I've been home from Austria for a few days now, settling back into the familiar rhythm of work, family, laundry, and the seemingly endless number of things that require my attention. After two weeks away, there's plenty to catch up on, but I've been trying to hold on to a few observations from our travels before they get swallowed up by everyday life.

Travel has a wonderful way of making the ordinary seem interesting again. Of course, there were the mountains, the scenery, the beautiful places we visited, and the time spent with Mike and Ash. But some of the things that left the biggest impression on me were surprisingly mundane.

Like watching people walk. Everybody walks, and rides bikes everywhere.

Young people, older people, families with small children, people with varying degrees of mobility. We encountered people moving at every possible pace, often with trekking poles in hand, making their way along trails, through villages, and up and down mountainsides. People riding bikes for pleasure, but also utility, carting along manual labor supplies and more.

Parents carried little ones in carriers when necessary. Others walked slowly alongside children who were determined to make the journey on their own. Older adults took their time, stopped when they needed to, and continued on their way. There was something wonderful about seeing movement treated as an ordinary part of life rather than a separate activity reserved for the fit, the young, or the particularly ambitious. Nobody appeared especially concerned with making it look impressive. They were simply going. I only saw three "joggers" the whole time.

As someone who has spent much of her adult life working in fitness and wellness, I couldn't help noticing the contrast. In the United States, we have an extraordinary ability to turn physical activity into an elaborate undertaking. We purchase equipment, join programs, track metrics, set goals, and sometimes become so preoccupied with doing exercise correctly that we overlook how much of our physical well-being comes from simply using our bodies.

I love training. I believe in progressive overload, structured programming, and the importance of maintaining strength as we age. None of that has changed. But watching people of so many ages and abilities navigate those mountains reminded me that the purpose of building physical capacity is to have more opportunities to use it. Strength isn't the destination. It's what helps us get there.

As it turns out, I had an opportunity to put that philosophy into practice myself. Partway through our trip, I injured my ankle while descending a mountain. It was one of those frustrating accidents that happens in a split second: an awkward step onto uneven terrain, a shift in weight, and suddenly the thing you've been relying on to carry you through your adventures isn't cooperating. I still had several miles to hike to get off the mountain. Not exactly how I'd planned to spend the afternoon.

After wrapping my ankle with a bandanna for support, I made my way down slowly. Over the following days, I had to adjust my expectations, rest more, and occasionally use a cane to get around. Yes, a cane, at 45. I found the humor in it, it was fun and it had a silver dog head, and just happened to be in our guest houses communal umbrella bucket.

There was a time when an injury like that might have felt like a personal failure or a reason to be miserable about everything I couldn't do. This time, I was mostly grateful for all the things I still could. I could enjoy being somewhere beautiful with my family. I could explore at a different pace. I could rest without feeling that I was wasting the day. And I could trust that the strength and fitness I'd spent years developing would support my recovery, even if they couldn't prevent every unfortunate misstep.

I didn't need to turn my vacation into a recovery project, compensate for missed workouts, or prove that I could push through everything. I needed to let my ankle heal. There's a difference between commitment and rigidity, and sometimes the most useful thing we can practice is knowing when to adapt.

One of my favorite surprises was the grocery shopping. Even in small mountain towns, we found an impressive selection of vegetarian and vegan foods, often conveniently organized in one section rather than scattered throughout the store like some kind of plant-based scavenger hunt.

As someone who eats a predominantly plant-based, pescatarian diet, I appreciated how easy it was to find options that worked for me. Between grocery shopping and eating out, I was able to enjoy the local food while continuing to prioritize protein, vegetables, and the nutrition habits that help me feel my best.

There wasn't much thought required beyond choosing what sounded good, and the occasional label translation adventure. Which, in my opinion, is how nutrition should work most of the time.

The other thing that stood out was how seriously people seemed to take their time off. We were visiting during shoulder season, that quieter period between the busy summer and winter tourism seasons. Quite a few businesses were closed, including accommodations and restaurants that would ordinarily be bustling with visitors.

We also encountered several regional and religious holidays while there, and when I say things were closed, I mean closed. Not operating with a skeleton crew, or limited hours. Not keeping someone on call just in case. Not making an exception because a tourist might want something. Closed. There was something both inconvenient and refreshing about it. Not just restaurants, but grocery stores, gas stations, everything.

Of course, I recognize that life in Austria isn't free of financial pressure, overwork, or complicated employment realities. And I suspect that a person who lives there might have a few things to say about my romantic interpretation of their vacation policies.

Still, as an American small-business owner who knows how difficult it can be to step away from work, I couldn't help admiring a culture in which taking time off seemed less like an individual indulgence and more like an accepted part of life. We often talk about rest as something we have to earn. A reward for productivity, something to squeeze in once the important work is finished.

But the work is never really finished, is it? There will always be another email, another bill, another responsibility, another reason why this week, this month, or this year isn't quite the right time. At some point, we have to decide that enjoying our lives belongs among those responsibilities, too.

I've thought a lot about this over the past year, especially as I've worked to make more space for travel, family, and the parts of my life that don't revolve around earning a living. I know that travel is a privilege. I also know that things are expensive right now. For many families, the rising cost of groceries, housing, healthcare, and everyday necessities makes the idea of an international vacation feel almost absurd.

I'm certainly not suggesting anyone ignore their financial reality or put a vacation on a credit card they can't afford to pay. But, I do want to challenge the idea that meaningful experiences should only happen once every other part of our lives is perfectly in order. Because that day may never come.

Maybe the trip you've been thinking about isn't Europe. Maybe it's a weekend camping somewhere you've always wanted to visit, a few days with an old friend, or a family vacation you've been talking about for years. Maybe it's something that will take two years of saving and planning. That's okay. Start planning anyway.

Find out what it would actually cost. Look at dates. Set aside what you can. Make the reservation when you're ready. Give yourself something wonderful to work toward. And when the time comes, go.

You might not see everything you hoped to see. The weather might be terrible. Something you wanted to visit might be closed for a holiday you didn't know existed. You might even find yourself hobbling around a beautiful mountain village with a cane. It will still be worth it.

Because the point was never to have a perfect trip, it was to have the experience, to make memories with people you love, to step outside your usual routines, and to remember that your life is happening right now. Not someday, when everything is easier. Now.

And if there's one thing I brought home from Austria, it's a renewed appreciation for the life I've spent so many years working to build. I want to keep working hard. I want to keep building things that matter. I want to keep training and getting stronger.

But I also want to make sure I'm using that strength, that freedom, and that hard-earned opportunity to do more of the things that make all the work worthwhile. Take the trip. Make the memories. Rest when you need to. Bring the trekking poles! You can always adjust the itinerary.

BACK AT THE SUMMIT | Winter Is Coming!
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As much as I love traveling, there's something wonderful about returning to Tahoe this time of year.

We're heading into one of my favorite seasons at Tahoe Flow Arts & Fitness. The Holiday Bazaar is on the horizon, the studio is gearing up for winter, and I'm looking forward to the energy that comes when everyone starts settling into their cold-weather routines. And yes, I'm hoping all this El Niño talk translates into some fantastic snow.

Winter in Tahoe is a wonderful reminder of why we train. Whether your goal is to ski stronger, snowboard longer, feel more confident getting outside, or simply maintain a little movement and community through the colder months, we're here for it.

We've also added new opportunities for movement, including TRX Stretch on Mondays and TRX Restore on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., alongside our other fitness, yoga, and aerial offerings.

If you've been meaning to come back to the gym, try something new, or reconnect with your routine, consider this your invitation. No need to wait for January! Come move with us.

See you at the Summit,

NBC-HWC | ACSM-CPT

Mental PEAKS: How Gritty Are You?

I’m just finishing Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by psychologist Angela Duckworth, and it’s given me quite a bit to think about.

One of the ideas I appreciate most is that grit isn’t simply about working hard or refusing to quit. Duckworth describes it as a combination of sustained passion and perseverance toward meaningful, long-term goals. That distinction matters.

You can be incredibly hardworking and still find yourself pouring energy into things that don’t align with what you actually want. You can also be passionate about something without consistently doing the work required to pursue it.

And sometimes perseverance looks less like pushing harder and more like adapting your approach without abandoning what matters.

The book includes several self-assessments and reflection exercises. One of my favorites is Duckworth’s Grit Scale, a short questionnaire that explores how consistently we pursue our interests and persevere through challenges.

This week’s practice: Measure your grit.

​Take Angela Duckworth’s Official Grit Scale →​

It takes about two minutes, and there are no right or wrong answers.

Once you’ve received your score, consider three questions:

1. Where in my life have I demonstrated sustained commitment to something meaningful?
2. Am I persevering toward something I genuinely care about, or simply continuing because I’ve already invested so much?
3. What is one long-term goal that deserves more consistent attention from me?

Remember, this isn’t a test of your worth or a prediction of your future success. It’s an opportunity to examine the relationship between your efforts and your priorities.

Because grit isn’t just about how long you can keep going. It’s also about knowing what is worth going the distance for.

Join us for Power in Practice 2027

The Dolomites Are Calling! 🇮🇹 Nine guests are already joining us in Italy next spring, and I couldn’t be more excited about the group we’re bringing together! Power in Practice is heading to Latsch, South Tyrol, May 30–June 5, 2027, for seven days of movement, adventure, connection, and a little alpine luxury. Julz and I will be hosting at the gorgeous five-star Das Paradies resort and spa, where we’ll enjoy yoga, strength, hiking, incredible food, spa and sauna time, and exploring the beautiful surrounding region. The best part? This is your adventure, too. Challenge yourself, slow down, or enjoy a little of both. We still have room for a few more wonderful humans! Registration is open, and you can save €500 with code ITALYVIP, until Thanksgiving! ​Explore the itinerary, pricing, and reserve your spot!​ The mountains are waiting. Maybe 2027 is the year you finally say yes to that adventure.

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