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.

01/23/2026

What meaning is attached to your beloved items?

My last post about my daughter’s Birks inspired many folks to send me messages about their own love affairs with their own Birks. Thank you for sharing! ❤️❤️

It got me wondering, is the attachment for the shoe itself or for what they represent?

I have my own Birk’s and when I slide them on I know that I’m rolling slowly, not in a rush. I am choosing comfort over style. I will be stationary more than moving. To me Birk’s symbolize SLOW.

Another item that reflects my passion for pace is my morning coffee mug. Again, it symbolizes a change of pace, a purposeful pause, an intentional softness. When my lips meet the soft edges of this mug my whole system knows I have time (as opposed to the sharp, steel edges of my travel thermos which symbolizes hurry!!!).

01/20/2026

These came into our life second hand, were cherished and then slowly ground into a literal pulp.

So we bought new ones. Yet the emotional attachment to these has made discarding them oh so hard. A literal battle.

Is this hoarding? Object attachment? Frugality?

Pathologizing aside, what is most interesting to me is connecting these themes that show up today for us (or our children) and connecting them to generational patterns in our parents, or their parents… and so on.

Does she need to keep these shoes? Or is this a deeply rooted pattern of hoarding connected to our Chinese ancestors who watched the communist party take everyone’s belongings? Or scarcity from ancestral experience of the Irish famine? Or…?

Who are you?

What parts of you consciously support the life you want? And what parts are connected to historical experiences that can make peace with and discard?

How much of how you do you is conscious and by choice? ….. and how much is unconscious, wired into you through genetics, symbols, nonverbal messages, trauma, experience… ?

Follow along for more insight on making the unconscious conscious.

Self Discovery Thru:

-movement exercises
-cognitive activities
-journaling
-body awareness
-self reflection

01/14/2026

Last week this beautiful mother’s life was tragically stolen in a senseless case of IPV. She leaves behind 2 beautiful girls who need our help. Please consider donating via the link.

I had the pleasure of meeting Laura through my youngest child. While I did not know her well, in all of our interactions I walked away absolutely inspired. She radiated positivity, composure, and confidence.

My heart aches for Laura, her daughters, her family and loved ones. RIP ❤️❤️❤️

01/08/2026

Yesterday was hard for many reasons.

When days are hard, instead of pushing back, I’ve learned to soften.

Instead of a run, a workout, any more adrenaline added to an already vibrating system…. I did a gentle movement lesson to settle my nerves, smooth the jitters, and to reconnect my mind and body to the safe sensation of home. Somatic flexibility.

We have one home for life, nourish it.

What do you do to nourish yourself when life feels heavy?

12/14/2025

How do you celebrate?

Today I am celebrating completing a term where I saddistically decided to double up on courses. Just three more courses + practicum ahead…. Much more than halfway done.

So I celebrated.

With a solo run in the forest.

Movement is a treat I look forward to. Something I love and appreciate. Something that at times I must deny myself to tackle less-enjoyable adult tasks. It makes me feel happy, fulfilled, energized, and grounded.

At times people have said to me they envied my love of exercise, they need motivation or someone to push them out the door. They loathe movement and consider it a chore.

Mindset is everything. If you want to move more, find movement you love. Explore different activities until you find the one that hits the spot. Or mix it up and dabble. Find movement makes your heart swoon. And label it a luxurious treat.

Look forward to it.
Savour it.
Reflect upon it lovingly.

Stop saying “I have to”, start thinking “I want to”….

12/11/2025

Mindful walks in atmospheric rivers?

Why not?!

Mother Nature once again is forcing us to slow down.

Less Cars on the road, kids off the soccer fields, shopping days delayed…. Time to stop doing and just be.

Despite wet legs and soggy socks, the rhythmic pattern of the rain and glowing foliage help slow the breath and brain.

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?

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.