The Embodiment Coaching Podcast

Mindfulness elder and pioneer Joel Levey is on today to share his experience. We discuss how practice shows, the early days of yoga in the US, the benefits of neurofeedback and biofeedback, motivation for practice, what can be measured and what can't, quality vs quantity of mindfulness, what's changed over the years, extended retreats, how it is to be silent for a year, telepathy, conscious relationship vs monasticism, meaning at work and mindful business, conscious capitalism, the business case for wisdom, ethical issues in applied mindfulness, what's possible in organisations, how we rewire, VUCA, how mindfulness is now more than a nice to have and what's being demanded in the connected modern world. He finishes with a practice for all of us. http://www.wisdomatwork.com/MindfulnessPioneers/ http://www.wisdomatwork.com/UKLearningExpedition/ http://www.wisdomatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/Leveys-Mindful-Leadership-Wisdom-at-Work-Article.pdf

Somatic coach and leadership facilitator Gonzalo Cordova joins me today. We talk despair, Mexican culture, the observer that we are, ontological coaching, the great split from the body, listening to the body, the language of the body, intuition, translating embodiment to corporates, emotions in coaching, the primary emotions, jealousy, where emotions come from, emotions vs moods, Zuzana Bloch and Alba emoting, breath as central to emotions, what works with clients, nature as facilitator, indigenous wisdom and body image. http://gonzalocordova.com/ http://newfieldcommunity.com/

Yoga teacher, bodyworker and creative artist Amanda Brown joins me from Cornwall. We talk fancy vs church-hall yoga, the power of community, lineage and post lineage yoga, Iyengar yoga strictness, acknowledging teachers, practice monogamy and integration, motherhood and yoga, age-related practice, being a lifelong learner, embodied arts, kinesiology, cranio-sacral therapy, fascia, the journey to the subtle, the self process of the arts, humans as a series of gestures, art as life and in place; and finally class embodiment and posh privilege. http://www.groundofbeing.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/compassionatembodiment/ https://www.facebook.com/13LoomsProject/

Experienced contact dance teacher Martin joins us to talk contact improv dance. We discuss spontaneous movement, the "open source" structure of CI, the relationship to aikido and other systems, cross-cultural factors, South American jams, naked contact, softening gaze, research, contact as relational mirror, learning about oneself through dancing, "terminus stations", how we dress to a practice, what the room reveals, how you make and leave partners reveals, working with boundaries, the political apathy of dancers, how we dance in times of war, incorporating the conservative and getting to know place. http://martinkeogh.com

An update on how the podcast doing, what is changing and also some news about upcoming courses. https://embodiedfacilitator.com/embodiment-conference-2018/ https://embodiedfacilitator.com https://www.embodiedyogaprinciples.com/ https://www.patreon.com/markwalsh

Dance movement therapists and academic researcher Helen Payne joins me to geek out. We discuss why the body, being a "body person in academia", Jon Kabat-Zinn, medically unexplained symptoms, psychosomatic illness, the evidence base for embodiment, the trials of doing trials, the business case for wellbeing, trauma and unexplained symptoms, chronic stress, attachment style, the importance of groups and belonging, moving symptoms with the body, how to package embodiment, resistance from mainstream culture, what an integrated embodied-medical-academic future culture would look like (inspiring stuff), Authentic Movement, the business and university war-zone and resilience. A fast, fun clever one. http://researchprofiles.herts.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/helen-payne(6f513b38-eca7-4e71-8481-efd23e826ad7).html https://youtu.be/MrY3-LFP0bM

My ole brother arms and conflict resolution specialist Stephen Kotev, joins me for some rough-diamond fun. We talk growing up in conflicted families, how conflict is about more than words and logic, Paul Linden, fight-flight and the physiology of conflict, self regulation and the best quick-win centring techniques, how to stop interrupting and listen better (guilty), aikido vs BJJ, the joys of competition, humility in martial arts, authenticity vs tricks in conflict, physical vs verbal triggers, why guns are fun and he offers a final challenge to kill and flay a poor little chicken. This one is quite sweary and non PC from the start, so avoid it if you are comically weak millennial who does not take responsibility for their own reactions. http://www.stephenkotev.com

Dutch yoga and mindfulness teacher Karin joins me to discuss how smoking got her into yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, cultural adaptation, kindness, EYP, making yoga useful, how it's not all about bliss or even relaxation, "karma yoga", generosity, how Buddhism is a "refugee religion", Dutch culture, Bhutan (where she does various charitable work), Indian nationalism and yoga and concentration vs open awareness. She also gives some practical mindfulness and meditation tips for practice and establishing a practice. A relaxed amiable stroll of a conversation between friends and colleagues. www.openingyourhearttobhutan.com www.yogaandmindfulness.co.uk

Sindre joins the show from Oslo to discuss the evils of sitting, NASA research, issues with traditional yoga, Foundation Training and Eric Goodman, Anatomy Trains and Tom Myers, anatomy vs embodiment, biotensegrity, fascia, balance, diet / nutrition, the dangers of office work and antidotes to it, inflammation, the EFC course, chronic pain, centring, threats, bodywork and more. An ambling chat between friends.

Alexander technique teacher Korina joins the show to discuss how our embodiment is impacted by space, landscape and nature, and how this can lead to a different relationship with the environment. She also chats death, pets, bodywork, changing oneself while giving bodywork, participating in someone's else body and gentle encouragement, the evidence base for AT, why it's not that popular, somatic movement, many aspects for touch, RADA, and the body in acting. A spacious elegant gentle interview. https://alexandertechnique.co.uk/alexander-technique/research http://www.korinabiggs.co.uk http://www.thespaciousself.co.uk