Michelle Mark- movement

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Canada
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.

12/05/2025

How do you tackle your to-do lists?

Do you gravitate to the things you ❤️?

Or do you knock off annoying tasks first?

I’ve been head down writing papers for the last month, tackling all the nuisances and not getting enough time to enjoy those which I ❤️.

Life is full of seasons, and this too busy season is one I have intentionally chosen for a future of slower, passion-driven, nourishing work.

And…. Sometimes hard work makes pleasure so much more enjoyable.

2 papers submitted late last night and a day to catch up on things I ❤️. Time off the computer to craft, and movement in the fresh air.

So… which tasks did you tackle first today?

11/26/2025

Do you miss moving in-person? Do you want to improve your movement patterns? Feel stronger, more connected and organized?

I am gauging interest in resuming 2 live classes starting in January:

Somatic flexibility/ holistic + gentle exploration of functional movement patterns benefitting both mind + body

Hypopressives/ posture + breathing technique that decreases downward pressure, improves core + pelvic floor fxn

PM me if interested.

11/25/2025

Today I had to visit my dentist to repair a broken filling. Today’s visit was a stressful one, at absolutely no fault of the dentist.

With each creeping year my TMJ (jaw joint) gets crankier and crankier. Something I’ve struggled with since I was a little girl, my mom always thought it was linked to being biracial, but who really knows.

My TMJ issue is something I always plan to work on, but regularly push to the bottom of the list. You see, it causes no pain or discomfort…. Except when I go to the dentist.

And when an appointment is looming, the worry creeps in. I hurriedly do a few Neuromovement lessons for the jaw, which help but as I tell all my clients- one lesson is a drop in a very full bucket, barely changing the temperature of the water.

My jaw locks. It seizes. Without warning it snaps shut. I feel nervous and embarrassed. Like an unruly child in a busy coffee shop, or an aggressive dog snapping at bypassers… this damn jaw of mine does what it wants. Just the thought of it makes ….. my jaw clench! (Ah hah)

But does it really have a will of its own? In this anxious moment I have segmented myself into parts, neglecting my understanding of my self as a whole. Anxiety does funny things to your thoughts.

As I lay in the dental chair my awareness spread beyond my cranky jaw. My shoulders braced beside my ears, abs clenched, pelvic floor tight, even the arches of my feet curled with nervous anticipation. Rather than focusing on my jaw, I shifted my attention away to that which I could control.

Soft feet
Shoulders melt into the chair
Free belly, expanding with each breath
Pelvic floor at ease

I continued this scan, up and down the length of my five lines envisioning a warmth welcoming my bones to the safety of the chair, letting the muscles soften at ease. In time, it was done. My filling repaired. Free to go.

We all have our things. I have not reached enlightenment! (Far from it) I am human just like you. My journey full of hills and valleys, but in my backpack I carry an assortment of tools to strengthen, connect, nourish and grow.

Our bodies say what words cannot, this is when we use awareness, touch or movement to communicate.

11/16/2025

I’m all for alone time.

But I also think there is an irreplaceable warmth felt when in community with others.

In many cultures communities gather to eat, celebrate, reflect, mourn, honour and learn. In our western world, especially cities in BC (the least religious province in BC) there is a lack of formal communities.

Even if you were born into a tiny family I believe you can find community, if you crave it and are brave.

As a movement lover, I love seeing friends find community in gyms, yoga studios, run clubs, and hiking groups.

Lately I have stepped outside of my typically solo movement pursuits to move with others and have enjoyed the unique perspectives, laid back vibes and welcoming nature.

Just this month I tried a (free) masters swim group at Oak Bay Rec, a discounted intro month , and an (also free) sprint workout with .

Do you have a movement community?

11/07/2025

2 baguettes and an empty bike shed (because all 5 ppl in my house are now bike commuting daily). My 10+ year old panniers on my 15 year old road bike carrying me home from a enlightening half day workshop on two eyed seeing with

Today is a good day.

BUT

Everyone’s version of a good day is different.

If you can’t envision a good day, you won’t recognize it when it’s happening.

What do you want?

When will you know you are on the right path?

Is your daily living inline with your values?

Is today a good day?

11/04/2025

Details matter.

Impulsively, I decided to make cupcakes. Not enough time and not quite the right ingredients, I decided to wing it anyhow.

All was going well until I got to the icing. The butter needed to be at room temperature….. there is no way to sidestep this. I tried to warm it gently, but it ended up being hard and soupy at the same time. I plowed ahead and what should have been fluffy icing looked like this…..blah.

Details matter.

Beautiful movements and beautiful lives are a collaboration of mindful, intentional components weaved together.

Rushed, thoughtless actions create …blah.

My automatic is fast and furious, it takes effort and consideration to modify my familiar patterns and instead to move slowly and deliberately. The reward is the process which is always more enjoyable. The result is just the icing on top.

What is your automatic way of being?

10/29/2025

I love a good thrift score. At first glance these flats seemed too good to be true. Business casual, simple yet unique…..

Ten minutes into my work day, my feet were killing! And I was just sitting! Pretty shoes came off and I cozied back into my Escalantes.

Too many of us ignore these early whispers from our bodies. We wait until it evolves from gentle nudges into screams and cries, in the form of bunions, tendinitis, or stress fractures.

Somatic practices enhance our sense of self, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Eventually taking care of ourselves expands to more than massages and counselling, and includes seemingly unrelated choices such as footwear and pillows.

You deserve to feel cozy and comfortable, in your home, body… and shoes.

How are your feet feeling today?

09/18/2025

Spaciousness

What a luxury it is to have space.
A spacious home. A spacious community. Space in our daily schedule. Space in our annual calendar to vacation. Space to pause and reflect in communication. And of course, space in our bodies.

Injury.
Disease.
Exertion.
Congestion.
Habits.
Posture.
Environment.

All can Comprise the spaciousness in our physical being.

What are you doing to create space in your mind and body?

09/11/2025

Last week I was devouring tasty blackberries on my daily walk, this week they have turned to rotten mush.

A reminder of the changing of seasons.

Before the seasons shift, I sit down with my kids to chat about what sports and activities they want to pursue in the upcoming season.

But this practice doesn’t need to be reserved for kids. As adults we can role model this by regularly reassessing our weekly happenings and reflecting on if they match our values and goals.

What do you want to focus on this season?

09/09/2025

How long can you do a single leg stand? Especially on your not-so-great leg?

This test has been shown to illustrate age related changes more so than strength or gait tests.

“Standing on one leg, especially your non dominant leg showed the highest rate of decline with age” according to researchers out of the Mayo clinic.

Balance is so much more than a question of strength, it is a beautiful interplay of the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems.

A decline in balance can lead to injuries and increases the risk of falling.

This is your gentle reminder to integrate balance into your daily practice, or tune into MovementRX and press play to be guided through a functional movement meditation.

09/05/2025

First week done and dusted.

Well done parents! (and kids) for smoothly navigating new rhythms and transitions, and if they weren’t all so smooth then still celebrate your ability to reflect and make changes next week.

As sports get rolling, athlete parents remember to take care of your health, between all the chauffeuring, meal prep, team snap, Demosphere, game changer, uniform ordering and spectating….. make some time for you!

While your little athlete practices, do you spectate? Or could you steal a moment to yourself? What sort of goals do you have that could be accomplished in 2-3 one hour sessions each week that perfectly align with your little one’s activity?

This is your reminder to get out of the car…. Myself included, and start a healthy weekly routine. If scrolling insta fills your boots, so be it. But I bet you’ll be so much happier after a long walk, a dose of meditation, or a fun circuit session.

Happy first week of September.

08/21/2025

A nice spot for a morning Joe. Vacation mode on saltspring

Address

Cumberland, BC

Website

http://www.michellemark.ca/

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My Story

Clarity, Confidence and Coordination.

Hi, I am Michelle, I am a movement therapist in Cumberland, BC.

I am a Kinesiologist, a nurse and an Anat Baniel Method of Neuromovement ® practitioner. I work with adults with limiting diagnoses’, children with varying needs, athletes, musicians and have significant experience working with pre and postpartum women. I have a lifelong passion for health and wellness.

I offer a variety of services including pre and postpartum Kinesiology, Hypopressives, small group classes and/or ABM Neuromovement lessons. ABM lessons tap into the learning capacity and plasticity of our brains, improving not only movement patterns but neural pathways.