Summer Is Calling. Let's Make Sure Your Body's Ready.
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MISSION OSTEOPATHY · JUNE 2026 ☀️ Your Summer Health Guide Stay protected, stay hydrated, stay well |
Summer is officially here — and with it comes long days at the beach, hikes through the hills, and all the good stuff that makes the Bay Area so special. This month I'm covering the essentials: sun protection, tick awareness, and heat. Read on and enjoy the season safely. 🌿
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🏳️🌈 PRIDE MONTH 2026 You belong here. Your health matters here. June is Pride Month — and at Mission Osteopathy, we want every patient to feel fully seen, respected, and cared for. Healthcare should be a safe space for everyone, full stop. We are proud to be an affirming practice and are honored to care for our LGBTQ+ patients and community. You belong here. |
☀️ Sunscreen, Hats & Sunglasses
Sunscreen is one of the most effective anti-aging and skin-cancer-prevention tools we have — but only if you use it right. Layer it with a good hat and UV-blocking sunglasses for full protection.
🦟 Ticks in the Bay Area: Know Before You Hike
Summer hiking season is peak tick season, and the Bay Area is genuine tick country. This is worth knowing about before you head to Windy Hill, Huddart, the Marin Headlands, or anywhere with oak woodland and tall grass.
🗺️ The main culprit: The western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) is the primary carrier of Lyme disease in California. Tick season here is essentially year-round, with highest nymph activity in spring and early summer.
Before you go:
When you get home:
⚠️ If you find an embedded tick: Grasp close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers, pull straight up — don't twist or burn. Clean with alcohol. Watch for symptoms for 30 days — bullseye rash, fever, fatigue, or joint pain. Call me if concerned — Lyme is very treatable when caught early.
📦 San Mateo County residents can get a free tick-bite prevention kit from the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District at smcmvcd.org.
💧 Don't Forget to Drink Water
I know it sounds obvious, but heat illness is genuinely underappreciated — especially when you're active, at altitude, or mixing outdoor time with alcohol. A few reminders:
🧘 Pilates at the Clinic
Join us for a fun, small-group Pilates session right here at the clinic. Taught by Stella Lorvan, this is part of a 4-class series — but you're welcome to join at any point. All classes are beginner-friendly, so no experience needed. A wonderful way to build core strength, improve posture, and connect with others in a relaxed, welcoming setting.
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🩺 A note from Dr. Kelley: Pilates is one of the best complements to OMM — it builds the core stability and body awareness that help structural work hold longer. Whether you're a total beginner or a regular mover, all levels are welcome.
Spots fill up fast — sign up by June 25th to reserve your place.
Low back pain after travel or too much sitting? It might be your psoas.
Summer means long car rides, flights, and hours on the beach or at a game. All that sitting shortens the psoas (so-az) — the deep hip flexor muscle that runs from your lumbar spine to your femur. When it tightens, it pulls your low back into compression and can cause that familiar ache that kicks in after a long drive or a day at a desk. The good news: a consistent stretch goes a long way.
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Kneeling Psoas Stretch
stretch
here
Half-kneeling lunge position — back knee on the ground, front foot flat |
How to do it:
Do this after:
Any car or plane trip over 1 hour · Long work days at a desk · Morning stiffness in your low back
No floor? No problem:
You can also do this standing — place one foot up on a step or stair, do the same posterior pelvic tilt, then gently shift your hips forward. Great for rest stops on road trips.
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If stretching isn't enough, OMM can directly release psoas tension and restore normal lumbar mechanics — often in one visit. Follow me on Instagram for more technique videos and movement tips.
@kelleybrinskydo on Instagram Book an OMM VisitQuestions? I'm always here.
As a DPC patient, you have direct access to me — text, call, or message anytime. If you need to schedule a visit or have a summer health concern, reach out. No layers, no runaround.
Book a Visit 📞 650-267-2098☀️ Know someone who could use a doctor who actually picks up the phone? I'd love to meet them. Share this newsletter or send them my Calendly link — new patients are always welcome.
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