Dr. Allyson Mayo and Registered Nurse Teri DeLaMontanya met while working at John Muir Health. They shared a vision for creating a place where people could gather for a sense of community while making wellness an everyday practice. Allyson received her doctorate in 2019 and Teri retired from the emergency room; together they founded Behavioral Fitness. The duo also leads a non-profit called PEACE (Providing Easier Access to Care Everywhere), which provides funding for some of Behavioral Fitness’ programs.
In 2022, Behavioral Fitness began free yoga classes at Arbolado Park. In April 2024 they moved into a space off of Tampico Drive that features a large studio and a living room/ kitchen area for gatherings. More classes were added, from a walking group, to parenting groups and teen groups. Now in 2026, they have about 100 classes per month from yoga to strength and mobility to games like Mahjong, meditation to sound healing, all with the goal of physical and mental well being. You can become a member and take as many classes you like each month or pay a small fee for the classes you take.
They also sponsor some peer to peer groups, that are free to all, where people can gather for special discussions. Death Cafe offers the opportunity to share stories of lost loved ones or simple to discuss mortality; Estranged Together is a welcoming space for those affected by estrangement, no-contact or loss. A Queer Young Adult group meets twice a month. Connection is the goal and knowing that you are not experiencing challenges alone. Allyson says, “People come for wellness; they stay for love and community.” And the community is growing. They are now searching for a larger space to accommodate more classes.
Teri adds, “Maybe the more connected we become to ourselves—to our bodies, our emotions, our joy, even the parts of ourselves we’re still figuring out—the more available we become for genuine connection with other people. . . We’re each bringing a little piece of ourselves into this place, and somehow, together, we’re creating a little piece of our collective heart … I’m not sure we need to explain BF anymore.” All are welcome to come and experience this special place.
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991