18/01/2026
Normally I don’t jump on Instagram trends, but 2016 will always be one of my favourite years ✨
I graduated with my Doctor of Physiotherapy in 2013 and went straight into private practice. I put a lot of pressure on myself — constant education, workingout, running, surfing most days. Everything felt “on track”… until it didn’t.
Around 2014–2015 my skin started breaking out, then came exhaustion, and irrational anxiety. I began saving to move back home to sit my registration exams, thinking maybe I needed to be closer to my parents because I felt like I was going insane.
Thankfully, I found an incredible functional health doctor (a story for another time). With guidance, lifestyle changes and support, I slowly began to feel like myself again.
Since I’d already been saving, I decided to do something different in 2016 — I chose adventure instead. I completed my yoga teacher training, did a freediving course, tried white water kayaking (definitely not for me 😅), Jase taught me to lead climb, I taught him to kite in Sri Lanka, spent a month training Muay Thai in northern Thailand, lots of surfing, and met some amazing people.
The year began in Hawaii visiting friends. Jase and I had only been dating two months when he came to visit and I got to show him around. I then spent time at home in California with my family — surfing, practicing yoga and Pilates, and slowing down.
The rest of the year was spent across Asia — surf trips with my dad and girlfriends, a Thailand adventure with my mum & bestie, and months exploring Indo, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines with Jase. Between trips, I’d fly back to Bali to teach anatomy in yoga trainings.
From the outside, it probably looked like a perfect year. But the photos don’t show recurring ear infections, food poisoning, a dog bite, or returning home with parasites.
Still, the good memories outweigh the bad ones.
2016 reminded me what inspired me. It showed me that while traditional physio was draining, my passion for the body, movement and learning was still very much alive — I just wanted to work in a different way when I returned home. 💕
