Health Update: Movement is medicine – Mountain Xpress – What Experts Say

As part of Xpress‘ annual Wellness Issue series, we reached out to some of this year’s Best of WNC winners in the Health and Wellness categories to share their approaches to managing their physical and mental health.

Below, we speak with Heather Parmley, a massage therapist, yoga teacher and retreat facilitator through her business Awaken Wellness Retreats. “Giving back to my community, helping others the way others have helped me, gives me purpose,” she says. “Taking care of our bodies isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.”

Xpress: What’s your approach for managing screen time and technology to support optimal health?

Parmley: I am so blessed to have two dogs. They get me outside every day, and I think that’s what’s most important: getting away from screens and connecting with nature; looking far out at trees and the sky, and not constantly up close. I work on my attention span by just being, sitting in silence, meditating before bed. I read paper books before bed instead of scrolling. I also often take social media breaks, deleting the apps from my phone for weeks at a time. I can struggle with screens; after all, social media is made to be addictive, and I can get sucked into funny animal videos for far too long. So it’s important that I check in with myself often on how much I’m staring at a screen.

Can you share one or two food items or simple dishes that are your personal go-tos for maintaining a healthy diet?

I have quite the sweet tooth. So lately I’ve been trying new fun and healthy recipes that’ll satisfy those cravings. My new fav is cutting an apple in half, carving the core out, drizzling honey, a dash of cinnamon and then popping it in the air fryer for 15 mins. Once slightly cooled, I add Greek yogurt and a little more honey. It’s the perfect dessert that hits just right after dinner. I’m trying to eliminate processed sugars as much as possible and finding easy recipes like this has been a big game changer.

What is one wellness habit readers should consider adding to their daily or weekly routines in 2026? 

Dancing! I love music, and when I get a song that I can’t get enough of, I love starting my day dancing as wildly and goofy as my body wants to. Movement is medicine … and so is laughter.