glorious. But I didn’t.

I felt as if I had just walked out of the grocery store. A meaningless task checked off my list.

I even felt a touch annoyed with myself, I had fallen into the trap of using running to fill a void that it could not.

I looked at the joy on other runners’ face, the satisfied smirks as they lounged in utter bliss. I was envious….

Running 50k is no small feat, but racing and physical fitness weren’t the values I deeply yearned for greater alignment in.

What I yearned for couldn’t be found on that course.

More tomorrow.

07/04/2026

White trail shoes should not be a thing

06/17/2026

Just 2 Wasian/Hapa mamas doing west coast things with our shockingly blonde children.

Lately I’ve been reflecting deeply on how culture impacts how we show up, our preferences, our values, our authenticity as individuals and in relationships. Culture is so much deeper than what colour your hair is.

You have your own story, unlike any other.

PS. I’m not a fan of “Wasian” it sounds whiney to me. What about you?

06/15/2026

My latest movement obsession- pickleball!

Last year I ran a trail race with a group of friends and I felt flat and unenthused. One friend was soooo pumped before the race and even more excited after! I was jealous of the high she was riding as I sat hunched over in the rain watching her finish the 50k!

I later asked her about her enthusiasm, she told me that she was new to running and every race was so exciting. She got a “runner’s high” after every run and even finished craving the next one. To me running has become a habitual practice that I maintain for other reasons, but it does not bring me joy or pleasure.

“Novelty is the great parent of pleasure” (Robert South)

With this in mind, I sought out something new, exciting and accessible in my current season of life- pickleball! So much to learn, new people, new courts, and constant improvement (as is the case with most new things that we stick to consistently!)

Last year I was pretty humbled by the McDonald classic, since then I’ve played much more consistently and even taken a few lessons so I was pumped to podium, and am riding the high of that novelty still today.

How are you keeping things fresh movement-related or not?

Address

Cumberland, BC

Website

http://www.michellemark.ca/

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