Welcome to the Mountain View Wellness Blog!
Musings about life & interviews with awesome & inspiring people about wellness, food, gardening, & simple living (with some recipes, too).
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๐โจ Athlete of the Month: Laurie! โจ๐
Laurie may be one of our newer members, but sheโs already making waves ๐ at Mountain View Wellness! We chose her as our Athlete of the Month because she embodies tenacity, a willingness to learn, and pure joy (yes, joy! ๐). Her commitment to showing up, her positive attitude, and her steady progress in strength make her an inspiration to us all. ๐ช๐ฅ
HERE IS LAURIE IN HER OWN WORDS
Last weekend, I stepped into my gym, and before I could even ask how everyone was doing, I noticed a theme:
โ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ, ๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ.
๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ:
๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ .
Between multiple snowstorms and a lovely ice storm for good measure, my clients had unknowingly signed up for the ultimate full-body workout.
And their backs were paying the price. ๐ซโ๏ธ
๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ซ, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐คโ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ-๐ฌ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐.
The good news? Youโre most likely (read more below on when to see the doctor) not injured, just overworked.
Last week, I got a phone call from a client while she was at the gym. I thought it was weird becauseโฆ
โ
I had literally just seen her. When I answered, she sounded embarrassed, stammering a bit before admitting,
โ
โ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฅโฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ. ๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐?โ
โ
The little sister in me immediately wanted to mess with herโmaybe dangle the towel just out of reach in front of the shower curtain, teasing her a bit.
โ
But the professional in me won out (barely). Instead, I grabbed the towel, walked into the locker room, and handed it over as we both just cracked up at the ridiculous situation.
โ
โThis morning, that same client texted me to say sheโs had a lot on her plate latelyโwork stress, family stress, just a lot. But then she said:โ
โ
"๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐!!"
โ
๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ? ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐.
At Mountain View Wellness, we celebrate one standout client each monthโsomeone who truly embodies the values we hold close.
This month, that person is Charley.
Charley epitomizes three key qualities:
๐น Open-Mindedness โ Heโs always up for trying new movements in his training, tackling unfamiliar hiking trails, and heโs even down with some crazy balance drills we throw at him every once in a while! Thanks for being a great sport!
๐น Consistency โ Charley shows up. Rain or shine, he commits to his workouts, proving that steady effort leads to big results. He even puts in extra training sessions while his wife attends yoga classes, making the most of every opportunity to stay active.
๐น Grit โ Whether itโs pushing through a challenging workout or setting new goals , Charley gives it his all. Heโs proof that dedication and perseverance pay off, both in and out of the gym.
Are you stuck in the yo-yo dieting cycle, trying extreme overhauls that never stick? This blog dives into why lasting health changes happen through small, steady progressโnot all-or-nothing approaches. Learn how to shift your mindset, focus on sustainable habits, and make health changes that fit your life. Discover practical tips, like starting with a 5-minute walk or simple meal swaps, and how health coaching can help you achieve long-term success without deprivation or burnout. Ready to ditch the extremes and build a healthier lifestyle one step at a time? Letโs chat!
This holiday season, Coach Julie reflects on the transition from raising young children to parenting young adults. She shares the bittersweet experience of no longer having to stuff stockings for Santa, while embracing new traditions and looking forward to the future. Julie thanks her community for their support in making 2024 transformational and encourages others to reflect on their own transitions. Wishing everyone happy holidays and an amazing 2025 ahead!
Break free from the holiday comparison trap and discover how to turn envy into inspiration. This post highlights the struggles and triumphs of three women who stopped comparing themselves to others and embraced sustainable lifestyle changes to feel stronger, healthier, and more confident. Learn how to reflect on your values, shift your mindset, and take actionable steps toward the life you want. Ready to make next year your best yet? Book a free coaching call today to start your journey.
his past weekend, I spent time with three different friend groups, and every conversation gravitated towards some big, middle-aged topics:
โ
*Navigating care for aging parents and in-laws ๐ต๐ฝ๐ด๐ป
*Helping parents adjust to senior living ๐ก
*Balancing concern with healthy boundaries (#NotMyParents) ๐ง
*The fear and excitement of empty nesting ๐ชน
*Watching our children become adults ๐ง๐ฝโ๐๐ฉ๐ผโ๐ผ
*Finally, prioritizing our own health and well-being ๐๐๐พโโ๏ธ
*The importance of spending time with people who truly light you up and inspire you โจโค๏ธ
โ
๐๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ?
๐๐๐ซ๐โ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐.
๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ .
๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ซ๐๐, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐๐, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ .
๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฑ๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ?
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค?
You are at the doctorโs office, hop the scale, and donโt want to look.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ !
Julie Bailis, Master Health Coach and Womenโs Menopause Specialist talks about Decision Fatigue and how having a plan can drastically reduce the pain and suffering that making too many decisions in one day can create.
Julie Bailis shares what she learned as she embarked on a year-long journey of slow and steady lifestyle change through habits change, not caloric deprivation and meal plans.
One year and 2 months ago, I got this crazy idea of training for and competing in my first powerlifting meet. Since then, I have competed in two meets, I hold the state records for my age and weight classes (two different weight classes, yes), and now I am going to Las Vegas to compete in Nationals!
You see, over the last year, I have learned so much about not only powerlifting but also about myself, my older body, the importance of exercise for this older body, and the power of community.
Six months ago, I decided to compete in my first (and possibly only) powerlifting competition. It was a bucket list kind of idea. I had some background in lifting but no experience with powerlifting-specific training. All I knew was that I would need a coach. So that was my first step.
Finding a Coach
I asked around a bit and was directed to Revolution Fitness (the gym) and Resilient Training Lab (the coaches who program). I met Paul, the owner. He has a great laugh, tons of experience with powerlifting, and a team of experienced coaches. I knew that Paul and his team could help me prep for the meet. So, in April, I officially started my training (3 days/week).
Hosting a Clothing Swap is one way we can reduce the fashion industryโs toll on our environmental and human rights.
Below are few more ideas we came up with at the Clothing Swap. Enjoy and share with others!
Five months ago, I decided to train for my first powerlifting meet.
The meet is now five weeks away.
How is it going?
The training has been challenging in ways I hadn't initially expected. Let me take you back to the beginning (cue flashback sequence).
The Doctor's Office Called and Told Me I was "Borderline Obese." What the?! My Problem with BMI Julie Bailis shares her thoughts on why BMI is not an accurate measurement of health and gives you alternative ways to measure health and the effects of lifestyle change.
Curious about Powerlifting? I was. Now Iโm competing in my first Powerlifting meet. Hereโs how that happened.
Julie Bailis finishes her 50- mile bike ride that began with a fall and 19 stitches and ended with connection and community.
Two weeks and 19 stitches after a slo-mo bike fall, Julie updates you on her healing, learning, and next adventure.
Julie Bailis tells about how a bike fall during a charity bike ride led to a day of community, coincidence, and connection.
I interview Karl Borne of True Cyclery in New Haven, CT. We talk about how to prep your bike for the spring cycling season, knowing when you need to purchase a new bike, and where the heck to get a new bike for yourself these days.
Julie Bailis interviews Master Gardener Becky Martorelli and asks her all about organic gardening for newbies. What to plant, where to plant, when to plant, and what can we do now to ensure a solid crop this year.
Hamantaschen Recipe
Delicious sugar cookie taste filled with sweet jelly. Make on Purim or make every day!
For full disclosure, I usually double the recipe because I like to give these cookies away to friends and neighbors. They are delicious and people love them. So, go ahead and double the recipeโฆ Itโs real-life math and double the love.
With more and more people working from home and sitting in front of computers all day long is rising. Due to those long hours in front of the computer, many people are experiencing pain and fatigue. Dr. Armand Gagliardi, DC (Dr. AJ) of Southern Connecticut Joint & Muscle in Branford, defines "good" posture and demonstrates a few "microbreaks" you can take throughout the day to keep to healthy, happy, and alert!
As a Professional Reflexologist & Yoga Teacher, students and clients often ask me to show them hand stretches to alleviate hand, wrist, and finger pain. As a result of these requests, I decided to make a video of me demonstrating a few Hand Reflexology techniques that you can use throughout the day to keep your hands, wrists, and fingers healthy and help you reduce anxiety and neck pain.
In this Wisdom Wednesday interview, Julie Bailis interviews Robin Ritterman, ND, LAc. Dr. Ritterman will discuss signs of a strong immune system, signs of a weak immune system, and natural ways to strengthen your immune response.
What is the pelvic floor, what does it do, and why is it important?
What are signs of pelvic floor problems? In other words, how do I know if I have pelvic floor issues?
What is a pelvic floor therapist? What do they do? How do they help?
What are a few simple things we can do to ensure a healthy pelvic floor?
In this interview, Lisa Gramlich , PT.