When Movement Meets Healing;
Why We Need “Elevation” More Than Ever 
From left, Eileen, Gabby and her (rock star) mother, Jina
We’ve always known that Mojo is more than just a workout. Last week, that truth came to life once again.
Jina Leonardi, mom of 8 (yes, including a set of quadruplets!), brought her special needs daughter, Gabby, to Tuesday and Saturday’s classes.
Gabby is unable to move like we do, but she provided a soundtrack that gave me goose bumps. Throughout class she would respond to the music and energy of class with thunderous squeals of delight and an infectious smile. It was a powerful Mojo-ment for all of us.
Each gleeful scream helped us forget how hard we were working, how long the song was, or how tired we felt. In that moment, we weren’t “working out.” We were experiencing something bigger — something healing.
What we all experienced was what psychologists call elevation.
What Is Elevation?
Elevation is the uplifting emotion we feel when we witness something deeply human — like joy, resilience, kindness, or courage.
It’s what happens when someone returns to class after surviving cancer, experiencing devastating loss, or when Gabby’s smile lit up the room.
Elevation doesn’t just feel good — it’s good for our body.
When we experience elevation, it activates our vagus nerve — a powerful part of our parasympathetic nervous systemthat helps regulate stress and restore calm.
Experiences like this:
- Lowers our cortisol (our stress hormone)
- Slows our heart rate and reduce blood pressure
- Boosts mood-regulating neurotransmitters like oxytocin and serotonin
- Decreases inflammation throughout our body
- Builds emotional resilience and increases empathy
In other words: Gabby’s joy and Susan’s cancer recovery didn’t just move us emotionally, it reset our nervous systems.
That SMILE!! After class, a few friends kept the party going. Gabby loved it!
Why Elevation Matters Now More Than Ever
We’re living in a post-pandemic world where the habits we picked up during lockdown have quietly stuck with us – often to our detriment. We scroll more. We stay home more. We talk less. Even though life has “returned to normal,” our nervous systems haven’t.
Today’s reality for many people:
- People are working online versus in-person
- Shopping is online, not local
- Social media takes the place of in person contact
- News is a constant stream of stress
- Exercise is solitary, functional and less consistent
- Church, social groups, and in-person rituals have faded
It may feel easier to shop, work and socialize online, and we all need moments of solitude to recharge. But being alone all the time, without real connection, is the growing concern. It’s not the quiet that is harmful, it’s the disconnection.
According to the latest research:
Social isolation is considered as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Just 10–15 minutes of distressing news can raise anxiety and trigger a stress response. Regular, meaningful social interaction is essential for:
Emotional Balance
- Activates the vagus nerve → calms the nervous system & reduces anxiety
- Increases oxytocin → builds trust, connection, and emotional regulation
- Decreases cortisol → lowers stress and improves mood stability
Immune Function
- Reduces chronic inflammation → linked to lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune issues
- Enhances immune cell activity → stronger resistance to viruses and infections
- Supports better sleep → crucial for immune repair and regulation
Brain Health & Longevity
- Stimulates cognitive function and brain activity through social interaction → helps maintain brain agility and lowers risk of dementia
- Lowers risk of depression and cognitive decline
- Associated with longer lifespan (comparable to quitting smoking)
We are experiencing fewer moments of “elevation,” which means fewer opportunities to reset, connect, and heal.
How Mojo Helps
Mojoing—whether in person or online—is more than just working out. It’s a way to restore balance to our brain, body, and spirit.
- Physical movement lowers cortisol and supports brain health.
- Music and choreography spark dopamine and motivation.
- Shared experiences activate the vagus nerve, easing stress.
- Community connection reminds us we all struggle, we’re stronger than we think, and we can keep moving forward.
And sometimes, we’re gifted with moments like Gabby—lightning bolts of perspective that lift us even higher.
Movement resets the body. Shared movement rewires the brain.
Next time you find yourself too tired, too busy, or too discouraged to press play or show up to class, remember: you’re not just moving your body — you’re giving your nervous system a chance to heal.
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