This episode we get to spend time with someone who's dedicated a lot of her life to the study of Body Awareness, and how this awareness can — really, actually, empirically — heal the body, heal old trauma, and do all around good work.
Cynthia lays out her approach at 45 minutes into the show — really how to do it — which I wanted to offer as a reference point, for applying this to your practice, work or life.
SHOW NOTES
The Center for Mindful Body Awareness
Upcoming CMBA trainings for practitioners
My article on Interoception (a good primer)
Cynthia's interview with the Liberated Body Podcast, i.e. part one
This episode came with a little note through the airwaves that said: "Get this one out there, right now."
And so I heed.
Tias Little is an extraordinary yoga teacher, and you'll get a feel for him right away.
Interview starts at 8:08.
SHOW NOTES
Prajna Yoga — Tias' school in Sante Fe, NM
Yoga of the Subtle Body on Amazon
"My Stroke of Insight" — a Ted Talk by Jill Bolte Taylor
This episode is a shorter, in-between-isode where I share some thoughts on an oft-heard term in functional fitness circles everywhere: the "neutral pelvis" and "neutral spine."
The gist is: it can be a good idea! And I think it's used too much as the holy grail, and I lay out my reasons why. They're probably not what you think they are.
Also, I have a question for you, dear listener! I ask it right near the end, at 24:03; would love to have your input.
Also in this episode:
What makes a good movement? (5:40)
Our "Structural Immune System" (9:45)
Neutral in relation to what? (13:54)
Can someone with a scoliosis ever be in "neutral"? (15:10)
How tissue change happens: Wolff's and Davis' Law (16:00)
How to find your own neutral hips (internal/external rotation) in a squat (18:26)
Straight spine and still out of whack (20:03)
If it requires sustained effort, that's not neutral (20:54)
SHOW NOTES
"What makes a movement better?"
and
"Your Structural Immune System"
both articles written by Yours Truly.
David Cates is a tantra teacher ... sort of. (That's actually the first thing we get into in the interview: defining terms.)
What that means for YOU, whether bodyworker or yoga teacher or curious bodymind looking to apply what we talk about here on the show into your life, is a deep inquiry about: the 2nd chakra/sacrum/sexual-creative center of the body, healing sexual trauma of many shapes and sizes, what we can learn from observing the natural world and, in many ways the thing I found the most useful, just hearing David's take as a long-time teacher of an art, a practice, that keeps evolving on its own terms.
Hope you enjoy, as always!
SHOW NOTES
The Radiance Sutras, on amazon
David's interview with Garrison Cohen, "Looking for You: Activating the Animal Body"
The website of Peter Levine (also check out his many books)
This is really a show about one of my favorite topics: HOW to think about learning about your body. (Are we being dogmatic or really open to learning new information? Plus a hundred other nuggets of gold in this show.)
Angelo Coppola hosts the podcast Latest in Paleo and the site, and guiding philosophy really, that Humans Are Not Broken. He's a writer, interviewer, devourer of research, father of five, husband, natural mover and has kept off 90 pounds for six years (a powerful transformation — deep insight after a lifetime of trying to lose weight — that he uses to connect to his tribe looking to do the same in a sustainable, healthy, long-game way).
All that is cool, of course, though what really drew to me to want to interview Angelo is how he transmits his massive knowledge base about the human body in a very open-minded, kind and accessible way.
Lots of insight in this one. Enjoy!
SHOW NOTES
Latest in Paleo: http://www.LatestInPaleo.com
On iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/latest-in-paleo/id417736572?mt=2
Blog: http://www.humansarenotbroken.com
Plant Paleo diet: http://www.plantpaleo.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/latestinpaleo
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/angelocoppola
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/angelocoppola
Katy Bowman's book I mention is called Move Your DNA
The technical ins and outs, in the supportive bed of philisophical treatise, of my month without coffee: Why I did it, why I tried and failed before, what support I had this time, what I noticed, and what now ...
Heaps of show notes in this one. See the episode page for all those details!
How much suffering and pain — physical or otherwise — is necessary in this lifetime? What role does our will, our longing, to transform play in how we move through that pain? Is moving through pain a grace, or do you need to bust your ass to get it?
Great questions.
Tobin Giblin, a brilliant and talented body-based therapist, and I go deep into these questions and more. Hope you enjoy.
SHOW NOTES
Tobin's website, including access to his free e-book, Emotional Alchemy.
The Art of Mindful Living: You Can't Stop the Waves, But You Can Learn to Surf
The Presence Process: A Journey Into Present Moment Awareness
Today I chat with Mike Hamm: a bodyworker who's well steeped in current research around bodywork and massage therapy and, most importantly for me, a bright and interesting thinker around what we as practitioners are bringing to the table, so to speak, when we show up to work with people. (You can glean insight from this conversation, though, regardless of what you do for a living.)
SHOW NOTES
Mike's website and current blog, NeuroFascia.com (aka "the most relevant website for anyone who enjoys anything" as he put in when he sent the link, which is of course hilarious and I couldn't not include here)
Massage Therapy Foundation (Mike suggests to check out the free e-books)
ABK's article on MT Process, based on a qualitative study of the MTF's Best Practices Symposium.
GroupHealth study on different types of Massage Therapy for Low Back Pain.
In today's short episode, we talk 3 truths in anatomy that take us beyond simple lever-and-pulley mechanics when visioning the body: how tissues slide, how muscle contraction doesn't just pull bones together but also presses laterally and deep, and a vision of fluid pressure and volume.
Phew.
You don't need a degree in anatomy for this one, though, just a body and some curiosity.
SHOW NOTES
Sliding Layers: Videos of some of the work of Dr Jean-Claude Guimbertea
Non-Linear Force From Muslces: Huijing and Baan on how muscles produce lateral force transmission
This episode, I interview guest Tom Myers of Anatomy Trains. Tom is probably best known for his work detailing the anatomy of myofascial connections, and the cascade of implications thereafter, tho' we actually only talk fascia a little bit.
We *do* talk about the art/science dichotomy (or is it?), somatic intelligence, kids and parenting and schooling, yoga and pilates and movement nutrition ... even immortality and how the internet is evolving like the nervous systems of organisms.
SHOW NOTES
Myofascial force transmission across joints, the summation of studies is the Wilke Review of Literature: Superficial Back Line
To get you started thinking about meridians and the AT lines: an image of the lung meridian, and one of the deep front arm line
This week is an in-between-isode,* taking a pause from interviews to bring you this news flash: you know that feeling when your step is light and springy, and other times when you feel like a sack of bricks? It's not in your head. Today, we take a quick peek at the anatomy and physiology of fascia, collagen, stored energy and what that could mean for your running, walking, and stylish footwear.
*Thanks, Tim Ferris.
I'm here with yoga teacher extraordinaire (my words, not hers) Djuna Mascall as we talk dedication, Zen, yoga and its commodification. All part of the continuing practice of knowing reality, including of course the body, as it is.
SHOW NOTES
Djuna's website: http://yogapracticeandreflection.com/
Her retreats: http://yogapracticeandreflection.com/upcoming-events-and-workshops/
Prajna Yoga, including teacher training information: http://www.prajnayoga.net/
Contact Improvisation is a form of dance that is unscripted, multi-variable, and rich in information we can glean about the body. In this interview with Martin Keogh, we dive into Contact, and his experience with 1000's of bodies, traveling the world over.
Martin shares some thoughts on what we can learn from the form, and from seeing and listening with our full bodies. He also shares some thoughts on aging, deepening into the body, and even death by beauty.
SHOW NOTES
Martin Keogh's website, including writings, video blog and teaching schedule: http://martinkeogh.com
Curious what Contact Improvisation can look like? Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-J5Sqc6BIw
Our very first show, laying out some guiding principles we'll tend to follow in our exploration of the human body.