Darcy Stubbings moved to the Eurobodalla Shire three years ago to prioritise his health after facing anxiety, depression and chronic pain caused by rugby injuries - broken legs and arms, a dislocated knee, reconstructed ACL surgery and shoulder surgery.

Wanting a fresh start, he took a job as a physiotherapist and fell in love with the community.

"The South Coast was a sanctuary for me when I was at the lowest point of my life," he said.

When the bushfires came, like many, it was a stressful time: "Even though I wasn't directly in harm's way, I evacuated and had a bit of smoke inhalation."

With telecommunications down at the peak of the fires, his greatest concern was for his parents, who live near Narooma. His family and their properties survived.

In the aftermath, however, Mr Stubbings was hit by the financial loss created by the fires.

He planned to move to New Zealand with his fiance but three days before the flight was scheduled to take off, the New Zealand borders closed. They again changed plans and moved to California - closer to his fiance's family.

The last six months had not been easy moving to the other side of the world, experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic and starting an online business.

Then in mid-August, wildfires sparked in California.

The fires, which were ignited by lightning from dry thunderstorms, have killed at least six people and destroyed about 700 homes and other structures. Nearly one million acres (405,000 hectares) have been blackened.

Mr Stubbings said his fiance's family, who live at Santa Cruz, evacuated three times as fire came within 100 metres of their home.

Mr Stubbings and his fiance, who do not live far from Santa Cruz, suffered the same stress and smoke inhalation they faced in Australia: "For a week, the smoke was so dense you didn't want to go outside at all."

He said prioritising his health was crucial to getting through a tough year.

Doing yoga three times a week, meditating and journaling daily improved his mental health.

"I needed to step up for myself, let go of some habits that weren't serving me, and replace them slowly," he said.

Mr Stubbings has shared his routine online and hopes bushfire victims will take advantage of mindfulness, meditation and yoga to help recover and be prepared in stress.

"Even though I haven't had that struggle of losing a house, family or animals, I understand 2020 has been a crazy year - one of pivotting, changing routines and maybe not adopting healthy habits because we're trying to numb the stress," he said.

"From my experience with social anxiety, depression and chronic pain, numbing is a short-term strategy; an instant gratification that will not pay off in the long or medium term."

Mr Stubbings wants to give back to the South Coast.

He is providing a free two-week online yoga, meditation and self development course to bushfire victims. Contact him at info@connectmovementphysio.com or on Facebook at Darcy Stubbings.