Friesen Holistic Wellness

11/08/2025

This month I have been focusing on self care, daily Neuromovement lessons and adding more intentional movement into my day. I started the month dealing with a cold that had sapped all my energy and took almost two weeks to go away. Stress lowers the immune system's ability to do it's job. It was time to focus on some self care and nervous system regulation to support my immune system!

This fall season has been extremely tough for our family. Members with chronic health issues have been having one flare up after another, the cold hit everyone in the family, tough decisions have had to be made about what activities and hobbies is there enough energy to do, and there have been a lot of mental health rest days. I have been pushing hard to support my family in all the holistic ways that I know how and researching into new ways as well. I have come to the conclusion that if mom is not healthy, nobody wins.

Today I stopped in at Heritage Forest in Qualicum Beach for a 20 minute walk and reset. I love this forest and am thankful that it has been preserved! Breathing in the fresh air, listening to the birds, meeting so many friendly people and looking at the beautiful trees; such a beautiful healing space! My nervous system felt so good after this walk.

What are your favourite self care activities?

10/24/2025

Meet our new greeting committee at Friesen Holistic Wellness! Our two month old chicks are now in the blueberry orchard near the house. When you park your car by the garage you will most likely be greeted by these six cuties. They love running up to the fence and following me as I do my chores.

10/20/2025

I'm currently sitting at the Calgary airport after a fabulous week of refining my skills as a Neuromovement® Practitioner. My body has experienced a lot of wonderful changes. I'm using my body in new ways and I had to change the steering wheel position and rear view mirror of my rental car today. I was sitting more upright without trying and couldn't see the dash or out of the mirror in the same way as when I rented the car six days ago! That may not seem like a big to deal to some people but it's physical and visible proof of the changes that I am feeling. It shows how we can all change and use our bodies in easier ways. I am excited to bring my new learning to my practice and help my clients!

I wasn't interested in the standard quick foods at the airport and had a lovely omelet instead. It was a delicious source of protein and veggies. I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight!

10/17/2025

I am excited to be be taking this course Fundamentals of the Integral Movement Method is 2026. Neuromovement® lessons have been a great support to my clients with hypermobility and EDS and now I will be able to support these clients in more ways!

The Cohort 8 is here!

We have opened registration for the 8th cohort of Fundamentals of the Integral Movement Method (IMM) — my .danlos ECHO program created to support physiotherapists, Physical Therapists, Pilates & Yoga teachers, and movement or bodywork professionals in improving care for people with EDS and HSD. We opened on Monday & 20% of places are already filled 🙏🏻❤️. These courses always fill up months in advance.

Every time I teach this program, I’m reminded how powerful it is when professionals come together — learning from research and lived experience to create safer, more empowering movement spaces for our clients and patients.

The IMM isn’t just a course.

It’s a shift in how we understand movement, pain, and nervous system regulation in our patients. It’s backed by science - I just presented the IMM research at the Scientific Symposium in Canada.

If you’re ready to deepen your understanding, support your hypermobile clients with confidence, and join a growing international community of like-minded practitioners — this is for you. Get certified and become part of the growing number of IMM graduates.

Together, we’re changing how movement therapy is delivered. The link is in today’s stories and my bio or website.

10/12/2025

I am looking forward to attending this virtual summit hosted by the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Mental health is so important to address when dealing with chronic illness. I experienced this while coping with chronic Lyme disease and I see my clients work to manage their mental health too.

I have been attending many different webinars and summits focusing on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and hypermobility over the past year and a half in order to better support my clients and my family. There's so much more to hypermobility than flexible joints!

09/27/2025

My friend wrote this post all about what you won't see in a lesson but also what you WILL see in a Neuromovement® lesson with kids.

If this is what you are looking for for your child in the Qualicum Beach area or in Steinbach Manitoba, contact me to learn more!

Here's what I will NEVER do in my NeuroMouvement® sessions with your child. Because my respect for your child is an ultimate value:

❌ I never use devices that suspend or attach children in harnesses, or place them in vibration machines. No devices, no machines, will ever replace your child's brain.
❌ I never move a child passively, without their brain's active participation or engagement. Your child is never just a passenger: always involved, always respected.
❌ I never place a child in a situation of stressful imbalance, to "provoke" movement through fear. Brains don't learn in stress.
❌ No forcing, overriding or endless repetition - no disconnecting from the child's own bodily experience. Children stay connected to themselves and their sensations throughout every session.

Kids don't feel pain or cry during NeuroMovement® sessions.

What I want for your child is agency, and the capacity for their brain to organize itself in more and more complex ways.

Because your child deserves better than a mechanical or impersonal approach. Here, diversity of abilities is celebrated and encouraged: always with kindness, intelligence, and respect.

09/08/2025

Neuromovement® group lessons are also known as Transformational Movement Lessons. Participants are asked to move gently and slowly, and to pay attention to what they feel as they move. It is not about the number of repetitions or effort given but about feeling connected to your body and moving with ease. These lessons can help relieve muscle tension and pain as well as improve balance, posture, flexibility, and coordination. Lessons are designed to help the brain learn new movement patterns and make new neural connections. A series of 10 lessons on Thursdays at either 10am or 6:30pm Pacific starts on September 18th. All you need is a yoga mat (or your bed if getting to the floor is difficult), a small pillow or folded towel for support as needed, and an online device so you can hear me and I can see you. It's not too late to sign up.

09/05/2025

It was a very busy trip to Manitoba. I gave 30 movement lessons over 8 days! Highlights include:

🔹The smiles from clients when I open the door
🔹The relief clients had from pain
🔹The joy of a client who could bend down and pick something up from the floor with ease
🔹A child who was walking better than ever before after their intensive and their grandparent asking"if Laura was in town" as they notice the improvement
🔹A toddler coming so close to being able to crawl
🔹An infant so focused with what they felt and their excitement with the movement
🔹Watching the swelling go down in a client's foot after being there for a few months

It was a fantastic trip and lots of learning and growth was seen and felt by my clients. Until next time!

job highlights

08/26/2025

I have been following on instagram for the last few months and silently cheering her on through her health journey. I now have a copy of her new book and am excited to read it.

Our family has also experienced the hardships of living with chronic illness and learning how to advocate for our needs. I hope more healthcare workers and especially those in charge of our health systems can read this book to learn more about the experiences of those with chronic health issues. We can always do better and learn more!

08/12/2025

I'm very excited to watch the Teen Musical Theatre performance of Footloose this weekend. This program through Echo Players has been a fantastic experience for my daughter this summer! There is so much talent in the youth in the Oceanside area and I love all the different programs available to support them.

Meet this year's Teen Musical Theatre team! Come support this wonderfully talented group of Oceanside youth led by Hilary Whelton and Miranda Murphy as they perform "Footloose The Musical" August 15-19 at Knox United Church in Parksville. For more info and to meet the team go to echoplayers.ca/footloose-team

08/11/2025

I am offering online movement lessons again this fall starting September 18th! Thursdays at 10am and 6:30pm Pacific time.

What are Neuromovement® Group Lessons? 

Neuromovement® group lessons are also known as Transformational Movement Lessons. Participants are asked to move gently and slowly, and to pay attention to what they feel as they move. It is not about the number of repetitions or effort given but about feeling connected to your body and moving with ease. These lessons can help relieve muscle tension and pain as well as improve balance, posture, flexibility, and coordination. Lessons are designed to help the brain learn new movement patterns and make new neural connections. 

Online group lessons start September 18th. It's not too late to sign up. Message me or email me to sign up.