Mental health matters

(aka Nate Uchida)

Nate Casses was a complex and deeply gifted human being. He was an artist, a seeker, a father, and a partner in both life and spiritual practice. He brought fun, intensity, creativity, humor, and passion into the spaces he inhabited—and into the work we shared.

Nate and I grew together through our family, yoga, meditation, and the study of spiritual and personal development. We trained together, taught together, and explored the teachings of yoga, not just as movement, but as a way of living. Even with dyslexia, Nate was a devoted student—reading, taking notes, and engaging deeply with the material. We each kept our own copies of the texts that shaped us, learning side by side.

In 2017, we were initiated into Transcendental Meditation. 

Nate was an ultra athlete, long-distance runner, and a committed yoga practitioner. 

These practices were medicine.  

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Nate spent his professional life in Baltimore City, documenting human stories for WjZ, with honesty, grit, and deep loyalty to the places and people he served.

Nate also lived with a serious mental illness—one that profoundly affected his nervous system, his sense of safety, and his ability to experience ease. 

COVID hit and the world got more dangerous overnight. A torn meniscus,  took away his ability to exercise and get his energy medicine for several months. 

As the illness progressed, 

daily life became increasingly painful, both internally and relationally. 

Mental illness does not exist in isolation; it impacts families, partnerships, and entire systems of care.

Mental illness is real. It is not a moral failing or a lack of effort. It is complex, embodied, and deeply human. While there is no single cause or cure, mental health can often be supported through a combination of approaches—professional care, medication when appropriate, meaningful connection, physical movement, conscious breathing, spiritual practice, and nervous system regulation.

We believe that true health and healing involve the whole human—body, mind, spirit, energetically—and the environment in which a person lives. 

Exercise, breath, and mindful awareness are not replacements for medical or psychological care, but they are powerful tools that can support stability, resilience, and quality of life.

Nate’s search for peace, safety, and wholeness continues through this work. 

In his memory, this space exists to honor the full reality of mental health struggles, reduce stigma, and support a more integrated, compassionate approach to human well-being..  

Thank you for being here, melisa uchida

(Yogi Punk Blog is currently down and will. be back up shortly!) 

check out our YogiPunk Blog. 

John W. Brick Foundation for Mental Health 

https://www.johnwbrickfoundation.org/

Mental Wellbeing Association

https://www.mentalwellbeingassociation.org/

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. https://afsp.org/

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/

Al-Anon. https://al-anon.org/

Narcotics Anonymous. https://www.na.org/

Alcoholics Anonymous. https://www.aa.org/

Psychology Today - Find a Therapist. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

211.org. Call 211 for mental health emergencies. https://www.211.org/get-help/mental-health

Tender Hearts (Online grief support group with David Kessler) https://www.davidkesslertraining.com/tenderhearts.com

150 Addiction Resources and Statistics from Around the World

https://www.mysticmag.com/news/addiction-resources-and-statistics/

We are committed to:

* removing the stigma of mental illness

* providing resources for people and families affected by mental illness& addiction

* doing research on the connection between mental wellbeing and physical exercise/movement

* Promoting mental wellness through free and low-cost avenues

* Providing mental health education, videos, books & other resources to families and individuals affected by mental health & addiction