The Embodiment Coaching Podcast

Contact dance teacher Arye joins me from Tel Aviv. We discuss what can be researched within contact dance, being a contact pioneer in Israel, Judaism and contact, dancing across international borders, what "embodiment" means, "deep embodiment", judo vs dance vs somatics, body as use vs experience, gestalt therapy, how we're busy NOT being in contact, anger and sadness, cutting off from ourselves, getting the message from the body, working w/ actors, the language of embodiment, how we're always dancing, the elusive obvious, circumcision, body as taboo, subtle body shame, hiding being tired and how we as teachers are just reminders of the obvious magic. A slow winding beautiful conversation. https://youtu.be/P5KmnaeOqUo

Highly experienced and innovative yoga teacher John Stirk joins me to talk yoga in the 70s, Vanda Scaravelli, osteopathy, form vs somatic yoga, skin and sensuality in yoga, how skin on the whole body helps us stretch, the mind and emotions in yoga, trust, presence, unfinished sentences, the somatic nature of love, primal movement, LSD, "undoing" the spine, free movement, RD Laing, the breath pause and treating the body with respect. Wise words. http://johnstirk.com/

Sexuality workshop leader Ruby May joins us to chat burlesque, sexological bodywork, where to start with sexuality work, Togetherness, Explore and Angsbacka festivals, Berlin kink, authentic relating, open space, sex geeks, compartmentalising sex, Eros, flirting, goal-orientation in sexuality, communicating in the age of offence, victim blaming, trans issues, feminine leadership, hormone cycles, activism, top down living, eco-sexuality, masculine and feminine, Genia Pauli Haddon, "bitches and bastards", and putting people in boxes. A well lubed slide through some potentially controversial topics. https://www.authentic-eros.com/ http://www.alchemy-eros.com

Jane joins me for a fun romp through how trauma shows up in everyday life. We cover aerobics, finding belonging, fascia, drama triangles, trauma in daily life, nervous system regulation, "trauma" vs "stress", complex trauma, neglect, survivorship, relationships, boundaries, stages of trauma recovery, subtly in trauma symptoms, pleasure, play, windows of tolerance, exercise and trauma, money and trauma, giving away power, historical patterns, advice for parents, failure and clowning. Both deep and light. http://www.janeclapp.com https://www.instagram.com/janetheclapp/?hl=en

Founder of The Minded Institute Heather Mason joins me for some yoga science geekery! She describes her own path from having mental health issues, though academia to teaching mindfulness and meditation. We discuss, find there is no one Buddhist way, becoming focused on the evidence base for yoga and supportive neuroscience. She overviews the research on yoga, GABA, brain chemistry and yoga, neuro-plasticity, outlines some of the most interesting yoga studies, we look at what is it in "yoga" that's really helpful, what is actually useful in chanting "Om", social anxiety, Stephen Porges, cherry picking, the psychological dangers of mindfulness, picking a yoga style, is it just mindful movement, integration into healthcare, yoga in education, prisons and corporates, monks in The House of Lords, the potential disempowerment of buying into the scientific approach and using science as skilful means. If Mr Spock did yoga he'd like this episode. https://themindedinstitute.com https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/180426/yoga-in-society.htm https://yogainhealthcarealliance.com/

Peter Appel joins us form Finland to discuss his journey from pain and yoga to free movement, mindbody vs bodymind, the criticality of relaxation, the importance of pleasure, Finnish slowness and silence, the dangers and benefits of sports, smell as a primitive connector, linguistic diversity and history, environmental destruction and connection, the beauties and dangers of science, paganism, Brain chemistry politics, absolute vs relative truth, listening across the divides, addiction and turning the senses in. A deep, emotional episode. One of the best I'd say. https://www.movingness.com https://www.bodymindlove.com/ https://youtu.be/ATrMGLCVfNc

Men's work Facilitator Eivind joins me to discuss masculinity. We go over his experience of realising that he couldn't meditate out of manliness, rites of passage and the phallic intrusion, the call and the heroes journey, the initiated man, feminised culture, entrepreneur as adventurer, Jungian archetypes, integrity vs tyrant integrity and free flow, balancing warrior and lover, and king and magician, the "master key", the power of stories, blessings of the king, shifting between archetypes with the body, gender in Scandinavia, feminism and postmodernism, the domesticated male, manliness and dangerous, what mature women are like, the gender wars, Reclaim Your Inner Throne and trusting the body. https://www.inner-throne.com/

Eric Paskel joins me to explain why yoga ISN'T bullshit. We discuss researching misery, addiction, relationships, rock and roll, how to torture yourself, keeping it real, blaming it on everyone else, the narcissism of changing the world, getting your head out of your arse, 12-step groups, what happened to yoga, LA, on being a learner, seeing through success, Vedanta, being a teacher, being or service vs being selfish, the nature of love, his guru, making your work accessible and how to start small on the spiritual path. https://ericpaskel.com/ http://electricsoul.yoga/ https://www.vedantaworld.org/

A practical guide to marketing and selling embodiment and embodied arts of all kinds. Here I cover mindset, sales funnels and the basics that anyone working in this field needs to know to run a successful business.

Leila joins me to discuss her dance beginnings, the difference between embodied and regular anatomy, the benefits of an embodied approach to anatomy, body systems and how to use them, "heart hugs", the importance of the psoas muscle, trauma, anatomical awareness, self vs other focus, yoga therapy, the organ system, koshas, phantom limb pain, empowerment through yoga, learning the hard way, and meditation.Lots of experiential content and playful flow in this one. https://leilastuart.com/