Somatic Primer Podcast

In this weeks episode, I had the pleasure to speak with Michael Sheehy.Michael Sheehy is a meditation researcher and scholar of Tibetan Buddhism. He is a Research Assistant Professor and Director of Research at the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia.Michael studied extensively in Asia, including three years training in a Buddhist monastery in the nomadic Golok region of far eastern Tibet and more than twelve years conducting fieldwork to preserve rare manuscripts with monastic communities across the Tibetan plateau. His research on Tibetan lucid dreaming practices was featured in National Geographic. His forthcoming book is on the history and philosophy of the  Jonang tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. His current book project weaves practices of attention, imagination, and embodiment from Tibetan meditation manuals with contemporary discourses on mind, body, culture, and ecology.You can find out more about Michael and his work on his website https://michaelrsheehy.comThank you to all the listeners who are supporting the show and if you are not already then please consider supporting the show with a monthly donation and don’t to forget to like and subscribe. Discover more about us and our ongoing courses at Somaticprimer.com & Vidyamethod.comAs always thank you for listening and enjoy the episode Support the show

Willa Baker has a doctorate from Harvard University. She is the Founder and director of  The Natural Dharma Fellowship in Boston, MA, and its retreat center in the mountains of, NH. She is a dharma teacher and lineage holder in the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu lineage .  Willa lived as a monastic for twelve years  and has also completed two three-year retreats. Willa is author of several books including The Wakeful Body: Somatic Mindfulness as a Path to FreedomFind our more about Lama Willa:https://naturaldharma.orgRewilding the Soul: Finding Refuge in an Earth Based Lineage The Wakeful Body (Online Course)Explore our Classes:https://somaticprimer.com/Please subscribe & like.Support the show

Drew Leder a professor of Western and Eastern Philosophy at Loyola University Maryland.  Dr. Leder's work focuses on the embodied experience. He asks us to reconsider the Cartesian mind-body dualism that underlies much of contemporary Western medicine, and proposes a more holistic, yet rigorous, alternative.He has written several books on these topics including The Absent Body, and his latest  book The Healing Body: Creative Responses to Illness, Aging, and Affliction Find out more at https://www.drewleder.com/https://somaticprimer.com/https://vidyamethod.com/Remember to subscribe for more great conversations on embodiment, meditation,  somatics and more... Support the show

In this weeks episode, I speak with Joseph Alter. Joseph S. Alter is the Director of the Asian Studies Center and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the editor of The Journal of Asian Studies (2021 – 2025).  His research is on environmental health, the globalization of Asian medical knowledge and the cultural history of Yoga’s development in India. In the discussion professor Alter made references to Geoffrey Samuel & Livia Koan both of whom have been guests on the show. To hear there episodes follow the links below.Episode 6 & 7 Season Two: Geoffrey Samuel Phd: Embodiment & Tibetan Buddhism Episode 18 Season One:  Livia Kohn, Ph.D: Daoyin, Daoism, & SomaticsThank you to all the listeners who are supporting the show and if youre not already then please consider supporting the show with a monthly donation and please subscribe. For classes & private lessons go tosomaticprimer.comvidyamethod.comfollow our Patreon Support the show

My guest today, is Veronica Rottman. Veronica has a somatics and dance background. She studied Somatic Experiencing with Peter Levine as well as Somatic Attachment Therapy. Her passion is in Birth Work where she teaches a speciality Yoga for the pelvic floor, + prenatal/postnatal yoga)Listeners can find about more about her and her work at Waking Womb where she teaches classes and workshops.To find our more about the Podcast visit Somatic PrimerFor Meditation & Somatic Embodiment Classes please visit Vidya MethodThank for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode.Support the show

Welcome to season 3 of the Somatic Primer Podcast. In this week's episode, I speak with Stuart Olson. Stuart is the founder, of Sanctuary of Tao. he is an author and translator of over thirty works on Taoist Philosophy, Taijiquan, Qigong, and Taoist internal practices.We discuss his translation of the Jade Emperor’s Mind Seal Classic: The Taoist Guide to Health, Longevity, and Immortality. The Jade Emperor’s Mind Seal Classic teaches that one can attain immortality through the cultivation of the three treasures of jing (sexual and physical energy), qi (breath and vital energy), and shen (spirit and mental energy).Find our more about Stuart Olson https://www.valleyspiritarts.com/Follow us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/user?u=63954666 For this weeks extended episode Stuart tells us about his time doing a bowing pilgrimage that lasted for two and a half years. If you're interested in his journey with that practice then head on over to the patron to listen.https://somaticprimer.com/https://vidyamethod.com/Please consider giving us a five star rating on Apple podcast so more people can find our show. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the episode.Support the show

Georges Dreyfus is  Professor of Religion at Williams College, Massachusetts. His focus is in the fields of Indian Buddhist philosophy, philosophy of mind, and cognitive processes. At the age of 20, Dreyfus left his native home of Switzerland and backpacked across Eastern Europe through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to India. He traveled to Dharamsala where he first encountered Tibetan Buddhism. Captivated by its philosophy, he entered a monastery and began the studies that lasted for 15 years. In 1985 he would be the first Westerner to receive the Geshe Lharampa degree, the highest available within the Tibetan scholastic tradition.He is author of several books including, The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk, and Recognizing Reality: Dharmakirti's Philosophy and Its Tibetan Interpretations.Dr. Dreyfus and Bryson discuss:His journey from Switzerland to IndiaHow he came to be a Buddhist monkThe daily life of a Buddhist monkThe Philosophy of Conscious in BuddhismMeeting the Dalai LamaThe Path of Meditation vs. ScholarshipTibetan Debating Systemand much more...Remember to subscribe to the Somatic Primer Podcast  for more engaging conversations. Please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show. Thank you for listening!Support the show

In this episode, I speak with Dr. James Mallinson about his time living in India living with the sadhus, meeting his guru, and his pioneering research on the history of yoga.Dr. James Mallinson is  is a professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford. He was previously a Reader in Indology and Yoga Studies at SOAS University of London. His research focuses on the history and current traditional practice of yoga.He co-authored with Mark Singleton the  Haṭha Yoga Project, a five-year six-person research project on the history of Hatha Yoga.James spent many years living in India with the Sadhus and at the 2013 Kumbh Mela was awarded the title of Mahant. His ordination as a Mahant, is the first time a westerner had received this honor. It was documented in a BBC film entitled West Meets East.  Watch here: East Meets WestVisit our Patreon Somatic Primer PatreonAgain, I want to thank listeners who support the podcast, we really couldn't do it without your support. Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy the show.Support the show

My guest today is Rick Olderman. Rick is a sports and orthopedic physical therapist, Hanna somatic practitioner and author. Rick has spent years developing his approach for treating chronic pain. Rick has written a series of books called “Fixing you” and his most recent book "Solving the Pain Puzzle" to help people with chronic pain and injuries.  Rick is also is the host of the podcast Talk about Pain.Rick's Podcast, Talk about Pain Podcasthttps://rickolderman.com/Type in "talk25" for a 20% discount for listeners of the Somatic Primer Podcast.Please consider giving us a five star rating wherever you listen to your podcastsWe hope you enjoy the episode!Support the show

In this episode Tim Cartmell returns to discuss his book Xing Yi Nei Gong: Xing Yi Health Maintenance and Internal Strength Development.  Tim explains the basic principals of Nei Gong and how to apply them. We discuss the similarities of Nei Gong, the Alexander Technique and how these ideas can benefit people in athletics and daily life.Application for Somatic Restructuring Lessons https://somaticprimer.com/contact/Tim Cartmell Episode #4 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1927632/10239868If you enjoyed the episode please consider giving us a five star rating  in Apple Podcasts. Thank you!Support the Show https://www.buzzsprout.com/1927632/supporters/newSupport the show