Run Your Life Show With Andy Vasily

Send us a textIn today’s episode, my guest, John Rinker, and I have an in-depth discussion about what design thinking means from our own perspectives and the role that it plays in education and in life. John has been teaching internationally for 25 years and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to design thinking. An avid cyclist and tinkerer, John shares his thoughts about the importance of working with our hands, as well as the need to be physically active in the outdoors. Although the focus of today’s episode is design thinking, we delve into the impact that the framework can have when applied to teacher instruction in physical education. Hope you find some great takeaway value in today’s podcast with John Rinker. Connect with John RinkerTwitter: @johnrinkerBioAn international teacher, Apple Distinguished Educator, and Learning2 Leader with almost 25 years experience, John has been using tools, both analog and digital, most of his life to make cool things. He is inspired to leverage the best that technology has to offer in creating meaningful educational challenges for each of his students. His DIY mindset challenges him to look at problems in novel ways and to create imaginative solutions. John loves teaching because he gets to hang around with kids who are inclined towards creativity, invention, and play.Themes Discussed:Design Thinking, Relevance & Meaning, Love of Exploration, Physical Activity, Mindset, Lifelong Skills, Cycling, 3rd Culture Lifestyles, Empathy & Compassion, Getting Out of the Way of Learning

Send us a textIn this episode, I speak with Conrad Leinemann, a former Canadian Olympic athlete, about his journey in sport and the major life lessons that he has learned about resilience, hard work, and pursuing excellence, both personally and professionally. Performing at our best requires a specific mindset, as well as putting certain strategies to work with regularity in our lives. Conrad shares what he learned from being coached by some amazing mentors throughout his athletic career. As well, he discusses the charitable organization, CANFUND, that he and his wife, Jane Roos, set up to help fund countless members of the Canadian Olympic team over the last decade. To date they have raised over 22 million dollars. Bio:Conrad Leinemann (born April 2, 1971 in Kelowna, British Columbia) is a male beach volleyball player from Canada, who won the gold medal in the men's beach team competition at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, partnering with Jody Holden. He represented his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.Connect with ConradTwitter: @CANFUND Website: myCANFund.caThemes Discussed:CanFund, Skill Acquisition, Work Ethic, Quality Preparation, Self-Evaluation, Olympic Excellence, The Athletic Mind, Goal-Setting 

Send us a textNicole “Coco” Daignault’s passion to change lives through yoga began 20 years ago when she was first introduced to it in Canada. As Nicole states, she was hooked for life and knew in her heart that yoga would forever remain with her and committed herself to sharing it with others. After several years of training in various parts of the world, Nicole returned to her roots in Windsor, Canada to set up her own yoga practice and began to teach others how to transform their physical bodies, minds and health through yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Nicole offers each of her learners a very individualized approach rooted in neuro-scientific awareness that is delivered with non-judgement, compassion, warmth, and kindness. She has worked with several schools helping teachers to integrate yoga activities in the classroom and in physical education. Identifying and correcting imbalances in body and mind are of paramount importance in the work that Nicole brings to all those that are lucky enough to cross her path. BioNicole “Coco” Daignault was introduced to yoga in her early 20's, and her life changed dramatically. Until that point, she suffered chronic pain due to scoliosis and a leg-length discrepancy.  When she lay in the relaxation pose at the end of that first yoga practice, Coco felt a pain-free bliss, thus beginning an intense physical and mental journey that took her around the world a few times.In 1999, Coco did her Yoga Teacher Training in Varanasi, India.  Her understanding and fascination of the body/mind grew when she became a Holistic Healthcare Practitioner. In 2003 she moved to Thailand, where she learned Thai Massage and shamanic healing.  Experiences with Vipassana meditation and Sufi whirling took her practice to new levels.  In 2005 Coco returned to her hometown of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where she shares her knowledge and expertise.   Over the years, people have come to know Coco as a teacher who gives unique guidance according to each individual's particular needs.  She shares wisdom and insight based on her  practice and exploration of her own rotated and curved spine.  When working on a client, or teaching a student, Coco finds muscle imbalance and postural patterns, and gives suggestions on new ways of sitting, walking, and standing that correct these patterns, leading to improved physical, emotional and mental well-being. In recent years, Coco has been specializing in teaching modified yoga to people with disabilities, mental disorders, and traumatic brain injuries.  She is very grateful to witness the powerful healing benefits of yoga and massage on herself and others every day.  Connect with Coco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coco.daignault Website: www.cocoyoga.ca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-daigneault-b4744294Themes DiscussedBeing Present, Preventative Yoga, Individualizing Instruction, Identifying Inbalances, Health & Wellness, Compassion & Non-Judgement, Mindset, Neuroscientific Awareness, Body Consciousness, Gil Ron Shama (www.gilronshama.com), Posture Beads (www.posturebeads.com)

Send us a textNicole Daignault’s passion to change lives through yoga began 20 years ago when she was first introduced to it in Canada. As Nicole states, she was hooked for life and knew in her heart that yoga would forever remain with her and committed herself to sharing it with others. After several years of training in various parts of the world, Nicole returned to her roots in Windsor, Canada to set up her own yoga practice and began to teach others how to transform their physical bodies, minds and health through yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Nicole offers each of her learners a very individualized approach rooted in neuro-scientific awareness that is delivered with non-judgement, compassion, warmth, and kindness. She has worked with several schools helping teachers to integrate yoga activities in the classroom and in physical education. Identifying and correcting imbalances in body and mind are of paramount importance in the work that Nicole brings to all those that are lucky enough to cross her path. BioNicole “Coco” Daignault was introduced to yoga in her early 20's, and her life changed dramatically. Until that point, she suffered chronic pain due to scoliosis and a leg-length discrepancy.  When she lay in the relaxation pose at the end of that first yoga practice, Coco felt a pain-free bliss, thus beginning an intense physical and mental journey that took her around the world a few times.In 1999, Coco did her Yoga Teacher Training in Varanasi, India.  Her understanding and fascination of the body/mind grew when she became a Holistic Healthcare Practitioner. In 2003 she moved to Thailand, where she learned Thai Massage and shamanic healing.  Experiences with Vipassana meditation and Sufi whirling took her practice to new levels.  In 2005 Coco returned to her hometown of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where she shares her knowledge and expertise.   Over the years, people have come to know Coco as a teacher who gives unique guidance according to each individual's particular needs.  She shares wisdom and insight based on her  practice and exploration of her own rotated and curved spine.  When working on a client, or teaching a student, Coco finds muscle imbalance and postural patterns, and gives suggestions on new ways of sitting, walking, and standing that correct these patterns, leading to improved physical, emotional and mental well-being. In recent years, Coco has been specializing in teaching modified yoga to people with disabilities, mental disorders, and traumatic brain injuries.  She is very grateful to witness the powerful healing benefits of yoga and massage on herself and others every day.  Connect with CocoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/coco.daignaultWebsite: www.cocoyoga.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-daigneault-b4744294Themes Discussed: Being Present, Preventative Yoga, Individualizing Instruction, Identifying Inbalances, Health & Wellness, Compassion & Non-Judgement, Mindset, Neuroscientific Awareness, Body Consciousness, Gil Ron Shama (www.gilronshama.com), Posture Beads (www.posturebeads.com)

Send us a textSir Ranulph Fiennes, British explorer and world record holder, describes today’s #RunYourLife podcast guest as having ‘Enormous determination, lateral thinking, and a love for life and adventure’.  Whether it be circumnavigating the globe by bicycle over 4 straight years, rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic, running the Marathon des Sables which is one of the most gruelling footraces on earth, walking across Iceland pulling a sled, or inspiring others to embark on adventures of their own, Alastair Humphreys exemplifies what it means to pursue both personal and professional excellence. In this episode, Alastair shares the major lessons that he has learned through his life of adventure; hardship and resilience, goal-setting, failure, mindset, determination, and his love of culture and exploring our beautiful earth. In 2012 Alastair was recognized by the National Geographic as being one of their Adventurers of the Year through the work he has done spreading the power and value that microadventures can hold in our daily lives. Looking at the world with wonder and curiosity has allowed Alastair to tackle these extraordinary challenges with an open-mind, knowing that there are gems to be discovered along every step of the way and every pull of the oars. And it’s these gems that Alastair has shared with countless school children and teachers from around the world. You are sure to find great takeaway value in today’s #RunYourLife podcast with Alastair Humphreys. Thanks for listening. Bio:Alastair’s quest for adventure began young. Aged 8, he completed the 26 mile Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge and the National 3 Peaks in 24 hours aged 13. At 14 he cycled off-road across England. After leaving school Alastair taught for a year in South Africa.Whilst at university (Edinburgh and Oxford) Alastair cycled from Pakistan to China, Land’s End to John O’Groats, Turkey to Italy, Mexico to Panama and across South America. He ran a charity project in the Philippines and the London marathon dressed as a rhino.Since graduating Alastair has cycled round the world for 4 years, raced a yacht across the Atlantic Ocean, canoed 500 miles down the Yukon River and walked the length of the holy Kaveri river in India.Alastair has also run the Marathon des Sables, (finishing as one of the ten fastest Brits despite breaking his foot during the race) and rowed to France with a paralysed soldier. In 2010 he completed an unsupported crossing of Iceland by foot and packraft. In 2011 Alastair decided to remain in the UK in order to encourage people to seek out adventure and wilderness closer to home, challenging themselves through microadventures. In 2012 Alastair rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, did an expedition in Greenland and walked across the Empty Quarter desert.Since then he has concentrated on his microadventures, encouraging people to get out and fit more adventure into their busy lives. He has worked with clients including National Geographic, Talisker, Peugeot, Vodafone, GoPro and Adidas on this movement. Alastair’s book, Microadventures, was an Amazon UK Top 20 Bestseller for all books. Grand Adventures reached Number 8 for all books on Amazon UK.Alastair has published nine books and is a keen photographer and videographer.Alastair pays the bills through motivational speaking at businesses and schools, fulfilling a long ambition by speaking to a full house at the Royal Geographical Society.He was chosen as one of National Geographic’s Adventurers of the Year in 2012. Alastair lives in a village outside London with his wife and two young children (hence the microadventures!)Connect with AlastairWebsite: http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/Twitter:  @Al_HumphreysFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alastair-Humphreys-149963098097/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/al_humphreys/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alhumphreys/YouTube: https://

Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Doug Gleddie, from the University of Alberta, digs deep into what he feels to be a few of the critical elements necessary for improving upon our pedagogy and practice in physical education. Among a few of the big themes discussed in this podcast are questioning protocol, critical partners, the difference between fun and joy in PE, educative vs. miseducative experiences, and the meaning of work. Doug shares a few useful teaching strategies that are sure to provide listeners with some valuable tools and approaches to help move their teaching forward. Doug is a thoughtful and reflective educator who embraces a physically active life and works to ensure that his preservice teachers find a true sense of meaning and purpose as they journey toward becoming full-time teachers. BioDr. Doug Gleddie is a husband and father who also happens to be an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta (Elementary Physical Education).  In a career filled with change, the only true constants have been physical activity/education, working with kids and, how joy fills the spaces in between.  Although it took him a while to fully embrace this epiphanal thought, the journey itself has enabled Doug to work with a wide variety of people and organizations across Canada and around the world.  Doug is currently researching narratives of movement and physical education as well as exploring the affective aspects of physical literacy.  He takes care of his own wellness by being active with his family; improving his guitar picking and; seeking new challenges each day. Visit Doug’s blog at www.purposefulmovement.netConnect with DougWebsite: www.purposefulmovement.netTwitter: @doug_gleddieThemes DiscussedCritical PartnersQuestioning ProtocolConcept LearningOrganic Process of LearningThe Meaning of WorkRelational TeachingContextual Teaching and LearningEducative vs Miseducative ExperiencesFun vs Joy in PE

Send us a textIn this episode, Dr. Tim Fletcher and I discuss key elements to consider when trying to engineer and construct meaningful experiences in physical education. Tim, an assistant professor at Brock University in Canada, has put loads of time and energy into researching how best to engage young people in physical activity through a meaning-making framework that has guided his teaching and learning over the past few years. He shares the specifics behind this framework and how he applies it with his pre-service teachers at Brock University. As well, we delve into the critical role that reflection and well-being plays in the lives of both teachers and students. Listeners of this podcast will have great takeaway value that will leave them thinking about their own practice and next steps to consider when moving their teaching and learning forward. Bio:Tim Fletcher is Assistant Professor in physical education pedagogy in the Department of Kinesiology at Brock University, Canada. Prior to working in higher education, he taught high school health and physical education in Ontario for five years. His recent research has focused upon how future teachers might learn to foster meaningful experiences for learners in physical education and youth sport; this is the emphasis of the Learning About Meaningful Physical Education (or LAMPE) project, conducted with Déirdre Ní Chróinín and Mary O’Sullivan. Much of his work has used self-study methodology, including the text Self-study of physical education: The interplay of scholarship and practice (2014, Springer), co-edited with Alan Ovens. He is a member of the editorial boards of Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy and the Journal of Teaching in Physical Education. In 2014 he was awarded a Young Scholar Award from the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP). Connect With TimTwitter: @TimFletcher12 & @meaningfulpeWebsite: https://meaningfulpe.wordpress.com/Themes Discussed:Relevancy and Meaning in PETeacher and Student Well-BeingFive Elements of Meaningful PEPhysical LiteracyCurriculum and Assessment

Send us a textIn today’s episode, Jarrod Robinson, who is known to many educators around the globe as the PE Geek, shares the behind the scenes work that has helped shape him into one of the world’s most renown presenters in the field of physical education. For Jarrod to be at his very best, he pushes himself to look well beyond the arena of physical education in order to hone his craft and to strive for both personal and professional excellence in his life. Although his work is firmly rooted in the subject area of physical education, in today’s podcast Jarrod shares specific lessons that he has learned from well beyond the boundary lines of PE itself. And it’s these very lessons that have helped to deepen his love of teaching and his desire to share the passion he has for integrating technology in both the classroom and in physical education. In this episode you’ll learn what truly drives Jarrod and the love that he has for the work he does.Connect with JarrodWebsite: https://thepegeek.com/ & http://connectedpe.com/Twitter: @mrrobbo BioJarrod is a Physical Education teacher from country Victoria Australia, with a passion and enthusiasm for the role emerging technologies play within teaching and learning. He is first and foremost an advocate for lifelong movement and physical activity, however realises the power of 21st-century technologies that can shape new age teaching pedagogies.Jarrod is known throughout the online community as “The PE Geek”, and authors a blog of the same name at www.thepegeek.com which has proved to be an invaluable resource for teachers seeking effective use of 21st-century tools in PE.  He has presented Nationally and Internationally for over 6 years, running workshops in over 30  countries.His major interests lie within mobile learning which he believes is the perfect fit for the outdoor-minded PE Teacher. As a result he has begun his own mobile development company, “The PE Geek Apps”, which builds mobile applications for teachers on both Android and iOS devices. His mobile applications have also won numerous awards throughout Australia and Overseas.Themes DiscussedThe Meaning of WorkExcellence Beyond PEPassion and PurposeWork EthicCreativity and Innovation80/20 Concept

Send us a textToday’s Run Your Life episode was recorded live at the East Asia Region Council of Schools conference being held at the International School of Manila in the Philippines at the end of March. Well-known PE consultants from Canada, Ted and Carolyn Temertzoglou, and Dr. Ashley Casey from the University of Loughborough in the UK all share their perspectves about what a quality physical education experience should offer students.Although Twitter has brought together countless PE teachers from around the world to help share excellent teaching practice and pedagogy, we delve into the caveats of becoming a socially connected educator. Whether already socially connected or just becoming connected, there are major considerations that need to be well thought out as teachers use Twitter as a tool for improving practice. Ted, Carolyn, and Ash all share their valuable insight into what these considerations are. Better engaging students and moving them toward becoming more physically active requires a thoughtful construction of the learning environments we create in our PE programs. In this episode, you will hear about different ways that this end goal can be achieved. It was an honour to have these three great minds together to share their knowledge, passion, and wisdom. Enjoy today’s show!About Carolyn TemertzoglouCarolyn teaches health and physical education in the teacher education program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Through Carolyn’s many years of educational experience as a teacher,department head,curriculum writer, and teacher educator, she advocates for quality daily health and physical education programs. Carolyn is the recipient of the Ontario Supervision of Physical and Health Education Teacher Advocacy Award for her work in supporting pre-service and in-service health and physical education teachers with their practice. She has an MA in education from OISE, and her research interests include teacher development in health and physical education. Carolyn has been actively involved in writing and reviewing curriculum and curriculum- supports for the Ministry of Education and serves on several provincial committees. She is the co-author of the Exercise Science Workbook/Lab Manual (Thompson Educational Publishing 2003), co-author of the Functional Fitness Charts, Perfect Practice, Game On (2012) and a contributing author for Teaching Physical Education Today: Canadian Perspectives (2013). About Ted TemertzoglouExceptional Athlete Program. Presently he works with Thompson Educational Publishing, creating learning resources for health and physical education K-12. He is the lead author for many books, including the newly released Kinesiology: An Introduction to Exercise Science, 2nd Edition (university preparation course), Healthy Active Living: Keep Fit Stay Healthy Have Fun used in Ontario and New Brunswick and the Functional Fitness Chart Series K-12.Ted is a former Ontario board representative for Physical and Health Education (PHE) Canada advocating and promoting the importance of quality daily health and physical education programs in schools across Canada. He is a certified personal trainer with The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiologist.Ted was the recipient of the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association’s Outstanding Contribution Award in 2008. He completed his MA in physical and health education with a research focus in student success and teacher-student rapport.Ted works with PE teachers from around the world delivering keynote addresses and conducting workshops in the USA, Asia, Europe, and Africa, and he is excited to return to EARCOS.Connect with Ted or Carolyn at the 2nd Annual APPEC Conference in Hong Kong   About Dr. Ashley CaseyAshley Casey, a lecturer in pedagogy at Loughborough University (UK) and an sdjunct senior lecturer at the Unive

Send us a textAs Mike Kuzcala comes from a long line of educators in his family, teaching has always been in his blood. However, his path in education has been an unorthodox one, taking many interesting twists and turns along the way. Mike is an accomplished author having written the books The Kinestetic Classroom (2010) and Training in Motion (2015). He has devoted himself to sharing the neuroscience behind the brain/body connection and the powerful impact that it has on learning in both education and in the corporate world.Through his writing, presentations and talks, he has had a profound difference on the way educators deliver learning in their classrooms. Embedded within Mike’s work is a passion for mindfulness, meditation, and the critical importance of well-being and the role it plays in the personal and professional lives of teachers. In this episode, he shares his unique journey in education and discusses specific strategies and approaches he wrote about in the Kinesthetic Classroom. Although much of Mike’s work is rooted in the importance that movement plays in learning, he carries with him an extensive musical background having graduated with a Masters of Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado. It is this musical background that has also had a big impact on who Mike is as a person and an educator. He is a huge fan of the arts and appreciates the aesthentics that music brings to peoples’ lives. With joy I bring to you this episode with Mike Kuzcala. Mike’s Bio:Mike Kuczala is a leading authority on using movement and understanding the brain/body connection in both educational and corporate settings.  His keynotes, workshops and professional development programs have been enjoyed by tens of thousands of teachers, administrators, parents, trainers, and corporate executives across the United States. The Director of Instruction for the Regional Training Center, an educational consulting firm based in Randolph, New Jersey, and President of Kuczala Consulting, Mike is the coauthor of the Corwin best-seller and Association of Educational Publishers’ Distinguished Achievement Award nominated The Kinesthetic Classroom: Teaching and Learning through Movement.  Mike’s 2nd book, Training in Motion: How to Use Movement to Create Engaging and Effective Learning was released in June of 2015.His standing room only presentations have been experienced in such diverse settings as The American Society for Training and Development, The Forum for Innovative Leadership, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the American Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and the Lawyer Brain OD Roundtable.Mike proudly and humbly comes from a family of educators including his wife, sister, both parents and three grandparents. “I am the product of three generations of teachers. Education is what I love and do. It is always an honor and pleasure to work with both educators in helping them to become true instructional leaders, and corporate executives and trainers in providing presentation skill and effectiveness. My background in education gave rise to my love of teaching, public speaking, curriculum and training design, and helping people create goals and live their dreams.”Connect with Mike:Twitter: @kinestheticlassWebsite: mikekuczala.comEmail: michaelskuczala@gmail.comThemes Discussed:Brain/Body ConnectionNeuroscience of MovementThe Kinestetic ClassroomMindfulness and MeditationTony RobbinsTeacher and Student Well-BeingStrategies to Integrate Movement in LearningPhysical ActivityRelevancy in Physical Education