Kristina's Monthly Note: February

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As we close the month of February - a month colored by Valentine’s Day, heart-shaped reminders, and conversations about love - I find myself reflecting on what self-love actually means.

In my twenties, I thought loving myself meant improving myself. Fixing myself. Perfecting myself.

I wanted flat abs. I wanted to be skinny. I worked out relentlessly, compared myself constantly, and measured my worth against standards that were never truly mine. My motivation came from scarcity, from the belief that I was not enough as I was.

The more I tried to force the outcome, the further it seemed to move away. Even when I made progress, it never felt like peace. There was always another layer to fix, another comparison to win, another standard to meet. My body became a project.

In my thirties, especially in my late thirties, after having my son, this shifted.

My goal shifted from external (being skinny) to internal (being healthy and connected to my body instead of at war with it).

I no longer exercise to shrink myself. I move because I love it. I found modalities that nourish my soul - yoga, Pilates, and long hikes up the hills of Marin. I love climbing toward the sky and feeling my breath deepen as the view expands. Movement is no longer punishment. It is connection. It is mental clarity. It is perspective. It is joy.

And ironically, the physical results I once chased so aggressively began to appear as a byproduct. My body grew stronger. My abs flattened. But this time, it was not from force, it was from care.

This experience changed how I see posture, too.

I do not believe in postural punishment - just like I no longer believe in punishing diets or punishing workouts. I do not believe in rigid braces that shame the body into submission. I do not believe in “fixing” ourselves from a place of judgment.

I believe in awareness.

I believe that posture, like nourishment and movement, can be approached with kindness, with gradual, loving support. When we gently train our muscles, when we bring attention to how we carry ourselves, when we integrate support into our daily lives rather than forcing dramatic corrections, we cultivate awareness. 

Posture becomes less about standing up straight and more about standing in relationship with our body. It becomes an act of alignment — not only physical, but emotional and spiritual. When we create structure without force, we create confidence without tension.

As February winds down, perhaps the most powerful act of self-love is not asking, “How can I improve myself?” but instead asking, “How can I support myself?”

Thank you for being part of this movement to change how we carry ourselves - and how we care for our bodies. We’re honored to support you in this new era of alignment.

With all my support,

Kristina

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