While you likely know that your body needs exercise to stay healthy, did you know that your brain needs movement to operate at its peak capacity?

Guest Commentary Published in La Jolla Light, Written by Ilene Schaffer, MA, CAPP

La Jolla native Ilene Schaffer (nee Ilene Brenner) is purposely and contagiously positive. So much so, that birds zipping by her dark blonde hair (and this reporter’s blonde locks) at the Pannikin Coffee House one afternoon is not only cause for a laugh-filled pause, but a helpful reminder that the birds are probably contributing to elevated cortisol levels. Schaffer has a master’s degree in counseling psychology with a focus in life transitions, and is a “positive psychology” practitioner and a firm believer in the therapeutic power of walking.

By Ashley Mackin-Solomon at La Jolla Light