Living with chronic illness means carrying invisible suffering every day—especially when acute illness hits on top of an already depleted nervous system. This honest reflection explores Long COVID–like symptoms, post-exertional malaise, chronic fatigue, and the grief of being “sick on sick,” while reframing recovery as rediscovering meaning, compassion, and wholeness even without a cure.

Meditation is a powerful, evidence-based practice shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and support overall well-being. This beginner’s guide to mindfulness meditation offers simple, compassionate steps on how to meditate, use the breath or body as an anchor, and build a sustainable practice through guided meditation, patience, and community support.

Mindfulness invites us to reconnect with the body—the one place we live every moment of our lives. In this reflective talk, I explore how mindful awareness of the body can support healing from disordered eating, depression, and chronic illness. Learn practical ways to tune in, release resistance, and reclaim presence.

In a culture that glorifies pushing through pain, many athletes—and even everyday achievers—learn to ignore the body’s messages until it screams. As a former elite gymnast turned functional medicine and mindfulness practitioner, I’ve learned there’s a better way. In this blog, I share a powerful shift: learning to listen to pain with compassion rather than override it with willpower. Whether you're an athlete, a veteran, or someone living with chronic pain, this mindful approach can transform your healing.

Learning to set healthy boundaries is essential for healing, self-respect, and emotional freedom. In this My Mindful Medicine blog, former elite athlete and functional medicine practitioner Theresa Kulikowski shares her journey from people-pleasing and burnout to honoring the body’s wisdom. Discover how trusting your boundaries supports resilience, balance, and authentic well-being.

Sports need a bodymindspirit approach—not silos. As an Olympic alternate turned functional medicine practitioner, I show how the body–mind connection drives athlete mental health, recovery, and performance. Address root causes—thyroid, gut, nutrition, trauma—while integrating mindfulness, psychology, and medical care. Build holistic wellness teams to unlock resilience and sustainable success.

At West Point, my two-day signing for Beyond the Battlefield renewed my hope. Cadets and professors embraced mindfulness, meditation, and moral injury as vital tools for military mental health and resilience. This book shares true stories of service, PTSD, healing, and connection—bridging civilians and soldiers. Join the conversation, nurture courage, and explore mindful pathways to recovery.

Perfectionism holds us back. Inspired by Greg McKeown’s Effortless, this post reframes “rubbish” (mistakes) as fuel for learning. As a former elite athlete and Army veteran, I share how embracing imperfection, mindfulness, and self-compassion builds psychological safety, a growth mindset, and momentum. Ditch fear, redo the test, and let mistakes spark effortless breakthroughs.

Learn how to cultivate authentic joy with mindfulness and neuroplasticity. Break the negativity cycle by training your brain to “take in the good”—notice, savor, and wire new neural pathways for ease, gratitude, and resilience. Simple daily practices build lasting habits of joy and well-being. Explore a mind-body, functional medicine approach and watch the H.E.A.L steps to begin.

Just like a garden, our minds grow what we plant. This post explores how mindfulness helps us "weed out" harmful patterns and plant seeds of compassion, resilience, and joy. Inspired by Thoreau, Thich Nhat Hanh, and personal experience, I share tools to shift mental habits and nurture healing from within.

As Suicide Prevention Month highlights, athletes and veterans face unique mental health challenges. Learn how mindfulness, meditation, holistic wellness, and supportive care can reduce depression, suicidal ideation, and stress. Discover practical strategies for chronic illness recovery, mental health support, and building resilience in high-pressure careers.

Discover the power of wise hope in your life with this reflective blog post and guided meditation. Learn how to cultivate balanced hope, mindful aspirations, and present-moment fulfillment while navigating disappointment, anxiety, and longing. Explore practical steps to connect with your deepest desires and bring peace, clarity, and self-discovery into daily life.

Mindfulness wakes us up—from self-judgment, unconscious living, and the trance of unworthiness. Through present-moment awareness and compassion, we can reconnect to our shared humanity, release limiting beliefs, and become a force for healing in a world that needs more kindness, clarity, and hope.

Feeling overwhelmed by life’s storms? This blog explores how mindfulness helps us stay grounded, even when chaos surrounds us. Through guided practice, breath awareness, and a shift in perspective, we can find steadiness within. Discover how presence can be your anchor—even in the fiercest winds.

If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, you're not alone—and there is hope. In this blog, I share five mindfulness-based tools to help you navigate emotional darkness with compassion and courage. From the RAIN technique to grounding in nature, journaling, and somatic practices like pendulating, these steps are designed to support healing and remind you that your pain is valid, and your presence matters. Let’s walk this mindful path together.

Discover the transformative power of mindfulness and self-compassion with the R.A.I.N. practice. Learn to recognize, allow, investigate, and nurture your thoughts and emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and develop emotional resilience. Perfect for managing overwhelm, difficult feelings, and cultivating inner peace daily

Our minds can be our greatest ally—or our fiercest foe. In this heartfelt blog, I share my personal journey through intrusive thoughts, OCD, and postpartum struggle, and how mindfulness, grounding, and compassion helped me befriend the “mental beast.” Learn how to gently shift from resistance to healing and reclaim peace.

Shedding our athletic armor is part of healing after sport. This blog explores the identity loss, pressure, and perfectionism athletes face and how mindfulness, compassion, and awareness help us reconnect with who we are beyond the competition floor. Reclaim your strength, release the armor, and rediscover your true self.

Discover the power of functional medicine—a root-cause, holistic approach to healing. Learn how personalized care, prevention, and lifestyle medicine can transform health from the inside out. Functional medicine empowers you to move beyond symptoms and reconnect with your body, mind, and spirit.

Emotional breakdowns may feel like weakness, but they often hold the seeds of breakthrough. In this heartfelt blog, I share how chronic illness, perfectionism, and personal struggle led to deep emotional release—and the healing wisdom that followed. Learn how to navigate breakdowns with mindfulness, grace, and growth.