Unlocking Minds On Snow – Shredding For Mental Health
Unlocking Minds On Snow Together (U-MOST) is Working to Shatter Stigmas and Spark Conversations
By Lisa Blake
A little bit of mental health magic happens when we’re present and mindful on the mountain. Carving through snow and pushing our own personal boundaries brings on a flow state and a sense of emotional wellbeing.
These are the building blocks behind Unlocking Minds On Snow Together, or U-MOST. The three-day Snowmass-based winter retreats combine mindfulness, yoga, skiing and snowboarding into a weekend wellness experience focused on personal growth and healing.
U-MOST founder Erik DaRosa is a mental health advocate, speaker, author, and creator of mental health podcast From Survivor to Thriver. Struggling with crippling anxiety and OCD since childhood, DaRosa found solace in skiing at age 33. The sport opened up a new world of living in the moment and connecting with nature that DaRosa says changed his life forever.
“I spent the first 33 years of my life without a voice and afraid to remove the mask behind which I had been hiding,” DaRosa says. “For decades I kept telling myself I was different from everyone else. I told myself I was broken and the only one. If I had only known the truth.”
DaRosa grew up in New England and, in 2011 at age 40, swapped his New York City finance executive career with a seasonal ski instructor gig. He spent 12 winters teaching with Aspen Skiing Company before launching U-MOST in December 2024.
Through U-MOST and community-based advocacy work, DaRosa aims to build a bridge between those who seek resources and those who provide help and hope. He works to normalize discussions around mental health topics while reminding others they are not alone, there is strength in community, and “it’s perfectly ok to not always be ok.”
U-MOST retreats divide participants into small groups based on skill level (blue runs or black runs), pairing them with an experienced Aspen Snowmass pro who will guide them around the mountain. The day is built on creating connection, skiing and riding together and inspiring each other, moving through obstacles and experiencing breakthroughs. Mindfulness and yoga practices round out the weekend, alongside nourishing meals and talks.
“I have been in that deep, dark hole, feeling scared and alone without knowing a way out,” DaRosa says. “I now have the ability to jump into that hole with you and guide you out and, once we’re out, I know what the path to healing looks like. Imagine if each of us took this approach by helping ourselves and each other.”
What You Can Do
Help bring mental health issues to the forefront by:
- Speaking openly about mental health. Prioritizing emotional wellbeing by discussing it in our everyday lives helps ensure that everyone can get the help they need.
- Helping yourself. Pay attention to how you feel. If you are struggling, reach out, join a support group or speak to a therapist.
- Supporting your loved ones. If someone is struggling, tell them you are there for them and suggest they get help. Visit psychologytoday.com for self tests and support group finders.
Learn more at fromsurvivortothriver.com and u-most.com
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