Stay ConnectedA weekly podcast for coaches, embodiment teachers and anyone who sees the body as more than a hunk of meat.
Embodiment Unlimited host Mark Walsh, interviews leaders and innovators from around the world. We cover coaching, mindfulness, trauma therapy, martial arts, meditation, somatics, yoga, and movement practices generally. The flavour is light-hearted, conversational and practical.
The podcast has been going for seven years and had over three million downloads.
Skinner Releasing dance teacher Polly Hudson joins me to discuss her art. We talk life in a dance conservatoire, somatic practices in dance and acting and the advantages of using this approach, being available and compelling through embodiment, embodiment becoming implicit, the use of language in teaching, the birth of Skinner Releasing, the purpose of the art, the difficulties of form, Siobhan Davis studio and Charley Morrissey, training in SR globally, why various forms take root in different countries, dance and boundaries/ethics, putting one's ego aside when dancing, the exhaustion of holding space, art projects, slow movement, gardening as embodied art, the slow movement generally, workaholism, the currency and status of space and the breath as companion. A pleasant British walk through the gardens of embodiment!
https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/acting/further-info/tutor-list/polly-hudson
Creator of Ancestral Movement Simon Thakur joins me to talk monkeys, martial arts and humans. We chat Asian martial arts, the Indian spiritual look, the pros and cons of the life of a traveling student, evolutionary theory, Flow states in nature, primate movement, movement from other stages of our evolution, why we should reclaim our evolutionary movement, the limitations of movement, movement in tribal dance, doggy style, healing the disconnect from nature, the dangers of idealising tribal cultures and pretending you're other animals, the healing properties of movement, how to choose a practice as a mature mover, having integrity as an embodiment trainer and opening up of worlds by humbling oneself. An amble through evolution.
Trauma expert David Berceli joins me to discuss TRE - Trauma / Tension releasing Exercise - and his experiences with this work across many domains. A real authority in this now popular field and a bloody nice bloke!
Trauma sensitive yoga teacher Sarah joins me form Vancouver to discuss her start in yoga as a sick teen and how a sexual assault led to an interest in the trauma informed approach to yoga. We look at the benefits of yoga for traumatised people, positive social aspects of yoga, self care how yoga isn't trauma sensitive, opt out vs opt in, consent card, agency, the importance of relationship, tips for teachers of all kinds, what trauma responses look like, our "scope of practice", our motivation for teaching, staying embodied with technology, quick win trauma tips, making yoga accessible for conservatives and being able to stay in the conversation.
https://doyogawithme.bandcamp.com/album/yoga-classes-with-sarah-holmes-de-castro
http://www.finebalanceyoga.ca/portfolio/sarah
Lizzie joins us to discuss being a sick child, having a liver transplant, Rolfing, relationships with pain, body dialogue, types of bodywork, functional vs structural vs political approaches, what yoga really is, inculturation, embodied narrative, "ego", US vs UK bodies, embodied climate and norms, relationship to illness, what illness can teach us, gratitude and the importance of nature connection. Some new ground here.
http://freeliz.com/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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