Self Care Day!

Recently I attended a Self Care Day: Release & Recenter session led by Andrea Troughton, alongside Joanne, Bri, and Penny. It was a beautiful, grounding day filled with intentional movement, journaling, meditation with acupuncture, and a nourishing vegan brunch.

As a Kung Fu practitioner, I often think about discipline, training cycles, and pushing past limits. This day reminded me that restoration deserves just as much structure and intention as training.

Building a Self-Care “Menu”
The biggest takeaway I’m embracing is the idea of creating a menu of self-care practices — not relying on a single structured routine, but having a variety of options to choose from depending on the moment.
Think of it like this:

• Snacks – Quick practices you can do during the day: a few deep breaths between classes, a short walk, five minutes of stretching, stepping outside for fresh air.

• Meals – Practices that take more time and intention but can be done regularly: a longer meditation, a journaling session, a focused mobility routine, a meaningful conversation.

• Desserts – The special treats you plan for: a retreat, a trip, a workshop, or a full day off to truly reset.

In martial arts, we don’t train the same intensity every day. We cycle. We recover. We refine. Why should self-care be any different?

Training Smarter, Living Stronger
There is still a lot to learn, but I’m ready.
This week, I’m creating my self-care menu and putting it into action. Just like with any training plan, I’ll review it next week and see what worked, what didn’t, and where I need to adjust.
Self-care isn’t indulgence. It’s maintenance. It’s strategy. It’s longevity.
Stay tuned.