Author: Alyne Azucena
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Rachel Choi: a story of fierce love
Rachel Choi was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in spring 2025. But that’s not the story I want to tell. I met Rachel 12 years ago working at Starbucks. She feels like a sister to me.Rachel is a keystone of our close-knit Starbucks crew. Community and collective care comes naturally to this group of…
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Movement as an expression of self
Movement and body care has been central to my identity since childhood – always outside playing catch, cycling around the neighborhood, playing on sports teams since I was 9 years old. Sports and movement was and is intoxicatingly addictive, my cravings are in the deepest parts of me. When movement was restricted for two years,…
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January 1, 2026
Pondering:AttunementWhat does collective liberation look like? Feel like? Sound like?What are my grounding practices to foster care, clarity, and energy?Can I notice when and how I am feeling? Well being:Individual and collective movement expression – stretching, dancing, locomotionCuddles, massage, physical touchFeeling catharsis in rhythm and vocalsHolding space for emotions, feeling them, not intellectualizing themTraining for…
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Farmhouse Gallery: Transformation
Introducing the Farmhouse Gallery: a rotating micro-art gallery offering a dose of art with every passing. Blue and I each curate two frames, with this inaugural exhibit exploring the themes of change, transformation, and impermanence. We hope this artistic project injects thoughtful art in your life alongside ours. Theme: Change, transformation, impermanence Alyne’s notes: I…
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ACL Club: Return to Performance, the Comeback Season
ACL recovery consists of 5 stages: phase goals my timeline pre-op pre-habpreparing for surgery 3 monthsNovember 2023 – March 2024 early ↓ swelling↑ quad activation/controlnormalize walkingachieve “quiet knee” 8 monthsMarch – October mid introduce running 3 monthsNovember – January 2025 late return to play progression 5 monthsJanuary – May performance ramp up playing volume, strength,…
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ACL Club: Late stage or Return to Play
ACL recovery consists of 5 stages: phase goals my timeline pre-op pre-habpreparing for surgery 3 monthsNovember 2023 – March 2024 early ↓ swelling↑ quad activation/controlnormalize walkingachieve “quiet knee” 8 monthsMarch – October mid introduce running 3 monthsNovember – January 2025 late return to play progression 5 monthsJanuary – May performance ramp up playing volume, strength,…
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ACL Club: Mid Stage
ACL recovery consists of 5 stages: phase goals my timeline pre-op pre-habpreparing for surgery 3 monthsNovember 2023 – March 2024 early ↓ swelling↑ quad activation/controlnormalize walkingachieve “quiet knee” 8 monthsMarch – October mid introduce running 3 monthsNovember – January 2025 late return to play progression 5 monthsJanuary – May performance ramp up playing volume, strength,…
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Faces of ACL Club
In a mindblowingly common and heartbreaking injury, this gallery attempts to humanize the ACL club through selfies with ACLers. For an injury that feels isolating and lonely, you are very much not alone.
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October 13, 2025
Pondering:What does deep connection look like? feel like? sound like?co-creating meaningful momentsrelationship operations – have you heard of the formula: duration x intensity + proximity + frequency?What are your needs that you haven’t named? Well being:Exploring movement as play, Ultimate for funMoving through yoga, stretching, rings, acro yoga, flow art, locomotionAppreciating more music in my…
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June 26, 2025
Planting a pollinator and vegetable garden at our family farmhouse– Want to garden with me? Well being:Last month, I returned to Ultimate, patiently waiting 18 months of ACL rehab – then played 5 back-to-back weekends of Ultimate!! 😵🤪Continuing to rehab the knee for complete confidence, strength, power, and endurance I tuned up my motorcycle and…