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 FITNESS & FITNESS & 

HEALTHY HEALTHY 
LIVINGLIVING

Mountain View News Saturday, November 8, 2025

LA SALLE GIRLS’ TENNIS BATTLES PAST 

COACHELLA VALLEY IN CIF 1ST ROUND

The La Salle girls’ tennis team 
continues its impressive 2025 
season with the start of their 
postseason run, defeating 
Coachella Valley 13–5 in the 
first round of the CIF playoffs 
despite being short a player 
and traveling more than two 
hours each way for the match. 
The victory marks another 
example of the team’s grit, focus, 
and ability to rise under 
pressure.

“Practicing the pressure moments 
was key to our win,” 
said Coach Javier. “Five of our 
eight players are new to the 
team, and this was a brand-
new experience for them. 
Driv-ing two hours didn’t 
help either—but they handled 
it like pros.”

Despite the strong finish, the 
day didn’t start smoothly. The 
Lancers split the first six sets, 
and Coach Javier admitted 
he was “not happy” with the 
team’s early energy. But in 
the second round, everything 
began to click. La Salle found 
its rhythm and began dominating 
the pressure points 
that had been emphasized in 
practice.

The turning point came from 
freshman Sima Samari, who was down 3–5 in her second singles match and looked on the verge of 
defeat before rallying to win in a tie-breaker. “That was huge,” said Coach Javier. “She completely 
turned it around and gave us the momentum we needed to close out the match.”

Even while continuing to compete with one player short, the Lancers have embraced the challenge. 
“We’ve honestly gotten used to it,” said Coach Javier. “It weighs on us, yes, but we’re using it to maintain 
our focus each point.”

Now, the team turns its attention to the next test—a home playoff match against No. 3–seed Norwalk 
on Friday. “We’re playing well,” said Coach Javier. “We’re going to get a great practice in and 
prepare for a strong opponent.”

For Coach Javier, the success of this group goes beyond the scoreboard. “It’s reward-ing,” he said. 
“It’s been a tough season, but I’m so proud of how they’ve handled the pressure. And you’ll see—
we’re not done.”


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

BRAIN POWER

Most people think of exercise as something 
that only helps the body. We work out to get 
stronger, run faster, or burn calories. But exercising 
your body also exercises your brain. 
It’s true. The same ways we train our muscles 
can help our brains grow and work better.

Scientists have found that certain kinds of 
movement can actually make your brain 
stronger. Activities that challenge your balance, 
coordination, or memory can help your 
brain create new connections. These connections 
make it easier to think, learn, and 
remember things. Challenging your body 
challenges your brain, helping it build new 
pathways.

One example is learning a new sport or 
movement. When you practice a tennis serve, 
a dance step, or a complex yoga pose, your brain has to figure out the best way 
to move your body. It remembers what worked and what didn’t. Over time, this 
builds “neural pathways,” which are like little roads your brain uses to send messages. 
The more roads you have, the faster and smarter your brain can work.

Even simple activities can help. Walking, jogging, or riding a bike increases blood 
flow to the brain. More blood means more oxygen and nutrients for brain cells. 
Scientists have seen that people who move regularly have more growth in a part 
of the brain called the hippocampus. This area helps with memory and learning. 
A bigger hippocampus usually means better memory and thinking skills.

Exercise also releases chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. One of 
them is called “brain-derived neurotrophic factor,” or BDNF for short. BDNF 
acts like a fertilizer for brain cells. It helps them grow, survive, and connect with 
other cells. Without it, brain cells can weaken over time. Exercise is one of the 
best ways to boost BDNF naturally.

Balance and coordination exercises are especially powerful for the brain. Things 
like standing on one leg, practicing tai chi, or doing agility drills make your brain 
focus on controlling your body. This kind of focus improves the “executive function” 
part of the brain. Executive function is responsible for planning, problem-
solving, and paying attention. In other words, exercises that challenge your body 
also challenge your brain in useful ways.

Kids and adults both benefit. Studies show that children who are active do better 
in school. Their brains are sharper, they remember more, and they pay attention 
longer. For adults, regular exercise can protect against memory loss and help fight 
mental decline as we age. Some research even suggests that people who stay active 
have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

But you don’t need a pricey gym to get brain benefits. You can combine physical 
and mental challenges at home. Try learning a new dance, balancing on a pillow 
while doing squats, or practicing a sport you’ve never tried before. Even walking 
while counting steps or spotting patterns around you can give your brain a 
workout.

The key is variety. Just like muscles, the brain responds to new challenges. Doing 
the same old routine over and over can keep your body fit but may not push your 
brain as much. Change things up. Try something new each week. The more you 
challenge both your body and brain together, the more benefits you will see.

Here are some simple, practical mental challenges layered on top of exercises that 
you may already do:

1. Balance on One Foot – Stand on one leg for 30 seconds, then switch. For 
an extra challenge, close your eyes or stand on a pillow.

2. Memory Walk – Take a short walk while naming all the objects of a certain 
shape, or category you see around you. Change the shape/category each day.

3. Sit-To-Stand or Squat – Each time you stand, say another item that is of 
a specific color. Ex. red would be things like apple, stop sign, rose, cherries, etc. 
Everyday pick a different color.

4. Run On – While running think of as many opposite pairs of things you 
can. Things like hot/cold, up/down, in/out, light/dark, etc.

5. Backwards Stretch – While doing your stretching routine, count backwards 
from 30 to 1 while you hold each stretch.

6. Pedal-and-Recall – While cycling, name all the items you would find in 
your garage. Change the list daily. Ex. items from your kitchen, baby items, 
spices, types of cars, etc.

Remember, whenever you exercise you’re not just shaping your body. You’re shaping 
your brain, too. Every jump, stretch, or spin helps build a stronger, smarter 
mind. Fitness isn’t just about looking good or lifting heavier—it’s about growing 
your brain and keeping it healthy for years to come.


ALL THINGS by Jeff Brown


BARAK VAN WYK-MARRIAGE 
COUNSELOR & GUIDE ON LOVE 
IN RELATIONSHIP

Love is not a mood, It is not a feeling, it is a 
practice,it is a constant choice. 

You know around 60% of my work is with couples 
helping them reignite the spark, helping them reconnect 
emotionally helping them work through 
betrayal, through cheating, all kinds of stuff, but I 
think one of the most misplaced ideas is that love 
is how I feel about you. 

Feelings come and go you're up and down every single day. Love is a practice in a relationship, do I 
respect or do I criticize, do I make the effort,or do I slack off.

Every single little decision builds the relationship that you have and that is why the most successful 
relationships the most happy couples aren't the ones who never fight, they are the ones who keep 
choosing each other and keep choosing respect even during conflict, who keeps choosing kindness 
even when they're overwhelmed, the ones who keep choosing repair instead of resentment.

Loving isn’t a one time decision it is a thousand little decisions that are stacked on top of each other. 
So one of the most powerful things you can say to each other is not I love you,it is that I will continue 
choosing you and if your partner doesn't choose you, doesn't show you respect doesn't put in the time 
or the effort doesn't listen but is dismissive & is unwilling to change.Is there still love? 

Do you still like each other? Sit with that one. 

UNLOCK YOUR LIFE


FINDING WHAT'S ALREADY THERE: The Science of Stress Blindness 

I was late. Again. Keys? Gone. I checked the counter three times, 
rifled through my bag twice, and scattered the mail pile. That familiar 
panic started tightening, heart racing, vision tunneling on the 
empty spot where my keys should be. Then I remembered something. 
I stopped. Took a breath. Let my shoulders drop. Softened 
my gaze. There they were. Behind the fruit bowl. Exactly where I'd 
looked three times already.

Here's what most people don't know: I wasn't being careless or inattentive. 
My brain was doing exactly what it's designed to do under 
stress. And that same mechanism that kept me from seeing my 
keys? It's also keeping you from seeing the opportunities, resources, 
and solutions that are right in front of you.

When Stress Makes You Blind

In an article published by the National Institute of Public Health, neuroscientists using visual 
attention tasks found that negative emotional cues literally narrow attentional focus, reducing 
our ability to notice things in our peripheral vision. Research indicates that when individuals 
are anx-ious, their gaze behavior undergoes significant changes, resulting in inefficient and 
often ineffec-tive search strategies.

Translation: When you're stressed, your visual field actually contracts. You see less. You notice 
less. Your brain prioritizes survival over observation.

It gets worse. Studies demonstrate that stress upregulates the norepinephrine system in the 
brain, which weakens cognitive flexibility and creativity. Research published in 2024 found 
that acute stress negatively impacts creative performance through elevated cortisol levels and 
reduced cognitive flexibility.

This means when you're in panic mode, whether about your keys, your career, or your bank 
ac-count, you literally cannot access the creative problem-solving part of your brain. The 
solutions are there. You just can't see them.

The Power of Soft Eyes

But here's the remarkable part: you can reverse this. Immediately.

When we soften our eyes and shift from focused vision to peripheral awareness, we trigger 
the parasympathetic nervous system, the body's natural calming response. This is the physiological 
opposite of "tunnel vision," which is a stress response, says Therapist Emma McAdam. 
Studies show that when the parasympathetic system is activated (measured by a slower heart 
rate), people demonstrate improved attention and faster cognitive processing.

This is what happened when I found my keys. I didn't try harder. I didn't search faster. I 
changed my nervous system state, and suddenly I could see what was already there.

Vision Requires Calm

Living a vision-driven life isn't about straining to see farther into the future. It's about being 
calm enough to see what's true in the present moment.

How many times have you been desperate for an opportunity, only to realize later it was right 
in front of you? How often do you scan frantically for what's missing instead of noticing 
what's ac-tually available?

The life you want isn't always somewhere else, requiring more effort to reach. Sometimes it's 
behind the fruit bowl, waiting for you to be calm enough to see it.

The Practice

This week, when you feel that familiar grip, the panic about what you don't have, can't find, 
or need to fix, instead, try this:

Stop. Take three slow breaths, making your exhale longer than your inhale.

Soften your eyes. Let your gaze unfocus slightly. Notice your peripheral vision—what's at the 
edges of what you can see?

Drop your shoulders. Relax your jaw.

Then ask: What if what I need is already here?

The keys to the life you want might be closer than you think. You just need to be calm enough 
to see them.

Lori A. Harris is an Integrative Change Coach and Consultant. Download her free gratitude 
journal at loriaharris.com. 

Lori A. Harris

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com