Michael Allison is an educator and coach who uses polyvagal theory to help athletes optimize their resilience, performance, and overall nervous system. In this episode, we talk about the neurophysiology of safety, danger, connection, competition, and play. Learn to "meet your body where it is" and use play as a way to regulate your nervous system, connect with others, and improve almost every area of your life.  We also talk about how play improves creativity, learning, relationships, health, performance, and so much more.

We discuss tools for both calming down and for leveraging that mobilized energy in a safe, social, and connected way by entering the "play zone." The basic tools include: breath, sound, posture, voice, eyes, facial expression, etc. The real powerful ones are things like: singing, dancing, acting, improv, and sports.

The ultimate goal is to develop safe, playful, and trusting relationships with our own body and each other. Find your trusted teammate(s) by playing together.

**CONNECT WITH MICHAEL ALLISON**
    website: theplayzone.com

RESOURCES

• Polyvagal Institute's website: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/
• What is Polyvagal Theory? https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory 
• Michael Allison's courses with Polyvagal Institute:
  • Play Zone Pro: A Polyvagal-Informed Certificate for Wellness & Performance Coaches
  • The Play Zone: A Neurophysiological Approach to Our Highest Performance