Where do you carry stress and tension in your body? I’ve asked this question thousands of times, and most people give the same answer: the upper back, neck, and shoulders. It seems this has been our default holding pattern for ages. In Greek mythology, Atlas carried the weight of the heavens—often interpreted as the world—on his shoulders. It’s no wonder we so often feel like we’re doing the same. Many patients tell me they know their posture isn’t helping and that they “need to fix it.”...

Last fall, I wasn’t feeling like myself. I chalked it up to turning 49, but something felt off. Even though I was sleeping well, I was constantly tired. I could still work and get through my day, but focusing sometimes felt like pushing through fog. My legs ached as if I had gone on a long hike the day before—except I hadn’t. Then I did go on a hike, one that wasn’t particularly challenging, and found myself unusually short of breath for most of it. By the time I got back to my car, I had to...

No, the answer is not rescuing a kitty. But if you know me well, you might suspect I’d say that rescuing a kitty is the second most important thing you can do for your health. All purring aside… The real answer is rest . We live in a society that celebrates pushing through, working harder, and skipping vacation time. Productivity is praised, exhaustion is normalized, and rest is often treated like a luxury instead of a necessity. As a result, rest has become incredibly undervalued. In my...